Disclaimer: I don't own Dr. Crane and/or any of the characters/places associated with Batman Begins.
Vanessa awoke feeling exhausted and out of sorts. That was starting to become the norm in this place. The fading light of the setting sun told her that another day had passed. Had she really been out that long? Her arms were wrapped tightly around her body and she soon realized that she couldn't move them even if she'd wanted to. A glance downward revealed she was in a straightjacket.
Now this wouldn't do at all! She sat up quickly and the room began to spin. Dr. Crane walked by the observation window of her room. When he noticed that she was awake he entered. He closed the door behind him as she fell back into bed under this new wave of dizziness. Dr. Crane pulled a chair up to the side of her bed and sat down with a solemn look on his face.
"Do you want to talk about what happened last night Vanessa?"
"Scarecrow….Scarecrow."
She had wanted to tell him everything but right now that one word was all she could say.
"I think you're hallucinating again Vanessa or the storm triggered some kind of flashback."
"No, there was someone in my room last night. I did not imagine it. He had a plastic bag with him Jonathan."
Dr. Crane looked frustrated, even a little disappointed.
"Vanessa, think about it. What you're saying doesn't make any sense. Let's say someone did get into your room, how would they have gotten out? The door locks from the outside as you discovered when you clawed your fingers to the bone trying to get out."
What he was saying made perfect sense. She knew that it did, but she could not question her own sanity on this matter, not this time.
"I know what I saw. There was someone here. Maybe it was someone who works here? Someone with a key to my room." She suggested.
Dr. Crane openly rolled his eyes at the notion.
"No staff member would ever attempt to harm you. Our employees undergo a careful screening process before they're hired. We don't just pluck people from the street at random."
At this point she decided there was no point in arguing. Sure, he was listening to her but he wasn't lending a shred of credibility to anything she said.
"I want this damn jacket off." She demanded suddenly. "I can't move in this thing."
"I can't do that Vanessa. I'm worried you would only try to harm yourself again."
"Take it off! What if he comes back? I won't be able to defend myself."
"Is that what you fear the most Vanessa, being defenseless?"
The conversation had taken a very strange turn and the doctor seemed a bit too eager to hear her response.
"I want a lawyer. You can't just keep me tied up like some kind to animal".
Dr. Crane reeled at her last command. He stood up and peered out her observation window. Confident that no one was in close enough proximity to have overheard their conversation he withdrew a syringe from his pocket. When Vanessa saw it she tried to roll away from him but he straddled her to keep her steady.
"I'm afraid you're hysterical. I'm going to have to sedate you."
"Get off of me you freak. The only loony in this hospital is you!" These were her last words as the needle pierced the delicate skin of her neck and Dr. Crane depressed the plunger. A warm chemical began to flow through her bloodstream. As she drifted off yet again Dr. Crane cupped her face in his hands, forcing her half closed eyes to look at him.
"Don't you ever try to make demands of me. As long as you're in here you are mine. Don't forget it."
Although she wouldn't be able to recall exactly what he had said to her when she woke in the morning she would never forget the vision of those icy blue eyes burning into her.
