Always…

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye or Batman Begins!

Chapter Eighteen

Lisa was able to enter Arkham Asylum on her own with only minor difficulties. Many of the nurses and police officers that were milling about remembered seeing her earlier in the day and corroborated her story of being Jonathan's assistant. Despite the tragedy that had occurred, the workers graciously helped her gather her bearings and search for Jonathan. They seemed to sympathize with her plight after she carefully explained the loss of Jackson and her luck in finding Jonathan.

Whether or not they believed her story about Jonathan's nicer side was debatable. They were kinder than Silvia Monroe had been, yet there was no love lost between Jonathan and his staff. They were all far too eager to stab him in the back if given half a chance.

Jonathan was not in his office or working with an inmate according to the nurses and police that Lisa spoke to. His endless pages by police officers wishing to speak with him regarding the murder went unanswered.

Had something happened to Jonathan?

His car was parked out front. Jonathan was inside Arkham Asylum—the only question was where.

Finally, Lisa headed down to the basement in the elevator, using a spare key to operate it. This was only place that she had yet to check. She left the elevator and headed down the dimly light hallway to a set of doors marked 'Hydrotherapy'. She had felt drawn to this room for an unknown reason.

Inside the dark room, Lisa could make out a figure seated at a table. His dark haired-head was nodding to an inaudible voice, agreeing, as he alternated mixing chemicals and scribbling down notes. He mumbled to himself frequently.

Jonathan, her Jonathan, was sitting down there; frazzled and anxious.

"Jonathan?" she finally gathered up the courage to call. Lisa could no longer watch him without his knowledge. She wanted him to tell her what he was doing. She had to know.

He spun around, his icy blue eyes narrowing. When he noticed her, he visibly relaxed; the tense muscles in his body ceasing activity. Lisa Rippner was not a threat to him. At least not in her current state.

"Lisa? What are you doing here?" he asked, pleasantly surprised by her appearance.

Lisa smiled at him and he left his work lying upon the dusty table. Jonathan briskly joined her by the doors. What the hell was she doing here?

"I wanted to see you," Lisa responded innocently.

"You should not have come here."

"Why not? Jonathan, what's wrong?" Her voice conveyed her concern for him. When was the last time that someone had actually cared about him? He could no longer remember.

"Come along, Lisa. I will take you home." Jonathan grabbed her lightly by the arm and spun her around, intent on removing her from the room. She could not see the toxin. If she went to Sergeant Gordon then it would all be over. He could not afford that.

"Jonathan—what is this?" questioned Lisa, no longer easily deterred. The curiosity that had brought her there demanded answers.

Did she know? Could she have figured it out? What did I say? How long was she watching?

"This is where I make the medicine, Lisa. There is where I help people."

"Oh, Jon. Jonathan…" whispered Lisa.

"No. Scarecrow," snapped Jonathan, closing the door and shifting to block it.

"Jon…Jonathan? Please, stay with me. Stay with me, Jonathan."

"Leese, I'm sorry," the man before her mimicked Jackson's voice and used her nickname. Only Jackson, her father, and Cynthia had ever used that name.

Is that Jackson? Lisa wondered.

"Jonathan, you're scaring me." It's not Jackson, he can't be Jackson.

"I'm so sorry."

"Jonathan, no! The baby!" Lisa screamed and tried to shield her stomach. Jonathan/Jackson raised a needle in midair and he calmly flicked the air from it.

"Relax, Lisa," he soothed, injecting himself with the liquid.

"Jonathan, what was that?" she questioned him. She was trembling from her fright. Jonathan reached out to touch her, but she backed away.

"Scarecrow—that was Scarecrow. I'm sorry," apologized Jonathan. Tell me that this is not happening.

Jonathan had his own demons to conquer. Even though he was a psychiatrist he was not immune to insanity. He was human. Lisa knew that he would never hurt her on purpose. Jonathan was a good man. He had helped her before and he still was helping her. Now it was time for her to return the favor.

"Jonathan, please, let me help you. Let me help you now. You helped me," she pleaded quietly.

Jonathan Crane smiled at her. He was winning her over. She was falling for him. Had she been any other woman, such as the insufferable ADA Rachel Dawes, then she would have run from him. Lisa had stumbled onto his secret—well, two of them—and was unafraid. True, releasing Scarecrow and Jackson had scared her; but she still trusted him.

Lisa Rippner was his willing victim… a pawn in his scheme.

Jim Gordon drove to Miami, grateful of its close proximity to Gotham. He had with him the files on Lisa Rippner, Jackson Rippner, as well as one on Dr. Jonathan Crane. Joe had agreed to meet him and look over photographs of Dr. Crane and Jackson Rippner and tell him all about the events that had led Lisa to Jackson and ended his life. In return, Jim would head up the investigation into Dr. Crane's background and help set up the exhumation of Jackson Rippner.

He parked in front of 9321 Blossom Palms Lane and exited his car, the stack of files in his arms. Gordon did not even reached the front door before it swung open and he caught his first glimpse of Joe Reisert. The downtrodden man's face brightened upon noticing the police sergeant outside his house.

"Come in, come in!" Joe said cheerfully, as he ushered Gordon into his home. The renovations had finished long ago and the front of the house had been repaired.

"I can't stay long…"

"That's okay. We can talk quickly. I just want to get my daughter back."

Jim nodded in understandment. Had he been in Joe's predicament, he would have thought the exact same thing.

"Oh, is this Jackson Rippner?" Gordon questioned, suddenly remembering the file folders that he held. He flipped open Jackson's file and showed Joe the pictures it contained.

The older man nodded sadly. "That's him alright."

"What about this man?" Gordon inquired, showing him the pictures of Dr. Crane now. Joe nearly jumped at the sight of the other man and looked at both sets of pictures.

"What an uncanny pair," Joe muttered. "So similar, yet so different."

"They aren't both Jackson then?"

"No, but they sure could pass for each other."

Interesting…

Author's Notes:

Lisa just keeps missing the bad things that he does. He really has her wrapped around his finger. Thankfully Joe and Jim are teaming up. Thanks for the review and enjoy!