Hush Little Baby

Electric

Harley frowned as he stepped out of his car in to the cold winter air. It was just after ten in the morning and he was late. Very late. His usual shift started at 8 AM and allowing him to finish at just after 5 in the evening.

But unfortunately this morning, he had overslept. He had found that as he lay in bed, that same chilling voice had continued to sing her nursery rhyme inside his head. Also her electric eyes had refused to leave his mind. It was like their shocking blue color had burned itself into his eyelids. He lay in bed for hours, not realizing he had fallen asleep until the buzzing of his phone had startled him awake. He had switched his screen on to see four missed calls from Dr Strange, and four angry voicemails asking him where he was.

Harley had shot out of bed, grabbing a pair of black slacks that were tossed onto the back of his chair and the first shirt from his drawer that he saw. He been out the door within the space of five minutes and driving as fast as he could to work whilst avoiding being stopped and given a ticket.

He flew through Arkham's parking lot, sending a quick wave to the security at the front desk and shooting up the staircase through to the special care unit.

He winced when he saw that Dr Strange was waiting for him behind the entrance door.

"Morning." He greeted.

"Hmm." Dr Strange frowned at him in disapproval. "I've been waiting, Harley."

"I'm sorry." Harley sighed in shame. "I overslept."

"Obviously." His mentor scoffed. "C'mon. The Jokers already in treatment."

Harley tried not to wince. The thought of the woman being put under such stress didn't sit well with him. Just because he was training at the asylum, it didn't mean he agreed with all of their methods.

He walked beside Dr Strange as they made their way down towards the Therapy rooms. Harley found it hard to ignore the low buzzing noise that met his ears that continued to grow louder the closer they got.

They stopped in front of the only closed door and Dr Strange didn't wait or knock before pushing it open and walking in.

Harley followed in behind him, taking note that is was occupied by two of the senior psychiatrists; Dr Williams and Dr Forrester. He glanced at the table and audibly gasped at the sight that met his eyes.

The joker was strapped down with her arms pinned to her sides as she thrashed on the gurney. Harley noticed that her makeup was smeared even more so than yesterday, black streaks of eyeliner running over her temples as her eyes watered from the electric currents that were flooding her brain.

To any one else, it would have looked like she was in pain, had it not been for that loud cackle of hers. It bounced off the walls as the prongs were held to her head.

Harley felt sick to his stomach as he watched her writhe against her restraints. He frowned when he saw the rubber bar/clamp that they usually placed between the patients teeth was still on the tool tray.

"Why isn't she wearing her clamp?" He asked his mentor.

"She always spits it out." Dr Strange shrugged. "Oh. You won't be needing to take her session today. Dr Gray has come back early, and he'll be filling in for you."

Harley gawked at his mentor, Dr Strange not turning to look at him. "But...but I thought I was going to be her Psychiatrist?"

"Yes, well I need her to have a psychiatrist I can rely on. One who shows up on time." Dr Strange glared down at him. Harley didn't miss how the other doctors glanced up at the tone in his voice.