"It was a lie from the beginning?" asked Dr. Leland.

"I think so," replied Batman. "But I'm not sure. No one is ever sure about what goes on in that head of his."

Dr. Leland sighed in relief. "Well, at least we were right. I was about to fear for my own sanity. I mean, if the Joker could be cured, it really would be a mad world, wouldn't it?"

"It already is," murmured Batman. "But I guess it needs to be. Without great evil, great good can't exist. It's only through darkness that light can shine."

"That's very poetic – is that a quote from someone?" asked Dr. Leland.

Batman was silent. "Yes," he muttered, simply. He turned and left the office. Dr. Leland shrugged, and then buzzed the intercom.

"Send her in please."

Harley Quinn was dragged into the room and placed on a chair. The guards left and there was silence. "What did you want to see me about, Joan?" asked Harley.

"I just wanted to know something," murmured Dr. Leland. "It was pretty obvious to me that Joker wasn't taking his rehabilitation seriously from the beginning. But you wanted to believe it, didn't you? Some small part of you actually wanted to believe he was cured. That stuff you told me about wasting your life, the clock ticking, your unfulfilled dreams and ambitions, you were serious about all that. Batman and I knew he was lying all along. Did you know? Did he tell you it was a joke?"

Harley was quiet. "I knew," she murmured. "He didn't tell me, but I knew. He commits himself heart and soul to his gags, though, and sometimes, for a few brief moments, I…forgot he wasn't serious. It was nice to forget for a little while."

She shook her head to clear her thoughts. "But you have to play the cards you're dealt, Joan," she said. "And I've been dealt the Joker. I'm a lucky gal."

Dr. Leland looked at her sadly. "Whatever you say, Harley," she sighed. "Thank you." She buzzed for the guards again.

"What he told everyone, when he was sane, all about how he loved me…that wasn't a joke," murmured Harley, gazing up at her.

"It's nice that you believe that, Harley," replied Dr. Leland, nodding.

"He does love me. He does," insisted Harley firmly, as she was dragged away. Dr. Leland looked after her and sighed again. She sincerely hoped Batman was wrong about Harley never being able to fall out of love with the Joker. But she wasn't optimistic. It was as likely as the Joker being cured. And there was no way to cure the Joker.

The End