Jonathan collapsed into the chair behind his desk the second he wondered into his office. Needless to say, he was physically and mentally exhausted. The past week had flown by in a blur. His nights were filled with fruitless searches through the Narrows of Gotham City. Thankfully Scarecrow took up the helm during these escapades so that Jonathan could rest his mind for a short while. They followed pointless leads obtained from petty street thugs, all who claimed to know the whereabouts of the Joker's main safe house. None of these leads ever panned out. More often than not the Scarecrow would focus on hunting down any current member of the Joker Gang but after the abduction of Aura Warren and the video calling out the mysterious Net Runner, the Joker Gang all but disappeared from the city streets. Scarecrow instead was slowly turning to systematically inspecting every building in the Narrows, working his way slowly towards the city proper beyond. But after a week of intense searching, not one clue turned up.

During the day Jonathan Crane continued his work at Arkham Asylum. The Warden tried to persuade him to continue working, to keep his mind off of the disappearance of his girlfriend, instead of taking time off. The entire asylum knew about Aura's disappearance and Jonathan's connection to the woman. The police saw to that when they visited him the first Monday after her abduction. Commissioner Gordon led the crusade himself into Arkham and interviewed Jonathan in his own office. They were not suspicious of Jonathan in any way, or so they claimed, merely communicating with him as a formality since he was Aura's partner. Gordon tried his best to reassure Jonathan that the police would do anything that they could to find Aura as soon as possible but Jonathan knew otherwise. The only people he could count on were himself and Scarecrow. Batman was far to busy dealing with the Rogue Gallery and Commissioner Gordon had his hands full weeding out the rotten apples in his own police department. Why would either of them concern themselves over a lone woman with nothing to offer the Joker in regards to the betterment of Gotham?

After the interview with the Commissioner, Jonathan's house was searched as another way to rule him out. Aura of course had never set foot into his private home so there was nothing for them to find. The objects taken from her apartment by Scarecrow were currently locked away in his safe house in the Narrows, except the statue which sat on his dresser before his bed. Once the search was conducted at his private home the police fully ruled him out as a suspect in connection with Aura's disappearance. That first Tuesday, Bruce Wayne addressed the public on Aura's abduction and offered a substantial reward for any information that would lead to her safe recovery. Ten million certainly brought an abundance of information from the public but nothing that the police had been able to use so far. Jonathan was surprised to find on Wednesday that the billionaire was awaiting him in his Arkham office. Bruce looked terrible. Sleep had obviously not come easy to the man. They talked for hours of nothing, merely enjoying the quite comfort in having a companion whom felt the same empty hollow that followed in the wake of Aura's disappearance. Wayne then treated Jonathan to lunch before leaving him shortly afterward.

Thursday was the first day in which Jonathan began his own investigation. While Scarecrow controlled their body at night in his searches, Jonathan was fully in control during the day. The Rogue inside him slept peacefully, giving him no pause during the daytime hours. Thankful for the small respite this offered, Jonathan began to think of ways to begin his own search. Carefully he traded most of his normal patients out for smaller time criminals. On any normal day, Doctor Jonathan Crane handled a great deal of the Rogue Gallery himself. He seemed to be one of the only doctors that had the unique ability to speak the language of these dangerous men without inciting them to violence. The other doctors, while not eager to take the high profile patients from him, traded them regardless to help alleviate the stress on their head psychiatrist and colleague. Now his patients consisted of Jervis Tetch and a few members of the Joker Clan and Penguin's Flock.

