Chapter 11: A Kiss with a Fist

Dr. Quinzel's once bubbly voice was now more authoritative, "Bring him in."

The door to her office opened, and in walked Jay. He made his usual suggestive grin, but meeting Quinzel's glare, his mouth stretched nervously. He slowly crept to the chair like he was sent to the principle's office.

"You can leave us, Bolton…" He closed the door behind them.

Jay whimpered jokingly, "Ooo. She mad."

"Why would you agree to help me with Edward than deliberately go back on it? I don't get it, Jay. You say one thing, then do another. You know that makes it hard for me to trust you."

Jay pointed to himself and shrugged, "It's kind of in the job description, Quinzy."

Dr. Quinzel made a long, frustrated sigh purposely to call attention to it. She was upset, she wanted him to know.

"It doesn't matter, Harleen, come on. Don't you see what I did in there?"

"Ran to Valentin like Edward had the measles?"

"No," he chuckled, "Edward is a sensitive schmuck who feels like he's been wronged by the world. Obsessive and attention-seeking. Rejected and abandoned by everyone. Now what can make a guy like that distracted from just about anything else?"

Dr. Quinzel was scowling, patiently waiting for the answer. She animated briefly with her hands spread along the table, "What?"

Jay leaned in and whispered with a smirk, "A girlfriend."

Dr. Quinzel's brow flexed up, "Huh? Atkins?"

"There was no way I was gonna pull him from that hole. He's been in that hole for too long. A pretty girl like Atkins? Hmm… that may spice things up a bit. You saw him today. He likes her and she clearly likes him. You feed into that a bit more, Edward won't have time to scheme. He'll be getting the attention he's always wanted. And it's positive! That's like your favourite thing, right?"

Dr. Quinzel refuted the idea, "It is not positive. I can't condone a romantic relationship between patients, that's… a recipe for disaster. Not to mention, Coralline just went through something awful. Her rights basically stripped away, she's far too fragile. Edward says the wrong word on the wrong day, he could be a chew toy. I can't risk violence in my trial."

"Atkins won't attack him; she sees him for the abused little orphan he is. Honestly, Lazlo and I don't get treated half as good as she treats Edward. She's got a thing for the pathetic. You give her the impression she's helping him, thus giving him the attention from a pretty girl, you might be hitting two birds with one stone."

"That's manipulation."

"Isn't that the psychologist's best trick in the bag?"

"No… it's not. They can be friends, but anything more than that can't be tolerated. By the sounds of it, it's already going down that road, which puts me in a very uncomfortable position with Nashton regarding the trial."

"Come on, Quinzel. Isn't this like your mission statement? Meaningful relationships create meaningful lives, or whatever. You think the criminally insane can't be fools of love, too? We don't deserve intimacy?"

"No, of course not. The whole point of this trial was to build relationships with each other as friends. Not romantic. I'm not saying you guys don't deserve it, I just have no idea how I'd approach the warden, or the board with this. I mean you're… you're right, Jay. It's a good idea. It would get Bella Reál off my back, Coralline something to look forward to, Edward a distraction… but…"

"You don't want to piss off the neck-tied overlords, I get it. But this is your trial. Who's to say what they do can't fall under a meaningful relationship? They are in the honeymoon stage. Just stolen glances and sweet words, nothing more. It's so victorian and chaste, there's nothing to worry about. I did you a favour."

Dr. Quinzel was in deep thought, bouncing the butt of her pen in her palm, she then creased a smile, "It's genius. God, it is! This could work! I mean, yeah, it's a risk, but it's exactly what they both need! They are so different, but in some ways, so much alike. They both have a detest for the system, they are academics— Atkins is an extrovert, Nashton an introvert. She could get him out his isolation. A scorpio and cancer couple, too!" She rambled excitedly, each word more ebullient in her voice.

Jay raised his hands to clap with her, "Go team!"

Dr. Quinzel rested back into her chair and smiled, "Okay… I was mad but I'm starting to see why you did it. I'm sorry. You really are creative, you know that?"

"I've been told," he winked, "Look at us, the ultimate matchmaking team. Makes you wonder if maybe we should be distracting each other, too."

