Author's note: I know it's a popular image that Crane is somehow forever scared from some relationship in the past. However, it is very hard for someone to be as successful as Crane is and be that introverted. I'm not denying that he could have had a traumatic past love life. Whether something painful happened or not, I think he approaches all relationships the same way now. Maybe it's so he won't get hurt. Maybe it's just how he is. Maybe I'll add more on this subject at a later time.
Also, we are getting into Crane's more manipulative ways. So, again, DON'T BE FOOLED. And, I'm going to slowly start introducing more characters from BB. The time is slowly catching up to the movies! This one is pretty long. I kept it this way to set some facts down for Cady and Crane. I didn't give away too much, but it shows their differences in personality, how they view things, and gives more of a view into Cady's life. Cady is a romantic (and a bit dramatic), Crane isn't (on either subject).
Chapter Ten:
Cady held out the booklet like it was going to eat her. She was supposed to be figuring out what classes to take. She just didn't know what to take. Philosophy? Maybe. Abnormal Psychology? That was a must. Maybe she'd take a music theory class, too. Cady flung the book onto the table next to the core of the apple she had enjoyed earlier. The book made a loud plop as it hit the plastic table top.
"Why must you be the bane of my existence?" She looked around, glad the cafeteria in the asylum was empty. "I hate you. You hear me, oh booklet of doom? I hate you and all of your multiple choices."
Someone cleared their throat behind her. Cady turned around in her chair, sheepishly grinning. "I thought I got thirty minutes?"
Dr. Crane pulled out a chair next to her. "Five minutes left." His tone was impassive. He picked up the book she had thrown. "Trying to decide on classes?" He flipped through the pages. "Hmm..." He pulled out a pen from the inside of his blazer's pocket.
Cady watched as he circled some classes. "I...um...hey I'm not taking that." She frowned as she pointed to the anatomy class he'd circled. "I don't need another science class."
Crane considered her for a moment. "It would be worth your time." He went back to flipping through the pages, his expression, once again, blank. "How else will you be successful in this field? You must have a basic understanding of the human body."
"My parents will only pay for five classes. They don't think I need to take more than that a semester." She paused as he circled something else. "Stop circling everything!"
He sighed and looked at her out of the corner of his eye. His lips were thinned. "These are specific classes you'll need to take for your doctorate. I'm adding the names of professors whom I find are competent enough in their subjects."
"I'm not there yet." She whined under her breath.
"Don't you plan ahead?" He raised an eyebrow as he handed the book back to her. He placed the pen back into his pocket.
She shrugged. "Yeah, but not that far."
"Well, now you'll have more time to work on your dissertation." He said, mockingly.
"About that," Cady hugged the book to her chest as she spoke, "Dr. Robbins is insisting I expand on my paper about fear. He thinks I can get some research done here." She paused and looked down at the floor. "And that I should publish my findings."
"This is the best place for that." He said. He must of noticed her interest in the mismatched floor tile. "Why are you unsure of your efforts?"
Cady looked back up at him. His arms were crossed as he sat comfortably in the metal chair. He was watching her intently. She shrugged for a response. One corner of his mouth dipped down. He examined her for a moment before he spoke.
"I saw you had a music theory class highlighted." He said flatly.
Cady shrugged again. "I thought it would be a nice change of pace. Something different." She was looking at the floor again.
"Do you play an instrument?"
"Piano. I'm out of practice, though. I haven't done any real playing for a few years." She laughed.
"Then why take a music theory class? You're not going to have much time for frivolous activities next semester."
"I thought it would be fun."
"We've established that." His face was blank, bored.
Cady glared at him. "I won't take it, then." She groaned. Her mind traveled back to his earlier statement. "Why won't I have much time?" She asked.
"As soon as you get registered for your classes, let me know. I need to increase your hours." He stood up, waiting for her.
Cady picked up her garbage and stood up. "Back to work?"
