Chapter 9: Finding A Way Back
Disclaimer: read chapter 1
Sam and Kathy had been going out for a month and a half. Their relationship slowly blossomed every time they saw each other.
Every Saturday night, they went to a movie or dinner. Everything was going fine with the two of them. She felt like she moved past what happened with Jonathan, somewhat. The achy feeling refused to leave her insides. Broken hearts take time to heal, she supposed.
While she was getting ready for her date with Sam tonight, Kathy was on the phone with Lacey.
"So you plan on doing anything tonight?" Lacey asked.
"Just going out with Sam," Kathy answered.
"Again? Where to?"
"To a GCN meet and greet party."
"Oh, that would be fun... I guess. Are you dressing something fancy?"
Kathy sighed, deciding that it was best to show her than describe it. She took a picture and sent it to Lacey. She was wearing a strapless ruffled, red shirt with skinny capris and black leather boots. Her curled hair was styled halfway back with dangling hoop earrings hiding behind the curls.
"Did you get it?"
"Oh yeah. You look hot!"
Kathy giggled. "Shut up!"
"I am serious! The boys at GCN will go goo-goo-gaga all over you! You will send Vicki Vale packing! God, I hate that woman! She always tells lies on television!"
A knock came from Kathy's front door. Kathy turned her full attention to it, not listening to Lacey's rant.
"Kat? You there?"
"Hold on," Kathy commanded. "Someone is at the door; probably Sam. I'll have to call you back."
"Oh, okay. I'll talk to you later. Get an autograph from Summer Gleeson while you are at it!"
"I will do my best. Bye," Kathy hung up as she walked down the hall heading for the door. Somebody kept knocking the door impatiently, irritating the doctor.
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Kathy cried out. She finally made it to the door and opened it to see Sam standing in her doorway. He was dressed in a simple navy buttoned, dress shirt with a fuzzy textured sweatshirt and khakis.
"Hey, Kit-Kat," Sam greeted her with a small smile.
"Hey!" Kathy greeted him back. "I thought we're going to meet up."
"I know, but..." Sam lowered his head, not finishing his sentence.
Kathy's smile fell when she noticed something off about Sam. Normally, he would be all smiles to see her, but now, he wasn't looking at her. "Is there something wrong?"
"No. No..." Sam assured her, widening his crooked smile. "You just look... really beautiful."
The smile returned across her face, but her eyes squinted in question.
"Thanks."
"So..." Sam offered her his arm. "Shall we?"
Kathy hooked her arm around his. "Lets."
~000~000~000~
It turned out the meet and greets were not as fun as Kathy anticipated. Most of the staff were older, except for the women. They looked to be in their late twenties dressed far fancier than Kathy's semi-formal wear.
The food wasn't so bad. Vegetables with ranch dip. Crackers coated in goat cheese. Deviled eggs, her personal favorite. Dry chocolate cake with white frosting. Kathy stood with Sam with a glass of white wine in her hand, not sipped. After taking a sniff, she immediately knew that white wine wasn't her drink, only margaritas. She watched her boyfriend chatting away with new staff and old ones. This party was so unlike her. She'd usually be the fun one - dancing, laughing, smiling, taking pictures of herself having fun. She was becoming her socially awkward sister. This party. It was boring. She and Sam might as well enjoyed a Gotham High School baseball game.
"Well. Well."
Kathy turned to see a redhead woman in a red cocktail dress, hooking arm with a man she didn't expect to see.
Sam perked at the sight of her, then his face faltered slightly at the lean man in specs.
"Sam, you finally brought your girlfriend to the party?" the redhead cooed. "About time."
Kathy didn't pay attention to the redhead, only at the man next to her. Why was he here? More like, why's he here as the red head's date?
"Hello, Vicki," Sam greeted the woman, his face flushing that almost matched her dress, much to Kathy's annoyance. The redhead known as Vicki Vale was a pretty woman and too preppy to be real. No wonder Lacey never liked her.
"Kathy, meet my boss. Vicki Vale. Vicki Vale, meet Kathy Knightly - she is a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum."
"Super!" Vicki pulled her date close to her frame, resting her head on his shoulder. "Kat, you probably know Doctor Jonathan Crane, the head psychiatrist in-"
"Yes, I know," Kathy interrupted. "We work together."
Sam reached his hand out for Jonathan's hand for a handshake. Jonathan took it, grasping it tightly, making Sam wince a bit.
Sam chuckled, pulling his hand out, wagging his finger at the doctor. "He's got himself a good grip. Not bad, Doc."
"Why are you here, Jonathan?" Kathy asked with furrowed brows.
