(A/N: Cooler is a synonym for Solitary Confinement… or at least it is in the movie The Great Escape)
Chapter 2: Case of the Cooler
*September 19*
The following day was a normal one at Arkham Asylum. A few patients had managed to stab each other with plastic spoons. Thankfully the wounds weren't lethal, however they did require a few stitches in both the muscle and epidermal layer. The duo would now recuperate in solitary where they couldn't harm anyone else.
Solitary confinement was considered the most gruesome of punishments available at Arkham, worse than being spoon fed by the orderlies and far more daunting than a simple straitjacket. When the inmates returned from the cold rooms, they were not unscathed. They spoke of unimaginable horrors they experienced in isolation. On the upside though, the cooler didn't have many repeat customers since the patients straightened up their act after a sentence there.
During my wanderings through Arkham's halls, I came across Dr. Crane more than once. Obviously embarrassed by his brash actions yesterday night, he would stutter an apology and then run off to a nameless patient in need of assistance or claim he was already late for an appointment and was in a rush.
I decided to clear up this misinterpretation during his lunch break; he had his own plans though. According to the secretary, he had gone out for a spell. Disheartened by his absence, I returned to my ward and began giving some of the patients their monthly check-ups. This involved asking questions about how they felt physically, making sure they weren't feeling ill in any way, and lending an ear if they wanted someone to confess to who would keep their conversation a secret. After all, doctor patient confidentiality is of utmost importance here in Arkham for the sake of our patients. It is frowned upon to use knowledge gained in these halls to profit from a "tell-all book". And even if I wished to, I couldn't. The only way I could disclose information to anyone was if the law demanded it, and who would ask the physician for information when there are psychiatrists roaming the halls and taking note of every twitch the patients make?
Most often during these scheduled appointments I would hear stories from the patients, some just wanting to get me to shiver and others were scared and desired comfort. And they knew I could provide that as long as they remained docile.
My current patient, a Trejo, Marcy, was telling me about the burns that covered her arms. She claimed to be hiding the appendages so nobody could see the wounds. The girl then rolled up her sleeves to reveal unmarked, yet quite pasty, skin. When I stated she did not have any injuries and was free of such disfigurements, she responded madly.
"Of course you can't see them, that is just what he wants." She shook her head wildly, the twin braids on either side of her head gently tapped her nose when they followed through with the movement. "He told me to tell him my fears, and then he set the room on fire." She became hysterical. "The man said nobody would believe me! But, it's true, doctor! It happened, the man with the mask said he was only trying to help, but he hurt me!"
As I reached for the panic button that resided in my pocket, she grabbed my wrist and looked at me. A mixture of madness, fear, and sincerity lay in her eyes.
"Don't let them take me back," she begged, tears beginning to flow over. "I don't want to go back to solitary. I don't want to see his mask."
XXXXX
Like I said before, this was a normal day. I received complaints about the cooler on a daily basis. I hadn't ever been to that level of Arkham before, so I didn't know how to comfort the patients who were damaged by their time in the secluded rooms.
With about twenty minutes until my next appointment I descended the iron staircase, the elevator was stalled again, in hopes of finally seeing the cause of my patient's pain. When I was an intern the area was strictly off limits, but now that I was a certified doctor at the facility, perhaps I could finally visit the hidden cells.
After a long descent I reached the block and was met by a large iron wrought door and a surprising piece of technology; a scanner requested my I.D. I swiped my card only to hear a loud buzzer deny me access beyond the doors. My ears perked up however, when I heard the shuffling of feet beyond the entrance. Knocking on the metal barrier, I called out to the being. "Hello?" Receiving no answer, I decided to return to my proper place at Arkham, upset with my lack of progress on the case.
XXXXX
I was going through some files in my office when I heard someone knock on my door. Opening it a crack to view the caller, I saw Dr. Crane. His eyes darted around the room, unsure whether or not to look at me directly or at the file cabinet in the far corner.
Opening the door wider, he stepped into my office. "It's good to see you Dr. Crane." I greeted. His look softened and he sat himself on my chair behind the desk. I myself sat cross legged on the wood and listened as he spoke.
