Disclaimer: I don't own this, nor will I own the second or third movies that are going to complete the Batman Begins trilogy. I'm just borrowing these characters cause I loved the movie and my muse won't leave me alone!

Summary: Dr. Jonathon Crane managed to break free from the Scarecrows shadow and has started a life away from perils of Gotham. Along the way he managed to cloak himself from the Bat and became a man worth saving... but in a turn of events has been swept back into Bruce Wayne's life, a life he hoped to leave behind.

Author Shpill: I got curious, and I know this story is kinda out there, but I thought it was an interesting plot to go for so Viola! I tried to put Bruce and Jonathon into character, but they are coming off a little soft. I do hope to make them both a little darker as the chapters go on... but you never know.

Ooh, P.S... I don't have a BETA so the spelling errors and such are from me... they're aren't intentional but what can you do right?

Enjoy numero uno!

Dr. Jonathon Crane looked up to the clouded sky and sighed in annoyance. Today he had wanted to read outside and enjoy the sunny day, but looked as if there would be no such luck on this dreary Monday… and Jonathon did hate Monday's.

The man straightened his glasses and glanced back at the museum behind him. He'd begun work there several months back after escaping Arkham asylum, fleeing from Batman and Gotham. But the part of him that still fought to remain with the light side rather than the shadows that threatened to consume his soul knew that he was running away from the Scarecrow, not the Bat.

He'd successfully changed his identity, cutting his dark locks and dimming his blue eyes with colored contacts, he was a free man and he intended to make a new life for himself away from the tortured soul that was once known as Dr. Jonathon Crane.

Jonathon had settled himself in a nice home, a mansion; some distasteful people had put it. But the Old Dr. had admired it because of how blocked off it was from the world. He was alone to do as he pleased when he was there of course with the exception of his staff that cleaned and cooked for him.

He ran the museum, becoming a curator of sorts, and he tried to not let it bother him that Bruce Wayne was a main donor for the facility and he sometimes flew all that way to check up on the place. Jonathon would inconspicuously disappear when he was there of course, allowing his highly trained staff to show off the grounds to him.

It confused Jonathon, or as he is known now, Johnny Cuthbert why the fact that while Batman was in such a close distance didn't bother him. It honestly didn't, Johnny Cuthbert felt perfectly calm about the whole ordeal while Jonathon Crane wanted to vomit. He truly did have too many personalities.

The curator had fled the museum, knowing that today was one of the Billionaires dreaded visits to the institution and he had gratefully left the responsibilities in his staff's hands. His employees were actually naïve enough to believe that he always left to test them on their capabilities in navigating the place to a man such as Bruce Wayne. This thought was always a good excuse for Johnny to disappear for a while, so he allowed them to believe it.

But today it seemed that Jonathon Crane's horrible karma wanted to bite back… hard.

"Oh, Mr. Cuthbert!" an annoyingly high pitched feminine voice shrilled from behind the man.

John spun around to see one of his head staff, Emily Gardener waving frantically at him. With a pounding heart John realized that Bruce Wayne was walking beside her, both coming towards him at a relaxed pace.

"Mrs. Gardener…" John greeted with a pained voice. "I hope the tour is going well…"

"Oh of course," the woman babbled as she came to stop in front of him. "But Mr. Wayne here wanted to meet the head curator that turned this museum around and made it so… lively."

John winced at her term for all he had done for this museum. He'd slaved away, losing many hours of sleep to turn such a dreadful place into something to be proud of. In all honesty upon his arrival to the city, John had thought about robbing the place, but after deciding to settle in the area, he had given up on his old ways… or at least tucked them away.

"Oh…" John stuck out his hand and the billionaire smiled at him, almost curiously and took his hand, shaking it roughly.

Bruce studied the curator, his mind recognizing something about the man. He couldn't quite place his finger on it… "You look so familiar Mr. Cuthbert, have I met you before?"

John nodded. "You've been here a couple of times in the past few months to see the changes. I'm sure we would have to have met in that time span."

Bruce's face remained expressionless. "No, I don't believe that's it…"

"Perhaps I'm just one of those people with a familiar face then," John tried to cover up his nervousness be making up more excuses as well as lies.

Bruce decided to let it go for now, but promised his other half to checking up on the man when he returned home to Gotham. "You've done a fine job Mr. Cuthbert," Bruce admired falsely.

John almost snorted. He could tell Bruce was lying, this place was one in hundreds… probably thousands of places he's funded and had to attend on orders of his publicist. "We're all proud here. But I'm sure a busy man such as yourself doesn't have the time to admire such things."

Emily coughed in surprise, her face turning a light shade of pink at her bosses insult to one of the richest men in the world.