"Oh, he is my date," Vicki giggled, cuddling close to him. "Well, sort of. He actually agreed to have an interview with me, tonight. Give me the inside scoop of Arkham Asylum and the creeps. I have been dying to hear what the you-know-who is doing now."
"All in good time, Victoria," Jonathan stated with a forced smile.
Kathy couldn't help but narrow her eyes at him suspiciously. He was always a private man. Somehow he agreed to have an interview with Vicki Vale, who was way out of his league, the same night Kathy and Sam attended the same place. Coincidence? No.
A loud cling of glass silenced the voices, turning their attention to an older man who turned out to be the producer of GCN.
"Welcome," the older man spoke hoarsely. "So glad everyone could make it here tonight. So glad that my people brought in new people. I hope you are enjoying yourselves, helping yourselves with refreshments provided by Laraine Goldberg. Thank you, Laraine."
The young woman smiled, waving her hand up for everyone to see. They applauded for the woman, some were raising their glasses.
"I also hope that you all greeted and got to know one another. In honor of this..." The older man paused to cough away from the microphone. No doubt that he was suffering bronchitis, "o-occasion. I encourage you all (cough, cough) to start dancing. Dance with someone who isn't your date. If you like to save the embarrassment for people who have two left feet - like me." The crowd chuckled at his joke. "I would like everyone to continue to meet and greet."
Music continued to play. Couples were asking and going to the side of the room hand-in-hand, dancing to the beat.
"So..." Sam began. "Anybody want to dance?"
"Good idea," Kathy quickly grasped Jonathan's hand. "How about Jonathan and I have a go?"
"Oh no," Jonathan shook his head to decline. "I don't-"
"Come on, Jonathan. Live a little," She encouraged with force, practically dragging him to the dance floor, leaving Vicki and Sam to dance together.
Kathy laced her arms behind Jonathan's neck and started swaying. Jonathan had yet to move, letting Kathryn do all the work.
"You are not dancing," she commented.
"I am not a dancer," he declared.
"You claim that you are not a lot of things," Kathy hissed. "What's wrong, Jonathan? Chicken?"
Jonathan cleared his throat, placing his hands by her waist, sending shivers down Kathy's spine. She suppressed the urge to gasp at his cold touch. The touch that she missed and hated so much.
"Is there a problem between us, Doctor?"
"Why are you here?" Kathryn asked. "Really here?"
"I am sure Miss Vale explained it to you-"
"We both know it's bull. You are not the type to accept interviews from reporters that twist the truth. Now, why are you here?"
Jonathan pulled Kathy's body closed, forcing her head against his shoulder, swaying to the music. He breathed into her ear, making her shiver.
"It's best if we talk about this outside, not be surrounded or overheard by unwanted patrons."
Kathy turned her head to the other side in a struggle, whispering back. "What if I don't want to talk to you outside?"
"Kathryn."
Kathy froze at his tone of voice. It was a warning, daring her to rebel against him.
"If you don't walk outside with me now willingly. I will drag you out, and believe me, no one will have a happy ending."
Kathy gazed up at him with narrowed eyes, refusing to drop her bravery act. "You're bluffing."
Jonathan raised a brow in a challenging manner. She thought he was bluffing? Time to prove her wrong. He grasped her bicep, dragging her towards the exit. She didn't yell or scream. Though, she hissed him to let go, while she withered her arm against this grip. He used his free arm, replacing his grip that was now wrapping around her waist. Forcing them to walk like they were a young clinging couple in love. Once they were outside the party and out of prying eyes. He swiftly scooped her body up and over the shoulder, carrying her down the hall.
She yelped, kicking her feet, pounding her fists against his back. Curls were dangling her face. Blood flow rushed towards her head, making her feel light-headed.
"What the hell are you doing?! Put me down! Put me down!"
"You shouldn't have questioned my capabilities, Kathryn. I am always a man of my word."
"Stop it, Crane! I am getting sick! What is wrong with you?!"
Jonathan ignored the wicked laughter inside his head and the janitor that continued cleaning like he didn't hear anything, guiding her to the back door to the alleyway, finally alone. He set her down, earning a loud smack across the face.
"God!" Kathy snapped, clenching her fist. Her face heated up from all the blood flow and rage. "What the hell, Crane?! You didn't have to carry me like I am trash! You might as well have gagged me and put me in the trunk of your car."
Jonathan faced Kathryn, readjusting his glasses, continued with words as if the slap didn't affect him. "I would, but I left my tools at home."
She growled, running fingers through her curls. Strands of hair tumbled in front of her face, forcing her to blow them out of the way.
"Why?" Kathy asked. "Why drag me out here against my will?"
