The Case Of Harleen Quinzel #TheWattys2017

Chapter 2: My New Patient

The morning light burned bright on Harleen's skin, it was a nice tingle but very unnecessary, especially this early.

"The Joker wasn't like any other patient in Arkham, yes everyone was a little unstable but there's always room for improvement, right?"

I didn't sleep at all last night, it's been a living nightmare lately with all this extra work Dr. Alyce is putting on me. Don't get me wrong, I love my job but sometimes it's a hassle keeping up with everyone.

*RING*

"That must be Joan, she's always checking up on me and making sure I'm alright, I told her about the nightmares I've been having lately and she's understood and backed me up when Jeremiah or Alyce ever wondered what was going on with me, she's truly a good friend."

"Joan, what's going on?" I didn't want to be bothered, this morning was already sucking.

"You do know you start in 10 minutes? Where are you, you're usually here like a half an hour before you start?" Joan was right, this wasn't good. It usually took me about 10 minutes to do my hair and light makeup each, and 5 minutes to get dressed. Yet now I'm gonna have to do it all in seconds.

"Shit!" I never got up faster than now and that probably wasn't a good idea, I pulled my black skinny jeans on my bare legs, it felt very cold and uncomfortable. I think I almost ripped my white blouse while pulling it over my shoulders in seconds.

"I'll be there in 5!" I threw my phone in the disarranged mess of clothes I call a laundry pile, I'm probably never gonna find it again.

I didn't even bother with my makeup, I just pinned my blonde hair up in a bun, half of it came down on my right shoulder. What was I supposed to do now?

Lacing up my black heels, I ran out of the apartment as fast as I could, trying to beat traffic the best I could.

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I was 15 minutes late but it wasn't to bad, Alyce wasn't at work today and Jeremiah was always held up in his office.

"There's the golden haired sleeping beauty, you definitely are a lot of things but tardy is not one of them?" Joan smiled as I ran like a bull into the office, this wasn't good and I was probably gonna get in trouble later.

"I slept in, I've been doing research all night on our recurring inmate." Joan looked shocked, she's known I have an interest in The Joker, he's just so interesting, and treating him would make me a household name in Arkham.

I set my purse down and pulled my notepad, pens and textbooks out on the table across from Joan's. I already knew what she was thinking, I was crazy.

"No matter how many times Joker comes into this Asylum, he'll never get better and he'll always escape. It's a recurring act of pure evil." I knew that wasn't true, Joker never received good treatment and he's never had someone in his life to put him in his place.

"That's not true, if I just got 10 minutes with the man I could get through to him, look how good I'm doing with Red?" I always thought of Ivy as a friend, she was always there when I needed to talk to her and she always listened. Our sessions together was like friend to friend instead of Doctor to patient.

"You mean Plant Lady? She's far from doing well, she poisoned 2 guards this morning. She's anything but alright." Ivy wasn't always the best at self control but she was a good friend, those guards were dicks anyways? Always trying to touch and seduce Ivy.