He nodded.
"You know, I can keep time. You don't need to come fetch me." She said as they walked. She threw the trash into the waste bin as she passed it.
"That wasn't my reason for coming down." He said it so quietly she almost didn't hear him.
Cady examined the floor tiles as they walked back to his office. "Oh? Then what was it?"
He waited until they were inside of his office before he answered her. He shut the door softly as he spoke. "I was wondering what you were doing this evening?"
For a split second Cady thought she saw that look-the one of a boy asking his crush out on a date-but it was gone before she could really tell. "Studying. Finals are coming up. Chastity is at her boyfriend's house or something. I haven't seen her in days. I might get some sleep." She rolled her eyes.
At the mention of her roommate's name Crane's eyes hardened. He must really of not liked the girl.
"Why?" She asked.
"I was going to have dinner at Rosa's. The Indian place we went to for lunch the other day. Would you be interested in joining me?" He had stuck his hands in his pants pockets as he spoke.
He was leaning against the couch slightly. The light was casting a slight glare across his glasses. Cady hated that. She had figured out a while ago that he knew how to hide in plain sight. Especially when it came to his expressions. She paused a moment before she nodded.
Would he be upset if I had real plans? "You mean the one we tried to eat at?" She laughed softly. "Sure. Thank you." She walked to her desk, then turned back around. "What would you have done if I had plans?"
Dr. Crane's face pulled into a sarcastic smile. "You've said before you have no real social life."
"Yeah, but that's not the point." Cady inwardly frowned. She had already been beaten at her own game. Damn him.
Crane checked his watch. He straightened up before he spoke. "I'll be back in two hours. I have an appointment outside of Arkham that I must attend to. I put some files on your desk. They need to be updated, organized, and-"
Cady picked up some of the files. As few pages fell out of one. "Ah, shit." She mumbled, leaning down to pick them up.
"-a few of them were dropped and the paperwork got tossed together. I'm sure you'll correct the error." He said as he left.
Cady sighed angrily. She flipped through some of the mismatched paperwork. It wasn't that they had just gotten jumbled. The paperwork was a mess. "Great. Just great..." Cady placed the stack carefully on the desk and frowned at it. It was going to take her more than two hours to fix it.
*
"Dr. Crane." A round faced man said. He motioned for Crane to sit.
"Mr. Falcone." Jonathan nodded his greeting.
He sat down opposite Falcone, slightly uncomfortable with all the muscle around. He placed his briefcase next to his leg on the floor. It was close enough that he would feel it if they decided to take it. He wanted to believe that Falcone and his thugs were smart enough not to cross him, but he wasn't going to take the chance.
"What can I do for you today?" Falcone said, leaning back in his chair.
Jonathan watched the man for a moment. He didn't understand why Falcone insisted they have their meetings at the man's office (or what he passed off as his office). It drew considerable attention whenever Jonathan went to meet with him. Most of the thugs employed in Gotham had at least one stint in Arkham. None of them liked him too much. Jonathan smiled slightly at the thought. They had good reasons to fear him.
"I'm sure you've already been contacted by my employer, so I'll keep this brief. The first shipment will be arriving tomorrow night. I need the rabbits to be delivered to this address," he pulled out a slip of paper from his blazer pocket and handed it to the man, "and you can do what you wish with the bears. Do not get them mixed up."
Falcone looked up from the slip of paper. "Oh, don't worry, doctor. Your precious cargo is in good hands." He smiled like a weasel as he stuck the slip of paper into his pant pocket. "Now, how can I be sure that this," he had to think of the man's name, "Rais al Ghul will hold up his side of the bargain?"