"It has come to my attention that you were looking for me earlier," he stated matter-of-factly. I couldn't help but notice how tired he looked as he spoke these words. "Is there something you wish to discuss?"
"I wanted to tell you that I won't talk about anything that happened last night at the party if you are uncomfortable with it." I stroked his cheek now. I referred, of course, to his sudden and out of character displays of affection.
His eyes seemed to regain some spirit. "Of course not. On the contrary, I'm all up for a repeat of last night's endeavors." Leaning forward he kissed me lightly. I then wrapped my arms around his neck, seeking a deeper connection, and returned the kiss with more force and passion. Jonathan chose this point in time to sneak a hand between us and unbutton my lab-coat. His slender hands began to stroke my sides, and then he tickled me. I squeaked at the surprising change of events. Jonathan stood from his seat and continued his onslaught. Before I knew it, I had my back against the top of the desk, my body squirming from the torture.
"S-s-stop," I wheezed out. He adhered to my request and smirked as I regained my breath. "I would not consider that a repeat of last night at all." I pointed out as I leaned up to kiss the tip of his nose.
"I agree," Jonathan remarked. "I couldn't even get you into this position last night." My face reddened, finally taking in our position, me laying down on my desk with Jonathan over me, a devious grin on his lips. It was certainly an improvement on last night's position on the tiny piano bench.
"Shut up," I teased. Jonathan smirked and did in fact shut up. He pressed his lips against mine and let his hands ghost over my hips, running up and down the fabric. One of those hands then ventured under the rim of my turtle neck and stroked the taut skin that lay over my pelvic bone. The calloused fingers of my coworker proceeded to trace random patterns on the skin as we continued our kiss.
After a while, Jonathan stopped to let me catch my breath and brought his lips over to my neck. Pulling back the turtleneck with his spare hand, he nuzzled the juncture of my neck and shoulder before placing his open mouth over a selected bit of skin. He then began to gently bite, nip, and suck on the area, absorbing my whimpers of pleasure until he took it a step too far.
Running his tongue over the hickey slowly, he let the hand under my shirt rise, his index finger tracing the outline of my bra and running a nail along the border of flesh and supportive fabric.
One of my hands rose to his shoulder and gave a small push. His hand retreated upon realizing he had overstepped his bounds. Jonathan's face conveyed his guilt well. I knew he was in the heat of the moment and could have overpowered me in this position with little effort, but he hadn't.
"Thanks," I told Jonathan, kissing his cheek.
"It's okay," he said, helping me up from my desk. "I told you I was willing to wait." After I buttoned up my lab coat I gave him a hug, grateful to be with a man like him.
"Which patients are you with today?" I asked Dr. Crane.
"Ah," he began to straighten his own lab coat. "Edward Nygma, which means I have to go past that dreadful Mr. Bolton."
He had told me plenty of times that the head of security would bully him, I actually had to help cheer him up after some of the rants and raves the dreadful man went on, most of which about how Jonathan would never get a girl. Well, I'll show him otherwise. I pulled out a tube of lipstick and began to apply it, pretending I just wanted to touch up the spread already on my lips. Rather than wait two minutes for it to turn the patented 'No Smear!' I pushed the tube back into my pocket and grabbed Dr. Crane's tie hastily. When he got down to my level, I pressed my lips against his passionately, leaving behind a mark that would not be missed.
Jonathan stood still for a moment before mimicking my actions. My hands tangled in his hair, tugging lightly at the roots as he placed his own hands on my hips. As our lips seemed to dance with one another, I found myself out of breath. So I pulled back and sprinkled his face in gentle kisses, my hands running down his lab coat and resting on his solid chest.
My eyes were probably dilated from the ordeal, and he took note of it and attempted something new. My breath hitched when I felt the doctor's hand travel down to my rear before firmly grasping it, but rather than pushing him away, I found myself enjoying the sensation. It was nice when he acted a bit possessive, and I decided to do the same. Leaning forward, I kissed his neck, running my teeth over the skin roughly to leave a brand of my own. He pulled his away from my lips after I'd finished and kissed them passionately as we resumed our brief battle for dominance. Before he got the upper hand though, I nipped his lower lip a few times, sucking on the agitated area.
