Normal POV

Lin woke up to bright lights, and gasped out of fright, thinking that she was back in Crane's hands.

"Calm down sweetheart." A man said. "No one is going to hurt you."

"Who are you?" She asked. The man wore glasses and he had to be in his forties.

"I'm Commissioner Gordon." He said quietly. "And you are Lin Lang, correct?"

"What happened?" She asked, ignoring his introduction.

"You were injected with one of Jonathan Crane's toxins, knocking you out cold. You're safe now, don't worry."

"Ah ew he kissed me." Lin said wiping her lips in disgust at the memory. She knew that it wouldn't do any good now but she still felt as if his lips were still there.

"We already tested you for any ah, diseases." Gordon said with a small chuckle.

"Where's the Joker?" She asked, trying to sit up.

"He's in custody, along with Crane." He replied. "But I have a few questions for you Ms. Lang. Do you know why both of these men were after you?"

She stayed silent.

"I know you are connected to the Joker, Ms. Lang." He said calmly. "And I know that you know things about him that he might not even know."

"I don't see why that's important." She said. "It never was important until now."

"Well, we think it might help us understand the Joker more, if you tell us a bit about him."

"Why don't you ask Crane? He got me to spill some of the beans so he should be able to tell you all you'll need to know."

"He isn't talking." Gordon said.

"Crane went crazy after trying to crack the Joker, right?" She asked. Gordon nodded. "What would happen if you really did crack him Commissioner? Do you really want to know what's going on inside of his head?"

"If it saves lives then yes."

Lin turned her head away from him and said, "It might cost you more than you think."

"Did he do this too you?" Gordon asked, staring at her old scars.

"No. He only shot me in the shoulder and beat me up a bit. Some other henchman shot me in the stomach."

"Who gave you those scars then?"

"It's a long story."

"I have time."

Lin just sighed.

"It was the Joker's father, way back when. His name was Shane, from what I can remember. I assume you already had a hunch that the Joker had a rather hard childhood."

"Yes, we guessed that much."

"You see Commissioner I'm not the key to the Joker's demise. I'm not the key to anything. I thought he was dead after the age of thirteen, so whatever he has done after that is as much a mystery to me as it is to you."

"Yes, but you knew the man before he turned, crazy." He argued.

"That man is dead." Lin said stiffly as she turned to face him. "And he's never coming back."

A few weeks had past and Lin was out of the hospital, but not out of the game. She was required to see a therapist of sorts, who would aid her through these stressful times. Lin knew that they really wanted to know what the Joker was like before he became the sociopath that he was. But what the use of talking about his past? Jack was dead, and the Joker was alive. His father must have had a profound effect on him, but where he took himself after they had parted was a mystery to all.

Only the Joker could answer that.

As Lin made her way to another one of her sessions, she lost herself in thought. Her doctor, Christina Moore, had asked her to try and delve even deeper into her past with the Joker. In all truthfulness, she didn't want to think about him anymore. She wanted to forget and move on. He didn't remember her, and nothing was going to change that. But something kept Lin going to these sessions besides the police's requests.

"Hello Lin." Dr. Moore said as she entered her office. Moore had short, curly brown hair that was tied into a bun. She had dark-rimmed glasses and wore a gray-blue suit with matching skirt, and stood an inch or so above Lin's stature thanks to her gray high heels. Moore looked to be in her early thirties, but stress seemed to wear her out as far as Lin could see.

"I'm going to try something different today." She told her. "I want you to delve into your memories, before the accident, and tell me more."

"How is that different from every other week Doctor?" Lin asked, trying to keep her sarcasm at a minimal. "I've already told you everything I know."

"You said that when you were struck by lightning, it made your memory a bit fuzzy. Well, there is a technique that is used to bring about those memories. Who knows? We may find out the Joker's real name."

Lin just stared at her, but sighed in defeat. What would she be fighting for anyways?

"What did you have in mind?"

"It's a form of hypnosis. It's been proven to work, and it might help you remember some of those buried memories. I'm not a certified hypnotherapist, but I know how it works."

"What if I don't want to relive the memories? What if they were buried for a reason?"

"I have no doubt that they were, but being struck by Mother Nature at such an age probably contributed to say the least."

"So, you want to hypnotize me." Lin said.

"Yes, if you are alright with it."

"It won't be like Crane's treatment, will it?"

Dr. Moore flinched at the mention of Dr. Crane. He was a very well-established doctor, and she use to work with him, until he became as crazy as his patients. When she had heard about Lin's run-in with Crane, she personally asked to be her therapist. Maybe it was to make amends for not noticing Crane was using his little drugs on his patients.

"So, how does this work?" Lin asked before the good doctor could respond. Changing the subject was always a good tactic.

"Just lie down, on the couch." Moore instructed. "And close your eyes."

Lin did as she was told, and took a deep breath to try and calm down. She wasn't sure what to expect, or what she would remember if anything.

"Now, I want you to relax." Dr. Moore instructed softly. "Let your thoughts drift from your mind."

A few minutes later, after much more instruction and relaxation, Lin found herself in a very peaceful state-of-mind. It was almost as if she were mediating. It was then that memories raced through her mind, one that stood out in particular.

*Flashback*

"Come on kids." Her mother said. "Let's get a picture!"

Lin and Jack tried dodging the poor woman, but she eventually caught them and forced them to stay still in front of a few sunflowers.

"Alright Lin, fix your sundress. I'm surprised you haven't dirtied it yet. Jack, fix your overalls dear."

She forced the two children next to one another and forced them to pose for a picture. The summer day beat down on their shoulders, and all they wanted to do was go swimming in the river behind the house.

"This'll only take a second." She told them.

"C'mon Mom!" Lin whined.

"Smile!" She instructed. "Just a few more."

Lin and Jack grinned as their arms went around each other's waist. Jack kept poking her in the side, causing her to giggle.

"Jack!" Her mother laughed. "Do you want to stand here all day torturing Lin or will you let me take the picture already!"

"Sorry Mrs. Lang." He laughed as he delivered one last poke.

Finally it was over with, and Lin and Jack dashed off towards the river.

"I'll leave this one in your room Lin!" Her mother called out, referring to one of the pictures.

"Thanks Mom!"

*End of Flashback*

Lin opened her eyes, and for a second, she couldn't remember where she was. She sat up rather quickly and looked at Moore.

"So, what do you remember?" She was asked.

"A picture." She replied. "My mother took a picture of us when we were kids."

"What was in this picture?" Moore inquired.

"Just us, during the summer. We were standing in front of these sunflowers behind our home."

Suddenly, something clicked.

"You look like you just realized something."

"Scent is connected to memory isn't it?" Lin asked her.

"Yes, it's the strongest sense tied to memory." She replied. "Why do you ask?"

"It's just that, well, when we were kids we were always surrounded by sunflowers. And earlier I've been told that I smell like one, so do you think he could remember that way?"

"You mean, through scent?"

"Yes."

Dr. Moore just sat there, lost in thought for a while.

"I'm not sure. Do you still have this picture?"

"I believe so."

"Find it. Who knows? It might stir up some old memories."

"If I do, I think I might want to visit someone." Lin said.

"I think you would too."