An amused glare was shone from Bruce Wayne's usually masked face. "I assure you Mr. Cuthbert that even though I am busy, I still have the time to enjoy old art upon other things."

"Perhaps," John agreed. "It was nice meeting you, but if you'll excuse me, I 0have other things to attend to."

Bruce nodded and ignored the woman who seemed to be in shock from the way her boss was acting around him. "Actually, I wanted to speak with you about a fundraiser I'm throwing for several museums Wayne Enterprises is funding. Hopefully you'll attend; it is of course exceptional if you decided not to attend anyway."

John cringed slightly, dread filling him. "This fundraiser will be in Gotham?"

"Of course," Bruce smiled as he confirmed. Emily had been gracious enough to tell him how much the head curator hated Gotham and it almost made him feel better about Cuthbert's insult by inviting the annoying curator to the place he disliked immensely.

"I'll be there," John agreed.

Bruce's smile widened. "Its in a week, I'll see you there Mr. Cuthbert."

John didn't say a word as he turned and began walking away. He couldn't help but to hear as Emily began talking about the crime and he decided to casually eves drop on the conversation.

"Crime is becoming less of problem," Bruce informed her casually.

"Oh that Joker guy… ooh he just gives me the creeps. Didn't that Scarecrow guy disappear a few months ago?"

Bruce nodded uncomfortably; he'd just been reminded of the one man that had managed to stay away from all crime, the man that had also managed to slip away from Batman. "That's right."

"I bet Batman killed him," Emily reasoned.

John rolled his eyes; Batman was too merciful to kill him anyway, something like that would only happen on accident. Besides, part of Batman honed that dark side, was a part of that shadowy realm that almost forces a man to become so vile and vicious.

"Why do you think that?" Bruce asked, trying to contain his anger.

"Everyone knows that the Scarecrow grated on that spandex wearing freak anyway. He's not a savior; he's just blinded all of Gotham…"

Bruce couldn't take anymore. "I should be going Mrs. Gardener. It was nice to meet you." And with that Bruce walked away with his bodyguards. Alfred would be waiting at the airport, and he'd be able to vent about today. The curator who had the audacity to tell him he didn't understand the finer arts, and the annoying woman who believes Batman is as much of a criminal as the Scarecrow.

John just shook his head. He had to admit that he was mildly impressed with how much control Bruce Wayne had over his actions. If Scarecrow still had Jonathon by the lapels than he probably wouldn't have had the control to not kill her. But as it were, John was satisfied to know that he now had enough control to walk away just as the billionaire had.

Six Days Later In Gotham:

John entered the finely decorated hotel and tried to hide his disgust. These people really were too petty with women flocking around with diamonds dangling from their ears and jewels decorating their priceless necklaces, no wonder these people were targeted by villains like Mr. Freeze, the Riddler along with Two-Face.

The once terrorist of Gotham walked up to the front desk and eyed the man in the sharp looking suit with mild displeasure.

"How may I help you sir?" the man asked with a fake smile plastering his face.

John fought not to roll his eyes at the fake cheeriness. "I'm Johnny Cuthbert, I have a reservation…"

"Oh yes," the clerk interrupted with a hint of excitement in his voice. "Mr. Wayne was here earlier to upgrade your room. You'll be staying in the presidential suite."

A growl erupted from John's throat and he glared maliciously at the clerk. "Is that so? Did mister Wayne happen to say why he would do such a thing?"

The man smiled and shook his head. "No, I'm afraid he didn't. But he did leave you this note," the man finished and handed over a piece of paper with black ink writing covering it.

John took the note, adjusted his glassed and read.

Here is to the finer things Mr. Cuthbert enjoy your room.

Damn that man, John thought as he crumpled the piece of paper in his fist. "I would like to change my room back to where it was."

The clerk shook his head. "I'm afraid that isn't possibly Mr. Cuthbert. Mister Wayne bought them all out for the other curators that are here for the fundraiser tomorrow…"

John shook his head. His karma sure liked to screw with him lately. "Thanks anyway."

The clerk nodded. "The bellhop will have your bags up to your room immediately if you'd like to go up and check it out. I'm sure you'll find it adequate to your taste sir."

"Of course," John faked the cheery conversation. "Which room was it?"

"That would be room 246 sir," the clerk informed and handed John the card to open the door.

"Thank you," John said, not forgetting his manors even though his mood had changed darkly. The man turned and walked to the elevators, wondering if his day would sprout any more unpleasant surprises.

"Oh!" the clerk shouted from the desk. "Mr. Wayne will be here at 1:00. He would like you meet him for lunch in the dining hall."

"Shit," John muttered as the doors closed.

TBC... helpful criticism is always nice, and I would love to hear from people who enjoyed the first part!