i wouldn't kill to get you back, and i've officially been asked...

[attending_physician]

Harleen Quinzel is not hungover. Harleen Quinzel does not come to work hungover.

But she does have a lingering headache, which probably has more to do with how she wrapped up her work day yesterday than the half bottle of wine she had once she got home.

She's had two cups of coffee and a couple aspirin to go with them this morning, which have taken the edge off. She needs to be here today. For better or worse, today's her next scheduled appointment with the Joker.

They have a lot to talk about.

Comments

[attending_physician]

Well, now.







"I thought I was the one who was supposed to ask the tough questions."

[manofmyword]

"Quinnie," he says, "honey, sweetheart. I never play by the rules. You know that."

[attending_physician]

She's quiet for a long moment.




"I think.

I think whatever I'm doing with you, as...as a person, means I'm not much good to you as a doctor. And maybe that's okay.

And if that means that you don't feel like you can stay here anymore, if that's not what I'm going to be, then that's your decision.

As for me being happy...I don't know how to not be a doctor here, how to not at least try, and I think that's what has me so twisted up because this is--"

She gestures helplessly between them.

"--whatever, but it's not doctor-patient. It hasn't been for a while, and I don't know what to do with it, not here.

So maybe you do need to leave."

Maybe we both do is ready on her tongue, but she presses her lips into a thin line and keeps it tight behind her teeth.

[manofmyword]

"You were never any good to me as a doctor, Quin," he says cheerfully. "I never needed one in the first place."

He gets up and comes around to the side of her desk and puts his hand on her shoulder.

"As a friend, though, you're pretty great," he murmurs. "And maybe I needed one of those."

[attending_physician]

She reaches up and lays one hand over his; her other hand goes digging in her desk drawer.

"Here."

She holds our a paperclip.

"Do me a favor?

Try not to make too big a mess on your way out."

[manofmyword]

...He grins.

"Oh, Quinnie," he says fondly, taking the paperclip and tucking it into a seam with absent ease. "Can I hug you now?"

[attending_physician]

"Yeah, okay."

Harleen stands up.

[manofmyword]

The Joker wraps his arms around her waist and rests his chin on her shoulder.

"It's been fun, peaches," he says. "I'm gonna miss this."

[attending_physician]

She's been a doctor for too long to suddenly ignore the hazards of physical contact with a patient, so she can't help freezing slightly when he touches her.

(She cuts her eyes to the side and confirms that her scissors are right where they should be.)

She laughs softly, a touch startled, and lets her arms slip gingerly around his shoulders. "Me too, I think."

[manofmyword]

He giggles, squeezes, and lets go.

"But I'll see you around," he says, grinning at her. His grin is not any less unsettling at close range. "Promise."

[attending_physician]

"Oh, I was already counting on it."

He's leaving. She didn't think that meant for a second she'd be rid of him.

[manofmyword]

"Somebody's bound to get fussy at you if I just walk out right now," he muses. "D'you wanna send me back to my cell first?"

[attending_physician]

"Less suspicious," she allows.

"Alright, let's take a walk."

[manofmyword]

"Okay, Dr. Quinzel," he says with bright innocence.

[attending_physician]

"Well."

She cracks her knuckles, smooths imaginary wrinkles out of her top.

"After you," she says, moving around him to hold the door open.

[manofmyword]

He steps out cheerfully into the hall, hands clasped behind his back, harmless as you please.

[attending_physician]

Harleen locks up her office and escorts him back to his cell.


Well.


"Gives a convincing performance of escorting," anyway.

[manofmyword]

The Joker gives a convincing performance of being escorted. His gaze wanders all around the hall and he giggles to himself at odd intervals, but neither of those things is really remarkable in context.

When they arrive, he pauses in the doorway (out of view of any cameras) and winks at her over his shoulder.

And then he steps docilely into his cell.

[attending_physician]

Sweet Christ, she's actually doing this.

She's going to let this happen.




"You take care of yourself, now," she murmurs under her breath.

She locks the door.