Jonathan let out a laugh. "Oh, Kathryn. We both know that you didn't mind the ride."
"That's not true."
"If it isn't, then you would've screamed for help at the party and fought better than what you just did. That's what the woman who dumped broth on my head would do!"
Kathy rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "Okay. You brought me here. So what do you want to tell that you can't in there?"
Jonathan let out a sharp sigh, pulling out his phone from his pocket. "Something I must show you that will displease you."
Kathy raised a brow, refusing to move, though she was curious as to what he was showing her. She felt her stomach drop at a video of Sam in his car with another woman - Vicki Vale.
"So?" Kathy asked. "Sam is talking with his boss. What am I supposed to-"
"Just watch."
Kathy snapped her jaw shut, continued to watch. Couldn't help but worry about what she was supposed to see. Her nightmares were confirmed when Sam leaned forward and kissed Vicki square on the lips. It didn't take long to intensify the passion. The couple pulled their seats back with Vicki crawling on top of him, removing her leather jacket.
Kathy turned his phone off, refusing to see anymore.
There were no tears or quivering lips or shaky fingers - no signs telling whether she was upset.
"Kathryn, I didn't want you to see this," Jonathan placed the phone back in his pocket. Kathy stood there, staring ahead like she was in a daze. "But you are a grown woman. You need to know who your friend really set you up with."
She didn't respond, making Jonathan blink with anticipation.
"Kathryn?" He snapped his fingers in front of her, waving his hand across her face. "Kathryn, I need your attention, right now."
One second, a puff of wind blew at his face. A shoulder collided with his own. He swiftly turned, grabbing her arm, pulling her against him. Both arms lifted her by the waist, making her kick and scream.
"I'm gonna kill him! I'm gonna kill him!" she cried.
"Why did you think I had taken you outside for?" Jonathan grunted, carrying her towards the car.
"Let me go! Let me go!" Kathy shook her head, kicking her feet. "Let go of me, Jonathan! I'm gonna kill him!"
With his free hand, Jonathan opened the passenger side door, forcing her inside. "Get in."
"No! I'm gonna kill him!" she screamed in time for thunder to rumble and lightning to strike across the sky.
"Kathryn," Jonathan was getting irritated by her stubbornness, coming close to knocking her out on the spot. "I'm not asking, I'm telling you to get inside."
Crane managed to push Kathy in the passenger door, but that didn't stop her from trying to climb the other side of the car. Jonathan quickly ran to the driver side, child-locking the car. She pulled the door handle with no anvil. "Let me out! Let me out of the car!" She banged the car window, begging for anyone to help her. "Help! Someone! I am trapped with a psychopath! HELP!"
"No one can hear you," Jonathan grumbled, running his fingers through his hair, massaging his temples.
"Let me out!"
"Not until you calm down."
"Calm down?! How can I calm down?! My boyfriend cheated on me with a red-head tramp!" She screamed, banging the door once more.
Jonathan leaned against his door, removing his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose. She had been screaming and crying for at least five minutes until he had enough.
He grabbed her wrist, pinning it down to the console. She glared at him sharply, whipping her other hand to hit him. He caught her wrist, grasping it tightly enough to make her submit. He pinned both hands together.
"Kathryn Knightly, I get that you are angry and upset - and you have every right to be. But could you please spare me the torture and just do one little thing for me?" His eyes narrowed. "Shut up!"
Kathy widened her eyes, snapping her jaw shut. Did he just tell her to shut up? How dared he? How dare he tell her to shut up? How dare he handled her like this? This was abusive.
"Take your hands off me," she growled.
"Not until you calm down."
Kathy took a deep breath, grinding her teeth as she stared at the window. "Fine."
Reluctantly, he released her wrists that have been yanked back to her lap, rubbing the soreness around them.
"Why do you have that? Why show it to me?"
"I believed that you deserve to know the truth."
"How did you know that I would be here? Have you been following me?!"
Jonathan scoffed. "Don't kid yourself, Kathryn. You are a beautiful woman, but narcissism lacks attraction."
"Yeah. Why else would Sam cheat on me?" She sniffled, slapping her hands against the glove compartment. "I am such an idiot! Why did you come to break my heart again? Might as well stab me while you're at it."
'That's not a bad idea,' Scarecrow murmured.
Jonathan sighed, clenched into the steering wheel till his hands turned white. He stared ahead, watching the rain pour down his car.
Kathryn took notice at his hands, now wishing that the doors were unlocked. "Jonathan, please, open the doors."
"Wish I could."
Kathy scoffed. "Sure you can. The lock is right next to you."
"You don't understand. I can't."