Jay didn't laugh, didn't smile, but had a genuine gaze. His stare would deter anyone who would see his disfigured face, but Quinzel only caught attention to his eyes. Even with the injury, they were soft. She reminded not to dwell in that moment for too long or give Jay anymore hints of what he wanted from her. She wasn't ignorant. She knew.

She shook her head like it was a joke taken on the chin, "You're relentless, Jay."

"You're something I can't relent, Harleen."

Dawn was beginning to come through the windows in Quinzel's bedroom. 5:30am, thirty minutes and her alarm would go off, but she was already awake. As was Daniel, who kissed slovenly against her earlobe. She moved with the bed as it creaked. Daniel had lost his gentleness in their once beloved morning lovemaking. It was quick, full of grunts, and always facing away from each other. Despite the intimacy of the act, there was none in the moment. Quinzel clutched the bed sheets to try and pretend she was enjoying it, but she was quiet. It was uncomfortable inside, dry and pulling. She wasn't warmed up to it before it started, but Daniel wasn't one to waste time if he woke up with morning wood. She was thankful she faced away, because if it was face to face, he would undoubtedly know. As he groped her chest and pulled her closer into him, she was busy thinking about how her day would lay out. The empathy exercise she had planned, the anxiety of bringing the relationship of Atkins and Nashton before the warden, and the kind words of Jay came back. He was in her head now. His voice, his laugh, his kind words. Daniel's hands slowly became his. Every part of Daniel was Jay's in her head. Her eyes closed and she let the thought fester longer. Then the pain drifted, she was getting wet, she started to moan. The jumbling thoughts were gone and now she was back in her body enjoying the intimacy, but not with Daniel.

Then he came, and the moment ended. She was close, too. Quinzel tried not to sigh in disappointment. He huffed and hummed for a bit as he moved to his back and rubbed her shoulder.

"How was that for you, baby?"

She cooed, "Good."

"Did you go?"

She lied, "Yup." She was thinking, 'What would he do if he knew you were thinking about a patient?'

The warden and Quinzel were in his office. It was just twenty minutes to Therapy Room, and she had to disclose the latest news with him. He was disturbed, almost amused, he took off his glasses and his eyes squinted in befuddlement before stammering, "I… you. Um. You know this breaks over a page of Arkham policies if this is allowed."

"That's exactly what the trial is! Patients aren't allowed to be within reaching distance of each other in the policy, but in Positive Beginnings, it's encouraged. Patients aren't allowed to have friendships in Arkham, but not in my trial! It's all been approved because we are going in a different direction— a change. Romantic relationships are just as important as platonic ones, we all know that. Our world revolves around romantic relationships, and not just because of the birds and the bees, but because we crave that intimacy. For two inmates in HRS, that intimacy is everything. Now imagine if that relationship was used in a positive way. Them encouraging each other to heal and advance in therapy, supporting each other, having that person that they go to and trust. It's all so relative to the trial."

The warden stammered again, "But this is Atkins and Nashton. Atkins and Nashton. What will happen if they have a dispute, which is an inevitability in romantic relationships. How do you think Nashton would react? Or worse yet, Atkins? Hell hath no fury like a scorned woman, that goes quadruple for Atkins! We are trying to get Nashton out of his depressive state, if things go wrong with her, this could push him over the edge."

"That's the amazing thing about this relationship being invested in the trial, sir! I'll be there to offer couples counselling, conflict resolution; we are already in the midst of exploring the meaningful relationship module. Their relationship could be a learning tool for Valentin and Doe, too. Not… with each other, just you know, in general! Nashton has craved a relationship his entire life, this I know will make him loyal and determined to make it work. Atkins deserves something exciting and fluffy to focus on, she's still healing from the horrors of Crane— which I still haven't forgiven you for, by the way! I'd think allowing this relationship in my trial is the least you can do."

The warden battled, "How do you know if this relationship is consensual or not? These are two mentally ill people. It could be argued that neither of them can consent to this."

"Sir, these two are cognitive. You know that. Neither of them have neurocognitive disorders. Nashton and Atkins share borderline personality disorder, which is my top concern but with my guidance and therapy they'll have a high chance. They are both responding well to their medications and therapy. They both have the mental capacity to consent or refuse advances. At this point, there's been no rejections."

The warden explained in exhaustion, "Jesus… Harleen. Every day this trial gets more and more complicated. Fine. Fine! I'll allow it, but there will be no physical intimacy! You're not turning that room into a brothel!"

