Tears filled Kristen's eyes as she looked up at Jonathan. "You're the one they're all after. You're right under their noses and they still haven't figured it out. You must be very good at hiding yourself." She said, choking back her tears. Despite all of what she now knew, she still loved, him, possibly all the more now, knowing that had she not left, he might not have turned inwardly to fill the hole she had ultimately caused.
Jonathan shied away from her hand now. He was afraid of what she might say to him. She had every right to leave, every right to go to the police, and every right to run away. She did not seem to want to leave though. "Kristen, I am sorry. Yes I am good at hiding my questionable activities, but you must know, I probably will be caught eventually, and I don't want you getting involved." He said looking at her.
Anger she could not suppress filled her. "Jonathan Crane! How can you dare say that to me after all this! Do you honestly think I will just run away from here, forget you existed, or maybe I will go on get married and live happily ever after." She yelled, her face now inches from his. "You had better get used to me being here, because I refuse to ever leave your side again." She said defiantly as she turned around, her back to him. She tried to calm herself, knowing anger would not resolve this tonight, in fact, there was little that would ever resolve this. She knew deep in her hear that Jonathan didn't want help, nor did he want a "miracle cure" for his, well, she could not adequately describe what it was that was troubling him. She toyed with schizophrenia being the issue, but would not bring it up tonight. She looked to him and sighed. "Jonathan, you cannot, nor will you, expect me to just sit by with this new information and pretend you have no memory of me." She growled angrily.
Jonathan sighed, he was not apt to take her anger like a dog at his bowl. "Look you!" He snapped, "I care too much for you to have you mixed up in this. I work for a damn mob boss! Falcone will kill you Kristen." He said, throwing his hands in the air as she stared at him with a cold, hard look. He was defeated, and he knew it. Jonathan looked at her. As he shook his head, his black hair fell in front of his ice blue eyes. He looked up at her, almost pleading with her silently.
Kristen looked to him defiantly trying desperately to keep her expression hard and unmoving. She took in his pleading look, and finally broke her statue-like stance. "Jonathan," she began as she moved closer to him. "I know you fear for my safety, but in all reality, I am in a greater danger away from you now that I know what's going on." She paused and looked out the scenic window at all that was Gotham. "I work at a maximum security insane asylum, and even inside those walls I am in danger of Falcone." She said, motioning to the window. "The point I am trying to get at, is this: There is nothing you can do to protect me now, except let me be me, and you be you. But most importantly, let us be us." She said, emphasizing 'us' as he looked at her.
Jonathan knew she was right, but he couldn't help worry for her safety. He loved her and knew he would never hurt her, but Scarecrow was not fully himself. There were times in which he could not control his alter ego, and it terrified him; He was the master of fear, and yet here he stood afraid for his childhood sweetheart. He knew he could not protect her now that she knew. Falcone will be after her, as will most of the Gotham City underground. It was inevitable. He had two choices, trust himself with her, or let her alone. Knowing the latter was out of the question, he had to trust himself to protect her as best as he could. He paced the room, looking to the window and back. The scene was in fact beautiful, but no comparison to the woman standing on his balcony. Out of the corner of his eye, Crane spotted him. Dressed in complete black, stealthy in the shadows, he glided onto Crane's balcony. "Well, Batman, what brings you to my lovely apartment?" Crane said calmly, moving closer to Kristen.
"Crane, I know who you are. I've been watching you closely. I know about you and Ms. Shepard as well. I am not here to arrest you Crane…yet." The heavily armored man looked around. "It seems she is not here against her will. I'm here as a warning. Stop or I will bring you in. I'm bringing down Falcone and you can either help, or go down with him. I don't often accept help, especially from murderers, but I see a use for you Crane." The man known as Batman growled under his breath as if straining to speak.
Kristen looked to the Batman. "Look, I have heard of you, and you're not much better than the criminals, but you can't just expect him to risk his life to help you, you-" Kristen was sharply cut off as loud noise filled the air. She felt her body be thrown down to the concrete, this Batman standing over her. "Stay down Ms. Shepard." He said to her as she looked around only to see Jonathan gripping his shoulder, blood falling to the cement. Ignoring the Batman's warning, she ran to him, her face paling to the color of chalk. "Jonathan!" She cried, trying to remain clear headed. She remembered her minor medical training, and ripped her skirt, now was no time for modesty. She laid him down flat, and began to put hard, firm pressure on the gunshot wound. 'Keep him conscious.' She thought to herself, trying to mumble something through her tears to him.
Jonathan felt himself drifting off, the searing pain in his shoulder beginning to subside, his senses beginning to dull. 'Death doesn't feel so bad.' He thought, and he smiled to Kristen. "I love you." He said softly. As he began to lose consciousness, he felt a hard grasp on his body. "I don't think so Crane. Stay awake." The voice said forcefully. He felt himself land on what felt like a car seat. Maybe he was not so lucky as to die, but then again maybe he was.
Kristen cried as she followed the man that carried Johnathan. She was certain it was to late to help him, and the Batman saw pleasure in her pain. "Get in Ms. Shepard." He said to her, none to softly. As she did as told, she felt her body become completely numb. She had not felt this much grief when she lost her family. She was prepared for years to lose them, this was all too sudden. As she felt the car come to a complete stop, she looked around only to see a completely black cavern.
"Ms. Shepard, please follow Alfred up the stairs, he will see to it that you are taken care of." The Batman said, showing compassion for the first time. It caught her off guard, as she did not expect any kindness from this apparent cold-hearted man. "I won't leave him." She said with all the strength she could muster up. "Kristen, I can help him, but the less commotion, the better. Please." He said, motioning to an old man up a small flight of stairs. She begrudgingly obliged.
After reaching the stairs, she followed the old man through the door. He had a kind smile. He looked at her with an affectionate, if not fatherly look. "Ms. Shepard, my name is Alfred. I will tend to any needs or wants you may have. Please let me show you around. The master has said you are to be welcome in any part of the mansion you wish." He said, as she looked around. She had expected a small shack, or maybe a house, but never a mansion filled with books, and all types of treasures. She was indeed impressed. She walked slowly, taking in all the art. "This is beautiful, all of it." She gawked as her sparkling eyes gazed over everything. "May I have some hot tea?" She asked the man named Alfred. "Of course miss." He said, disappearing for a moment. Kristen sat down on a leather sofa. In a matter of minutes she felt herself drift off to sleep.