"Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? So help you God?"

I laid my fingertips on the leather-bound bible. It was cool beneath my fingers. "I swear." My voice rang through the courtroom, bouncing off the high ceiling. The man took the Bible away and stepped down, leaving me in full view of the other occupants in the room. But only one interested me.

The man of my attention was humming quietly, glancing about at the walls. Occasionally, he would chuckle to himself as he absently tugged against his restraints. His green/brown hair was greasy and disheveled, and his makeup horribly smeared. His scarred lips were curled into an eternal smile. The purple coat he wore was still singed from the bomb he had set off not eight hours ago.

The Joker.

"Please address yourself," Judge Cornwick ordered. She picked through the files the prosecutor had given her.

I swept my dark brown hair out of my gray eyes. "Dr. Cynthia Dawn PhD. Current psychologist for Beckfield Asylum." A few heads in the courtroom nodded in approval; I had been well known as one of the best criminal psychologists in the country a few years ago. Which is why I was here.

The judge motioned for the prosecutor to approach the bench and he stood and walked over to the witness stand. I immediately recognized him as Harvey Dent, Gotham's newest DA. I had always respected the man's work, though I didn't know him personally. He took time with his words. "Now Dr. Dawn, would you agree that the Joker's crimes, which range from child murder to terrorism, are vicious."

My eyes found the Joker again, who appeared to be paying no attention to the trial whatsoever. He was still humming under his breath. I followed his movements closely. "Yes," I agreed.

Dent, pleased I was complying, went on. "Would you say he is a danger to our society?"

The Joker started picking at his fingernails, which were still covered in dirt from the warehouse explosion. "Of course," I established, my gaze never leaving the man in question.

Dent started to turn away to address the jurors, for after the following question, he was prepared to announce what should be done about the clown menace. "And would you say the Joker is crazy enough to spend the rest of his days in Arkham Asylum, away from the city that he damages so?"

"No."

At my word, whispers erupted throughout the courtroom. Dent abruptly spun around to meet me with a confused expression. The judge slammed her gavel on the desk, demanding order. But what I was most intrigued by was the Joker's eyes, suddenly alert and curious, flicker to mine briefly before returning to the ceiling. I noticed the slight, almost undetectable stiffening of his posture. Ah-ah. I had thought so. He was listening after all.

Dent rounded on me. "You do not deem this man, who runs about the city in clown make-up, blowing up buildings, killing people, insane enough to be locked away?" His voice was incredulous. The courtroom was silent, waiting for my response.

I fingered my bracelet, which my best friend had given to me almost two decades ago, thoughtfully. "No, I believe this man is perfectly sane, and should be tried as such. If his crimes are worth death penalty or life in prison, then that is what his punishment should be."

Another breakout of chaos arose and the judge once again had to silence them. I noticed with satisfaction that the Joker had stopped humming. Judge Cornwick addressed me and I tore my gaze from the murderer and met the judge's disbelieving expression with a firm one. "Dr. Dawn, do you realize what you are saying? The Joker has been claimed clinically and criminally insane by dozens of psychiatrists, some of who are at your stature even. How can you declare something so outrageous after only a few minutes of watching him? You haven't even spoken with him!"

I raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised with the judge's outburst. "Your Honor, I only call it as I see it. I acknowledge that I may be wrong. However, it is my professional opinion that the Joker is only a very good actor."

A shrill giggle burst from the Joker's lips and all heads in the room turned to him. I waited expectantly for him to say something, but he remained silent. I sighed and turned to Dent. "And just what is it you propose, Dr. Dawn?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Further evaluation?" I suggested. "I believe the Joker must be evaluated until he is deemed, without doubt, as clinically insane. If he is not, then the consequences of his crimes should be enforced."

Judge Cornwick studied me profoundly, though she wasn't the only one. I could feel the Joker's eyes on me as well, but I forced myself to keep my gaze on the judge. "Then I rule that this case be put on hold until proper evaluation of the Joker has taken place and verified. The evaluation will be held daily by Dr. Cynthia Dawn over a month period, in which we will proceed with the results. Until then, the Joker will be held at Arkham Asylum. Court is adjourned." She banged the gavel just as I was opening my mouth to object.

