Descent

Chapter 10

Bruce didn't wait around to see Harleen go into the pit, knowing that she was going to be in there for some time. Now might not have been the best time to approach Dr. Arkham, but he didn't give a fuck at this point.

He was seething because even the guards noticed how she cared for these inmates. If it was that noticeable, there was no doubt in Bruce's mind that the Joker would capitalize on it. He would see her kindness for what it was, a weakness. Joker would manipulate her as he did everyone he came into contact with. Using her and discarding her as he did so many others.

To think Bruce had taken him under his wing, so to speak. Of course that was before his dip in the vat of chemicals at Ace. Before Jason had died and been resurrected as the Joker.

Back when he had been nothing but a lost teen, who wanted vengeance for the loss of his family. Bruce had assumed that allowing him to put on the Robin costume would bring him some relief. That the fight for good would ease his bloodlust, as it had his own. Sort of a way of receiving therapy without having to actually sit on a shrinks couch.

Instead Jason had spit in his face and used excessive force. Going out on his own and taking on the persona of the Red Hood. Causing more mayhem then he was stopping. Forcing Bruce to hunt him down like the dog he was. He shook the thoughts from his mind as he entered Dr. Arkham's office.

"So good of you to knock."

Bruce chose to ignore the reprimand in the doctor's voice. There was no need to justify barging in. He could do whatever the hell he pleased when he pleased. He owned most of Gotham anyway.

"Is what I'm hearing true?"

Dr. Arkham rolled his eyes. He hated that Bruce could be more cryptic than the nut cases that they housed. He liked straight and to the point. Not this cloak and dagger crap.

"Depends on what you heard?"

Bruce narrowed his gaze and reconsidered the offer he had made Dr. Arkham. There was no telling what his new drug would do in the hands of a man who still zapped his patients. A practice that was supposed to have stopped in Arkham the first day Batman had put an inmate behind its walls.

"You have a guard that likes to rough up the inmates?"

He made it sound like a question when Dr. Arkham knew it was more of an accusation. That he would now have to answer for something he himself thought was justified pissed him off.

"Briggs has been here a long time. There is nothing I can do about it." Dr. Arkham shrugged and pulled a folder out of his desk draw.

Bruce watched him and knew that whatever he had in the file was to throw him off. "I want him kept away from the Joker."

Dr. Arkham tisked, "I can't do that. Briggs works that wing."

Bruce slammed his hands down on the desk between them. It was taking everything in him to hold back from throttling the doctor. Arrogant ass that he was.

"If anything goes wrong and Harleen is hurt because you can't control...."

Dr. Arkham rose from behind his desk, refusing to be intimidated by this rich asshole. "What is so special about Harleen Quinzel? Briggs, the Joker, and now the almighty Bruce Wayne."

Bruce didn't like the way the doctor was putting two and two together. Sure he was acting a little irrational when it came to Harleen. First arguing she should be hired, and then that she be given high profile patients. So what if he wanted to further her career. If he played his cards right she would be more than willing to thank him any way he saw fit.

"My concern is that she is a woman and no matter what she thinks, those two could chew her up and spit her out."

Dr. Arkham smirked. "And that's the only reason?"

Bruce growled a clear warning to the man before him. But Arkham was having none of it.

"Or the only one you'll cop to?" He waved his hand dismissively. "I don't care what your reasons are. For all I care you could fuck her between patient sessions, but Briggs stays or I pull your new plaything."

"Then get the man under control. You wouldn't want the Commissioner or Batman finding out what goes on here. Would you?"

Both men had shown their hand and neither liked where the other was going. If they didn't calm down Harleen would be pulled from the Joker and all of Arkham's funding from Gotham would be pulled. Bruce would make sure of it.

The dick swinging contest they were having told Arkham that Wayne was a man you didn't fuck with. A man who got what he wanted or brought you to your knees. He was beginning to realize he might have made a deal with the devil himself.

There was nothing for it; Arkham was going to have to back down this time. "I'll keep an eye on Briggs. But that's all I can do."

Bruce was going to have to take it. He needed Harleen on this case. She was the only one that could bring Jason back. And when she had, he planned on facing the man he had once called brother. Then he could finally lay all that shit behind him.

"I'll accept that. Now what do you have in that folder you keep fidgeting with?"

Arkham handed it to him. "Dr. Quinzel's first session notes."

Bruce took the folder and glanced at the papers inside. Things like dissociated identity disorder, and triggers, jumped out at him. He didn't miss that Harleen had surmised that it was the possessiveness of the Joker that made him lose his cool. That something tragic triggered this need to control people and situations, so that he would not have to cope with loss.

It would seem that Harleen thought the Joker had no control over how he acted. That it was just one of his coping techniques. Well, that was bullshit. He had suffered the loss of his parents at a young age too, and he was perfectly fine.

"Thanks, Dr. Arkham." He handed him back the folder. "I'll see myself out."