Not for the first time, Crane cursed the Joker. He had no subtlety. But then again, he thought, perhaps it was Harley this time. She had been hinting at some plan Joker was graciously letting her help with.

A few minutes ago, the building had been violently shaken by an explosion. The guard's radios had announced the wall to the Joker's cell had been blown off. Jonathan had been in the common room and still the force had knocked him to the ground. Emergency procedures had been activated. The guards had run to the source of the trouble, where no doubt countless criminals would be trying to run, and everywhere else had been sealed. Moments later the power had been cut.

Brilliant! He was stuck in a secure room with madmen for who knew how long. He pulled himself up and grimaced as a pain shot through his ankle. Perfect. He leant against the chair he'd been sat on. Perhaps he could still make use of this disturbance. He couldn't run of course, not with an injured ankle, but perhaps he could find some way to unlock a window or door, and secretly slip out unnoticed. He could be safely hidden before they even realised he'd gone. Surely they had their hands full with Joker.

He waited 'til his eyes had adjusted to the semi-darkness and scanned round for some kind of tool. He hobbled forward a few paces. Everything was soft wood or cardboard. A few of the forgotten scrabbled about the room. They were no use. They were barely human and weren't even capable of following simple instructions. His eye fell on Jervis sat by the sealed door. A guard had just been escorting him in when everything went chaotic.

Huh! Last time he'd seen Jervis the man had tried to throttle him. He wasn't about to help the ingrate continued to study the room, limping round carefully. Perhaps he could extract a spring from the sofa? As he hobbled back he noticed Jervis again. He hadn't moved. With a frown Jonathan hopped closer. No reaction. As he drew nearer he could see a mark running down the Hatter's cheek.

Damnit! Jervis was bleeding! Jonathan limped the rest of the way over, hissing at another inmate who drew too near. The damn guard had let Jervis fall in the explosion and then run off without a backward glance. Jonathan had invested too much time in Jervis to let the man just bleed to death.

"Jervis?" There wasn't any reaction. "Jervis." Gingerly he crouched down to look closer at him. He couldn't even see if he was breathing. "Jervis!" He reached out and shook him by the shoulder. Jervis gave a slight moan. At least he was alive.

"Jonathan?" He murmured.

"Yes." Jonathan twisted himself so he could sit with his ankle straight.

"Why is a raven like a writing desk?" Jervis mumbled, his eyes shutting.

"I haven't the slightest idea," Jonathan snapped.

"Because Poe wrote on both." Jervis smiled at him. Jonathan sensed this was meant as some kind of apology but he was distracted as he saw Jervis' eyes shutting again.

"You have to stay awake Jervis." Jonathan shifted closer to examine the cut. "You may have a concussion."

"If you say so March Hare." Jervis said dreamily. Jonathan ignored him and glanced round for a cloth. Of course there was nothing lying about. Gritting his teeth he ripped a strip from his own shirt and pressed it to Jervis' head. He gave another moan. Jonathan tried to think of something to say to keep him awake.

"I'm sorry about the other day Jervis. I shouldn't have said that about Alice."

"Hmm? Oh well, off with her head," he muttered. Jonathan frowned. This wasn't working.

"I know Jervis. Let's play a game." He tore another strip to tie his improvised bandage in place.

"Not chess, dear. I'm very tired."

"No, not chess. I'll begin a rhyme and you finish it. OK?"

"Alright." Jonathan shifted round to lean against the wall. He positioned himself so if Jervis began to slip he'd fall on him before hitting the floor.

"Twinkle, twinkle, little bat," he began. Jervis smiled.

"How I wonder what you're at."

"Good. Hey diddle diddle,"

"The cat and the fiddle."

They continued in this way for what could have been hours or minutes. Jonathan was getting tired and it seemed to him Jervis was now holding him up as much as he was holding Jervis up. He was having trouble thinking of rhymes. Jervis interrupted.

"It was the best butter, you know." Jonathan glanced down at him.

"Thank you," was all he could think of to say but Jervis smiled happily.

Just then the lights came back on and the doors were thrown open. A team of guards rushed in with weapons ready. They seemed surprised to find the two criminal masterminds sat calmly against the wall.

"At last!" Jonathan muttered. One of the doctors pushed his way forward and checked Jervis over.

"Looks like a concussion."

"You think?" Jonathan sarcastically commented.

"Watch it Crane." A guard pulled him up roughly and he cried out as his ankle twisted again.

"Jonathan?" Jervis' eyes opened as he heard the cry.

"Don't worry Jervis. Our captors have come to rescue you."

"Rescue me?"

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!" Jonathan called as he was pulled away. "The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!" He heard Jervis faintly reply.

"Beware the Jubjub bird," before he was out of earshot.