His voice was rubbing Jonathan the wrong way. Like silk that snagged on dry skin. He was trying very hard to hold his tongue and remain composed. He laughed under his breath, looking down at his briefcase. There was a comfort in what he knew was inside it's contents. He could not overpower the men around him on his own. It didn't matter. He would level the playing field, if need be. Jonathan leaned down, picking up the case. He placed it carefully on Falcone's desk. Unlocking it, he moved some things aside. His fingers lightly grazed over what he truly wanted to go for and instead picked up a small, but overly stuffed envelope. He took it out. Closing the briefcase, he handed the man the envelope. He slid the case off the table as Falcone opened the envelope and flipped through it's contents. He was counting. Jonathan could tell by the way the man's lips moved.
"I'm sure that will be a sufficient down payment for this process to begin." Jonathan said, raising an eyebrow. He kept the briefcase in his lap.
Falcone nodded as he finished counting. "Your employer is very generous." He smiled up at Jonathan. "Don't worry. Everything will be taken care of."
Jonathan just smiled back, trying to keep the rest of his face blank. "I don't want to know." He stood up, signaling that their conversation was at an end.
Falcone stood up as well, reaching over the desk to shake Jonathan's hand. Jonathan hesitated a moment before he took it. He didn't want to touch something with so much filth on it. Call him obsessive. It wasn't the germs he shied away from.
"Hey, doc, thanks for the help with Bobby." Falcone said as they shook hands.
"It's no trouble, Mr. Falcone. Just don't make a habit out of it." Jonathan's tone was soft, but he let his eyes hold the warning.
Falcone just smiled. "Got a big date tonight, doc?"
There was something in the man's expression that Jonathan didn't like. He was up to something. Jonathan didn't like to be played. Nor did he like to associate with these people any more than what was required. He turned his head slightly, trying to examine the taller man.
"Why would you assume that?" He asked, letting a bit of annoyance slip into his voice.
Falcone laughed. "You just seem really antsy. Like you have some place better to be."
There are a million places I'd rather be... Jonathan thought. He didn't let that slip. He wasn't going to put all of his hard work in jeopardy just because he didn't like the slimy weasel that he was forced to do business with.
"I've got to get back to work." Was his only response as he turned away to head for the door.
"Give my regards to your intern. I hope she wasn't too shaken up."
Jonathan stopped for a moment. He had used one of Falcone's thugs that night. Of course the man would know about it. He decided it would be better if he let the comment slide. He continued the short distance it took to leave the man's office. It seemed longer than usual. Maybe it was the weight of the stare on his back. The glass door rattled as he let it slam behind him. Jonathan took a moment to compose himself before he left the building. There were no words that would do justice with how he felt about Carmine Falcone. With an ego like that the man was bound to fall. Jonathan only hoped that he'd be around to see it.
*
Cady looked over her shoulder when she heard the door open. Dr. Crane glanced at her for a moment before he walked to his desk. He didn't look like he was in a good mood. She went back to her files. She had the paperwork all sorted into the correct files. There were just notes (a bunch, Cady wouldn't think about how much she had left) that she had to retype and then she could finish filing. As she worked, she heard him walk into the room she occupied. He opened one of his cabinets and pulled out a file. He didn't say a word, or even acknowledge her, as he walked out of his office. The door slammed. Cady noticed he had left the drawer open. She decided to leave it until she was finished with her work.
Another two hours flew by as she worked. She yawned. Sitting back, she admired the reorganized files. Dr. Crane hadn't come back yet. She figured he had other appointments or did...whatever it was that he did normally when he was gone for extended periods. Cady just rolled her eyes at the thought. Her stomach growled. She checked the time on her laptop. 5:04p.m. Quickly, she put away the files and closed the still open drawer. I'm hungry. Where is he? She chewed on her bottom lip as she looked around his office. Outside, it had started flurrying. Cady, excited by the snow, ran to the window. The water and ice glittered off of the lights. She was so close to the window that when she breathed it fogged up. She laughed and drew a smiley face on the condensation.
