Rise of Harley Quinn Jr.

Madhouse

"The patient is awake." A male voice said.

Barbara opened her eyes and saw two doctors in front of her. One of them didn't look like he was out of college yet, with blonde hair and bushy eyebrows. The other doctor also looked like she wasn't out of college, but also familiar like Barbara has seen this person before. Unfortunately at the moment, Barbara was drawing up blanks.

She tried getting up, but Barbara quickly realized she was strapped down to a medical table.

The blonde doctor looked at her colleague. "John, I think I can take it from here. She seems to be more open with just me around. I think if you remain you'll just upset her."

John nodded his head and walked out of the room, leaving only Barbara and the other doctor in the room.

"Where am I?" Barbara asked.

The blonde doctor pulled up a chair and sat down. She had a small clipboard in her hands and a pencil, ready to take down notes.

She smiled. "You are in Arkham Asylum, Miss Gordon." The doctor said.

"How long have I been here?" Barbara asked.

The blonde doctor gave her a strange look but answered her question. "Almost a year and a half. You've been in my care since February. Since that day, I've been your personal doctor." She answered.

A million thoughts went through Barbara's mind. First off, how did she get here? And why did she suddenly have a doctor? Barbara didn't have one, at least to her knowledge, only patients had doctors. They needed doctors because it was necessary for rehabilitation, necessary for them to one day hopefully re-enter society as civilians once again.

In the old days, doctors were mainly for people that had trouble fitting in. But after Blackgate Pennitentary was decommissioned due to poor management and after the rise of Super Villians, Arkham Asylum housed different patients. Each and every single one of them required doctors and psychiatric help. Most also needed intense medication or even special treatments.

But that was only for patients. Why was Barbara here then? Why was she given a doctor?

A very grim idea formed in the heroine's mind. She looked at the blonde doctor. "I'm a patient here, aren't I?" She asked, worried.

The doctor looked up from her clipboard in the middle of writing something. "Are you having amnesia? You're asking some rather peculiar questions. I guess you can't remember my name either."

Barbara shook her head. "No, I don't recall who you are." She said.

The blonde doctor sighed. "Figures...Perhaps the medication you've been given is too strong, or maybe even powerful. I guess I'll have to give you something else." She said, not answering Barbara's question.

Barbara was annoyed. The doctor still hasn't mentioned who she was, or if Barbara was a patient here at Arkham Asylum. She figured she was now, but it wasn't intentional, it wasn't supposed to happen. Scarecrow did something to her, maybe to the staff. Or maybe he was trying to make her see something. Only, this wasn't a part of Barbara's past.

"As foolish as this is, I guess it's only natural. Trauma naturally affects people, even the mentally ill, it causes people to block suppressed memories. Our brains try to hide memories of traumatic events, just like in your case, but I'm not quite sure why you don't know me. As far as I know, that shouldn't be happening. So tell me, are you playing a game with me right now, Miss Gordon?"

"No, it's just I can't recall anything. Could you please tell me your name, doctor?"

The female doctor smiled. "I'm Harleen...Harleen Quinzel. Does that ring any bells for you?"

Barbara felt her pupils enlarge upon learning that information. She knew that name all too well.

"What?" Barbara asked.

"Harleen," The doctor repeated. "I said my name was Harleen Quinzel. Are you having problems with your hearing?"

Barbara's heart started beating faster and faster. She couldn't believe what she just heard. But it was starting to make sense, she understood why this doctor seemed familiar, Harley and Harleen were both blondes and built the same. There were a couple of differences between Harleen and Harley, but they were virtually the same, same in every way.

"Where is Joker?" Barbara asked, her lip beginning to quiver.

"What do you mean? There isn't anyone named "Joker" in this facility. To my knowledge, this person isn't in Gotham either. Is this "Joker" a friend of yours? Perhaps something to hide what you've experienced?" Harleen asked, crossing her arms.

"What about Batman, or Robin?" Barbara asked.

"There isn't anyone with those names. Are you alright today, Miss Gordon? Do you need a new medication, maybe a session? Or maybe a group session? I think you would benefit greatly from that. Group therapy helps accelerate the healing process. It's happened to multiple patients that are like you."

A sour expression formed on the doctor's face. "Unless this is a game just like last time."

"So, I am a patient," Barbara said, stuttering. "I'm in Arkham Asylum for that reason, right? I'm a patient?

Harleen put her clipboard and pencil on the ground. "Look at yourself and see, Miss Gordon. Look at what you are wearing right now." Harleen told her.

Carefully, Barbara looked at her clothes. She was shocked at what she saw. No longer was she wearing her Batgirl outfit. No, she now wore the typical outfit all patients in the Asylum wore; all-white shirts and pants.

"No, how is this possible?" Barbara asked.

Harleen sighed. "I keep telling you over and over again. Do I need to explain everything to you?" She asked, getting annoyed.

"I don't know what trick you and The Joker are planning, Harley. But the GCPD will come here, my dad will come here." Barbara told her, an angry expression on her face.

But everything she said, just seemed to confuse Harleen more. "Miss Gordon, Your father can't come here even if he wanted to. It's nothing I or the staff have done, but something happened. That's exactly why you are here."

"What happened?" Barbara asked, struggling to speak.

A serious expression formed on Harleen's lips. "He's dead, Miss Gordon. It happened well over a year ago. It's the very same reason you are here, Miss Gordon. You stabbed your father to death, laughing maniacally. Soon after that, you were caught by the police and charged with first-degree murder. Luckily though, you were brought under my care."

"No," Barbara said, tears forming on her face, getting ready to cry. "That's impossible."

"Unfortunately not, everything I said is true. You've just been in denial for a year and a half, coming up with imaginary friends. Sometimes you would imagine these adventures and super-criminals. The truth is hard and difficult, but that is the first step to curing your insanity, the first hurdle we must overcome. I hope the rest of the obstacles in the foreseeable future, won't be as difficult. At least now that you've understood what happened." Harleen said.

Barbara started crying and Harleen could see she was saying too much. With one final look, she walked out of the room.