In Another Life IV

Chapter 12

She awoke, coughing and sputtering, to see a dark shape bent over her. It drew its mouth away from hers as she drank in deep, shuddering gulps of air. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw that she was soaking wet, and lying on a riverbank. And above her, also dripping wet, was a man she knew...Jack...Mr. J...the Joker.

He wasn't smiling now. His face was utterly serious as he studied her curiously with his bright, green eyes. He almost looked confused, but when he noticed she was looking back at him, his normal grin resumed.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, Doc!" he chuckled. "Can you walk?"

"I...I dunno," stammered Harleen, trying to sit up. A low, throbbing pain suddenly shot through her skull, and she moaned, holding up a hand to her forehead. She drew her fingers away to see blood on them.

"Nasty bump," he said, standing up and holding out his hand to her. She took it and he pulled her to her feet. She felt suddenly dizzy, and collapsed. He caught her, and she felt his strong, thin arms holding her tightly. They felt so safe and familiar...

"Can't walk, huh?" he sighed. Then he lifted her up, carrying her like a child away from the riverbank. Harleen was still trying to process what had happened, but it was difficult to think when she was being held like this, leaning against his chest so that she heard every beat of his heart...

She began shivering. "Cold?" he asked. She nodded. "Just hang on a second – we're gonna be someplace warm soon."

"We hit the river..." murmured Harleen.

He laughed. "Sure felt to me like the river hit us!" he chuckled. "Like a punch to the face! Women drivers, I tell ya – useless!"

She stared up at him in confusion. "You saved me."

"Guess so," he agreed.

"Why?" she asked. "Why didn't you let me die?"

He sighed heavily. "Y'know, toots, I just busted outta the nuthouse, so the last thing I want is a lotta questions, ok? Can't you shrinks just stop interrogating people for one minute?"

Harleen nodded and was silent, clinging onto him. They reached the road, and a second later, a pair of headlights appeared in the darkness as a car pulled up next to them.

"Here, Roc, give me your coat," said Joker, as a man climbed out of the car. He was surprised, but obeyed, and Joker draped it over Harleen as he gently lay her down in the backseat.

"Uh...boss...I thought the plan was no witnesses..." began Rocco.

"Plans change," retorted Joker, as he climbed into the passenger seat. "Just get us back to the hideout."

"Yes, sir," said Rocco, starting up the car again. Harleen began to feel drowsy under the rumbling motion and the hum of the engine, and she felt herself falling asleep. She was shaken violently awake a second later.

"You stay with me, ok, kid?" whispered a voice she knew.

She nodded and murmured, "Ok, Jack."

Time was a blur after that. She felt herself being moved, maybe into a bed, but her delirious state between waking and dreaming made time and space difficult to discern. "Jack!" she called, opening her eyes hours, days, or weeks later.

Someone squeezed her hand. "Yeah, I'm here, kiddo."

The voice was familiar, and she was relieved. "Jack," she breathed. "I had the most horrible dream. I dreamed that you and I were different somehow, and we didn't remember each other. It was so scary, Jack."