"Okay, okay, I'll draw the line at anything sexually suggestive. But what about hand holding? Hugging? Cuddling? ...Kissing?"

"This has to be the strangest conversation I've ever had…"

"Warden?"

He exaggerated with his hands and squawked, "Fine! Hand holding, hugging and pecking is allowed. No french kissing, and if the kiss lasts for more than five seconds, break it up. Cuddling… I don't know exactly what you mean by cuddling, that is an umbrella term for an array of sexual touching."

"Like sitting together, shoulder to shoulder contact. Obviously nothing more than that."

"Sure. It will be tolerated under strict instruction. I've been in corrections for forty years, and by habit if you give an inmate an inch, they will always take a mile. If they begin to overstep these boundaries, they will be given a warning. If they do it again, these privileges will be stripped. Atkins and Nashton won't be allowed five feet between each other, you understand?"

"Completely," she grinned, "Thank you, sir. Thank you. I believe this will be only therapeutic. They haven't really confirmed they are in a relationship yet, but the birds are singing. It's only a matter of time."

The warden shook his head and tapped his fingers on the desk, "The things I'll do to make this trial successful, Harleen. I do want you to succeed, you know that. I know your anger is still with Crane, but I promise you that as soon as an ombudsman is appointed, it will be dealt with. It's not being ignored."

"What is he doing now, anyway?"

"What he always does. Keeps to himself, serves his patients, does his documentation. I don't know what happened that day, and I don't fully understand if it was Crane or not. For all we know, it could have been a nervous breakdown on Bishop's part. Only a hearing and further investigation will tell."

Dr. Quinzel was in the Therapy Room waiting for the teams to practice their skits and impressions for their next exercise. Internalizing empathy. Jay and Lazlo were by Jay's corner, speaking in hushed discussions of how they would play it out. Edward and Coralline were less earnest. They were relaxed under the princess canopy discussing with constant interruption of giggles and smiles. She was discreetly enjoying seeing them together. Still no love-bells, but certainly attraction and interest, far too bashful to admit to it yet.

The ten minutes were up and she called them over, "Okay, guys! Time is up! Come back to the circle."

The four left their discussions and came back to their chairs. Edward and Coralline still chatting as they came over, sitting next to each other. At one time, the two were wallflowers to one another. Jay walked behind Dr. Quinzel and she got a shiver, not a bad one, either. She folded her legs together nervously.

She announced, "Alright guys, who wants to go first?"

Jay looked to Lazlo, "What you say, pal? Wanna kick it off?"

"Certainly, Joseph."

The two stood to the middle of the chairs, clearing their throats and shaking loose. "Alright," Quinzel said, "Introduce yourselves."

Jay immediately went inward himself. He fidgeted with his fingers and looked away from their faces. He spoke in a shy, light voice, "Hi… um… I'm Edward… *ahem* Nashton."

Edward was shaking his head to the floor in embarrassment. Dr. Quinzel tried not to laugh, but when she saw Edward beginning to, she shared it with him.

Jay continued his impersonation, "I'm really shy… I like to do puzzles and flood cities on my days off," he pretended to take off glasses and clean them in his hands, "And I can't see for shit."

Dr. Quinzel spoke in a laugh, "Okay, nice to meet you, Edward. And who are you supposed to be?" She asked Lazlo.

Coralline stifled a laugh and croaked, "Oh, god…"

Suddenly Lazlo preened up and sassily stood with his hands on his hips and a sour face, "I'm Coralline fuckin' Atkins, and I'm so sick of this shit hole and all you fucking fucks. I'm permanently pissed off all the damn time and I play piano like a fancy bad bitch." He declared in an overzealous, flamboyant, high-pitched voice.

Mockery was the greatest form of flattery, or loss of oxygen in Coralline's case, as she was laughing so hard she couldn't take any in. Edward was snickering in his throat as Dr. Quinzel was trying to compose herself to move the skit along.

"Nice to meet you, Coralline," she cackled just barely getting the words out, "Alright, what's the problem today guys?"

"I'm pissed off!" Lazlo squeaked.

Jay feigned an Edward demeanour once again, "Uh… why… that's not good."

"Because this place fucking sucks balls, that's why. Like oh my God."

Jay was trying not to laugh, "Aw. That's too bad… I'm so sorry you feel that way, Coralline. Do you want uh… wanna hug?"