On a spur of childish abandon, she walked back to her desk to grab her coat. She flung it on and threw her scarf around her head. Making her way down to the patient's exercise area (which wasn't locked yet, but it was empty), she walked outside. The cold wind caused her to stop for a moment. Pulling her scarf tighter around her neck, she walked out into the flurries. The air was so cold it burned whenever she breathed. She could hear the chaos of the Narrows. Cars driving by. People talking and shuffling loudly. Animals scurrying from the chill. She walked around a bit. The dead grass and leaves crunched under her feet. She kicked a few tiffs of snow that had started to form. Winter was one of her favorite seasons. While she walked, she thought about the events of the past few months. She liked her job, despite the two traumatic deaths. She liked that Dr. Crane was confident enough in her knowledge that he was going to give her more hours. She didn't like the Asylum much, though. Especially the lower levels. It gave her the creeps. That was a small price to pay for a job like this. She knew that. The only other option was a position at a hospital (eck) or an even harder-to-imagine one at a private practice. She sighed. Looking up into the sky, she let the small puffs of snow fall onto her face. She couldn't really feel the chill anymore, just the wetness as the ice kissed her skin. She turned around to go back inside. Dr. Crane stood under the overhang. He had a long black overcoat on over his normal blazer-sweater vest combo. She hadn't heard or seen him walk outside. He must have been there for a while. The end of his nose and the tops of his cheeks were red.
"Enjoying the weather?" He asked as she approached. He didn't look like he was.
Cady nodded. "What about you?" She walked under the overhang, looking down as she kicked some mud and snow off her boot.
"It's a bit too cold for my tastes. Although the scenery is nice."
Cady rolled her eyes. "It's pretty muddy out there. The snow doesn't make the Narrows that pretty."
"I wasn't talking about that." He mumbled.
Cady turned to look at him, but he was already walking back inside. She hurried to follow him. "Did you still want to-" She asked before he stopped her.
He turned to face her, smiling slightly. "I'll pick you up at 7:30."
Cady smiled. "Okay." She said.
She watched as he turned and disappeared down the hall. Cady took a few deep breaths to calm her heart before she went to go gather her things.
*
Jonathan sat in his car. He was in the parking lot at Cady's apartment. His hands were shaking. Was he nervous? Should he be? No. He shouldn't be stressed, either. After his appointment with Falcone he had released his frustration with some experimenting. His mind drifted back to earlier in the evening when he watched Cady outside. She was shuffling in the show and mud. Like she hadn't a care in the world. The innocence of the scene had struck a cord with him. A false image of serenity. Peacefulness. Jonathan didn't believe in peace. He wanted to help his patients. He wanted them to be cured. But, in doing his experiments he knew that not everyone was strong enough. Not everyone could be cured. Life was change. Change was chaotic. Some people simply weren't made to deal with it. It had taken him years to admit that. Once he had, it made his work so much easier. He could weed out those who never stood a chance in favor of the ones that were survivors. His eye twitched. He glanced at the digital numbers of his clock in the car. 7:28. Carefully getting out of the car, he made his way up to her apartment.
*
There was a light knock on the door. Cady's heart jumped into her throat. She let out a deep breath before she answered.
"Hello, Dr. Crane." She smiled up at the man.
"Good evening, Ms. Clein." The corner of his mouth twitched.
Cady wondered if he was trying to hide a smile. "It's just Cady." She reminded him.
"Then it's just Jonathan." He finally smiled at her. It was a distant smile, but it made Cady's heart flutter.
"Okay." She stammered.
He looked her over, an eyebrow raised. "Are you ready?"
"Let me get my shoes and coat. I'll be right back." She walked down the small hall. "You can make yourself comfortable, I'll only be a minute." She called out when she was in her room.
She slipped into her boots. It was winter. She was wearing a skirt. Boots were more appropriate than the heels she normally wore. Grabbing a matching scarf, she walked back out into the main living area. She couldn't find her coat.
"You look nice this evening." He commented.
