Thanks for checking this out! I don't own Gotham or Batman or any of the other amazing characters therein. But man, do I love to play in their sandbox. Hope you enjoy.

(x)

5 years ago

Gotham City

"So what brings you here, Mrs.-?"

"As I said, no names can be spoken. Not when you tape your sessions."

"Right. No, I'm sorry. You did say that. So, what brings you here today?"

"Let's see. I work raising funds to give the poor and sick children of Gotham food, homes, a better start, maybe even a better life. At first, I just worked on the financial side of things, but about a year ago I decided that I wanted to take a more active role. I went out into the homes where we were rescuing the children. They lived in crack dens and brothels and worse, if you can imagine it."

"That takes guts, you know, and commitment to face something like that. You must care for them deeply."

"Yes, of course."

"But... you're talking about it like you still haven't told me the worst part."

"The worst part was that the children didn't want to leave, even though their parents were drug addicts and abusive and sometimes even murderers. The children didn't hate them. They hated us. Because we were ripping them out of the arms of the only family they'd ever known."

"Would horrifying be a good word to describe it?"

"Yes."

"Right, but I think it's worse than that. I think what you saw was the stuff of nightmares."

"Well, yes. That's actually the reason I'm here."

"I read in the paperwork that you have a spouse and you both have a child together. Does your family show up in your nightmares, too?"

Her voice didn't betray her, but her face held tears. "Yes."

The doctor said, "So you watch what crime and abuse does to the children of Gotham. Then, you fall asleep at night and the same atrocities take place in your dreams. Except they happen to those you love most."

"What can I do? How do I make it stop?"

The doctor pointed in one sweeping motion to the walls and floor of the office before making eye contact once more. "That's what this is. Here. We make it stop in here."

"How?"

"By meeting here. Weekly. Talking about the trauma gives it less power. We'll work to make the monsters go away together."

(x)

Present Day

Gotham City

Jim sat at his desk, looking over paperwork, when a brown paper bag dropped down in front of his face. He blinked and looked up into the face of his partner. "Good morning."

"Got you breakfast, honey," he sang. Harvey sunk down into his swivel chair with his own breakfast sandwich across from Jim.

"Didn't you hear? I'm taken."

"Could you be a little more homophobic, please? You're wearing the same clothes you had on yesterday. I figured you could use a pick-me-up."

Jim sat back in his chair. He reluctantly set aside his paperwork and inspected the contents of the paper bag. Bacon, egg, and cheese with ketchup on the side. His partner knew him well. He took out the sandwich and glanced at Harvey. "You're up early."

"What can I say? I love the smell of car exhaust, sewage, and hangovers in the morning."

Jim smirked in response.

Harvey asked, "So the all-nighter? Did it pay off?"

"I guess we'll have to find out later. I'm still workin' it. Everybody who knew Jamar Torres said he had a drug problem, but none of them believed he'd take heavy drugs while he was on the job."

"An addict is an addict is an addict. It's not like they clock out from their habit like they clock out at work."

"I'd agree with you, but Torres goes from having a clean driving record to all of a sudden plowing his truck through not one but two freestanding homes. Now why would he do that?"

"Last time I checked the only reason someone goes on a joy ride through a couple of Cape Cods? 'Cause they get lit up like a freakin' Christmas tree on a whole lotta drugs. Which he did."

"It's interesting you say that , 'cause forensics still can't figure out exactly what was in that cocktail he took."

"Lee? She can't figure it out?"

"Not yet."

"I get that you're doing the Jim Gordon due diligence dance routine." Harvey leaned forward. "But look it, Jim. Ever since this whole Gallivan thing went down, you've been picking through every case, every suspect, every piece of evidence that comes across your desk with a fine tooth comb. Sometimes things are connected. A lot of times they just aren't. If you're looking for some deeper narrative in every case that comes across our desk, you ain't gonna find it. All you're gonna do is lose your grip on reality and fast."

"Now I'm really in trouble."

"Yeah, why's that?"

"Because what you just said made perfect sense."

Harvey stood up and clapped him on the back. "You're damn right it did."

Jim stood up resolutely. "But I'm still not convinced that truck driver knew what drugs he was taking, even if for some reason he did decide to take them on the job."

Harvey's shoulders dropped. "Should have known it wouldn't be that easy."

Jim picked up the file off his desk. "I think I'm gonna run it past this consulting forensic psychologist they got upstairs. See what she thinks."

"What forensic psychologist?"

"Madeline Scott. She had a practice here in Gotham years ago."

Harvey frowned. "Yeah, I know that. How do you know that?"

"She just signed on. Barnes sent out a memo about it yesterday. Don't you check your mailbox?"

"I think I did once, right after they said, 'Welcome on board' and handed me my badge." He got back to the matter at hand quick. "So what are you saying? She's here? Now? In this precinct?"

"They've got her set up in the conference room." Jim looked at his partner oddly. "Harvey. Wait a minute. What aren't you telling me?"

Harvey muttered something about 'here in my house' and stormed up the steps.

Jim turned half a face to his retreating partner and called to him in a warning tone. "Harvey…" The man didn't even flinch. "Harvey!" Jim breathed out a sigh and chased after his partner. Whatever he was about to do, Jim already knew from experience that Captain Barnes had put brass on suspension for less.