Jonathan treated these new patients like he would any other though a secret agenda had begun to form inside his mind. Carefully placed questions within the interview process about any knowledge of the Net Runner provided little answers for him. The members of the Joker Clan were only able to confirm that Joker was actively searching for the Metropolis Rogue, though none of them could tell him why. One however revealed something startling: the Net Runner, according to Joker, was a woman. That patient had been given a low dose of Scarecrow's fear toxin. The resulting attack on Jonathan Crane netted the criminal an extended stay in the solitary confinement cells in the basement. Jonathan had plans to meet up with that man later this very day, though more pressing concerns filled his attention at the moment. The Penguin goons did not net too much in the way of useful information for his cause. Though Jonathan suspected the Penguin himself may be more useful. While Jonathan only had a short time with the man the last time the portly Rogue found himself in Arkham, he got the vibe that Penguin was a man that played his cards close to the chest.

The Friday after Aura's disappearance was strangely uneventful. Many of his colleagues made it a point to stop by his office and offer their hand in any help he may need. The false concern in most of their eyes was enough to make him want to release a lethal does of the fear toxin into the ventilation system, but surprisingly Scarecrow was the voice of reason that afternoon. Jonathan could feel his resolve slipping that day. Despite his strong urge to interrogate the criminal locked in the padded cell in the basement, Jonathan took the rest of that Friday off. For the first time in his career at Arkham, Jonathan went home early. Though, sadly, he did not go home for much needed rest. Instead he found his way back to Edward Nygma's safe house after changing into the Scarecrow's guise. He was always careful to be in the costume, should someone other than Nygma be present. Since the night they tracked down Aura to that alley in the Narrows, Edward had been supremely useful. The Rogue had forgone his own plans for heists to help his friend. Selflessness was a rare feat for the man who called himself The Riddler, and Jonathan was thankful for the man's help. Nygma tracked down all internet chatter as well as telephone and radio communications, looking for anything they could use to pinpoint Joker's location. So far nothing had come across his searches.

When Jonathan visited, the two Rouge's sat in companionable silence. Edward himself had begun to show signs of irritation and fatigue. Sunday night, on another of Jonathan's visits, the two women who worked for Nygma made a comment about it being a useless quest and that Aura was probably already dead. In a fit of rage, Nygma hurled a steaming pot of coffee towards the women, the pot smashing itself against the wall. He proclaimed that he would not be outsmarted by a clown. That if they thought what he was doing was useless than in retrospect they thought him useless. The two women were unceremoniously thrown from the safe house, much to Jonathan's amusement. One threatened to turn the two of them into the police but one look at the needled gauntlet being secured onto Scarecrow's wrist was enough to put the fear of death into their fragile little minds.

Now it was Monday again, a full week that Aura was gone. In Gotham that meant one of two things: she was never going to come back the same, if she came back at all, or Jonathan should start looking in the river. He sighed, his breath fluttering papers on the desktop. Sunlight streamed in from the high, barred windows in his office bathing him in a bright, warm glow. Jonathan's muscles ached and the warmth felt good. While his mind was afforded a slight rest each night as Scarecrow took over, his body was suffering from the constant action. Neither himself nor the Rogue had stopped long enough to sleep. Jonathan slipped his glasses off and closed his heavy eyes, intending to catch a short nap before his scheduled session with Tetch. A knock on the door a few minutes later however, threw that idea out of the window.

Jonathan sat up and ran a hand through his brown hair before slipping his glasses back on. "Come in," he called out to the intruder.

Doctor Jack Barrow, the head doctor from the medical building, stepped into his office. A large metal clipboard clasped in one hand, a cup of hot coffee in the other. Jack smiled as he handed the coffee to Jonathan before taking his seat across from the desk. "Jonathan, you look absolutely terrible."

Jonathan raised his eyebrows in surprise at the older man's lack of subtlety. "Well good morning to you too."

"Morning?" Barrow furrowed his brows together and gave Jonathan a suspicious look. "Doctor Crane it is almost two in the afternoon."

Jonathan pushed back the sleeve of his suit coat and looked at his watch. He had arrived at Arkham at his usual time, seven in the morning. After a cup of coffee, he collected his patient charts from medical reception for the new patients he had transferred to him. That took all of an hour and he was back in his office no later than half past eight. That was when he had collapsed in his chair and closed his eyes for only a few seconds. Could it be that he had actually passed out for over four hours? Barrow cleared his throat causing Jonathan to refocus onto the older doctor, recovering his watch with a shrug. "I suppose time flies when one is working."

