Descent

Chapter 15

The entrance hall was dark save for the light coming from beneath the study door. Bruce tried to make his way across the hall and up the stairs to his room silently. But with a passed out Harleen in his arms it wasn't easy.

The door opened and Alfred emerged with a book in hand. When he noticed Bruce he placed his finger in the book to hold his spot and tilted his head to the side, examining his bundle.

"I didn't expect you to bring home take out."

Bruce could hear the reproach in his old friend's voice. He knew this had to do with Selena. Alfred made it perfectly clear what he thought of the woman. How she was good for him, and that they understood each other.

Though he knew different. Selena was a criminal and he was Batman. It was his job to put people like her behind bars, and yet he failed at every turn when it came to Selena.

"This is Dr. Quinzel, from Arkham."

Alfred quirked a brow, "Shall I ready the guest room?"

Bruce was halfway up the stairs, "That won't be necessary. Harleen will be staying in my room."

There was no way he was going to let that slip. Alfred hurried to catch up to them. "So she will be replacing Mistress Selena?"

He watched as Bruce stiffened, waiting for the argument that always seemed to come at this point. When he turned to face Alfred the older man noticed just how tired he was.

"If you really need to know...Harleen is just a means to an end."

"Someone to scratch an itch. I see." His words were accusing.

Making it to his room, Bruce placed Harleen down on the bed. Moving over to the liquor cabinet he took out a bottle of 80 year old Scotch. Pouring a glass he downed it in one swallow, and poured another.

"She is the one caring for Jason."

It was only a whisper but Alfred heard it and his heart clenched. Master Jason, how he had missed him. He was a little more of a handful than Master Bruce had been at his age. But that was what Alfred loved about him. Where Bruce had been sullen and withdrawn, Jason had faced life head on and always with a pithy comment.

"Has she spoken to him?"

Bruce tried to steady his hand as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass. Shrugging he turned a weary gaze to Alfred. "I'm not sure. But god, Alfred you should see the way she fusses over him."

"I don't see the problem. It's part of her job."

They both knew that wasn't the whole truth. Alfred had a way of seeing deeper into people's motives, and what he was gathering from Bruce's behavior was that it wasn't just her job that had her fussing over the Joker.

Alfred shivered at the name. He hated thinking that Master Jason was stuck somewhere inside that crazed mind. But if what Master Bruce was saying was true, perhaps the doctor could do him some good.

Flopping down in the chair, he turned his gaze to Harleen's sleeping form. "Is it part of her job to have dinner brought to his cell? Or allowing him to flirt with her? Or trying to put me in my place in front of him?"

Alfred hummed in understanding and Bruce knew he was getting ready to give some sage advice.

"What bothers you more Master Bruce...that she sees something that can be loved in Jason or that you don't see the same in yourself?"

"A monster can't be loved. He is manipulating her."

"If the rumors are true about how smart she is, Dr. Quinzel will see the difference."