THIS IS A FANFIC! ALL PROPERTIES BELONG TO DC
Harley's Office
Harley is on her desk, listening to a little girl sitting on her couch. Harley is taking every details of what the girl is saying. It made Harley feel sick to her stomach listening to it, but she has to put it to one side and listen to the details to what the girl has to say.
"He takes me to a secret cave…" she whispers before crying into tears.
Harley had heard this story before with some other children. They sometimes don't say much at first but Harley knows how to open up a little more. Even though she did hear this story a houndred times with the other children, it still does'nt make it any easier for Harley to listen. But luckily she knew what will happen next, where it all happens next.
"It's okay, Sweetie. Just take your time."
The little slowly stops crying and looks to Harley.
"Then he came."
Harley's heart jumped. She loves hearing this part because it always end the same way. It makes her know that the man she loves is the one that everyone in Gotham remembers.
"Who came?" She said, trying to hide a smile.
"Batman. He came to save me. He tied the man up in the cave somewhere and took me back home to Mommy and Daddy. He said I don't have to be afraid anymore." The little girl said, making herself feel better.
"And are you?" Harley asks, trying to be gentle of the little girl as much as possible.
The little girl shrugs "Sometimes I get scared. The other times I remember him and he makes everything feel better."
Harley takes a mental note of what the girl is saying. Harley observes her behaviour, that the little girl is still traumatised about what happened to her in the cave, but developed a strong belief that Batman will always be around to protect her. It is quite healthy for the girl to think that but Harley knows that she needs some time to actually heal from that experience.
"Listen Sam. I want you to do something for me. Is it okay if you help me?" Harley asks, as she smiles at the little girl, Sam.
Sam nods and looks at her feet.
"Okay. I want you to close your eyes. I want you to close them tight." Harley bites her bottom lip, hoping that her plan might work.
Sam closes her eyes tightly, like she is trying her best to not open them.
"I want you to picture Batman. I want you to picture him as your shield, your guardian angel or anything in the world." Harley looks at Sam more closely.
Sam pictures Batman in her head, the image of the man in a cape and a mask standing over her, not smiling or saying anything but watching over her. He didn't scare Sam but his eyes draws her in, like she can trust him.
"Now I want you to think that Batman is your guide. Where is Batman taking you?"
In Sam's mind, Batman pulls his hand out for her, and she slowly takes his hand. Sam pictures herself being led by him through a dark cold woods. It scared her even more and she can hear crunching, leaves breaking and whistling.
"I can hear things!" Sam squeaked.
Harley puts her hand to her chin "It's okay, Sam. Remember, Batman is with you."
Sam nods, and pictures herself walking with Batman through the woods.
Harley smiles "Where is Batman taking you?" She asks, gently.
Sam pictures Batman taking her to a house. A house that looks familiar. She knows she seen it before. The windows; the door, the car and the roof. Soon the front door opens and sees a man and a woman standing by the door. Sam could barely see their faces due to the light inside the house, brighteness covering their faces but Sam felt like she is home.
"Come on Honey! We miss you!" Said the woman.
"I've made your favourite. Syrup and pancakes. I even put them on your favourite plate." Said the man.
Soon the light faded and she saw them. Sam saw their faces. She's seeing her Mom and Dad. She is seeing her home.
It became clear to Sam. Batman is the leash to find her way back home. And even that her parents will be here for her no matter what. Even though it didn't make her feel a lot better, she knows that if she still in trouble, her parents will be there no matter what happens. And Batman will always be there to protect them when she needs him.
Sam opens her eyes and sees Harley, looking at her like she is worried on what might happen to the girl in the psychology treatment. Soon the girl smiled. A smile that Harley has never seen before from her.
"Thank you Dr. Quinzel." Sam said, rushing over to give the Doctor a hug.
"Not a problem Sam. Now remember, your family is always there for you. No matter what." Harley said, as Sam lets go. Harley slowly gets up and opens her office door, letting Sam out. Sam's parents are waiting outside the office.