"Or sleeping," Barrow chuckled. "I came by around lunch but you were passed out. Called your name a few times, poked your head, but I got nothing out of you." Another laugh issued from the warm man. "After I made sure you were still breathing, I simply retreated to let you sleep. About a hour later I got a call from the Warden. Seems he would like me to talk to you and evaluate if you are medically sound to continue working."

Jonathan scoffed, his irritation rising. "Does he intend to fire me for being tired?"

"No, he would be an idiot to let a brilliant man like you go." Barrow crossed his legs and leaned the clipboard on his knee. "He simply wants to make sure that you are sound to work. If not he intends to force your vacation on you until you are well rested and of a sound mind once again. Personally I think he is just trying to cover his own ass after the chewing Wayne gave it."

"Wayne?" Jonathan narrowed his eyes suspiciously. What business did Bruce Wayne have with the Warden of Arkham? More importantly what did it have to do with himself?

"You mean to tell me you didn't hear about it?" Barrow shook his head in disbelief. "You do know Wayne Enterprises is one of the main contributors to Arkham Asylum. They donate millions every year to ensure that we have the top of the line equipment and security in place to treat the patients we see. It has been this way since the early days of Wayne Enterprises. So of course when one of the Waynes call and makes a request of the Warden or board of directors of Arkham, they are hard pressed to ignore it."

"What does this have to do with me?" Jonathan snapped. The biting tone he took with Barrow was instantly regretted, but the older man simply let it roll off his shoulder. Years of practice with hostile inmates made the man immune to such behavior.

"Bruce Wayne called Warden Sharp last Friday demanding that he allow you an extended leave. Even offered to pay your salary if you did not have the time on the books. Sharp assured him that you had agreed to remain on staff while the investigation of your missing girlfriend was ongoing but Wayne did not believe a word of it. Personally I don't blame him. We both know how trustworthy old Sharp can be." Barrow took out a pen and jotted some notes down on his clipboard. "So I was asked by the board to come and evaluate you during your next session today to ensure that you are still giving adequate treatment to your patients. I was also asked to make sure your personal health is not suffering in any way."

Jonathan smiled and laughed softly. "So what do you think?" He stretched his arms out wide and leaned back. "Am I crazy doctor?"

The look Barrow gave him was warm, but a hint of sadness played in the dark brown eyes. "Jonathan, no one would blame you if you took time off. The asylum will go on like it does everyday and it would still be here when you came back. You look exhausted, like you haven't slept in days, and your cheeks are thinning. Are you even eating?" Jonathan dropped his arms to rest on his desk once again but remained silent. Of course he was eating, when he remembered to. Normally he remembered when his body began to violently become nauseous or when his legs gave out from lack of energy. While his mind was afforded a short rest while Scarecrow scoured the Narrows, his body had yet had such luxury. The silence though was all Barrow needed. The older man sat back and gave Jonathan a fatherly look of concern. "You know I lost my wife twenty years ago to a madman. One of the very same we treat here. I was like you, young and ambitious and hardworking. I thought that if I kept working the pain of her death would just go away and be buried in my mind forever. But I was wrong. Not taking the time to heal and come to terms with her loss was one of the worst mistakes I ever made."

Jonathan clenched his back teeth together. Showing his personal feelings to anyone was difficult for Jonathan to do but there was just something about Barrow that called out for him to open up. "How did you ever heal?"

Barrow smiled. "I didn't. As doctors we treat people everyday, saving them from the very brink of death and darkness that would otherwise swallow them whole; but the one person we can never fully help is ourselves. Eventually I learned to live with Macy's death and even learned to move on without her. Though she forever walks with me where ever I go. What I am trying to tell you Jonathan is to take the time you need to let your heart heal." Barrow leaned over and grabbed one of Jonathan's hands before the young doctor had the chance to pull away. "I pray every night since I learned that Aura was your girlfriend, that she is found and returned to you safely. Gotham can be a terrible place but it is not beyond giving out a few miracles."