"Wait!" I cried out, jumping to my feet, but my words were drowned out by the crowds filing out of the courtroom and the Joker's malicious laughter as the bailiffs led him to the holding cell in the back. "Wait!" I shouted again at the judge as she stepped down from her podium. I rushed over to her, hastily pulling my purse over my shoulder. "I can't be the Joker's evaluator!" I protested. "I live over eight-hundred miles away! Just where am I supposed to stay?"

Judge Cornwick glanced at her watch as she gathered her files. "The court will pay for an apartment if you wish, Dr. Dawn. It shouldn't be too much of a problem."

My mouth nearly fell open. Not too much of a problem?! "B-but what about my patients? Most need daily care! And my job!" I stammered, still absolutely in a state of disbelief.

She waved her hand about dismissively. "I am well associated with your boss, Dr. Martyrson. And I am sure there is someone who can cover for you. It is only a month. Maybe less if you can reach a verdict before then."

Images of my patients flashed through my mind. Most would only talk to me; it would undo years' worth of work if I wasn't around them for an entire thirty days! "You don't understand, Your Honor…My patients are very unstable. It would cause many serious relapses if they lose the consistency of seeing me everyday. I had to get up at three am this morning so I could fit in their appointments before I got to the airport. I cannot leave them!" When she hardly glanced at me, and after a moment's hesitation, I struggled for a new argument. "I do not evaluate with criminals anymore, Your Honor. I gave up that study a long time ago. I haven't even met with one in four years, since…" My words caught in my throat. "I do not even know if I am still qualified."

She gave me a sympathetic smile, and I felt the sudden urge to hit the judge, but I bit it back. I was very much in control of my impulses, a skill I had to have in my profession. Think first, act later.

I nearly lost it though when she reached out and grabbed my hands. Luckily, I was too taken aback by the gesture that I merely stiffened; I hate being touched. She met my eyes beseechingly. "Dr. Dawn, I know all about the incident, and I am sorry for your loss, but I don't think you understand the importance of this task. The Joker is one of the most wanted criminals of all time. Now that we have him, you cannot imagine how defeating it is to send him away to an Asylum, where he is bound to figure a way to escape." Her fingers tightened against my wrist and my hands started trembling. My mind could barely register anything other than the fact that her skin was in contact with mine. With every passing second, the sensation became more and more unbearable. Let go of me…let go of me…let go of me… was all my thoughts could muster. The room started to spin…

The judge noticed my discomfort and hesitantly released me, a look of perplexity etched in her features. "Is there something wrong Doctor?" he asked in concern. I managed a small shake of my head as I drew my hands away, pulling them out of reach. After a moment's suspicion, she continued. "But now you have challenged the reason that the Joker is being sent to an easy escape. If you are right, the Joker is on a one-way track to death row. So far, you are the only one who has contradicted what many psychologists have simply assumed. If you can find proof that the Joker is conscious of his actions, the courts will be able to finally bring justice." She added resignedly, "Of course, if he is indeed insane, then I suppose the best place for him is the Asylum and perhaps," she met my eyes carefully, "…you might be able to help him. You are a psychologist of course."

Even through my disgust at her touching me, I noticed the pleading in her voice. After analyzing her posture, expression, and words, I came knew that she truly thought I was their last hope. And I didn't like it, not at all.

Despite all rational and however useless I felt the whole thing was, or how frightened I was by the task ahead, I simply nodded and left the courtroom, still fuming at the position I had put myself in. I should've seen it coming, I really should have. Why didn't I just keep my mouth shut and let them put the damn clown in the nuthouse? No, I just had to go and open my big mouth and tell everyone what was running through my mind. I blamed it on the Bible. It's the one that made me tell the truth.

As I got in my BMW, another train of thought floated through my mind. This could actually be interesting… I remembered how intrigued I had been by the Joker, just with the few moments we had spent together in a courtroom. Like I had said, he was a marvelous actor. Only someone that had experienced someone so similar could spot those differences. My stomach squirmed. And had he not been so much like that one patient, I might've actually been looking forward to the case. As I tore out of the parking lot, I felt the anxiety wrap itself around me. History would not repeat itself so long as I had a say in it.

So, review it please so I know whether to focus on this one or my HP one. Likewises, if you have seen this on quizilla, it is mine. Don't go screaming plagarizer. I'm the same writer.