Cady blushed. "Thanks. Chastity says it's my," she made the finger quotations in the air, "sexy librarian outfit." Cady laughed at the name.
Crane furrowed his brow at her, obviously not getting it. Cady turned around to reveal the slit in the back of the skirt.
He cleared his throat. "Oh."
She turned her attention back to finding her coat.
"I believe you are looking for this?" He picked up her long winter coat.
"Yeah." She reached for it, but he held it up like he was going to help her put it on.
Cady moved closer to him. Once it was on her shoulders, he turned her around and took her scarf from her hand. She watched his fingers move. They were long and skinny. Delicate. Like a woman's. He folded the scarf around her neck and buttoned the jacket closed. His touch was so soft. Cady could barely feel it. He straightened her collar. Smoothed the fabric down. He paused. Cady looked up. His gaze was intense. She could smell his cologne. The scent, mixed with his gaze, made her heart flutter. Her cheeks turned red.
"Are you ready to go?" He asked. His voice was lower than normal.
Cady nodded, pulling her attention away from him. She grabbed her purse as they left.
She tried not to look at him on their way to the restaurant. She felt awkward. Like a kid playing dress-up at an adult party. He was very cordial. A gentleman on all accounts. He held doors open for her. He helped her out of the car. He helped her take off her coat. He made sure she was comfortable before he sat down. But, something was wrong. She sipped her wine as they waited for their food. After the awkward moment at her apartment he'd been careful not to really touch her. Even when he held her hand to help her out of the car. His touch was brief. Swift. It was gone the moment she had stood. Only the warmth lingered. She glanced up at him. His glasses were off. He had taken them off when they'd entered the building. His eyes were so blue. They sparkled in the light from the candle that sat between them on the table. He was watching her, too. He made no secret about it.
"What's on your mind?" She asked, taking another sip.
He took a breath and looked around before he spoke. "How long do you see yourself at Arkham?"
Cady shrugged. "Until I finish my degree and have some years under my belt, there isn't really anywhere else to work in Gotham."
"What about when all of that is said and done?" He took a drink after he spoke.
"I don't know. It's really interesting at the asylum. I'm looking forward to the increased hours. Working keeps me busy."
"You like working?"
"Yeah. I watched my mom live her life before she started working. She was always so bored. All she did was spend money and gossip. It was kind of trivial, you know? Her job now is a joke. Nothing much has changed except that she spends a few hours out of every day trying to look like she has a purpose. At least she's getting something done, though."
Jonathan wasn't successful at hiding the laugh. "That's a bit cold. I take it you two don't get along."
"Not really. I love her and all, but she was never really there. She was a house wife and still had a nanny for me. I kind of understand. She got married young to a guy much older than her. When she had me I guess she felt tied down. Dad was gone a lot so she partied. I barely saw either of them. I'm not judging her. If I lived her life I could see me falling into the same trap."
"That's a mature understanding from someone your age." He responded.
Cady shrugged. "I've had a lot of time to think about it."
The waiter walked up to their table. He had a bottle of wine in his hands. "Would either of you like a refill?" He asked.
Cady shook her head. "Oh no. Not until I've eaten something." The waiter chuckled along with her.
"For you, sir?" He asked Jonathan.
"No thank you. I'll wait until the meal also." He smiled as the man left. He looked back at Cady. "You don't drink much?" He asked.
Cady blinked. He posed it as a question, but something in his expression said he already knew the answer. She looked down at the table for a moment then back up at him. "I'm a lightweight. All my friends like to take me out because I'm a...uh..." She couldn't look him in the eye as she spoke, "I'm a cheap date."
"I find it very admirable that you don't waste your time on such petty entertainment." He smiled at her, taking a sip of his water.
"Well, I have other things to do."
"Such as?"
Cady chewed on her lower lip. His gaze was intense. Not like how it had been at her apartment. It was like he was really interested in a patient. She knew that look. She frowned. "You're analyzing me."