Jonathan let out a breath when his hand was released and Barrow stood up, his back to the desk. Since she had disappeared, Jonathan had not spoken nor heard Aura's name. Even Jim Gordon was careful not to say her name, merely referring to her as "the victim." When he watched the speech Wayne gave out on the reward he offered, it was like watching someone curse on live television. Every time Aura's name was spoken, his mind would bleep it out automatically. Jonathan stood, grabbing the file for Tetch from his desk, and silently led the way to his normal therapy room. Barrow followed behind him, calling his hellos out to various doctors as he passed. Before he switched to the medical building, Jack Barrow had once been a top psychiatrist. Many of the doctors in Jonathan's building missed having the old man around, but Barrow seemed set on staying in the medical wing. Whatever his reasons were, he never spoke of them.

Tetch had already been delivered to the therapy room by the time Jonathan and Barrow entered. Barrow took a seat in one corner as Jonathan assumed his usual seat on the other side of the patient. Tetch had his arm shackles connected to his belt in the usual fashion but the Rogue was still able to make use of his arms as he sipped a small Styrofoam cup of tea. Jonathan crossed one long, thin leg over the other. The calf muscles screamed at his new position. All of the running Scarecrow was doing seemed to be having a horrible reaction to his tired legs as they were constantly cramping. Jonathan ignored the pain and discomfort, hiding it masterfully. "Good evening Jervis."

"Good evening, Doctor Crane," the Rogue responded.

Jonathan motioned to Barrow in the corner. "This is Doctor Barrow. He will be sitting with us tonight for an evaluation. Is that alright with you, Mr. Tetch."

Jervis nervously looked from Jonathan to Barrow and back again. The man's ferret like features scrunched up for a second before relaxing. "Always a joy to have more friends over for tea. You do know it is my very merry unbirthday today."

"Mine as well." Jonathan clenched his teeth. He had been hoping to end this session with Tetch early and begin his work with the patient in the basement but with Barrow's involvement he would have to play out the entire hour long session. Trying his best to remain cordial with the Rogue was however trying his patience. The only reason Tetch had remained under his care was because of the general fear of the Rouge's unique mind control abilities. The female doctors would not go near him as he was easily excitable around potential "Alices." The other male doctors were all over booked with the other members of the Rogue Gallery currently in Arkham to take on Tetch. Therefor Jonathan was stuck with the man who could offer him no aid in his quest for finding information on Joker.

Jervis smiled toothily and sipped his tea. "May I be frank with you Doctor?"

Jonathan pulled himself from his thoughts and scribbled a few notes down on Tetch's file. "We can discuss anything you have questions on at the end of the session, Jervis." The smile faded as the Rogue sipped the tea again. "The orderlies inform me that you are having trouble sleeping. Why is that?"

"It is the new neighbor I fear. He is much to loud for my taste, screaming at all hours of the night." Jervis made a sour face as he recalled the memory.

A few shuffles of the file in his hands and Jonathan was looking at the new patient transfer sheet, listing the inhabitants for the Rogue Gallery. Jervis Tetch's cell was at the end of a long line in the Rogue Gallery, normally situated across from Joker's normal cell. The neighbor Jervis spoke of, seemed to have been transferred in less then four days ago. Jonathan recited the name, "Victor Zsasz is your neighbor now correct? I wonder why he was placed in the Rogue Wing versus solitary confinement this time?"