"Fuck that!"

"You want a back massage?"

"Fuck that!"

"You wanna bitch about the city's corruption together?"

"Fuck…" Lazlo paused for a moment and looked Jay dead in the eye. The room was quiet aside from the suppressed laughs from the others.

Jay murmured nervously, "You want…"

"THAT!" Lazlo snapped out.

"Well, I don't know what I can do to make you feel better, Coralline. You have to communicate." Jay drew attention to the last word, glancing at Quinzel and winking. She laughed and shook her head.

Lazlo crossed his arms petulantly and pouted, "I just want someone to listen to me and understand how I am feeling!"

Jay pretended to push up his imaginary glasses and made a nervous gait to Lazlo, "I can listen… I don't talk, so I'm a great listener. Unless it's for Jay. Fuck that prick."

Edward broke out into a giggle.

Jay continued, taking Lazlo's hand and speaking comfortingly, "Hey… I know it's hard being in your cell all the time. I just want you to know that you're not alone and we care about you, Coralline. If you ever wanna come sit on Edward's lap in Therapy Room, or my lap, oops," he broke character for a moment to cackle, "you can."

Edward was shaking his head but still smiling, his cheeks were red, "Prick."

The two raised their hands and bowed together, reaching the end to their skit. Dr. Quinzel, Edward, and Coralline reigned in claps and laughter.

"That was amazing, you two! Really compelling portrayals of your cellmates, especially you, Lazlo."

Coralline praised, "I hate to say it, but that impression was spot on. God speed, man."

Jay and Lazlo took their seats and Jay teased, "You liked mine, Eddie?"

"Oh, sure. Loved it," he sarcastically replied.

Quinzel moved it along, "Alright, Edward and Coralline, let's see your acting skills." They shared nervous smiles before getting up together.

"Okay, do you want to introduce yourself?" Quinzel asked to Edward, who made an uneasy stance before shaking his shoulders and hunching his back and tilting his head to the side.

"I'm Jay. Or Joker. Or Daddy Mac. I prefer Daddy Mac." His voice was louder than usual, higher pitched and raspy like Jay's, "We didn't write a skit."

Jay leaned his head back and guffawed.

Quinzel advised, "Well, Jay, you gotta make one up. Come on, guys, you had ten minutes!" She teased, "Okay, and who are you supposed to be? I think I have an idea…"

Suddenly Coralline stomped her feet on the ground and made a super-hero stance, "I am Lazlo Valentin! I like to sing! For the others in HRS, it gets real fucking… annoyiiiing!" She sang in a low, operatic voice.

"Yes!" Lazlo clapped, "Her voice and impersonation is marvellous! I'm crippled in flattery!"

Coralline snapped in aristocratic act, "Do not interrupt us in our folly, man! Don't you see my dear fellow's toilet is clogged! It is repenting liquids! Foul ones! The smell is wilting my very nostrils!" She faced Edward and kept up the charade, "Joseph, my boy, what can my person do for you in this hour?"

Edward was buckling over, his laugh spilling from his hands. He tried to compose himself and reply in his Jay character. However, Jay and Quinzel were in fits of giggles to the display of Coralline's act.

Edward whimpered as he tried to resolve, "My toilet… I clogged it. I took another huge shit and clogged it. I don't know what to do. The guards won't help."

"Bother and befuddle!" Coralline yapped, "Drat those guards! I dare say, drat them!" She said to the faces of Morello and Robinson at the doors. Robinson wasn't amused, but Morello was tittering. Coralline then pretended to grab an object, "I will plunge the filth with all my strength!" She made drastic gestures as if she was plunging a toilet, "Disgusting! What did you eat?"

"Arkham's food," said Edward, suppressing a smile.

"That explains it!"

Edward couldn't hold it in, he stumbled back as he almost kneeled over. His laughs loud and wheezing. The others were in fits, too. Not Lazlo, of course, who was drawn into the skit like he was watching a soap opera.

Dr. Quinzel struggled to say it as she too was falling victim to a laugh-attack, "Okay, okay. Settle! Pull it back, come on."

Coralline was fully in character but allowed that moment to smile in pride to her show giving.