"How are you honey?" The mother ask as she kneels down to Sams level.
"I will be Mommy. Promise." She said, hugging her mother.
The parents looked at Harley, shocked and relieved at the same time. The woman lets go of Sam "Come on, darling. Lets get you home."
The Father stays behind and looks at Harley "Thank you. Thank you so much." The Father said, smiled, tears of happiness in his eyes as he hugs Harley. Harley returns the hug and smiles "It's no problem sir. Just doing my job." Harley said, trying to sound professional.
"No. You are amazing! Thank you so much."
Harley shrugs "We still got a long way to go. So I still need regular sessions. You can talk to the Receptionist to book it next Friday."
The man smiled and walks away. There is no words to say thank you other than 'Thank you' and even that's not enough.
Harley smiles at the family and walks back into her office.
Few hours later in Wayne Manor
Bruce is on his desk, designing more equipment for his suit. He has to be one step ahead of criminals, or things will go out of hand if he's not focus.
A woman enters, wearing a suit with glasses on, while carrying a briefcase.
"Mr Wayne?" She asks.
Bruce still looks at the computer, refusing to look up. He recognises that voice anywhere.
"Miss Kyle." The man said as he turns his computer screen off.
Selena smiles as she sits on a chair opposite to Bruce.
Selena removes her glasses "I see someone hasn't forgotten about me." She said playfully.
Bruce finally looks at Selena "What you want Selena? I'm busy."
"I've heard. Harley Quinzel. She's quite a good girl for a sociopath." Selena smirked as she crosses her legs.
Bruce looks away "Emotionally manipulated doesn't mean she's a sociopath."
"Tell that it to those families she destroyed with the Joker."
Bruce grits his teeth "She's changed. You don't know her like I do." He spat back.
Selena looks at Bruce in the eyes. She doesn't say much but can tell she hit a nerve.
"Fine. I won't say another word about your beloved." Selena said.
"Then lets get to the reasons why your here." Bruce said sternly, knowing there is always a reason why Catwoman is here.
Selena picks up her briefcase "I'm here to do you a favour Bruce. I've been playing cat and mouse recently and I stumbled onto something that you might be interested."
Selena pulls out an orange file and gives it to Bruce.
Bruce takes the paper and looks at it carefully.
"Why do you have Police Files with you Selena?" He ask suspiciously.
"I do have a life outside you and your cape Bruce." Selena said, smirking at her former lover.
Bruce reads the file. Noticing every details in the process.
"These are about the Joker. It was a year ago Selena, why you bringing this up?"
Selena leans forward on the desk "You're not seeing. Keep looking."
Bruce takes another look. He keeps looking at every sentences. Every words.
'The Joker was injured by a gunshot wound after a confrontation from the Mysterious figure, the Batman. The deceased kidnapped Harleen and Stephan Quinzel-the Jokers former girlfriend and her father. The Joker got injured by Miss Quinzel after killing her father in cold blood. After the final confrontation, the Joker fell off the cliff and landed on the beach, killing him in the process.'
"I still can't see anything Selena." Bruce said as he puts the notes on the table.
Selena rolls her eyes in annoyance "For a greatest detective, your sure are clueless. I mean look at the photograph."
Selena gives her two pictures of the Joker. Both pictures of his corpse. Bruce takes a look at the pictures and observes it very clearly.
"His hair." Bruce finally notices.
Selena nods, happy that Bruce finally realises "Yes. The hair."
Bruce picks up one photograph "This is when they found the body." He then picks up the second "And this is a week later. Someone has cut his hair. Could be using it for DNA…"
Selena points at the files "It would of said so on the Police Reports. Plus no one can find any details from the Joker because he deleted his history so one one can find him, so there be no point on a DNA test. Someone or something is covering this up."
Bruce puts the photographs down and leans back "Its just hair Selena."