Barrow cleared his throat and Jonathan narrowed his eyes to him. "I treated Zsasz when he came in from his latest bout with GCPD. He seemed to be suffering heavily from some sort of street drug and I had him sent to the Rogue Wing to sober up since there was an unused cell there. I was not aware that he was normally housed in solitary until the following day when they returned him. Zsasz seemed to be suffering from some mental breakdown. He continued to laugh until his jaw dislocated and we were forced to sedate him further. Medical is still waiting for the toxin analysis of his blood. He is scheduled to be moved into solitary after his check up with medical tonight."

"The dreadful things he was saying." Jervis shook his head. Jonathan returned his gaze back to Tetch. The Rogue matched Jonathan's gaze for the first time without shrinking back. The look of concern passed through over his features. "I was sorry to hear of your Alice's abduction. A shame Zsasz got a hold of her too. There was probably so much blood." Jervis dropped his head to his chest and his eyes glazed over. "Zsasz is not a very nice man when it comes to a young Alice as pretty as the one they showed on the telly."

Jonathan felt his skin prickle. Scarecrow had roused himself at Mad Hatter's words. 'Zsasz attacked Aura? Could he be lying? If that man raped Aura, he will die.'

'I don't think Jervis is lying but we can't jump to any conclusions. Barrow said Zsasz came into medical laughing and was clearly drugged with something. Joker's toxic gas is the only thing I can think of with the ability to cause someone to laugh until their jaw breaks. We will have to pay a visit to Mr. Zsasz.' A violent current ran down Jonathan's spine. Scarecrow was clawing his way through and Jonathan knew he would not be able to stop him. Part of him did not want to either.

Suddenly the young doctor threw himself to his feet, the patient file fluttering to the floor followed by an empty Styrofoam cup. Scarecrow had his hands wrapped around the collar of Tetch's jumpsuit and had hauled him off of the chair. The small man dangled helplessly in midair as the stronger Rogue shook him violently. Barrow had jumped to his feet as well but rather than attempt to stop Jonathan from strangling the patient, he moved infront of the therapy room door. The older man blocked the only entrance so that no one could interrupt the two inside. Scarecrow gave the small man a wicked smile and in a quiet, eerily calm voice asked, "What did Zsasz say? Tell me everything Hatter."

Jervis gasped for air and Scarecrow loosened his grip only enough for the man to talk. With a final, violent shake that caused the small man's head to rock back and forth, Tetch opened his mouth. "I see the darkness I felt in your mind has bubbled over."

Scarecrow growled low, warningly. Barrow had slipped himself from the room to keep the guard outside of the door distracted. Jonathan mused, 'It would seem that Barrow has a little practice in these sorts of things. Scarecrow finish quickly here. The last thing I need is for others to find out what kind of darkness I am harboring inside my mind.'

Scarecrow put pressure on Tetch's collarbone with one hand. Squeezing hard, he smiled ruefully as the Rogue stifled a scream as the bone gave beneath the strong pressure. "I suggest you talk quickly and tell me what I want to hear."

"Zsasz would often scream in between his laughing fits that night. He spoke of an "Alice" held by Joker. He said, 'Joker paid me to keep her under control. If he didn't like my methods he should have gotten someone else. He never said I couldn't...'" Tetch darted his eyes away from Jonathan's intense eyes.

"Couldn't what? What did Zsasz do to Aura?" Scarecrow hissed out.

Jervis Tetch looked anywhere but at the man holding him. "Couldn't make her his."

Scarecrow's mind went blank as white hot anger erupted in his head. Jonathan quickly pushed the Rogue back into his mind, struggling to keep the darkness from taking control of his mind again. Jonathan dropped Tetch. Before the small man could react to being free, Jonathan reached into his pocket and brought out a syringe. After removing the cap with the flick of his thumb, Jonathan sunk the needle deep into Tetch's neck. The plunger was pushed as far down as the needle's drum would allow it to go, administering the heavy sedative. Within seconds Tetch's body fell limply against Jonathan's chest. The young doctor unceremoniously nudged the Rogue until he was prone on the sterile tile floor.

