Sorry guys for not updating yesterday or Sunday...I have two excuses, although I really don't want to use them. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday I have slept 18 hours, done theater work for 30, had school for 8, had 10 hours of homework, and 6 hours in which I just plain needed to take a darn break from it all. I'm exhausted, and luckily my schedule today was kind of free so you guys get this monster...this has to tie for being the longest chapter with Memories, which is the other excuse. 3000+ words without this note at the top.

Thank you to Bashlei for the favorite and the review!

I hope everyone enjoys the padding, I mean chapter! (Which is padding until I get to 40 to be honest)

37. Still

Doctor Young released Jonathan from his extreme isolation cell and unfastened his straightjacket (little did she know that it had been undone before her arrival, him only putting it on because he knew she was coming). Penelope was growing tired of having to do this though, thinking that having a sane person (such as Jonathan) in a straightjacket to be pointless and unnecessary. Nevertheless, Warden Sharp had been the one to place the order in the first place and Penelope couldn't change it without his authorization…Sharp hadn't noticed that she removed it during the sessions luckily. Once Jonathan was closer to being proved sane Penelope wanted to speak with the warden about her patient's unfair treatment. They had long since stopped giving the Joker the straightjacket, knowing that he had a million ways of getting out of it, so why should poor Jonathan have to go through wearing it?

Jonathan decided that a breath of fresh air was nice now and again, the musty and old air inside Arkham being not even in competition with it. He had been outdoors on Arkham before, for he was one of the patients who did the most travel, but he still felt some slight enjoyment in the change. En route to their research lab, Jonathan became curious of the growing flowers and plant life throughout Arkham's grounds.

Turning to her, Jonathan spoke to his psychologist as they continued walking, "Doctor Young, I've noticed that the flora seems to have been growing outside the main buildings. Is there a particular reason for this?"

Young perked her head at hearing her patient speak, previously caught up with her thoughts concerning him, "Well Jonathan, the reason for that is that Arkham has decided to grow some of the native flora so that we can use them for medicinal reasons."

Taking this into account, Jonathan thought about the whole idea aloud, "Odd, but I suppose that it makes some sense," very close to them, on the side of one of the decrepit buildings, Jonathan saw movement. As the grounds were usually devoid of people and the spot was sketchy, Jonathan decided to look in that direction and continue observing, "Why waste money getting rid of what can be used for free?"

Young nodded, not noticing what Crane was looking at, nor what he was growing tense about, "Exactly. The program st-"

In a sudden burst, Jonathan grabbed Young and pulled her behind a large piece of flora. Stunned and confused, Young gasped before yelling, "What the hell-"

Holding his index finger to his lips and shooshing her, he pointed at the building he had been focused on, "Firefly and a few other inmates are loose over there. I don't think they noticed us, but stay here."

Realizing that they were actually in a form of danger, Penelope decided to just go with whatever Jonathan came up with, "What are you going to do Jonathan?"

"They still fear me because of my past. I am going to see if I can talk them out of doing what I think they are doing."

"Which is?"

"Arson, and I believe they have already committed murder on their security guard."

"Just be safe…"

Creeping closer to the other building, Crane was thankful that all of the inmates had their backs turned to him. The flora may be abundant, but it was not large enough to hide behind for the most part and Jonathan was stuck walking towards them with no cover whatsoever.

As he drew a bit closer, Jonathan noticed another Rogue amongst the crowd…Killer Moth was having the tar beaten out of him once again. Reluctant to help him again, Jonathan knew that he had to go through with this or he would lose where he stood with his doctor…she thought he was sane, yet expected him to do something insane…

Whatever the case, Crane was not afraid of this B-list villain and a couple thugs, even when they were armed with a flamethrower (Firefly) and some Molotov cocktails (the thugs). Drury Walker, blood oozing from gashes on his face, was leaning against the building they were about to torch.