He blinked and smiled. It didn't make the gaze lesson, just softened his expression. "I'm sorry. It's a habit. Please, continue." He used his hand to emphasize his interest.
Cady took a deep breath. "As you know, I used to play piano. I also read, go to the movies, listen to music, and try to go to concerts and plays. Then there is school and work. That really takes up most of my time." She was quiet as he processed what she said. "What about you?" She asked, trying to beat him at his own game, for once.
"Hm." He smiled, looking down at his glass for a moment, then back up at her. "Work is my primary concern. As I'm sure you are aware, I don't get much free time. However, I do like to enjoy the classical arts on occasion."
"What's your favorite genre?" She asked, remembering back to the play they attended together.
Jonathan bit his lip. "Probably drama. Anything but westerns." He made a sour face.
Cady laughed. "Don't worry. I'm not one for westerns either."
"What about you?" He asked.
He had his chin propped up on his hand, a finger over his mouth. The angle made him look down at her. It made him seem cocky.
She thought for a moment, then grinned. "Horror."
He blinked in surprise, dropping his hand. "Horror?" He asked.
Cady giggled at his reaction. "Yeah. I like it. I think it's the adrenaline rush you get right before you know something is going to happen. The old, cheesy horror stories ones are the best."
It looked like he was going to say something, but the waiter arrived with the food. He set the plates down in front of them, smiling. Cady could smell the curry. Her mouth watered.
"Does everything look okay?" He asked, topping off their wine glasses.
Jonathan nodded. "It looks fine, thank you."
Cady nodded in agreement.
"Great. Enjoy." He said before he walked away.
Cady took a few bites, savoring the flavors. "Wow. This is even better fresh." She commented.
Crane smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yes, it is."
The rest of the dinner went by silently. Cady didn't mind. She was enjoying the dish too much. Towards the end of their meal, a man Cady had never seen before walked up to the table. He smiled at them. Jonathan didn't look too happy to see him.
"Ah, Dr. Crane. What a surprise to see you here."
Crane cleared his throat. "Mr. Falcone. I wasn't aware you liked," He raised an eyebrow, looking annoyed, "Indian food." He threw a fake smile on his face.
Cady had to pretend she was wiping her mouth so they couldn't see her holding in a laugh. She had seen Jonathan annoyed, but never a full out disdain like what he was showing this man. The man turned his attention to Cady. His eyes narrowed as he smiled. Cady could tell why Crane didn't like him.
"And, who is this beautiful lady?" He asked, holding out a hand.
Cady took it, but wasn't able to answer as Crane beat her to it.
"This is Ms. Clein." He said, flatly.
"Oh, the new intern? It's very nice to meet you." He leaned over and lightly kissed her hand.
Cady blushed as he let it go. She glanced at Crane. He had a blank expression, but the corner of his mouth was down turned. She looked back up at Falcone.
"It's nice to meet you too, sir." She smiled politely.
"Mr. Falcone, I don't think your date would appreciate being left alone for so long." Crane said, not bothering to hide the irritation in his tone.
Falcone looked behind him, then back at them. He was smiling. Like he didn't care.
"It was nice to meet you, Ms. Clein." He nodded at her and then turned to Crane. "Doctor." He said before he walked away.
Cady watched as Jonathan glared at the man's back when he left. She let out a half laugh, half sigh at his reaction. "What was that?"
He didn't look at her. "What was what?" He snapped, his attention still on the man's back until he was out of their view.
Cady rolled her eyes at him when he finally brought his attention back to the table. "I could cut the tension with a knife." She said sarcastically.
He didn't say anything. He just took a drink of his wine.
Cady laughed. "Men." She said, standing up.
Jonathan looked up at her, confused. "Cady?"
"Excuse me. I have to use the little girl's room. The testosterone is too overpowering for me at the moment." She could feel him watching her as she walked to the bathroom.
