Author's Acknowledgement: My first real introduction to Batman was a cartoon called "Batman: The Brave and the Bold", which showed both A and D-list villains that I enjoyed equally. After showing interest in the franchise, my father showed me the '89 movie and episodes of the '60s show, on which he'd grown up on. Now older, and having been exposed to the more darker elements of Batman, I enjoy both the modern depiction of Batman while still hold respect for his roots and alternate variations. I hope fans of both sides will find something to enjoy in "The Doctor Is In".

Chapter 1

"Welcome to Arkham Asylum." Dr. Leland introduces, as she and I walk through to the main courtyard, "We're very glad you could join us here at the asylum, you have no idea how badly we're in need of new doctors."

"Not a problem Dr. Leland, I'm here to help." I tell her straightforwardly, clutching my travel bag as the taxi that brought me in hurriedly speeds off.

"It's certainly a surprise that someone of your...resume would decide to take a job as a psychiatrist." she comments.

If I was her I'd agree. She's clearly not very enthused to be here, but her well-trimmed short hair, designer glasses and small but classy earrings suggest that she enjoys the generous pay the doctors receive.

"Well, originally, I tried running a private practice in the city, but I guess no one in Gotham is interested in therapy."

We arrive at the main gate. Two large security guards wave us in, while we're eyed by the four in the two parallel watchtowers.

She looks at her clipboard, "Yes, well, uhm...Dr. Kawa...Dr. Kawaca…"

"Dr. Kawacatoose, but most people just refer to me as Dr. K. Much easier."

"Yes, of course, Dr. K. Well, since the asylum is currently heavily under-staffed at the moment, I'll be your supervisor. You have read about the asylum's special arrangements for our psychiatrists, correct?" she asks.

I nod, brushing my long brown hair out of my face as I look up at the daunting Arkham Manor, "All of the doctors are to be residing in Arkham full time. I know in my contract I get every other weekend off but otherwise, I'm here."

She unhinges something from her clipboard and hands it to me. It's my security keycard, with my full name and an ID picture to match.

We walk up the steps of Arkham Manor, where we must once again pass through security. Once we're in the manor, however, the atmosphere changes completely. The building is warmly lit, with shiny hardwood floors and portraits of various doctors and asylum directors.

"You're room is on the third floor. I'm sorry to have to bring you on right away, but you'll be seeing your first patient in about half an hour. His file is in your room, here's your key." she hands me a bronze-colored key, "I'll meet you in the Penitentiary in that time. Don't worry, this one's an easy one, totally harmless."

I try my best not to frown, I was hoping for something more of a challenge, "That's fine. Thank you, Dr. Leland."

I carry my bag up to my the third floor, find my room and open it with the key. It's pretty standard fair, a bed, desk, lamp, wooden dresser and a window with a view of the asylum. The moon shines brightly as it peeks just slightly over the asylum's tallest building, which I can only assume is Intensive Treatment, where I should really be working. I check my watch and figure I can do some quick unpacking before heading to the Penitentiary to meet Dr. Leland. After I'm finished, I grab the patient file on the windowsill:

Patient Name: Charles "Chuck" Brown former alias "Kite Man"

Age: 64

Sentence Term: Life Sentence

Previous Diagnostics: Minor OCD, possible PTSD

Additional Notes: one of Arkham's first patients, already served forty straight years at Arkham, physically harmless, obsession with kites, possible childhood trauma

I read through the file as I exit my room and leave for the Penitentiary. The bright signs at every building entrance make it easy to find it and I also find Dr. Leland waiting for me at the entrance,

"Ah, good, you're here. I assume you've read your patient file?" she asks.

"Yes, I have." I respond systematically.

"Good. Now, I have to warn you, what you're about to witness is some of Gotham's most dangerous criminals. They'll try to scare you, but you have to try your best to remain calm."

I chuckle, "Dr. Leland, if you read my resume, then you should know that these criminals will not intimidate me in the slightest."

"True, true. Just...trying to be careful. We've lost a lot of doctors because we weren't careful enough." she warns me as we show our keycards to the three guards blocking the entrance, "A couple of years ago we made the mistake of letting an intern interview a high-security patient before she was ready. The results were, rather tragic."

"I don't suppose you're referring to Harley Quinn, are you?" I ask.

She turns around in surprise, "I, I was actually. I use to work with Dr. Quinzel before the incident. How did you guess?"

"It was just that, a guess."

Beyond the entrance hallway we are already greeted with the screaming, wailing, and moaning of the patients. Patients in their cells scratch and pound at the glass separating them and the bleak hallway we walk through. I briefly glance over at each prisoner, most of them gangly looking men in their twenties to forties.

"You're taking this very well." Dr. Leland examines, as we quickly walk past the cells, her heels making loud clacking noises against the sterile tiled floor.

"Like I said, not in the slightest." I remind her, happy I'd chosen to wear flats so my feet movements are relatively silent.

We make our way past them to an enclosed examination room, which contains the door to the interviewing room. Through what I suspect is one-way mirror glass, an older man sits in a chair on one side of the room, farthest from the door. A security guard is standing by the entrance, and when he sees us, moves out of the way and gets out a key to unlock it,

"He's all yours."

