Descent

Chapter 9

Harleen rushed to the asylum not realizing she was being followed. All she cared about was getting to her destination, and checking on her patients. Brawling was so out of character for Edward that she could only imagine what might have gone down in that dining hall.

There was no telling what had happened. Mateo had said something about Arkham doping the Joker and Briggs zapping him. Though what actually happened in the dining hall he wasn't sure.

Sighing she turned into the drive that lead to Arkham Asylum. Behind her a sleek Maserati followed, with Bruce Wayne in the driver's seat. If she had even half her senses she would have noticed that he had been following her the entire trip, but right now she was worried about damage control.

When Harleen had received the call and rushed from the gala Bruce had a feeling it had to do with her newest patient. He had called Dr. Arkham and found out that for reasons unknown the Joker went nuts on the Riddler.

The incident had Arkham threatening to pull Harleen from the Joker's case. Something that Bruce couldn't let happen. He needed her to crack the psyche of the Joker and bring back the man he once knew.

He had rushed right out after her. Knowing that if the doctor had been called back to the asylum things there were definitely messy. It wasn't that a big deal for him to drive out here as he was supposed to come up after the gala anyway.

What was a big deal was him leaving Alice Wentworth standing there in a fit of annoyance and the paparazzi seeing him follow hot on Dr. Quinzel's heels. Bruce knew the tabloids would be abuzz tomorrow. Knowing that more than one person had seen him that evening with the doctor talking in private. Then she rushes out and he's chasing after her.

Oh yes they would be the talk of the town. Bruce sighed at the thought.

The only bright side was that now he would have Alice off his back and he would be free to pursue the beautiful doctor.

Harleen was beside herself after the call. If what Mateo had said was true, the Haldol and the zap would have had an adverse effect on the Joker. It would not have taken much to set him off. It had her wondering why he had been tased in the first place.

Hadn't she warned Briggs not to hurt the Joker and yet it seems he had. He had been crossing the line too often lately. Sexual harassment, manhandling the inmates, and now he went against a direct order. She was going to make sure his ass was in a sling when she got there.

Pulling into her designated spot Harleen turned the car off and rushed towards the towering edifice that was Arkham. The building was as big as the ego of the man it was named after and to someone who didn't know better just as intimidating. Though she did know better, Arkham was a pushover, so long as you stroked his ego.

Mateo rushed towards her as soon as she entered the hallway. He ushered her towards the hallway leading to the west wing.

"Dr. Quinzel, thank God." He muttered in relief.

"Let's not thank him yet. Can you tell me what happened to the Joker? Is he ok?"

He rubbed his chin, not knowing everything but he was going to tell her what he had gotten from the boss. Mateo was sure that it was the truth the way the Joker remembered it. That was all that was going to matter when the doc went in to see him.

Neither of them noticed Mr. Wayne enter the building. He made sure he stuck to the shadows and listened to what passed between guard and doctor. Slipping one of his ear pieces in that allowed his alter ego better hearing, he soaked it all up.

"Well doc, when the Joker was brought back to his cell after your session yesterday Briggs and him got into an altercation."

Harleen drew in a gasp and Mateo could see the worry etched on her face. "He's ok now, doc, so don't worry."