Ha, sorry about the wait. First semester of college and all. Plus, I've sustained two injuries and I've lost an aunt. My life has kind of sucked so please forgive me. This chapter is short, I guess, but I'm working on the next chapter and I'll update depending on the reaction to this chapter. A couple of things: Do you think she's too young and what of the Joker's pronunciation in the first chapter? Should I continue that or not? Let me know in that awesome review you'll leave and super thanks to anyone and everyone!

-3-

"Her name is Megan Trojacek," Chris told me as I looked over the rest of her paperwork. It was a bit odd that my first patient's name was Megan and my best friends was Maegen. Odd indeed. "She turns seventeen in a few weeks, been here for almost three years."

"Three years?" I repeated, "What did she do?"

"Brutally killed her father, two brothers, and boyfriend," he explained before yawning into his palm. I wondered briefly if I would become so used to psychopaths that their crimes would no longer affect me. "Sorry about that. Kids had me up all night."

"You have kids?" Kids make me enthusiastic.

"Twins," he paused as we approached the elevator, pushing the button.

"I didn't even know you were married!" I exclaimed with a big grin.

"Yeah," he replied softly, glancing down at his hand. Following his gaze, I finally noticed the wedding band on his finger. He held up his left hand and looked at me with a soft intensity. "Six and a half years. Fell in love during college and I never had eyes for anyone else."

"Awww…"

He laughed and the elevator doors opened. We quickly entered and the smile refused to leave my face.

"You can come by my office sometime and look at the pictures. I have some in my wallet as well, but I'm seeing Kimberly today." He glanced over and saw my confused look before continuing. "She's on the third floor, likes to pickpockets and bite."

"What does she do with what she steals?"

"I don't want to know."

It was my turn to laugh but it quickly left when the elevator stopped at the sixth floor. Chris automatically noticed my apprehension but could do nothing to console me as the doors opened.

Before us stood a three men: one in a guards uniform, one in the male nurses uniform, and the last in a straight jacket. The men in uniform had the other in between them and in a death grip. The middle man was short and had his shaved head in a constant tilt, slightly cross-eyed and was somewhere in his mid-thirties. With more force than what seemed necessary, the two taller men dragged the patient into the elevator.

I supposed that's something else about Arkham - the lack of elevators. There's so much traffic sometimes and even though I haven't heard anything, there's an odd stain on the carpeted floor that lets me know that something has happened before that wasn't so pleasant. When I questioned Mr. Walc about the lack of more elevators, he couldn't really explain it either. He just kept mumbling about construction and cost and interference with the day-to-day evaluations and cells. It would've been really easy to argue safety regulations, but it's Mr. Walc. I just feel so bad when I see him. Like, I pity him for no reason. I can't explain it really.

As the men trampled into the elevator, I tried not to think about the uncomfortable tension in the air. I just need to go down one more story and I'll be on my way to see Miss Trojacek.

That reminds me of something else I've learned about Arkham. All of the staff is really nice, except when they're on the job. Like, the guards and male nurses are tough bastards. And even Diane goes into 'I'm superior and a tight ass' mode when she's making her way to a patient. It's interesting. It's a progressive and manageable mood swing that I will probably never conquer.

The elevator gave a soft ding as it reached my floor and I easily slid past the men to get to the main floor. Unlike Chris, who is just under six foot, I'm a petite 5'5". I may not be able to reach the top shelf but I can crawl through tiny spaces with ease.

It amused me to watch Chris try to awkwardly bypass the guards without going as far to touch them. During the brief moment, I noticed the patients bemused expression. It was unnerving and so…innocent.

But then Chris was standing next to me and the doors were closing.

"Who was that?" I asked, still staring at the elevator doors.

"Terrance Latching," Chris replied dully, a twinge of pity lacing his words. "His whole family was murdered ten years or so ago. He went completely mental, enough to end up here. He never says anything but he's brilliant at board games."

"Why were they handling him so roughly?" I hadn't really meant to let the question slip and I tried to ignore the disapproving look that Chris was sending me.