Jonathan took care to straighten his clothes and collect the patient file that scattered across the floor during the struggle. Once all the pages were in their proper place, Jonathan moved to the exit and opened the door. Barrow and a guard were currently engrossed in the latest gossip from around the asylum. Neither man even noticed the young doctor's presence until he cleared his throat. Jonathan motioned the guard to the room behind him. "Mr. Tetch seemed to get a little antsy today so I sedated him. See to it that when he wakes up in a few hours that he is allowed to have an extended time in the exercise yard. I am hoping that if he is allowed to burn off the excess energy that he will be more cooperative the next time I meet with him."

The guard nodded in understanding. "Yes Doctor Crane. I'll let the orderlies know."

Jonathan snapped his fingers. "Also see to it that the patients supply of tea is replenished in his cell. Use the special reserve that I give him when he is on his very best behavior."

The guard looked thoroughly puzzled at this new request. "You want me to give him a treat after he was..."

Jonathan cut the guard a look that spoke volumes. He was not in the mood to be questioned right now. "I did not stutter when I gave my order. Perhaps you do not see what I am trying to accomplish here considering you probably do not have a PhD in psychiatry. So I will try my best to fill you in. Tetch has proven himself a good patient in the past and had continued to show great strives towards becoming a functioning member of society once again. Though it seems that the man has found himself under a considerable amount of stress lately. Through the actions I just ordered you to take I have insured that the patient will have multiple avenues to relieve said stress in a healthier environment." Jonathan slipped his glasses off, cleaned them, and then replaced them. He gave the guard a dismissive and final look. "Perhaps the next time you decide to question my abilities, or to give out your unneeded opinion as a doctor and thinking yourself the better man, you will think twice. If however I find myself in need of an opinion on a security matter I will be sure to contact you."

The guard tensed his jaw, giving off the impression that he had something to say back to the doctor. But to Jonathan's surprise the oaf finally thought better of the situation. The guard turned on his heel, disappearing into the therapy room and reemerging minutes later dragging the unconscious Rogue behind him. Barrow laughed loudly when the guard disappeared into a nearby elevator. Jonathan felt the wind knock out of him as the older man clasped him roughly onto the back.

Barrow winked at Jonathan. "You remember how you asked me how I healed and I said that I never did? Well I lied." Barrow wrapped an arm around Jonathan's slender shoulders and pulled him in close as they walked down the halls, back towards Jonathan's office. When he spoke his tone was uncharacteristically low and conspiratorial. "One year after my wife died, the man who attacked her was admitted in this asylum. Mysteriously he vanished from his cell one night while the guards were switching their rotation."

"Did you have something to do with this mystery?" Jonathan whispered.

"Listen my boy. I got my revenge but was never able to let go the hurt I felt. Not even watching the blood drain from that monster's face was enough to satisfy me. I eventually had to leave the psychiatric program to get away from the memories. It was only a few years ago that I was able to come back to Arkham but I still cannot find myself going near the basement were I killed that monster. What I am trying to say is be careful and," Barrow looked around them to ensure they were alone, "make sure that if you find the man who took your woman, you make sure you can live with whatever decision you make. Be careful around here. You were lucky that I was there to distract that guard. The last thing you need is for someone else to see what you are trying to do. They would have you locked away until your woman shows back up just to keep you from doing something stupid." With a final warm squeeze of Jonathan's shoulder Barrow said his goodbyes.

'It looks like I have an unlikely ally. Barrow is right I need to be more careful. I need to learn to control my anger better.' Jonathan thought.

'Your anger or me?' Scarecrow asked, playfully.

'To be quite honest,' Jonathan chuckled slightly, 'we could both use a little lesson in self-control.'