Kathy furrowed her brows, trying to comprehend his words. What did he mean 'he can't'? Could it be possible that he was returning the feelings?
"I didn't want to show you the footage. I didn't. I saw how happy he made you."
Kathy looked up at him in disbelief. Did he saw her? When? Did he actually follow her around? He had left her for a month, and already he was back to being creepy?
"That's what you deserve... to be happy."
Her mouth opened, then closed. She tried to think of the right words to say, how to respond.
"But what made you decide to come and show me the footage?" she asked.
Jonathan let out a sigh. "For one, it was the right thing to do. Two, you deserve better."
"Oh yeah? Like who?" She challenged.
He turned to face her who waited for an answer with anticipation. When he didn't say anything, he turned back ahead, watching the lightning strike across the cloudy sky. She huffed with frustration, now demanding to leave.
"Open the door, Crane. Sam may be a jerk, but he is my ride home."
He didn't move or utter a word, even when she reached over to unlock the door. She exited the car, feeling the rain soak her hair and clothes. It was embarrassing to be the only guest in the room drenched. Then again, the GCN wasn't her people. Why should she care?
She hurried to the back door about to open it.
She screamed when she saw a hand slam it shut above her. She whirled around, facing Jonathan's hair and clothes drizzling wet as well. He was staring down at her intently. A predator to its prey.
Kathy widened her eyes, frozen in fear. One thing was different about Crane was that the glasses had been removed. She took one good look in Jonathan's blue eyes, couldn't help but feel in trance by them. His eyes were beautiful, hypnotic. Light to a moth's anguish. She was the moth, having no control of what was going to happen next. She was paralyzed, could hardly move. She couldn't ask the question for it was obvious.
What was Jonathan Crane about to do in the next ten seconds?
Quickly, her back was pinned against the door, pressing his body against hers along with his hungry lips. She gasped against his mouth, couldn't breathe or move. He grasped her jaw and cheek with his thumb and forefinger. His thumb pressed into her jaw, almost uncomfortable. While the finger caressed her cheek in a loving manner. Two different sides. Sweet and sour. Love and Cruelty. Hot and cold. A deadly combination.
She raised her hands against his chest, pushing him away slightly. She panted wildly for breath, surprised that Jonathan was still standing with an open mouth.
Jonathan widened his eyes in shock. He couldn't believe this was happening again. He crossed the line again, only this time, there were no regrets. He wasn't sure why. He didn't have the urge to stop this before things went further. He wasn't in control. Scarecrow wasn't there to interrupt or anything. It was just Jonathan and Kathy. Alone. With no doctors or anybody watching them.
"What are we doing?" Jonathan whispered to himself, still catching his breath.
"I was going to ask the same damn thing," Kathy shook her head. "We can't keep doing this. I can't... We can't..." She paused to take a deep, gasping breath.
Jonathan stared ahead at Kathy; his eyes trailed down to her plumped lips.
"I want us to work. I really do, but how do I know that you won't hurt me again?"
Jonathan pressed his forehead against hers, taking in her perfume. The rain hadn't washed it away, thankfully.
"You don't," he roughly whispered. "I meant what I said before."
"Yet, you are here with me," she replied.
His jaw clenched.
"What are you afraid of, Jonathan Crane?"
His eyes locked with her brown ones. What did he have to be afraid of? His career? He had plans that could cost him his career already, though the fear of getting caught never showed. He could leave and forget that the kiss happened like last time, but what kind of man would he be? A coward. He was never the type to have a relationship with someone, especially with an insufferable woman who turned out to be tolerable. He knew that it was too soon for Kathy to start seeing someone else. Though, she didn't seem affected by Sam now, after their heated kiss. It proved that her feelings for the former supervisor never faded.
"Let me take you home," he finally said.
Kathy blinked, spitting out the rain that tasted her mouth. "Seriously?"
"I doubt they'll welcome us soaking wet," He removed his jacket, placing around her shoulders.
He was right. Kathy glanced at the door, then gazing at the sky. The rain soaked her bare skin, ruining her mascara. She'd probably be sick after this night, but the thought never crossed her mind. All she could think about was going home to her knight and shining armor. Her Ichabod.
"Alright. Let's go." She rushed past him. Jonathan followed behind, opening the passenger door for her like a gentleman. She nodded her thanks and stepped inside the car.
Crane hurried to the other side, driving the car away.
The two continued the night, ignoring incoming calls from their 'dates'.
~000~000~000~
It didn't take long for Sam to figure out that Kathy ditched him for Crane. He called, ranting how rude a girlfriend she had become. Demanding what she was doing with him. Kathy silenced him by confronting about Vicki.