"He's very dangerous, Chase," he said slowly, letting me process the words. "He could escape at any moment."

"But he seems harmless."

"Don't let that façade fool you. He is twice as brilliant as both of us put together." At my confused look, he elaborated. "His IQ is over 200."

"Whoa." My amazement was evident by my heavy Valley girl tone. I cleared my throat awkwardly in embarrassment but when I looked back at Chris, he seemed back to his normal self. Well, as normal as he could get.

"Come on now, Dr. Stark. We wouldn't want you to be late," he chided playfully, which caused me to laugh.

He lead me down the hall and down several side paths to get the room where the examination would take place. Holding the girls file close to me, I hesitated when I reached for the knob.

This isn't my first patient, not really. I worked with a lot of people and patients through my intern and resident years and I've done a hell of a good job, but somehow, this is different. And not a bad different, just not a good different. I've never worked or even dealt with people like this. I mean-

"You'll do fine," Chris spoke, pulling me from my revere. I looked at him before he continued. "She's not as tough as you think she'll be. She's actually very fragile, most of the time. Just be careful with your words."

I didn't find his advice comforting by any means. But I grasped the doorknob in my hand and twisted and pulled.

Stepping through the threshold, I found the room to be almost exactly like all the other ones. Clean, white, cold. It was bigger and the fluorescent lights didn't flicker ominously. And then there was the girl sitting in the corner of the room, gently drawing circles on the floor with her thin index finger. She hadn't even noticed my presence.

My last assumption became very wrong as her icy blue eyes snapped to mine. I kept my face impassive as she stared me up and down, taking in as much as her vision allowed. I took the moment to do the same.

Unlike Mr. Latching, she was dressed in a grey unisex outfit and after a moment, did not seem the least bit interested in me. Her light brown hair was straight and short, ending just about her shoulders. She was a remarkable shade of pale and she was rather thin. Not too thin but enough to make me wonder.

I swallowed my fear and tried to focus.

"Would you like to take a seat?" I asked, gesturing to the chair. She continued to stare for a moment before getting up and sluggishly making her way to the chair. She's just so small and fragile.

Taking the seat opposite of hers, I wonder briefly if there's anything too special about this girl.

Opening the folder, I take a scan of her previous doctor's note. It was an extensive list of notes, discussions, sensitive subjects, mannerisms and such. There was a bolded note that was written in red ink that caught my attention…

"Who are you?" My head snapped up as the high-pitched voice asked the question. Her icy blue eyes were wide as she stared at me and I could only smile at the innocence.

"I'm Dr. Chase Stark," I replied.

And then she began screaming.

It was absolutely horrid hearing such a shrieking scream coming from such a small girl who was fine moments ago. She was relentless in her fit and seemed unwilling to stop. She pranced around her half of the room and bucked wildly and although it unnerved me, I didn't know what to do. Would she stop on her own? Should I call for assistance? Surely not as the cameras would alert anyone of my distress.

I looked to the camera, hoping she would just stop and awkwardly, I rose up from the table.

"Uh-" I stuttered, moving towards her cautiously. She just continued to scream louder and I ended up backing away from her, covering my ears.

Why isn't anyone coming? The cameras aren't a show, I know that. They aren't a show. Why isn't anyone-

The doors suddenly burst open and two surly, burly men bound in and begin to restrain the girl. She continued to flail and kick and scream. A tug on my arm let me know that I shouldn't be standing and watching, but that I should leave the men to their job.

"Are you okay?" Chris asked, bringing me down to reality again.

"Yeah," I mumbled, stepping away from him. I raked my hand through my hair and my eyebrows furrowed together. "What did I do wrong?"

Chris sighed and looked down at me. "You said that you were a doctor. It's a small note that was mentioned, but I should've told you beforehand. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," I say, trying to cut him off. "I just can't believe I've messed up already."

"Don't think of it as messing up. Think of it as…" he paused for a moment, looking at the floor before looking at me, "…as… Well, you'll get another chance to show what you're made of on Thursday, with the Joker."

"You know, that really doesn't make me feel any better."