Descent

Chapter 28

The gentle tapping of a pen against the metal table filled the air. Harleen had hoped it would help calm her nerves, but it only seemed to tick off the seconds until that door opened and in walked her one obsession.

She hadn't been able to get his threat out if her head since Wednesday. Every thought imaginable had filled her mind when she lay her head down at night. With a man like the Joker he could have been referencing any number of things, from pleasure to mayhem.

To top it off she goes and has that naughty dream about him. God lord what had she even been thinking about before going to bed to have something like that pop from her subconscious? Hot though the dream was, it was unethical to think of her patient in such a way.

Worse still is that Harleen knew that after watching that video of Batman causing Jason to fall into those chemicals it was going to be hard to hide her pity. In one evening Jason had lost everything. Plunging into an abyss that would make him a prisoner in his own body and mind.

The clinking of the lock disengaging brought her back to the present. The door opened and in walked Mateo with a very docile Joker in tow.

"Good afternoon, doc." He said cheerfully.

"How are you today? The kids?" She smiled sweetly at him.

Harleen took in the sight of the Joker and her breath hitched. He looked worse than he had after his tussle with Edward. There were dark circles under his eyes and he was rocking from side to side. It was a sure sign that this session could go bad fast.

"They're great. You ah, want me to let him lose?"

She stood from her seat and came around the table. "Please, Mateo."

He released the Joker and helped him into the chair. She could see that it took a bit of effort on Mateo's part to keep the Joker upright. Standing to his full height Mateo looked back in Harleen's direction and noticed her new piece of jewelry.

"Hey doc, that is a beautiful choker."

Her hand flew to her throat and she fiddled with the charm. The Joker looked up, even with his unfocused gaze he followed her movements. His gaze devouring her.

The Joker could drink in the sight of his doll all day and never become full. Especially, since she was such a good girl and wore his gift. As he scanned her from head to toe he noticed a small piece of blue satin sticking out of her coat pocket.

It seems she hasn't been as good as we thought. Playing with us the way she is.

The Joker's mind was so dizzy with lack of sleep it took him a moment to realize what the voice was hinting at. But when it clicked he was pissed. So she thought to keep his gift hidden unless she was in front of him? Well, Mr. J was going to have to fix that.

"I have great taste, don't I Matty?" The Joker quirked a brow, just daring Dr. Quinzel to say something.

The point of the gift was to mark her. The Joker was trying to go easy on her. Of course he could have marked her flesh with a few rounds of rough sex, but J had decided that this way would have been best and the rest of them just followed along.

Mateo didn't look shocked. "Oh, well, it's nice of you to treat the doc to something like that. She works hard, and it's nice to know she's appreciated."

Harleen was quick to push the conversation aside. "Thanks Mateo. I'll call you if we need anything."

He waved and stepped out of the room closing the door behind him. Now it was just the two of them and Harleen could really look at him. Rushing forward she kneeled in front of J. Harleen couldn't help but run her fingers over the dark circles under his eyes.