Disclaimer: I don't own Batman, DC comics, or WB. This is a weird alternate universe where Crane didn't lose-it (He actually not that nuts in this fic.) teaching his college class and ends up being Becky's Psychology Professor.

…

Friday, April 9, 1998

…

For Jonathan Crane, it was a normal morning; the sun came up and barely visible through the thick Gotham fog. He slowly drove the fifteen miles to work in thirty minutes, double his usual time. The man swiped his pass and maneuvered his beat up old Ford in between Arkham's gate.

Early, regardless of his slow pace.

He wasn't paid hourly however, he liked to put in the extra effort that all of his patients seemed to require. Walking past the security officers he patiently waited as they performed the standard searches. Finally, he made it to the door that read:

Dr. Jonathan Crane
Head Psychiatric Ward

Pulling out his keys, he smiled.

It had taken a long time to get to this point in life. To think he'd actually turned down the Head Director's job; Crane's smile began to disappear. His key unlocked the door and he turned the knob. The main reason for declining the position was that he wanted to expand his career over at the University but the real reason was much more personal.

Linda Fritawa.

It had been a while since he'd broken up with the power hungry bitch. Jon shuttered remembering when she told him how she would use him to climb the corporate latter. He actually thought she loved him. Instead it was Armadas Arkham, son of the original founder, who received the job.

Crane opened the door and turned on the light. Jonathan's brief case hit the floor as his stomach churned at the sight of his boss & ex sprawled over his desk. They were naked and still in the missionary position. Slowly, Crane turned the light back off, picked up his brief case, and backed out the door.

Picking up speed, he made his way down the hall; Crane pushed himself into the nearest men's room. Entering the first stall he threw up his breakfast of black coffee. Jonathan's face was ashen white, his knuckles turning the same shade as he held the side-handles on the stall.

His boss… and hi-his ex…

Jonathan gave another dry heave. Maybe today he would choose to call out sick. Making his way out of the building Jonathan groggily drove home. With any luck, work at the University tomorrow would take his mind off a few things.

…

Saturday, April 10, 1998

…

"Excuse me, Professor?"

"Yes, Miss Albright?"

"You wished to speak with me?"

Jonathan Crane was a middle-aged man who was entirely too thin, wore a pair of black rimmed bottle glasses, and preferred books over people. He had thinning brown hair that looked more like hay and enlarged light-blue eyes which were currently taking in the young woman's form as he acknowledged her presence.

"Ah yes." He adjusted his glasses. "Rebecca, do you know why you're in my office?"

"Um, it's… Becky, and no Sir, I don't."

Crane noticed the girl tighten her grip on the cane she held. Nervous, he thought. An entirely uninteresting emotion, he liked it better when his students feared his meetings.

"Becky, well, it seems while you take pride in the work my class offers, you disregard showing up on time."

"But Professor-"

"I do not wish to hear excuses Miss Albright, and as for the future, if you don't start making your way into my class at the appropriate time I will be forced to remove you from my roster. Understood?"

"Yes, Professor Crane."

Crane pushed his glasses up his nose once again as he watched her get up and leave his office. Jonathan leaned back in his chair. To be honest he didn't have time to worry about some student who was late to his class every other day. Becky Albright was a delightful student otherwise, always paying attention and participating in the classroom. The girl was young, just starting out in life, and near the end of her law education. He could have cut her some slack, but he wasn't like the other teachers at the University, and wondered momentarily what she needed the cane for.

"What a bother." Shaking off his train of thought he looked up at the clock. "Ah, finally…"

Jonathan gathered the papers on his desk and deposited them in his briefcase. It was time for him to go home. Maneuvering around the obstacles in the classroom he made his way towards the door. Crane stopped to notice the cane that was propped up against the chair in front of his desk. Pressing a finger to his temple, he wondered if the girl wasn't half way across campus by now.

"Grrreat..."

…

Sunday, April 11, 1998

…

Crane was frustrated. He looked over at the cane that was propped up against the seat of his car. For someone who needed a cane to walk, Rebecca Albright managed to walk fast enough without it. Unfortunately, a forgotten cane wasn't the only thing making him irritable. The thought of having to go into work the next day at the Asylum weighed heavily on his shoulders.

Jonathan had no idea how to face his boss or Linda without strangling either of them. The thought had him driving a bit faster than he should have. So, in no amount of time, Crane arrived early at the main building of the campus for his Sunday class.

Grabbing the cane and his brief case Jonathan started walking the usual trek, a shortcut that went passed the campus gym. His gate was long, quirky, and gangly. Only on those few evening, while practicing his martial arts, were any of his usual movements graceful. Adjusting his glasses Jon began to pull out his keys for his morning class.

Then he heard a woman scream.