Firefly laughed at his unfortunate victim, totally euphoric that he was about to do what he loved best. Crane noted the pyromaniac's obsession with bullying other inmates when possible as he listened to the maniac, "Crow isn't here to protect you this time, Walker. Croc beat the crap out of me for failing to cook you, so I'm going to pay you back for the beating."

Walker tried to stand up, but was kicked in the gut by one of the thugs and fell back down as a result, "Why do you guys keep doing this to me? What did I ever do to you?"

Crane noticed a rusty gardening hoe laying on the ground and smiled. It may not be his preferred scythe, but it would do with subduing them. Firefly continued laughing maniacally, still unaware that he had a threat creeping up on him, "You existed, and that's enough-"

Turning quickly, Firefly jumped away from the person who tapped him on the shoulder. Jonathan laughed at the fearful response, "Seriously, we're back to this again?"

Furious that Crane stood in his way yet again, Firefly growled furiously, "What the hell are you doing here? Don't you have anything better to do than stalk Walker?

Not wishing to put Penelope in harm's way, Jonathan decided to use a half-truth, "Just happened to be in the neighborhood," gesturing at the defeated Rogue who lay bleeding, Jonathan sighed, "Now are you going to let him go, or am I going to have to step in like before?"

One of the thugs scoffed at Jonathan, pointing at the weakling known as Killer Moth as well, "It isn't our fault that this wimp can't stand up for himself, now is it Scarey-Warey?"

Glaring venomously at the man, Jonathan pointed his makeshift weapon at him, "Call me that and I assure you that you will be the one who can't stand up for himself…or stand for that matter…and if things go my way, breathe," turning back to Firefly, he added, "After your little stunt the other day you are lucky to still be breathing without a tube."

Firefly aimed his flamethrower at his superior Rogue, shaking his head at the Scarecrow's overconfidence while forgetting his own, "You put to much faith in yourself Crow! I know you got the drop on me when we fought before, but not this time Crane! I'll show your medium well-done body to your dear doctor!"

"Somehow I doubt that will occur."

"Eat flame you psycho freak!"

Young crept towards where she saw Jonathan, instantly realizing that he was wielding a garden hoe. While unsure what he was going to use it for initially, when she saw Firefly let loose a burst of flame, she understood perfectly. Jonathan had predicted the flamethrower's usage and easily avoided it's flame (which instead lit the grass on fire), closing the distance between himself and one of the menial thugs as he did so.

The thug he approached and another nearby him both drew out knives and Penelope gasped. Her patient was now fighting a flame wielding maniac and some other patients who had knives! Young didn't want to leave and be seen by them, for they were pretty nearby and they could easily give chase to her and harm her, but she was terrified about what was happening.

"Of all the damn times to be rioting! When I see Kovachs next I'll give him a piece of my mind! Where is the stupid security when you need them? Boles and Cash are absolutely useless!"

Jonathan caught one knife's edge in the wooden shaft of his own weapon, the fierce nature of the strike lodging it deep inside the shaft. Quickly twisting the wooden pole, Jonathan tugged the blade out of it's owner's hands just in time to smash the hand of the other patient with a knife as they lunged at him. Quickly deciding to be as non-lethal as possible, Jonathan used the non-tool edge of the hoe to jab into the unarmed man's stomach. In a follow up movement he kneed the other assailant in the stomach, doubling the man over, and then smashed the hoe down on his head with enough force to break the damaged and aged wood. The man fell from the blunt attack, and the one Crane had jabbed stumbled back into the fire that was now spreading.

Deciding to just torch everything, Firefly pointed his flamethrower again and let his fire loose in a sweeping motion. Jonathan cursed as he had to retreat from the wildly aimed fire, which was in turn setting everything else aflame.

Penelope saw the growing fire and wildly looked for something that could help. Noticing a gardening hose, she checked where it was connected to. Seeing that the building that all the action was nearby was the one that was connected, Penelope hastily ran over to it in hopes of saving her patient from the fire.

