Descent

Chapter 16

"Damn it." Harleen whispered to herself as she rushed to the therapy room.

Every few moments she would glance at her watch. Before Alfred had dropped her off she asked him to stop at the store. Since she hadn't been home, Harleen had to get the things she needed before heading in.

Today was Sunday, not one of her normal days at Arkham. Any time things were not the norm it worked up her patients. So Harleen always brought them little treats to ease their anxiety. She refused to forgo the tradition and disappoint them.

Fisting the brown paper bag Harleen found herself wishing she could choke Bruce the same way. This was his fault. If he hadn't had one of his spoiled rich boy tantrums last night she wouldn't even be coming in today. Harleen could have just set up a session on Monday with her patients.

But now she had to smooth everything over. Not only would she have to make Edward, Pam, and the Joker promise not to kill each other, but she would have to figure out what she was going to do about Bruce. There was no way she could let what happened last night between Bruce, the Joker, and herself continue.

Glancing at her watch once more she growled. She was so late it was scary, and so was her mood.

"Fucking Bruce Wayne, and his macho shit."

Thank God she had thought to call ahead and have her patients put in the session room for her. Of course she had insisted they all be shackled when she arrived. Not her norm, but she couldn't take any chances. There was no telling what the Joker would do to Eddie if he was left unsupervised. Harleen hoped the peace offerings she carried would smooth things over.

There was no time to throw her lab coat on, so Harleen resigned herself to the fact that she was going to have to work in his dress shirt. She prayed that no one would notice it was a men's shirt. Because she knew that if anything would set Mr. J off it would be this.

"Hey, doc."

Mateo eyed her weirdly and she knew she looked a sight. Her hair was in a riot of curls around her head and she didn't have a stitch of makeup on. Not to mention she was way beyond casual dress.

"Rough, ah....night?" He couldn't hide the chuckle.

She couldn't help but laugh as well. Mateo knew damn well just how bad her night had been, he had been there front and center for the show. Worst of all she was sure the whole damn place knew by now.

Most of the inmates on the ward with the Joker had seen what went down. No telling how many knew since breakfast. Chattier than a bunch of old hens these inmates were.

Harleen glared at him, "You are lucky I like you, or else."

Mateo raised his hands in surrender. He did not want to be on her bad side. Especially since it seemed his boss was into her. Mateo knew if he fucked with her then he would answer to the Joker. Seeing how protective he was of those he called his own was enough to give Mateo second thoughts.

He smiled when a memory came rushing back. Last year the twins were in daycare, and they hated it. Mateo and his wife just couldn't figure out what the problem was. Until of course the Joker had given the little girls stuffed bears, fully equipped with nanny cams.

That night after viewing the footage of the women, who ran the daycare, pinching them when they didn't want to nap, the Joker flew into a rage. Mateo had thought it was so odd. Here was a man who loved chaos and violence, but if it was aimed at children he lost his shit.

Needless to say that Little Farms Daycare was burnt to the ground that night. The owner was pulled in for child abuse, after the footage the Joker had collected was turned into Child Protective Services.