AN: Continuation of 'McDonald's' and 'Check-Up'. Because they had to go back sometime. I did slightly deviate from the original source, because I can.
Jasmine Scarthing-It is. It isn't that bad. At least my fear toxin is tasteless! If you'd just gulp it and not sip it, it would be over faster. Nothing will get it over faster.
KittyComeHere-Marriage? Why? At this point, there's no point in looking for tax breaks. We should have done it in college. Damn. I look awful in white, anyway. We could do a Poe-themed one. Pity the Joker would crash it. Alas.
SwordStitcher-What a horrible way to go, hiding in the toilet. *snickers* What is wrong with you people? Are you psychopaths? Only on the internet...kids today, I swear...
He's attempting to hack up a lung when the door flies inwards and the doorknob imbeds itself in the wall. Their time has come to return, hasn't it. He knew it would, in the end. He won't fight it. He's too sick to put up much resistance, anyway.
"Crane." Surely his voice doesn't sound like that all the time. Someone would notice.
"Yes."
For once, the Bat is puzzled. Ha.
"You have to go back to Arkham, Crane."
"It's your fault if I don't come back out." he snaps. "Have you met the madman they put in charge of us?" Maybe it's a long shot, but Batman might be able to help them. "I didn't do this!" He gestures towards the bruises on Kitty's throat. "We had to get out or he was going to kill us both. You have to understand…"
He begins to cough again. His lungs ache and he suspects the common cold has become something a little more dangerous.
"Bolton."
"Yes." he wheezes.
"Come on, Crane."
"No, please…"
The black hand grasps his right arm and pulls him up. He can barely stay on his feet, let alone make a break for it. They can't go back, Bolton will be furious, and in this state…
Batman hauls Kitty up and drags them both to the tank outside. This will be the second time he's ridden in it, and the first time that he'll remember.
They're shoved into the back seat-no handcuffs, how nice. It doesn't matter. He's not going to add Batman-inflicted injuries to his list of problems.
He rests his head against the cool glass window and hopes that something terrible has happened to Bolton while they're away. Maybe he fell down the stairs, or was eaten by Croc, or something equally unpleasant.
Kitty leans against his side and he supposes this will be the last interaction with her for some time.
Outside, the streetlights grow few and far between and eventually they're gone altogether. Five more minutes and they'll be back in Arkham.
Bolton is waiting for them-Batman must have called him. That's it, then. There goes the last (thin) ray of hope.
"So you're the Batman." God, he hates that voice. "Thanks for bringing back our runaways."
"They need to be in Medical." Yes, but that doesn't mean that they'll end up there. Solitary, here they come. "I'll take them. Save you the effort."
"No need."
"I insist."
Well. Maybe they'll end up in Medical, after all.
Batman escorts them down the too-bright hallway and into a familiar room. Bolton is nowhere in sight.
Batman disappears-one of these days, Crane will figure out how he does that-before the doctor on duty finds them.
"Back so soon, Doctor Crane, Miss Richardson?" It's the motherly one, Annie Wilkes. Her name never ceases to amuse him. "Let's take a look at you two."
Once she's done and they're settled into two uncomfortable but warm cots, she turns off the light and goes to her little office.
Tomorrow's going to be hell, but at least he can get a good nights' sleep before the storm hits.
THE END