Edward wiped the tears from under his glasses and came back letting a deep breath out. Coralline continued, "I am so sorry, my dear Joseph. The toilet has combusted. You will never be able to shit again. I just want you to know that I weep for you today. If this was to befall me, I too would leech the water from my body in tears. If you ever need to weep, or convey your unfathomable sadness. I will be here."

Edward pretended to sniffle and cry, "Thank you."

Coralline held her arms up, "Huggies?"

He nodded, "Huggies."

When Edward felt her arms wrap around him, his eyes dilated. She leaned her head against his shoulder, he pressed his cheek into the top of her head— smelling her hair. A moment for the skit, but they both secretly indulged it in reality. The first time he ever hugged a girl. Coralline nearly melted into his arms.

The moment was cut short when Jay yelled, "Now make out!"

They all began to clap, and Edward and Coralline awkwardly separated.

"Well done! Well done! Let's hear it for Coralline and Edward! Great improv and loved how it still kept the message!"

Coralline and Edward smiled to their seats, laughing with each other on their skit to themselves, particularly the 'plunging' bit.

Jay asked, "Good show, Atkins. You an actress outside?"

"Nah. Two years of improv," she shrugged, "Tuesdays and Thursdays after school."

Dr. Quinzel announced to them all, "That was awesome, guys, truly. You put on a show for each other, for me, and Officer Robinson and Morello. However, the impersonations were fun, but the real reason I got you guys to do that was to try and imagine yourselves in the other's shoes. Empathy starts from relating and imagination— emotionally. We all have our own struggles and having a friend that can relate to our pain can act accordingly to how they would want to be treated. Understanding emotion in ourselves is the first part to empathy, then we can understand it in each other. You guys pretending to be each other was my own fun way of teaching that. You guys did great! Bravo!"

There was only thirty minutes left in the Therapy Room, and Dr. Quinzel was in the observation room doing as she usually did. Observing.

The four patients were at the main table, playing a game of ten thousand with dice as they enjoyed the promised coffee and donuts.

Jay said over the intercom, "You know, Eddie, for a guy who spouts on and on about corruption and lies and hidden motives. I gotta say, you're a real… fucking hypocrite."

Edward replied back softly, "What do you mean?"

"I mean you keep giving all your good rolls to Atkins!"

Coralline was sniggering evilly under her breath, "That's another fifteen hundred for me…"

"What?" Edward fibbed, "She's lucky. I'm just playing it safe."

"You gave her two dice, you simp! You could have rolled that!"

Lazlo cried sadly, "I've been skunked!"

Jay continued, "This 'gesture' of yours is really shitting on my day, Nashton."

"Cry more, Joker," mocked Coralline, "Please."

Dr. Quinzel shook her head and pressed the button to the microphone, "Play nice, you guys. It's just a game of dice."

She giggled to herself and thought, 'Sheesh. At least they are all playing together.'

She heard a buzz on her phone and had half a mind to ignore it. However, the patients were settled, no documentation was needed at the time, she picked it up. A text from an unknown number, attached image. What?

She opened her phone to see what it was, and as her eyes met the photo, her heart dropped. Daniel? Is that you?

The photo was of Daniel outside the Iceberg Lounge, digesting tongues with a woman she didn't know, but judging from her skin fit spaghetti strap dress, she looked like a prostitute. She fought back the tears and her cheeks burned as she scrambled a text back, [Who is this?]

She went back to the picture again, praying she'd find some indication it wasn't him. Maybe a photo from the past? It was him, she could see that clearly. He was wearing a sweater that she gifted him just last Christmas. It was recent, it was him. 'He's cheating on me?'

Then a text back from the number popped, [Are you scared, doctor?]

Her breath was hard, her eyes swelling in tears. She texted back with gritted teeth, [Who the fuck is this????]

No answer. Dr. Quinzel pulled up Daniel's number. She held the phone to her ear as it rang.

'Stay calm. Don't freak out. Just ask him if it's true. But… it is true! The motherfucker is cheating on me!'

The phone rang and rang, no answer. She could not sit and wait as the thought crippled her more and more. The disgust in her stomach from the picture was likeness to the pain of a knife. The tears were coming despite her efforts to keep them back.

'Four years we've been together. Four fucking years. He's been doing this the whole time.'

She grabbed for her radio and called for Morello who was still guarding in the Therapy Room, "Abel 6, this is Dr. Quinzel. We need to end the session and take the patients back to their cells."

