Descent

Chapter 38

"What the hell was that about, boss?"

Mateo didn't need to explain, the Joker knew what he was bitching about. He saw the tears that Harley was trying to hide. After telling Johnny that he wanted to keep her safe from scumbags he was the one to hurt her.

"She needs to know this can't happen. Not now. Not ever."

"So you're just going to give up?" Mateo asks as he walks the Joker back to his cell.

No he wasn't giving up. The Joker thought of it as giving her a chance. She didn't need someone like him in her life. Harley needed someone who could give her the life she deserved. But even that thought sent the Joker into over active possession mode.

Shaking his head he said, "Its what's best for her."

It was. He knew that there was no one strong enough to survive him. The Joker might have known that he and J cared for her. But he also knew that Mr. J thought of her as a possession. Someone to use when the need arose, and discard without a thought, he would treat her worse than Jimmy ever had. There was no way he could allow her to be treated that way.

"So now what?"

"Call Johnny, tell him it's time."

The Joker walked into his cell and headed over to his cot. He planned to rest until his men came to get him. Then he would be far enough away from Harley that she would forget him. Though he knew that he would never forget the one woman in his life that actually made him feel whole.

What's with all the mushy shit, J. She is just another chick. A dime a dozen.

The Joker couldn't stop the annoyed growl that left his lips. Mr. J was going to need to shut up or he would do something to make Dr. Arkham shock their ass.

"What are you still doing here, Matty?"

"I think we should take the doc with us."

He craned his neck so that he was looking right at Mateo. He hated when his men, no matter how loyal thought to speak against his plans. The Joker could see it took a lot for him to voice his opinion and he decided to give him this one.

"Really? And why is that?" He asks cocking his brow.

Oh crap, Mateo thought. He knew that tone. The Joker used it with rival gang leaders. It was his do you think you're in charge voice. It was often directed at men before they died. But he also knew that the Joker honored bravery. So he forged ahead.

"Because you care..." At the annoyed sound the Joker made Mateo changed his tactics. "The doc, she cares for you. It wouldn't hurt to keep a lady around."

His audacity had the Joker laughing. "You think so? For what?"

Mateo shrugged. He had no idea what the Joker would do with a woman like the doc. He knew what most sane men would want to do with her. But his boss was anything but sane. And when it came to the doc and other guys he was even less so.

All he knew was that he himself was a better person because he had Viv in his life. Mateo wasn't about to kid himself, he wasn't a good guy, but she made him a better man. He knew that was what the doc did for the Joker, and that was why Mr. J was pushing her away.

"Its good to have a lady in your life."

The Joker finally sat up. He didn't want to have this conversation with Mateo. Hell, he wouldn't even have it with Johnny. But it seemed his loyal man wanted to council him. The Joker was going to humor him.

"Again Mateo, what would I do with the doc. She is too delicate for our lifestyle."

He cringed at the thought of Harley going out with them to rob banks, or face off with rival gangs. The Joker knew that if she was in his life he would want her at his side at all times. Other Gang lords would see her as his weakness, and she would be caught in the cross fire.

It was Mateo's turn to chuckle. "The doc? Holy shit, I know you're not blind."

No he wasn't. The Joker saw how tough she was. It was in the way she handled others. From Briggs, to himself. The doc didn't take shit from anyone.

Of course she wasn't the most dominate of personalities, but he knew that was because of the life she lead. And after what she had gone through there was no way she wouldn't fit into his world. Her time with Jimmy and her mother was a baptism through hell.

But none of them realized that no matter what else she had survived, he feared it would be him she didn't. Mr. J was sadistic at best. On a bad day, and he had a lot of them, Mr. J was downright evil.

"He could hurt her and I wouldn't be able to stop him." There was deep anguish in his voice at the thought of hurting Harley.

Mateo scoffed. "We can watch out for you both. Johnny and I."

That had the Joker thinking back to the bracelet Harley had on. He was sure it was Johnny who sent it to her. He was also sure that the bullet had been pulled from Mario's body.

"Did Frost say anything about Mario?"

The Joker watched as Mateo gulped. Oh yes, his boys had planned something and they hadn't run it by him first. He would have to find out what they did before he decided on their punishment.

He held up his hands in a sign of surrender. "Boss, we only wanted to shake up the old man."

The Joker tisked. "Tell me what you two did."

"Johnny made sure he'll never walk again without assistance."

A wicked smile crossed the Joker's red lips. "Well then I guess as long as he is still alive for me to have some fun with, I don't have to take it out of your hides."

Mateo figured the boss was in a good mood so he would push forward, "The doc looked upset today. You are ah, going to need to fix that." The Joker cocked a brow at him. "I mean if you...ah...still want to maybe take her with us. Just a thought."

"Have Johnny send her flowers from Pam's shop. An Orchid plant would be nice."

Moving towards the door Mateo smiled, "Sure boss, the doc might like that."

"Tell Johnny I need another two weeks. And not to forget to bring a bat when he comes."

Mateo laughed. "I guess fat boy is finally gonna get his."

"Indeed he is." The Joker said as he watched Mateo leave the cell.

Finally alone with his thoughts he began to wonder if Mateo and Johnny weren't right. Harley seemed to ease the tension he felt.

Most times she was able to break through to him. Calm the raging hate that set off Mr. J. It wasn't as if she changed him, she just gave him something else to do other than cause mayhem.

She had been the only woman he had wanted to keep close. Not since before his dip at Ace had J wanted to care for a woman the way he wanted to with Harley. He just worried that she would get hurt in the end.

Mr. J didn't take to kindly to the way she sassed them. If J was being honest it only pissed him off when she did it in front of other people. J liked that she was able to stand up for herself. It proved the point both Mateo and Johnny were trying to make.

Maybe we'll take her after all.

Sighing the Joker ran a hand through his hair. Then he remembered that she had said she was seeing Bruce tonight. Fuck, he groaned. There was no way he was going to win her heart if he kept pushing her into the Bat's arms.