When she came back, the table was empty except for her drink. Jonathan was sitting, looking away. He had his fingers pressed together, elbows on the table. He looked like he was concentrating. Or maybe he had a headache.
"Are you alright, Jonathan?" She asked, sitting back down.
He glanced up at her. His face was blank for a moment, then softened into a slight smile. "I'm fine."
She nodded.
"Did you add more makeup?"
Cady cracked up. "I fixed my eyeliner. I noticed it was faded when I looked in the mirror." His powers of observation were a bit unsettling.
"You look fine without makeup." He said, crossing his arms.
"You've never seen me without makeup." She countered.
The waiter came by and set down some hot tea in front of them. Jonathan nodded and thanked the man before he walked off.
"Why do you wear it so much, then?" He asked as he took a sip of the hot liquid.
Cady shrugged. She chose to finish her wine before the tea. "I like it. It covers flaws and stuff."
"So, you wear it to hide." His expression was unreadable.
"You wear glasses to hide."
He smirked. "That's hardly the same thing. I need glasses for reading and driving. You don't have a medical necessity for eyeliner."
Cady laughed. "I'm sure if you saw me first thing in the morning you'd disagree."
His eyes shot up at her face then away. He held the cup up with both hands. High enough that it obscured her view of him. Cady bit her lip. Great. I embarrassed my boss. Way to go, Cady. "Sorry. I...erm..." She just took a drink of her tea, looking away.
"It's alright." He was quiet for a moment. "I was just trying to imagine you first thing in the morning. Hair all disheveled. Makeup gone." He took a drink. "You're right. Not pretty." He looked away as he took another sip.
Cady blinked a few times. She put her cup down so she wouldn't spill it as she laughed.
He peered at her, then rolled his eyes as he looked away again. Cady could tell he was uncomfortable with their current topic.
"I'm sorry. It's just, your always so serious about everything. The joke was refreshing." She giggled slightly when she finished talking.
Crane put his cup down. "Yes, well, it's easy to do when you have to be serious all the time." She couldn't tell if he was still joking or not.
Cady took a deep breath to calm herself. She couldn't read him. She didn't want to annoy him any more than she normally did. Especially since he was still her boss. They sat in silence for a moment. Cady took another drink of her tea. He fiddled with his cup, waiting until she was finished before he motioned for the waiter. The man came over. Crane slid his wallet out of his pocket and handed him a credit card. A few minutes later the waiter came back, handing crane his card back and some slips of paper. Crane scribbled something down on it, making the waiter smile rather largely.
"I hope you two have a wonderful evening." He said.
"Thank you. You too." Cady smiled at him.
Crane just nodded. The waiter walked away to another table.
They both stood up at the same time. Crane moved over to Cady as she put her coat on.
"Let me help." He said quietly.
Cady nodded, remembering what had happened earlier. His fingers brushed against her cheek as he wrapped the scarf around her. It felt like electricity. Cady blushed.
"I can put my scarf on myself. I've been doing it for years." She grinned at him.
"Yes, I'm aware. But, whenever you do it looks like a child tried to strangle you." He smirked.
Cady rolled her eyes. "Alright, Mr. Perfection."
He furrowed his brow. "Don't you want to look nice?" He asked as he moved to slide into his own coat.
Cady smiled, shaking her head at his comment. She wasn't going to humor him with a response. He seemed satisfied with her silence.
"Are you ready?" He moved close to her, putting a hand on the small of her back as they walked.
Cady enjoyed the attention, but part of her wondered if he was acting like this because of Mr. Falcone. She glanced around as they walked out. She didn't see the man.
It was late, so she didn't bother to window shop as they made their way through the light snowfall. Cady yawned when she got into the car.
"Tired?" Crane asked, starting up the engine.
She nodded slightly. "Yeah. Busy day. I was up early finishing a paper."
He didn't say anything, just made a noise of understanding. They drove in silence.