Jonathan then pressed me against the door, running his lips down to my neck to hover over the cloth that covered his previously placed hickey. "You're mine," he grumbled, nipping at the skin through the cloth. I nodded in agreement and kissed his cheek.
After releasing Jonathan's hair from my grip, I looked at my work. Wrinkled shirt, loose tie, tossed hair, bitten lip, very evident lipstick kisses, and the startings of a hickey on his neck. I quickly guided him out the door and called out at his retreating figure, "have fun with Monsieur Bolton!"
XXXXX
I was packing up my medical kit and putting some files in my brief case to mull over when the door to my office burst open and bounced off the wall due to a surprising amount of force being used to open it. The papers plummeted to the ground and scattered when I released my grip on the case in shock. Looking to my assailant, I saw Dr. Crane standing in the doorway.
His face was beet red and I wasn't sure whether it was from anger, embarrassment, or if he had rubbed his face with steel wool to rid himself of the lipstick marks I had placed on him earlier. He pointed at me before releasing a held breath and dropping his hand to his side. Moving around my desk, he once again sat in the leather chair, and put his face in his hands.
"It took five minutes for me to realize." He grumbled behind his fingers. "When I entered the cell block, people applauded me for, and I quote: 'hitting for the home team'." I giggled as he continued, a smile appearing on his face. "Mr. Bolton actually congratulated me and patted me on the back. Nygma, though…," he sighed. "Nygma questioned me about it all throughout our appointment and gave me a lecture on 'the birds and the bees.'"
I threw my head back and held my stomach, laughing at the idea of sitting in a room and getting a lecture from a madman on intercourse, especially from a madman who didn't spare the details and was quick to throw in some advice and riddles to keep things 'interesting'. I calmed myself down before getting on my knees to retrieve the fallen files, Jonathan joining me moments later.
"Sorry about that," I giggled as I straightened up the files. "I owe you one." I got back up with his assistance and placed the papers neatly into my briefcase, making sure to shut the clasp and spin the combination lock. Folding my lab coat over my arm, I began to walk out of my office with Jonathan by my side. My coworker nodded, taking note of the debt.
It was a struggle to carrying my medical bag, messenger bag, suit case, and lab coat all at once. This predicament soon caused me to slip in my heels, but Jonathan thankfully was able to catch me before I landed on the floor. However, the jerk upward caused my messenger bag to tear at the strap and the now unsupported sack fell from my shoulder; throwing the borrowed psychology books that lay inside onto the floor.
Dr. Crane helped me gather them after I mumbled a 'thank you' for his second act of assistance in less than an hour. However, his movements seemed to slow as he looked at the titles: 'The Workings of The Mind', 'Phobias', and 'Psychology'.
"What's all this?" he asked me in a voice devoid of emotion.
"All my patients from the cooler are having severe nightmares. I need to know what I'm dealing with so I can prescribe proper sleeping medications." I explained as Dr. Crane escorted me to the bus station. He held the bag tightly to his side, slowing his pace to match mine.
"That is completely unnecessary Dr. Milenkovic," he told me. I was shocked; he only called me by my title when in a professional setting.
"I've made a lot of progress though," I told him with a smile. "I cross checked all of the patients that have been in a specific section of solitary and those of optimal health, they all have maskaphobia!" I announced with pride. "It's just like a mystery novel."
As I boarded the bus, Dr. Crane handed me my bag and advised me. "Stay in your own field Dr. Milenkovic. The mind is a very dangerous place."
Despite his recommendations, I resumed my research that very night.
(A/N: I understand that favoriting and following is easy, and though it may bring a smile to my face I would REALLY LOVE some reviews, thoughts on the story, ideas, and everything you want to say even if it's as tiny as "LOL Scarecrow isn't getting action anytime soon~ Poor guy". They make my day c:)