Selena takes the photographs and puts them in the file "But why Bruce? Why cover it up? Out of all the things to cover up, why the hair? The Gotham's Police Department are hiding details from the reports like no one is going to notice. Not even the Comissioner noticed."
Bruce looks at Selena "It doesn't have to be the whole Department Selena. Anyone can turn dirty and steal any evidence. But if they did steal any evidence, the hair would be the least helpful thing for someone. Even if that person is dead."
Selena looks away "You're right. It sounds stupid." She looks at Bruce "But the Batman would of listened to me."
Bruce stood up "Batman is listening to you. And Batman can't find any reason for the hair. The Jokers dead, end of. Away from everyone. He won't hurt the citizens; you, Alfred, Dick, Barbara, or Harley. Just bury this and forget all about it."
Selena bits her tongue, trying to keep calm "You wanted to be prepared. You are always prepared, that is what you do. So take this stupid file and for god sake actually look it up. Don't leave it and hope it's just nothing because of Harley."
Bruce fixes his eyes at Selena "I'm not using anything or Harley Selena." Bruce grits his teeth.
"Yes you are!" She spat out, can't control her temper any longer "You're trying to escape from the Joker because you are hoping that Harley will be free and forget from that nightmare, that the Joker committed on her all those years ago. It's now been 4 years that Harley has escaped from him. So if she was here right now listening to this. To listen everything that I have showed you. That nut job would agree with me a 100% and she will tell you get off your ass and figure out what someone would want with the Jokers hair."
Bruce looks at Selena, taking every word she said to heart "Fine. I will look it up."
Bruce takes the file away from Selena as she nods and leaves the office.
Bruce leans back and turns to computer on, seeing Alfred on the screen "Did you hear all of that, Alfred?"
"Yes indeed sir. Miss Kyle might be right about the Jokers hair. Someone taken it for a very peculiar reason."
Bruce nods "What's worst is that she found it after nearly a year ago. And she hasn't revealed on how she found it or why."
Alfred raises his eyebrow "You mean you took her warning very seriously Master Bruce?"
Bruce smiles at Alfred "Of course I have. But she is hiding something Alfred. She didn't say how she found it. Which means someone has giveb this to her."
"Or maybe she stole it from the GCPD?"
Bruce shakes his head "No. she could of stolen it if she really wanted to but she would never go for the files about the Joker. She hates that man just like the rest of us. Plus the Joker's dead, that should of been enough for Selena to leave it alone. And thirdly it's not even worth anything so it would of been useless to her."
Alfred nods, agreeing with his theories "Should I tell Miss Harley about what Miss Kyle said about the Joker, sir?"
Bruce looks at Alfred "Not yet Alfred. Not until we find more details about the hair." Bruce then leans back and crosses his arms. Bruce later smiles at Alfred "By the way, Alfred. Did you find it?" He asks curiously.
Alfred smiles "Yes I did, sir. The very same one your Mother wore I believed. Locked safely in the safe in your study." Alfred picks up a small box and opens it, revealing a ring with a blue shiny diamond on it.
Bruce smiles "Thank you Alfred."
Alfred puts the ring away "When will you ask her Master Bruce?" He ask excitedly.
"This evening Alfred." He said smiling "I'll be done here and I will collect the ring."
"I'll buy the champaign. Ready and waiting for you and Miss Harley to arrive." Alfred said, as he closes the box safely.
Bruce smiles "See you soon Alfred."
Bruce turns the computer off and leans back on his chair. Bruce has been balancing his two lives-Batman, the knight of Gotham and Bruce Wayne, the playboy philanthropist. Now he has to balance a new life-Batman, the knight of Gotham and Bruce Wayne, a family man.
Outside Wayne Enterprise
Selena walks outside the door from the building. Selena pulls her phone out of her bag and places it next to her ear.
"He has it. Bruce will take the case." Selena whispered.
"Excellent." Said a distorted voice.