Instantly, he knew it was the sound of fear. Fear happened to be his psychology major and overall study/obsession in life. The sound of pure terror tempted him to find the source. Following the beautiful vocal call Jonathan traveled towards the gymnasiums locker-room.

The woman's locker-room to be specific.

Insecure on whether to enter or not Crane hesitated. However, the second much more painful scream made up his mind. Entering the bathroom, he walked in on a very disturbing sight, one that brought him back to his own childhood. On the floor lay one of his students, Rebecca Albright, surrounded by three other girls who were using their cigarettes to burn her thighs. He watched the girls repeat the process, witnessing their victim emit a third scream, and Crane had seen enough.

"Excuse me?" He said in a tight voice, sure to send jolts of fear down their spines.

The three girls, all of which appeared to belong to the infamous Alpha Fraternity, scrambled to the back door located in the bathroom. Crane didn't follow; he'd seen their faces and would be able to recognize them. Jonathan promptly rushed to his wounded student's side.

"Miss Albright?"

Becky managed to hold her conscious long enough to look up at him, then fainted in his arms. Unused to being somewhat of a hero, he simple sat holding the young woman to his chest. Studying Rebecca's face he noticed that her eyelashes were long, the even distribution of freckles, and the soft pout of her lips. His body seemed to simultaneously harden & soften as he drank in her appearance.

"Now what?"

…

Sunday, April 11, 1998

…

Crane tried to sleep in a chair out in the waiting room. After a long five minutes clutching an unconscious woman in a Ladies restroom, he ended up canceling all of his Sunday classes in order to take Miss Albright to the hospital. It was something he didn't have to do, mind you.

As it turned out his late-student had been late for a reason. The three girls, Jess, Tonia, and Sidney of the Alpha Fraternity were the cause of her troubles. Of course, that had been just the tip of the iceberg.

Rebecca Albright was going to college on a sports scholarship. This he'd found out when going through her purse, purely he told himself, to find her medical information. Rebecca was a bright girl, but she was secretly cheating the system.

Jonathan smiled.

He'd seen the potential she had to offer and admired it. The girl was young; she had beautiful messy auburn hair and a set of hazel eyes. Her face was dusted with tiny freckles, her body almost as slim, and possibly as malnourished, as his was.

In the few moments, just before he was about to call an ambulance, Crane saw the opportunity. What if he found a way to curve his future heartache? What if… he blackmailed his student into dating him?

"Professor? Miss Albright wishes to talk to you."

Crane looked up at the nurse with a devious smile on his face and proceeded to get up and follow her towards his student's room. Rebecca sat propped up on the bed facing a blank TV. 'This whole situation must be a bit embarrassing for her.' Jonathan thought.

"Miss Albright?"

"Becky, please, Professor Crane."

"If you insist, Ms. Becky. And I prefer Jonathan, when not in class..." He smiled at her watching as she returned the favor. "How are you feeling?"

"Uh, better?" Her cheeks reddened. "Prof-oh, um, Jonathan, I just-"

"Becky?" Her eyes locked with his. "I want to propose an offer to you…"

…

Sunday, April 11, 1998

…

"Excuse me, Professor?"

"It's a simple proposition, Rebecca." Becky gave Crane a hard look.

"There is no way in hell that I'll b-be your girlfriend! I'm your student for crying out loud."

Crane sat up in the chair in front of her. The door was still closed, locked. He pushed his glasses up. "You don't seem to understand what I'm offering, Miss Albright. I won't tell the Dean you're cheating him out a soccer player, you're future offenses shall be curved, and all you have to do is pretend you're dating me." He pushed his glasses up once again. "It's not like I'm asking you to have sex with me."

Becky's face turned red as she turned away from her professor. She was truly starting to hate taking her brothers advice and cheat with her scholarship. She turned his proposition over in her mind; his offer wasn't unreasonable.

"What happens if we get caught?"

"Trust me, we won't get caught."

"How do you know that?"

Crane laughed and took his glasses off. Standing up he came to the edge of her bed and sat down. Placing his glasses in his pocket he placed both hands on hers. Becky flinched and looked up at him.

"I've got this all planned out, my sweet."

He stared at her. His blue eyes seemed to cut into her, daring her to test him, making her for a moment… fear him. When did her professor become so creepy?

"I-if I agree you won't suspend me for being late?"

"Everything will be annulled and any future lateness shall be overlooked, my brave girl."

Cranes hands tightened on hers and Becky bit her lip. If they got caught it would be the end of her law degree. On the other hand, she'd never have to worry about being late, and the girls from the fraternity wouldn't be bothering her anytime soon. Plus, she thought with a smile, she could always turn this blackmail thing on him…

"You've got a deal Professor Crane."