Noticing the white lab coat moving across the lawn, Firefly spat out, "What the-, the bitch is here too? Just what exactly were you doing in the botany with-"

Seizing the slight moment of confusion, Jonathan threw one of the garden hoe's broken halves at the pyro. The shaft crashed into the man's body and gave Crane enough time to throw a kick at the man's head. Still stumbling from being hit by the garden hoe, Firefly didn't dodge the high kick and ungracefully fell backwards. Gathering one of the knives that he knocked onto the ground, Jonathan pointed it at his opponent's chest, "You had best learn your place Firefly. And in case you don't know where that is, it means that you stay the hell out of the top Rogues way. Otherwise you'll be found in a ditch on the side of some road in the Narrows."

Spitting at the victor, Firefly tried to grab his flamethrower, "You don't scare me!"

Slashing across the man's stomach, Jonathan left a decent sized cut that replaced any form of resistance with screams, "Obviously I do, or else you would have fought me one on one you brute," kicking the man in the side, Jonathan noticed that the fire behind him was beginning to be put out by a rapid stream of water, "Now, I expect you to stop this annoying behavior and leave the culling of the weak Rogues to people like the Joker and I. I respect your pyrotechnic abilities, so I am going to let you go, again, but you better not cross paths with me again."

Grabbing his profusely bleeding stomach, Firefly screamed in agony, "Okay, okay! I get it!"

Shaking his head in disgust, Crane stood on one leg, bringing the other as far back as he could, "You're a pathetic moron Firefly. The security force is going to be itching to hurt someone after this riot, and you'll be a perfect scapegoat for that anger."

"Bast-"

A brutal kick to the face knocked the man out cold. Turning to face the other Rogue present, Crane shook his head again, "Drury, you had best learn to defend yourself. I am growing tired of helping you out of tough spots."

Now standing, Drury held his head in shame, "I'm sorry, I just can't help it. I know I'm not the strongest here, but everyone seems to take that as an invitation to mock and maim me."

His brow furrowing, Jonathan decided to humor the man slightly, "Are you sure it isn't your motif? Your outfit is kind of fuzzy, not the most intimidating of costumes…"

Not listening at all to Jonathan's advice on being scary in the slightest, Drury whined, "It's my thing though!"

Crane was growing tired of Drury, his weak attempt at tolerating him now fading away, "That is well and good, but your 'thing' is going to get you killed unless you can somehow learn to fend off other inmates."

Drury's head sagged further down, making Crane want to hit him…scaring him would not be any relief as anything could scare this man. The only thing that restrained him was the constant stream of water that was pouring onto the dying fire nearby, reminding him that anything he did would be seen by Penelope.

Thinking about how to make sure that he would not have any further instances with Drury, Crane thought as to how he could solve his problem. A person came to mind, and Jonathan had a light bulb turn on his head, "You know what, I suggest that new guy with the freckles. He killed three of the inmates here earlier today and is being kept from the general populace, but he should rejoin us soon," another thought came to mind as he remembered why the security force was predisposed, "Or rather speak to him after they let him out in about a week, because he is going to be held longer now… he started a riot as they dragged him off if you haven't heard yet…He isn't a villain like all of us so he may be a bit more sympathetic to your plight. If you stay with him you should be safe from all but the most prestigious Rogues."

Drury's head stopped hanging, but his face conveyed his befuddled thoughts, "Wait, you really think so? What if he just kills me like those other three?"

Shrugging nonchalantly, Jonathan noticed his doctor walking towards them now that the fire was put out, "Well Drury, the way I see it, your problem will be solved either way."

Drury looked like he was about to cry, eyes tearing up and a comically huge frown appearing on his face. Crane growled in anger, "Don't give me that look," Crane swore mentally when a tear actually came loose, the face remaining the same as the man began to sob, "I said don't-", deciding that Penelope was to close for him to act 'meanly', Jonathan gave in, "fine, I'll watch to see if he'll try to kill you or not," Drury looked at him expectantly, as if to make him continue, "and step in if need be…so long as you don't require me to be your savior anymore I might as well."

