Well, heres chapter two for anybody who is interested to see what happens next. Enjoy!
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The next day, Raven went into work with butterflies in her stomach. It was 8:32. She had about an hour and a half til her 'date'. It was a bit quiet in the asylum today, probably because some people couldn't get through the four inches of snow that morning. Raven always walked to work, it wasn't that far. Raven hung up her trenchcoat and grabbed some more coffee, a little more than usual this morning. She went back to her office and sat down at her desk. She pulled a deck of cards out of one of the drawers and started shuffling it. That was a habit of hers since her school years. Whenever she was bored or nervous she would shuffle a deck of cards and, every now and then, she would play a game of Solitaire or try to build a house of cards. Raven flipped the deck over so that the numbers on the cards were visible. She filed through them until she found her favorite card, the ace of spades. She examined it and flipped it through her fingers,a bit absent-mindedly. She was snapped backed to reality when someone knocked on her door. "It's open."Raven called out. Ellen opened the door and stepped inside. "Good morning, Ellen,"Raven said with a smile,"Have a seat. We have a lot to talk about this morning."
"Good morning to you too,"Ellen pulled one of the wooden chairs up to Raven's desk,"Oh, I know we have tons to talk about.Dr.Monroe told me you would get to observe one of the Riddler's sessions this morning. Im surprised that idea actually went through."
Raven took a sip of her coffee,"Ditto to that. I nearly choked on this stuff yesterday when Dr.Monroe told me it was a good idea."She held up her coffee cup, indicating to Ellen that that was she nearly choked on. They both smiled,"So, how do you think it'll go?" Ellen questioned.
Raven leaned back in her chair and examined the ceiling for a second,"Oh,well, I can't be for sure. I've heard that the Riddler's mind is pretty complex. I guess thats the fun of it, you gotta experience it to know how it will go."
Ellen nodded in agreement,"I think Dr.Ridges has dealt with the Riddler before. She said that he was actually quite cooperative."
Raven laughed,"From what I saw yesterday he seemed to be a bit bull-headed. Trying to get away from the security and everything. And if he is so cooperative, then why does he break out?"
"Good question,"Ellen grinned,"Maybe you outta ask him."
"Uh oh,"Raven started shuffling the deck again,"There you go again, trying to brain wash me."
Ellen let out a small laugh,"Im serious. You should ask the Riddler why he broke out of here."
Raven sighed,"Alright,I'll put it on the list."
"What are you going to be looking for when you go to the session?"Ellen examined her blonde hair with a mirror she kept in her pocket.
"Hm, well. I was going to gather information about the Riddler,of course, and I was going to take a few mental notes on his characteristics and how his mind works."Raven replied. Ellen pocketed the mirror and turned her attention back to Raven,"In other words, your gonna see what kind of a man he is."
Raven grinned,"In a sense,I suppose."
Ellen watched Raven shuffle her deck of cards,"Are you nervous?"
"Who wouldn't be?"Raven began to deal out a game of Solitaire.
"No,no. No Solitaire. I'll play a few rounds of something with you." Ellen scooped up the cards that Raven had already put down.
Raven smiled,"Very well, state your game."
"You know Poker?"Ellen asked.
"Played it all through high school."Raven replied
Ellen smiled,"Alright then. Deal 'em out,Card Shark."
Raven grinned as she dealt out the first hand of Poker,'Funny,thats what they called me back then.' She thought.
The minutes passed and six rounds of Poker were played, Raven won four of them. Ellen wished Raven good luck and headed back to her office. It was now 9:10 in the morning. Raven still had about another hour. 'Well, that was fun.' she thought as she headed upstairs. Dr.Monroe was talking to another doctor when he spotted Raven.
"Morning Raven! Where are you headed?" he walked along side Raven.
"I was actually going to see if any of our inmates were awake."she replied.
"What for?"
"Just to chat. I have a bit of time before the session starts." Raven turned down another hallway lined with cells.
"Well, I'll leave you alone then." Dr.Monroe stated.
"Are you sure?" Raven turned to him.
"Yeah, I have a bit of work to do anyway. Good luck today. Bye."
"Thanks." Raven continued walking, searching the cell numbers as she went. She reached cell number 56 and knocked on its thick steel door.
"Who is it?" a rather high pitched voice said from the shadows.
"Its Raven." Raven replied.
"Raven! Long time no talk to! How've you been?"
"Good,Harley. Hows everything on the other side?"
Harley Quinn stepped into the lighted area of her cell,"Eh, same as always, dull and boring. Have you talked to my puddin' lately?"
"Joker? No. Things have been a bit weird lately."
Harley tilted her head in interest,"How so?"
"Well, The Riddler is back now and I get to go to one of his counciling sessions today." Raven leaned against the wall.
"Oh, sounds interestin'. Are you nervous?" Harley peered out the bars of her cell at Raven.
Raven laughed,"Yes, extremely nervous."
Harley giggled,"Dont be nervous around ole' Eddie. He's annoying but not vicious."
Raven shook her head and grinned,"You know the Riddler?"
Harley shrugged,"Only what I hear on the news and whatever talk about him buzzes around here. I see him when we get some free time every now and then."