With a *click*, the door unlocks and slowly creaks open. I walk into the small room as the door is quickly shut behind me. Placing the file on the table, I sit down in the empty chair opposite of him,

"Hello Mr. Brown, I'm your new psychiatrist, Dr. Natalie Kawacatoose, but please, call me Dr. K."

He extends his right hand, "Pleased to meet you miss."

I hesitate for a moment, examining his posture. His smile is genuine, his shoulders are relaxed, and his other hand is also on the table, calm and not balled into a fist. Determining that he's not going to try to take me down the moment I grasp his hand, and take his handshake, smiling. At least he's polite.

"I wasn't expecting a new psychiatrist. What happened to Dr. Andries?" he asks.

"I'm not sure." I admit, establishing my honest truth policy, "I'll have to ask."

He nods, "Oh, doctors come and go here pretty often. I can understand why they wouldn't want to stay, this place can get pretty bleak."

He's talkative, that's good, makes getting information out of him much easier.

"Really? Because, I haven't been here long, in fact, you're my first patient." It's honest, but it also establishes a false sense of vulnerability.

He smiles, "Oh, well, welcome. I hope the patients haven't done anything unorderly to upset you. They can get rather rowdy, especially the younger ones."

I grin, seeing a good opportunity to engage in disarming casual conversation, "Well, I was given quite the welcome. The patients by the entrance hall are quite vocal, but otherwise no, I haven't had much interaction with the patients."

"Well, you're just starting out, so I doubt they'll give you anyone really troubling, but if you do continue your career here, if you're ever asked to treat Victor Zsasz, or the Joker, or anyone in Intensive Treatment, don't. They always aim to hurt their psychiatrists."

"Thank you for your advice Mr. Brown. Trust me, I'm a Gotham native myself, so I'm well aware of their reputations."

"You grew up in Gotham City?" he asks, "I did too, although, from what I can guess, that was many years before you."

"Oh, what was Gotham like when you were growing up?" I ask, time to get to the questions.

"Very different, I can tell you that." he begins, "Things weren't so dark, they were much brighter. Of course we still had crime, but it was more wicked than evil. Not too many people were actually killed, it was more of a thrill-seeking sort of thing. Then the murderers and the psychopaths started coming in and giving criminals a bad name. But by then, I was already locked up, so, I didn't see all that madness first-hand."

I fold my hands together and lean in to show I'm listen intently, "Was that your reason for going into crime? Thrill-seeking?"

"...partially. Mostly I did it for the money and to get my brother out of jail. You see, I was a hang-glider pilot, and I gave hang-gliding tours around Gotham City, back when there was still tourism. But then the tourists stopped coming, and I was out of business. I heard through a friend about the whole professional criminal deal, and you'd always hear on the news about some criminal being caught by the Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonder."

"You mean Batman and Robin?" I ask, slightly confused by the name switch-up.

"Yeah, that's what the news announcers always called them back then. Gave a sort of dramatic effect I guess. Gee, I remember when Batman was some out-of-shape guy in a fabric suit. Seemed scary at the time, but the Batman you hear about nowadays sounds horrifying."

"Were you apprehended by Batman?" I inquire, even though I already know the answer. Gives him an opportunity to divulge more information.

"Mhm, I remember. I'd just broken my brother and several other guys out of the local jail. You see, my brother was falsely accused of embezzling money by his boss, and I'd already become the Kite Man to rob a couple of banks to make ends meet. I broke him out, but I didn't mean to break those other guys out. It was just sort of in the moment, since they were all in one large holding cell. But then Batman came in with his own kite. He took me down and turned me in, just like he always does."

"You've never tried to escape?"

He shakes his head, "Nope. I got what I wanted, my brother got away, and he sends letters to me every now and then. They deemed me criminally insane and sentenced me to life in prison. I understand that nowadays that wouldn't happen unless I'd killed somebody, but you gotta understand that times were different then. People had went away for life for much lesser things than what I'd done."

The door opens and the security guard gives me the signal to wrap things up. Mr. Brown sees him give the signal as well,

"Ah, alright Mr. Cash. We'll be done in a minute." he tells him cheerfully, "Dr. K, it's been such a pleasure meeting you. I hope you stay on longer than most of the doctors here do, you're much more enthusiastic than most of them and it's very refreshing. Next week, I presume?"

I smile, "Yes, next week it is."

I exit the room as the security guard walks in to escort Mr. Brown back to his cell. Dr. Leland walks over to me,

"How was it?"

"Alright. On the outset, he seems pleasant enough, almost enough to think he's sane. But there's something off about him. He speaks far too casually about robbing banks, and it clearly wasn't a traumatic experience for him. He doesn't think he's killed anybody even though I can suspect with his combined robberies and prison breakout he probably indirectly killed at least several people. Overall though, the file is correct, he's harmless."

She tilts her head in surprise, "Wow, for a first time analysis you really have his personality pinned down. This must be easy for you, no?"

I smile and raise and eyebrow, "Too easy."