Young finally reached the two Rogues and looked around them, seeing the three unconscious inmates strewn about. Looking to Jonathan (ignoring Drury completely), Penelope questioned him, "Is everything over? What happened exactly?"

Pointing a long, bony index finger at his fellow Rogue, Jonathan spoke, "I saved Drury here from being lit on fire with the building by beating Firefly and those two goons into submission. Security should be here soon to get him, something they should have done before. Arkham staff should have heart monitors while they're here. After all, even Penguin uses them on his men, so why shouldn't Arkham keep track of their members that way?"

Still ignoring the other man, Young spoke solely to Crane, "I have to agree with you there…thank you for stopping that incident, but remember not to be overly aggressive," Drury, deciding that he had nothing to do with the conversation and respecting other people's privacy, walked out of earshot and neither of the others noticed, "I don't want someone using it as an excuse against releasing you."

Crane hated having to play model citizen, but he decided to endure through it so long as his goal was accomplished soon, "I agree, but some circumstances, such as this one, require action. I believe just standing by and watching a weaker inmate die and a building burn would be held against me much more than saving him at the cost of the three assaulting inmates' health."

Jonathan internally groaned at the smile that now beamed back at him. Maybe, he decided, he had turned on the model citizen bit on a little to strongly because she responded, "You're better than you give yourself credit. You know that, right?"

Completely caught off-guard by her praise, Jonathan had to swallow before weakly saying, "I merely hate bullies…"

Noticing her patient's distress and awkwardness, Young's large grin turned into a wry smile, "You're not the best at receiving compliments, are you?"

'Damn her,' Jonathan thought, 'this isn't supposed to be happening…'

He hadn't planned for her to be nice to him like this outside of professional courtesy (he had only thought she fed him so that she could complete her 'project' named Jonathan Crane). No one was nice to him…no one…not his family, not his schoolmates, not his former coworkers, not the other Rogues (except Harley, who was to ditzy to truly count, and the Riddler who he was allied with), not the people of Gotham, not the people who worked at Arkham…she was going to pay for this too he swore. No one made the sinister Scarecrow become flustered and embarrassed and got to live to tell the tale! Crane swore to repay her in kind for this tenfold…instead of a single dose of her particular fear gas, Crane decided about five would be plenty.

Stammering badly, Jonathan felt like dying on the spot because of this dishonor, "I…I just…"

Picking up on why he may not be comfortable with what she said, Penelope's smile faded and turned into a sad frown, "Jonathan, is it because of your past?"

Jonathan averted his eyes, hoping it would help hide the fact that she had just read into one of his real psychological problems…not something that he willingly gave her, but rather she read him like a children's book. Her frown disappearing, Young shook her head mournfully and spoke reassuringly "Don't worry. That woman and those bullies will never hurt you again, right?" Jonathan nodded slowly, still flustered and unsure where this was going to go. It wasn't like she was going to hug him reassuringly-

Putting an arm around Jonathan, Young grinned up at the man who towered over her, "Besides, I'm here to help you, so you shouldn't feel alone nor is there anything to worry about."

Unsure how to react to this initially, Jonathan stiffened and froze to her touch. Crane suppressed a malicious cackle after a few moments, instead just grinning slightly. Penelope reacted warmly to this, but she had no idea as to why he was smiling.

'No,' he thought, 'there isn't anything for me to worry about…but then again I'm not the one who is about to be seeing hallucinations and screaming for mercy in a few weeks.'

He had won her trust…now he just needed to plan a when and where he would kill her.

"So are we going to help the man with severe burns?"

"I'll send someone to do it. For now we should bring Drury back to his cell and then head to our research. This little incident has cost us a little to much time."

If you have any thoughts/opinions/ideas/anything really, feel free to leave a review! I am very open to suggestions and ideas, so know that you will be appreciated!