Chapter 14

I had to plan when I was going to look for room 142 D after Dr. Arkham had left for the day. Thanks to my new alliance with Penguin I was able to learn that Arkham kept himself on a tight schedule leading to his clock out time around six on the dot. I made sure to have an excuse for being at Arkham so late. Many of the doctors medical staff included stayed in the asylum more when the big bads of the gallery are out. It's a safety precaution and it gave me a great excuse to stay at the office and wait for Dr. Arkham to leave.

Giving myself an extra half hour after Arkham's normal clock out time I slipped out of my office. Pacients were eating dinner by now and that made the halls almost deserted. Then again how many times have these halls been truly deserted in my time at Arkham. Every time I'm alone someone tries to jump me. Or Jonathan is going to be around a corner.

But no one is going to jump me. Penguin had got in contact with Dent and between them and Joker's promise not to come after me I felt pretty safe about not getting jumped. Jonathan on the other hand was still out and about. It had been a few days since we saw each other. Our last conversation had been intense but it did give me an insight into his mind that I had not had before. He was still that boy who was angry at the world, yes, but he was also that same boy I knew who wanted to help. Through a very rough turn of events he broke. If I could get to him, let him see he isn't a monster but just lost, then maybe his progress could begin.

I was able to get to the one hundreds entering a part of the asylum I hadn't been to yet. This part of Arkham was what teens thought the asylum was when they told horror stories. The paint was cracked, wall paper barely hanging on the wall, large bubbles distorted images of leaves and vines. The floorboards squeaked under my feet and in the most anxiety ridden part of my mind I worried that I would fall through.

The parts of the walls that didn't have peeling wall paper had paintings, and these weren't your standard paintings of long lost descendants. Yes they were of people, but there was something twisted in the hollow eyes that followed me down the hall. The part of my lizard brain was telling me to get the hell out. But the modern human part of me assured me that nothing was coming around the corner.

After a long amount of time I found the room numbers again. I could see room 139, 140, 141 A, 141 B, 142 A, 142 B, 142C, 143.

I paused between 124 C and 143. No 142 D. Did Penguin lie to me? Why would he lie to me about this? There would be profit for him. So I was stumped as what he means by Solitary was in room 142 D. Because standing in the Hall there wasn't such a room.

I used to be the type of person who would pursue this to a place of it being unhealthy, but I know when to call it quits. Maybe Bruce could get the original plans for arkham. He's wealthy enough that getting the original plans for the manor couldn't be that difficult. Armed with that we can move forward with our plan.

Walking down the hall I started to hear a commotion. Arkham was gone, but that didn't mean the asylum shut down for the night. Walking up closer to the sound I noticed that someone was on a vertical stretcher. The man was laughing as the guards kept their eyes forward ignoring his threats, well they were trying to ignore the things he was going to say. See if there is one thing Jon is good at it's getting under people's skin.

"Come come gentlemen, you don't think this is a tad excessive. Even Batman was able to get me in here without too much man handling."

Jon threw back his head and I could see the budding of a new bruse on the side of his face. HIs glasses were gone, probably lost in the fight with Bats. Blue eyes were squinting out into the dim hallway, he probably couldn't tell it was me in the light. My hair would be the only giveaway and in this light there was no way he could see.

In front Cash paused seeing me walk down the hall toward them. "Doctor I would give him a wide birth, he's being moody."

Jonathan from his locked position started to twist and contort under the straps. My knowledge about disabling a person so they can't move told me the guards had done a poor job at making sure Jonathan was secure. Probably Jon puffed himself up, you know, arching his back while they strapped him down, anything to give him centimeters of room to work with. Centimeters that he could use later to escape.

I could see the way his arms were shifting, he was almost able to slip them out of the leather. I had to do something about it. Yes I cared deeply for him, but in a state like this Jon was not to be trusted.

"Doctor Crane." I said making my voice be as clear as possible.

Comicly Jon froze. His eyes looked up straining to look at where I was. His face dropped the malicious smile and now he was looking dumbstruck into the hall. "Doctor Coleman…"

"Looks like I'm back on pill duty."

Cash shook his head. "Probably not for a few days. He gets solitary for breaking out."

I looked around me, playing the dumb one. "Solitary around here?"

Cash nodded. "Doctor Coleman, it might be best if you keep moving. Crane is dangerous."

From behind him I could see Jon still worming his way to getting free. What was he going to do? Jump them and escape again? No. I knew he needed to be in Arkham better than anyone. So I did what any good Dom would do when they noticed someone else's brat was out of line.

"You know his binding is loose." I said pushing past Cash.

Jon paused and looked up at me. The expression on his face was a mix between 'What are you doing?' and 'Don't do this'. "I'm staying perfectly still." He said keeping his voice level.

Tightening leather bindings can be easy or a bitch. It's a bitch if the person being restrained is a brat, like Jon. I don't blame the guards for getting it wrong. I just happen to know what a guy like Jon should be able to do when he's under tight enough bindings.

Starting with his torso I grabbed the free end and lifted it so it was no longer secure. Then with all my might I pulled it tight. Underneath it I heard a soft groan from Jon.

"The fuck." He cursed. Now closer up he could see my face. Maybe he could see the glint of glee I had in being able to lock him down. I think seeing that made him stop his fighting. I was working on the binding around his neck when I heard him whisper to me.

"Don't go looking for solitary… Arkham will find out and." I tightened the binding and he gulped. "And will fire you."

Making sure he was secure I backed away looking like i hadn't heard a thing. "Cash I believe he's all yours." I said rubbing my hands together.

Jonathan's eyes followed me until he could no longer look at me without turning his head. I watched him get taken down the hall, down the hall to the room I was about to look for. Was he right about Arkham's suspicion of me? Should I be wary of him? Of course I should be wary. This is Arkham after all, everyone here is a little crazy.

A/N: I know I know it's a really short chapter. It was originally part of the next chapter but I felt it was going to go for too long with too much stuff for people to ponder. Hence I'm going to be posting the next chapter tomorrow. I'm almost done writing the whole of the story and once I'm done I can start worrying about my next fanfic.

Review please?