VvVvVvVvVvVv

Jim Gordon sat back in his chair with a great sigh. A few of his high ranking officers assigned to the Aura Warren abduction case were milling about his office. They had just finished giving their report from the prior week and just like Gordon thought, nothing had changed. The only thing they knew for certain was that Joker was the one behind Aura's disappearance and somehow Victor Zsasz fit into this case somewhere. Gordon waved all the officers out of his office. Once the final one left and the door closed behind him, Gordon kicked his feet up on his desk. His eyes drooped closed as he tried to recall all that he had learned over the past week. Somehow Joker knew that Aura was the Net Runner. Since the night that he took her the entire Joker Clan seemed to crawl back into the shadows. Not one member of Joker's crew had been seen since.

The scene of the abduction itself held no clues. The Riddler and Scarecrow were the first on the scene, followed shortly by Batman himself. Speaking of the Dark Knight, Batman was being fully cooperative with the police on this matter. The caped man seemed quite anxious to get the young girl back and for obvious reasons. They still had no idea where the program that Net Runner used was. If Joker got his hands on that thing, the whole of Gotham City would be laid at his feet. Aura's cell phone laid in pieces at the crime scene and without the sim card it was completely useless. Bruce Wayne had allowed them to take the laptop from Aura's room at Wayne Manor as well as the computer she frequently used while at Wayne Enterprises in hopes her program was uploaded on one of them.

The police were told to start hunting anyone down that wore Joker's colors and bring them in for questioning. Any sightings of Scarecrow or Edward Nygma were also to be reported and if possible the two Rouges brought in. Jonathan Crane posed no help either. Aura had only ever been inside of his car and he was completely unaware of who she really was according to Wayne. But none of that mattered. They were slowly starting the second week and with no leads on Aura's location, many officers were giving up hope. They all assumed that she must be dead already but Gordon knew better. Joker wanted Aura for that program for some reason and they had to stop him.

A cold wind blew through the office from the once closed window that now stood wide open. Jim Gordon huffed softly but did not open his eyes. Only one person was capable of coming in through the high window or would dare try. "You do know I have a perfectly good door for you to use?"

"Too many eyes to see me come in." The rough voice of Batman sounded from the window sill. Jim cracked open one eye to see the caped crusader perched on the window's edge, cape blowing in the autumn breeze. "I found something you might be interested in."

Gordon sat up in his chair and took the offered file from Batman. Inside were photos of an abandoned car covered in graffiti. "Is this the car that Wayne reported missing?" Gordon glanced up at the silent hero and saw his nod. "Looks like someone did a number on it. Joker's men?"

Batman shook his head. "Fingerprints taken from the steering wheel led to a low level drug dealer who claimed to have picked up the vehicle from around Holland. He said the keys were left in the ignition and no one was around the vehicle." Gordon flipped to another picture to see multiple parts were missing from the interior including the radio. "Before you ask, no there was no trace of anyone else having been inside of Aura's car other than herself and this drug dealer."

"So she ditches her car away from the abduction sight and walks to meet Joker. Why would she do something like this?" Gordon tossed the photos onto his desk. "Why would she not call me? We could have..."

"A lot could have been different but she made the only choice she saw possible at the time. If Aura would have asked for help, Joker would have killed both of her parents without a moments hesitation."

"Yeah well he did that anyway. Aura won't even be able to see her parents again before we bury them. Thankfully Mr. Wayne is funding their burial so at least they will rest easy now." A silence descended in the small office.

Batman stood on the sill of the window and turned his back. "I am going to look into Wayne Manor, try to find her program Isis. Joker is after it and Aura would have been smart enough not to take it with her. If we can find that then we will have the upper hand."

"Yeah you do that. We are still trying to track down any leads from the public tips," he paused when he had the odd feeling that he was alone. Sure enough, one look back towards the window revealed that Batman had already left. "Of course I'm talking to myself." Gordon growled, turning back to his desk and pulling out the file from Metropolis on all the information they had on Aura Warren, Net Runner. The report from Star City had just come in that morning for him to look over as well. It seemed there was little evidence at the parents safe house to point to what the Joker was planning either. There had to be something in these files that could point them towards discovering why the Joker would need her.