He confessed immediately. He felt bad and claimed that it was a one-time thing. Worst of all, he admitted that she was his ex, and they had plans to get back together. He was going to break up with Kathy after the party. Kathy didn't know whether to believe him or not, but she was glad that the breakup ended a lot smoother than she believed. She commanded him that it was best not to contact her ever again, then she hung up and deleted his contact list. She didn't know why she was calm during the whole conversation, maybe because Jonathan came to mind.
She didn't know whether to date him or not, but it was up to him whether he wanted her or not. He asked if he could take her home. It showed that he cared about her. That was a start.
~000~000~000~
Jonathan parked his car outside of GCN, watching the back door. After he dropped off Kathryn, he drove straight back.
He blinked as the door open, revealing his new passenger. He checked his watch, then leaned his head back in boredom. He didn't watch his guest open the passenger door and step inside.
"You're late," he grumbled.
The guest turned, the fiery wave of hair swayed over her shoulder. She closed the soaking umbrella, quickly closed the door, wiped her dress that contained raindrops.
"Well, sorry if I had known it was going to rain tonight, I would've been prepared."
He scoffed. "You are a reporter. Shouldn't you be aware of the weather?"
She cast him a dirty look. "Don't be an ass, Crane! Maybe if you have parked the car close enough, it would've saved me a trip."
He sighed, not saying a word.
"So..." Vicki pulled out her recording, aiming it at Crane's face. "Ready to interview?"
He glared at him sharply. "Turn it off."
Vicki's lips parted. "Excuse me?"
"I said, 'turn it off.'"
"No. No. No," she shook her head. "That wasn't the deal. You agreed on an interview."
"I have a new deal in mind. If you like to leave the recorder on, then, by all means, leave it on; but I will like to add for Gotham City which mobster king is the GCN'S investigating reporter really working for. Who is she selling dirty secrets to that belong in the newsroom?"
Vicki's face faltered, then quickly smirked, switching the recorder off.
"You are not playing fair."
"This is Gotham City, Miss Vale. Though I must say, you are playing far worse games than me."
"Oh really? What about the word on Falcone's shipments of drugs each week? Word on the street is that something is different in those drugs. Care to elaborate?"
"If I had any idea as to what Falcone is up to, then I would've been happy to share."
"You know something about it? Don't you, Crane? Do you have a degree in psychopharmacology? Are they your drugs?"
Crane raised a brow at Vicki, slowly smirked at the sight of the butterfly broach pinned to her bosom, aiming high for his face. There was a recorder or camera on that pin. How did he know? Falcone gave it to her as a birthday gift. Knowing that the jig was up, Vicki removed the broach, tossing it inside the middle console and shielding it shut.
"Clever. I give you marks for that." Her face fell, laying off the jokes for a bit, attempting to be serious. "Look Falcone believes in paying the piper. We had a deal. You give me the juicy secrets, and I'll get my cameraman off your lady's back!"
"Nice work with the visual by the way."
"You think I enjoyed fucking that cheap country boy? Sam is... He is just not my type. I dumped him the second I found out he works part-time at some cheap café."
Crane handed her an envelope. "You really should learn to keep an open mind, Miss Vale."
Vicki examined it on both sides, trying to figure out what the letter was for. "This is addressed in New York City."
"Falcone has people at WNBC who are seeking hire help."
Vicki's mouth was agape in disbelief, "Falcone is bribing me to work in New York?"
"No, your cameraman."
Vicki frowned, no doubt disappointed.
"Falcone stated that you are the best news reporter he has ever met. 'An angel from heavens above,' he said. He could never let you fly away that easy."
Her frown deepened.
"He wishes you the best. He demands your presence Saturday night. Same time."
"You want to be out, too, if you knew what he is capable of."
Crane scoffed.
"I was right about one thing, Crane." Vicki snapped, pointing her French manicured finger at him. "Falcone believes in paying the piper. We both have to pay. You may seem fine because you are a doctor. You tell the judge someone is crazy, and he carries out the sentence like that." She snapped her fingers on cue. "Mainly because he is just as corrupted as the rest of us. Falcone may be having your back now with the shipments, but soon you will learn that Falcone's price is high. You will soon wish to escape... just like me."
Crane sighed. "Thank you for that tiresome speech, Miss Vale." He turned the keys, driving out of the alleyway. "Now I must take you home. While you are at it, please, keep your mouth shut. I am about to have a migraine."
Vicki clenched her teeth. Her red lips curled in silent rage. He wasn't looking at the beautiful investigating reporter from GCN, he was looking at the naïve cub that didn't know how to play nice. An unattractive quality.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," she hissed, folding her arms across her chest — a spoiled child.