*
Crane kept his eyes on the road, but let his mind wander. Every time he touched her she blushed. Like a school girl. Inwardly, he had grinned when he folded her scarf in the restaurant. He really did hate the way she would just throw it on. It made her look messy. Unkept. He knew he was being vain, but he didn't want to be seen with someone who looked like she was being strangled by her own wardrobe. Especially around a man like Falcone.
Her coat was soft, like her skin. He loved the uncertainty in her eyes whenever he was close to her. She was falling. Hard. Just a few touches. A glance or two. A smile. A kiss. It was easy with her. He sneaked a peek at her while he drove. Why was it so easy with her? He'd had a few dates in his lifetime. Most women he came across were pretty, but dull. They were good for a nice chat, a nice fuck, but that was it. He rarely craved intimacy. Especially with most of his time devoted to his experiments and the asylum. He had only one tryst with a woman since he had taken the position at Arkham (their encounter was so brief it could hardly be considered dating). She was beautiful. Much more so than Cady. And she had a maturity about her that only came with age. But, she was clingy. In the few weeks he had known her, he felt suffocated. He couldn't stand it. Nor could he stand her limited knowledge. It was like how Cady described her mom-"All she did was spend money and gossip." Jonathan didn't need a worthless arm decoration. He needed to finish his work.
'And taking this girl to dinner is helping with that.'
His stomach turned at the voice. No, not here. Don't start. He warned himself. He wasn't going to loose control.
'Why not? What's one more experiment?' His alter purred.
He swallowed. There was a lump in his throat. He had remembered to take his pills. What was going on? Cady started humming something. Jonathan kept his eyes on the road.
He was thankful when they reached her apartment complex. Without thinking, he had gotten out of the car and was helping her to stand. She smiled at him. It was a child's smile. Uncertain. Confused.
"I'll walk you to your door." He didn't even realize he had murmured anything until it left his lips. His thoughts were muddied with his inner duel.
She just nodded. Her smile grew bigger. They walked to her door. He was amazed how she didn't do much to break the silence. Did she enjoy it too? He couldn't tell. Her file had said she had probable ADD as a child. He would venture to say there was still a residual trace. She was easily distracted by her own thoughts and could not multitask to save her life. She was organized, though. He figured it was from years of dealing with no organizational skills. He knew the skill wasn't an automatic trait from the millions of notes she left herself on her desk. He found it highly amusing when he'd read some of them. Filing tips and tricks most people took for granted. She had to remind herself how to do them every so often.
She was reaching into her purse. She pulled out keys. She looked up at him. Her smile was delicate. Warm. Inviting. He brushed a thumb across her cheek. Her skin was cold, but warmed at his touch. He knew he had to kiss her. It was expected. He almost did earlier in the evening, but stopped himself. He didn't want to lead her on too quickly. There was still a chance she would tire of him. He knew about her ex and how swiftly she had blown through that relationship (that tidbit care of Dr. Robbins-a talented man, but prone to gossip). Now, however, was the perfect time. It was, after all, expected. His thumb brushed across her bottom lip. Supple. He leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers. Her lips were so smooth. Silk? Satin? It didn't matter what they felt like. They were soft. Gentle. Tempting. She never wore lipstick or gloss. Only a few times did he see her apply Chapstick. It smelled like cherries.
Lost in his thoughts, he deepened the kiss. She tasted like wine and spices. Somewhere along the way his hand had found itself on the back of her neck. He was growing painfully hard. He broke the kiss. She looked up at him. Her cheeks were flushed. Her lips were swollen. The image of her waking up in the morning invaded his thoughts. He looked away for a moment to clear his head.
"I had a nice time. Thank you," She paused, "Jonathan."
He smiled down at her. "You're welcome, Cady."
She walked inside and closed the door. He stood there until he heard her lock click. As he walked away, his mind filled with ideas on how to take care of the pressing need he felt.