VvVvVvVvVvVv

Finally the last patient of the day was being escorted from the therapy room. Jonathan stood from his chair and straightened his suit. He was expected to clock out and return home within the hour and Jonathan planned to use every second of his time wisely. The patient from the Joker Clan was released from the isolation cells by his order a few hours ago. There was no sense in wasting time on the low level thug when there were bigger fish waiting for him now. Victor Zsasz had been moved into the empty isolation cell after lunch that afternoon. Now was the perfect opportunity for Jonathan to make his move and have a little talk with Zsasz.

With a quick trip to his office first in order to drop off the patient file he had in his possession and to instruct the nurse on his floor that he had a meeting to attend to. Gloria was a sweet older woman in charge of carrying out his instructions and helping with his daily paperwork that never seemed to end. She had been with him for his entire career here at Arkham and by now was well aware of all his particular ways of doing things. There was no chance that she would be bothering him tonight. Gloria knew that if he had a meeting that she was free to finish her own work and go home. Jonathan slipped a sealed envelope from his pocket and gently placed it in the center of the woman's desk. Just a simple birthday card with a gift card to Gloria's favorite hobby store. She was one of the only people that Jonathan felt a certain fondness for. Gloria had become sort of a motherly figure for him even when the word was still foreign to him after all these years.

Jonathan slipped back into his office after delivering his gift. A bag was pulled from his small coat closet and from that came the familiar costume of the Scarecrow. While Jonathan was planning to confront Zsasz as the Rogue, he himself would be in full control. Scarecrow had been quiet for most of the day, after the explosion with Tetch, though his eagerness and anticipation for what was about to come was slowly boiling to the surface. Finally they might have a lead. Aura might just be in his arms soon enough, he hoped. And this time he would never let her go. Scarecrow was right, it was time to move her into their safe house. While this Net Runner was still loose Aura would constantly be in danger from the man or woman's enemies. Once Aura was safe again, Jonathan and Scarecrow would hunt down this Net Runner and put an end to his connections with Aura, whatever they may be.

After dressing quickly in the Rouge's guise, Jonathan slipped on his long lab coat. It had been a long time since he had worn the coat but it was necessary to cover the Scarecrow's costume. The gauntlet was secure on his back while the mask was placed into a small satchel bag with other small tools and equipment. Jonathan hastened his pace to the nearby elevator. Once inside he swiped his badge on the panel so that he could select his floor. Rather than pressing a numbered button, Jonathan inserted a small key into a keyhole on the panel and the elevator began to descend into the basement level. Only a select few doctors and security guards had access to the darkened basement. There was little chance he would run into anyone down here. Most people avoided this area at all cost. Maybe that was one reason the solitary confinement was so hated by inmates. They seemed to lose their minds a little quicker when faced with only themselves for company.

The doors rattled opened on unoiled hinges and once Jonathan was assured that no one was around he made his way down the dark hallway. Arkham never bothered with updating the dated lighting system in the basement, preferring to use the much needed funds on other projects. Most of the fluorescent fixtures where broken casting long shadows down the hall. The smell of the isolation cells was something most people found uncomfortable and disconcerting. To Jonathan and his other half the smell was intoxicating. Fear at it's most primal form filled the air with the smell of desperation and dread. Just the smell alone was enough to send waves of anticipation and pleasure down his spine.

At the end of the hall stood the last cell. A small light could be seen flickering on and off sporadically through a small viewing window. The patient sat hunched over in the center of the concrete room, confined in a straight jacket. He rocked softly back and forth signaling that he was indeed awake.

Scarecrow's mask was pulled from the satchel bag and placed on his head. Then Jonathan slipped his key into the old lock and with a loud clank the door fell open. The patient remained hunched over, not acknowledging the new person in the room. "Hello Victor," Jonathan said softly, his voice coming out haunted and full of malice, as he stepped into the room locking the door from the inside. "Let's have a little chat."