"But you dont talk to him."
"Nah, he's too much of a creep."
They both laughed. Raven looked at her watch. It was 9:28.
"Well Harley, I hate to say this but I gotta go."
Harley looked a bit dissapointed,"Aw, why you gotta go?"
"I have about another half hour until I have to go to one of the counciling rooms. There might be some things that Dr.Ridges needs to talk with me about before my big moment." Raven replied with an apologetic face.
"Oh,"Harley smiled,"Okay then. Just come back and see me whenever you get the chance,okay?"
"Will do,Harley. Bye."
"Bye! Dont let Eddie annoy you too much!"Harley waved as Raven strode down the hallway.
She headed toward Dr.Ridges office and knocked on the door,"Come in." Victoria's voice said from inside. Raven stepped in,"Good morning Dr.Ridges."
"Good morning, Raven. How are you feeling about today?"
Raven sat down in one of the leather chairs,"A few things. Nervousness,excitement, and hunger."
"Hunger?"
Raven looked at Dr.Ridges with a guilty smile,"I didnt have breakfast this morning."
"Oh,"Dr.Ridges laughed and shook her head,"Thats not going to help your nerves at all."
Raven nodded,"I know, I know. But I was so excited to come in today that I just skipped it all together."
"Here," Dr.Ridges rummaged through her desk drawer and tossed a bag of chips to Raven,"Its not much but, at least its something."
"Thanks,"Raven ripped open the bag and took out a few chips,"So, where exactly do I go at ten?"
Dr. Ridges pulled out a small note pad and pencil,"You will go to this room number in the second hallway," she scribbled down the number and handed the sheet to Raven,"Wait there until they bring in the Riddler, Dr.Holmes should be in there. He knows all about this so, no need to explain anything."
Raven nodded and continued to munch on the chips. The number on the sheet was room 201.
"Should I take notes on anything?" Raven inquired.
"Not unless you want to but, just in case,"Dr.Ridges handed Raven the note pad and pencil she had used to write the number on,"Take these. If you hear anything interesting just jot it down."
Raven popped a few more chips into her mouth and nodded in thanks. She looked at her watch again, 9:43.
"Would you like me to go down there with you?"Dr.Ridges asked.
Raven thought for a minute,"If its alright,Dr.Ridges, I'd like to go by myself. No offense."
"None taken," Dr.Ridges turned to the computer on her desk,"I have an email from Dr.Holmes. He says he's ready for you."
Raven was a bit surprised,"It's a bit early still isn't it?"
Dr.Ridges shrugged,"Apparently not."
"Well, okay then. I guess I will see you later Victoria." Raven got up and gathered all of her items together.
"Good luck. I'll see you later."
Raven nodded and walked out the door. She looked at the number again and headed down the second hallway. Room 201 was on the right. She poked her head inside and looked around before spotting Dr.Holmes at his desk,"Hello." she chirped.
"Ah, you must be Raven. How are you? Im Doctor David Holmes."
"Im okay I guess."Raven shook Dr.Holmes hand.
Dr.Holmes smiled reassuringly,"Dont be nervous. Everything should go as planned. Now, The Riddler will be here any moment now. Dont fret if he asks about you."
Raven nodded,"I won't. I sort of expected him to be a bit curious about my prescence here."
"Good,"Dr.Holmes paced around the room a bit,"While your waiting, I can let you look through some of his older records if you'd like to."
Raven nodded again and Dr.Holmes took a file off of his desk,"These are notes that some of the other councilers have taken."
Raven flipped through the file and found an information sheet about the Riddler. It had all the basic stuff she had seen on the files that she would deliver: eye color, hair color, age at the current time, weight, height, and some of the occupants criminal history. Apparently at the time this particular sheet was filled out, the Riddler had only commited theft, kidnapping, and..brain washing Gotham's civilians? 'Odd,' Raven thought as she continued to flip through the file. It contained various notes from councilers, a few newspaper clippings and, of course, the information sheet and, that was about it. She noticed that the crimes she had read on the information sheet had taken place about two months before she moved to Gotham, indicating that the Riddler had only been in the asylum for that period of time and then broke out for about another three months before he was returned yesterday. A knock sounded on the door and a doctor and two security guards stepped inside, the Riddler was being held by the two guards in almost the same fashion as they had brought him in yesterday morning.
"Good morning, Dr.Holmes." The doctor greeted.
"Good morning,Dr.Burton." David replied
"We have your patient. Good luck to your friend there. We heard all about her new 'apprenticeship'. Alright boys, lead him in. Goodbye, Dr.Holmes."
"Goodbye,"Dr.Holmes nodded to the two guards and they followed Dr.Burton out the door. Raven's heart pounded in her chest as she continued to flip through the file. She looked at the Riddler from the corner of her eyes and saw that he had flaming orange hair and a new change of clothes, the mandatory grey outfit that most of the other occupants wore. Dr.Holmes approached the Riddler,"Shall we begin, Mr.Nygma?"
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There is chapter 2. What will happen during the session? Only chapter 3 will tell. R&R please!