"What should I do now?" She said quietly, trying not to make sure that no one is listen to her conversation.
"Now you wait for further instructions." Said the voice as the person hangs up.
Selena looks down on her phone and looks back up to the building, thinking about Bruce and the details she gave him.
In Mr Silver's Office
Mr Silver is sitting in his desk, smoking his cigar while Sarah and Jim are standing in front of him.
"So, Jimmy. You did what I ask?" Mr Silver said softly.
Gordon places his hands in his coat pockets "Yes Mr. Silver."
"Good Jim. Good." Mr Silver said as he smiles "Remember, I want nothing that would implicate me."
Sarah looks at the two "There won't be Mr Silver. Trust me."
Mr. Silver stands up from his desk "I do, Sarah. I trust you both." He takes another smoke of his cigar "Now. You may leave."
The two walked out of Mr Silvers office as he looks away to the window behind him. He looks at the city of Gotham, like he is the Emperor of the city while everyone else are peasants, doing his dirty work. He pulls out an old photograph from his pocket, showing a little boy with brown hair kneeling down with a dog, smiling.
"I miss you brother." He whispers.
As he looks back up, he then closes the curtains, leaving him in a dark room.
Outside Wayne-Quinzel Hospital
Harley walks out of the building, carrying a red bag. It's been a long day, but to be fair. Every day is a long day.
Harley doesn't mind though, she loves her job. Harley gets to help children like she dreamed off and she gets to make deals with other charitable events around the world.
Harley stops at her tracks in the Hospital car park. Harley looks around trying to find her car "I'm sure that I left my car here?" Harley said.
"Sorry. I've taken it."
Harley spins around to find Bruce behind her, frightening her.
Harley holds her chest "Fucking hell, Bruce! Stop doing that." She shouted in anger.
Bruce steps back "Sorry." He said, feeling guilty of scaring her.
Harley's face is raging, but later the blonde's corner lips twitched. The twitch turns into a smile and her eyes lights up and she soon runs to hug him "I've missed you!" She squeaked with joy on seeing Bruce.
Bruce returns the hug "Missed you too."
Harley lets go of him and looks around the car park "Where's my car?"
Bruce scratches the back of his head "I've gotten Alfred to take it back to your apartment for you. Figured you might want to go out for an evening with me?"
Harley winces her eyes at Bruce "It's not goin' to be like last time, is it?"
Bruce looks at the corner of his eye "Last time?" He asks, trying not to look at her, but knowing what she meant.
"It was a good evening. Nice meal. Loved the people that worked there. But no one told us that people with guns will crash the party, did they? What did you do? Locked me in the freezer so you can face them." Harley said, staring at Bruce.
Bruce raises his right hand like a child being told off "And I said I'm sorry."
Harley shrugs "I don't mind you got to face them. I really don't. You have to, the people needed the Batman. But I have to ask, why would you lock me in a freezer full of dead fish-45 Last time I've counted. In a freezer. The time I got out I started to smell like Penguins wife for the whole week. And it was freezing! I wore a dress and no coat!"
Bruce smiles at her, trying to reassure her "I promise you. I won't lock you in a freezer again."
Harley crosses her arms "Why did you lock me in there again? You could of locked me in a storage room. In a seller with everyone else in that place? Or you could of taken me with you to your car? Nope the freezer is the best."
Bruce nods "Okay. I get it. I'm sorry."
Harley smiles at him, playfully "Apology accepted."
Bruce looks at Harley, trying to guilt trip her "So that's a no?"
Harley smiles again "It was always going to be a yes."
"Why? Because you love me?" He said.
"No, you took my car. I need to get home somehow." She said jokingly.
Bruce snorted which turns to laughter. Harley laughs with him. Later the two looked at each other a both kissed, happy to be with each other for once more. Unknown to Harley, it might be a start of something special, since Bruce has something planned for her. The two got into Bruce's black Lamborghini and drives off the their date.
TO BE CONTINUED…