"Why?" She replied back quietly to not alarm the patients, but Robinson was close enough to hear it.

"I have an emergency at home I need to get to. Please radio the guards to take them back to their cells."

"Okay."

Morello announced over the intercom, "Okay, guys! We gotta cut this one short. Finish up your game and clean up, you're going back to HRS."

Coralline was the most upset, "Are you fucking kidding me? Why!"

Edward spoke up, "We still have twenty minutes left."

Robinson replied, "Tough titties. We say you go back to your cells; you go back to your cells. Now do as your told."

Jay was looking through the observation glass. He could see Dr. Quinzel hastily gathering her supplies and snatching her lab coat before running out the door.

Dr. Quinzel tapped her heels loudly down the halls as she jogged to the doctor's lounge for her things. Her breath was heavy, she was on the brink of an anxiety attack. As she reached the lounge, there were a few doctors inside chatting. They startled at her distraught entrance.

One of them asked, "Harleen, you alright?"

"Fine. I gotta get home. Can you let the warden know?"

"Yeah, of course. You need help with anything?"

She didn't mean to ignore but it was involuntary. Her only thoughts were of the betrayal. She couldn't stop herself thinking if he had sex with her, if he had a relationship or if it was just a one night stand. If he was texting her still, if there was anything further than just a steamy kiss. She grabbed the rest of her things and speed walked from the doors and to her car outside.

More reporters outside, protestors against Nashton's placement in the trial in the parking lot.

A reporter got into her face, "Dr. Quinzel, do you have anything to say to the unrest here today regarding Nashton?" The reporter followed her through the parking lot.

She snapped, "Get the fuck out of my face! I'm not dealing with your shit!"

The reporter could be heard behind her as she continued to her sedan, "Well, she's in a mood."

The ride home was a battle for breath against sobs. Quinzel's driving was more erratic than usual, adapting well with the other ruthless drivers. She made it to her parking space and drove the car in sideways. She left it as is and marched to the doors untethered in rage. She was ready for a battle, she earned it after the news. Whatever Daniel could bring in the clash was nothing compared to her wrath, she thought.

She came through the doors of her home purposely making as much noise as possible. She threw her purse and coat to the ground lazily, but she held her phone in her hand.

"Daniel!"

She heard footsteps and prepared herself. He came around the corner from the hallway, "Hey babe. You're home early."

"How long?"

He paced his eyes around skittishly, "What?"

"You know what. Who is she?"

"The fuck are you talking about?"

Quinzel growled through her teeth as she pulled the photo up on her phone, "Her! How long?! Who the fuck is she?"

He studied the photo for a moment. His face changing, but she was a psychologist, she knew by heart when he was channeling a lie.

"Don't you fucking lie to me," she hissed, still holding the phone up. He smacked the phone out of his face. She wailed as tears dipped down her cheeks, "Four years, Daniel! Four years! Was she the only one?!"

"Were you spying on me?"

She raised her finger angrily, "That photo was sent to me. I don't know who or why, but it doesn't change what you did. You… asshole!"

He backed away, unsettled, "You're fucking crazy. You're a fucking stalker!"

"Are you serious?!" Quinzel walked after him, "You're going to turn this on me? You were caught! I… I want you… out of my place! Today! I never want to see you or talk to you again!"

"I'm not leaving, this is my place! What the hell did you expect, Harleen?! You're gone all the time! You're a stiff fuck, you just lay there, you're fucking boring! You changed; you expected I wouldn't look elsewhere?!"

"I… want you out of my house. I want you out!"

"Who pays the bills?"

"I pay them, you fucking idiot!"

He walked from the shadow of the hall, his eyes in rage, "The fuck did you just say to me?!"

"I said fucking idiot! Lying asshole!" She pushed him back, "I hate you! You've taken a lot from me! I've forgiven you for more! But I will not forgive you for this!"

"What are you going to do?" He glared at her daringly.

She pushed him back again, "I'll fucking kill you!"

POW

A sudden brunt of pain. Felt worse in the face, then a wallop to the back of the head and shoulder blades as she thumped on the floor. Her sights were hazy and dimming. She could still hear Daniel screaming in muffles above her. She lost consciousness, and a voice said in the back of her head.

"You're something I can't relent, Harleen."