A/N: Disclaimer: Don't own anything.

Read A/N in the bottom.

Wake Up, Dreaming

I caressed the mask with the back of my hand, my eyes gleaming a little. I was too caught up with my mask that I didn't see the butler make an escape out of the room. Just being reunited with Scarecrow made everything else in the world insignificant. That is until he warned me.

The butler is gone.

I looked up, and could see that the butler must have sneaked out while I was not paying attention. He'll probably call the 'Batman', but being the nice doctor that I am, and having my mask being taken care of so well. I decided to leave a little token of my appreciation in the drawer in which my mask used to reside in.

I walked to the drawer, and opened it up, taking a small canister out of the pocket of my suit. Settling it right in the center of the drawer, and closing it up once more. When Batman comes back he's going to have quite a ride. I nodded in agreement with Scarecrow. I placed my mask in my suit jacket not wanting to be separated from it again.

I made my way to leave the room, and headed to search out the butler once more. Of course he was in the kitchen with a phone placed right on his ear. I moved fast, and grabbed the phone from his hands, hanging it up in the process. I dropped the phone to the floor, and grabbed the old man in a head lock.

"Let me go!"

There were quite a few things I could tell from this man's personality. One: He has a British accent. Two: He's not afraid of me (yet). Three: He likes to put up a fight. We can't have that now, can't we?

I tighten my hold on the headlock. "Who did you call?"

He struggled to get out of the headlock as he placed his two arms over mine, trying to break free. "Master Wayne."

Before I asked another question, I was startled as I heard the front door open, and close. Jonathan, it's him. I frowned, and squeezed the man's neck harder, to the point where he would fall unconscious.

After a couple of minutes of the butler squirming to break free, his hold on my arms was starting to give out. In the same time the Batman decided to make an appearance in the kitchen. The look on his face was priceless as he stared at the old man that I had on my hold.

Bruce walked forward a little bit with a frown planted on his face as he tried to ascend. "Crane let go of him."

"And what? Lose the only life insurance I have to get out of here, I don't think so." To make a point I exposed my right cuff, and placed it right in front of the butler's face.

Bruce took more careful steps to where I was standing, moving his arms up in caution. "Crane, you don't want to do this. Just let him go, and I'll won't follow you." I'll just capture you later.

As he was getting closer I was moving back, carefully looking where I was going. "Yeah Mr. Wayne, you might not follow me, but I really can't say the same about the Batman."

His eyes were following my every move. "He's bound to catch you sooner or later, and send you back to Arkham. Don't blame this on me if he does."

I gave a dry laugh. "Don't blame this on you? Of course I can blame this on you Mr. Wayne or should I call you 'Batman'. Don't you think it's quite rude to act like we never met before, mask to mask?"

Bruce gave me a surprised look, and then he had that frown back on his face. "I don't know what you're talking about, Crane. But you have to be insane if you think I'm the Batman."

I moved towards the exit of the room never once looking away from the billionaire. "Don't you now. You see Mr. Wayne, I'm quite different from the rest of these crazies in Gotham, and in Arkham. For starters, I have a brain, and unlike them, I actually put it to use. If you think that I believe you're not the Batman, then show me. Show me that arm of yours."

"What are you talking about, Crane."

I pointed to his left arm. "If you're not Batman, then you should have no problem showing me that left arm of yours. Oh, by the way, if you don't, this man here will get quite acquainted with his worst fears. I wonder what a man like him fears, would you like to find out?"

I moved my arm in a position where I could spray the butler.

"Wait!"

I looked back to him. "I don't have all day, Mr. Wayne."

He looked livid as he stared into my eyes, I would be lying if I didn't say that was a little frightening. Especially, since he is in fact the Batman. It doesn't help either that I'm still a little shaky from our past encounter. Being that he sprayed me with my toxin, and all.

He removed his blue suit jacket, and placed it on top of the kitchen table. Moving to his cuff, and unbuttoning it, moving it up as he went. When he got past about two inches of his arm, he hesitated for quite a bit in that position. Until he finally decided that it was now or never. When he pushed his sleeve up past his elbow, he turned his arm a little, and showed me the scar that he had there. My eyes widened at seeing the scar. That confirms it, he is the Batman.

After a couple of seconds of starring at his scar, he pushed down his sleeve once more. "There, happy?"

"To be quite blunt, no. I really never would have imagined that the great Bruce Wayne would be out, and about, fighting crime. But all the clues and hints made it quite plausible. Especially all the high tech gadgets you carry around. There could only be one person who could be capable to afford all those nifty gadgets. That being you, Mr. Wayne."

He once again started to move closer, but this time more slowly. "You said "clues", I don't think I ever gave you a clue to show that I am the Batman."

I moved closer to the exit of the kitchen. "You didn't have to, it was very simple. With you being gone for quite a while in Gotham, and then suddenly coming back. Was really helpful, especially if a man dressed in a bat costume comes around during the exact same time. You should be lucky it wasn't some reporter that figured it out."

"And why is that?"

I smirked at him as his frown deepened. "Because then you would be the one in Arkham with the rest of the lunatics. Seeing is that there's more to your psychological psyche than meets the eye, Mr. Wayne. Why, I could even give you an appointment."

"You won't escape, Crane."

Then I was the one to frown to that statement. "Maybe. But then again, I did leave a little 'present' for you in your drawer in which you, oh so carefully took care of my mask."

His eyes widened in a fraction of a second. "What are you talking about?"

I shrugged my shoulders, and pointed to the direction of his room. "Why don't you go find out or do you really want to risk wasting your time here idle chanting. Either way, you won't catch me, Batman. Not today."

He looked to the direction of the room, and back to his butler, who by now was unconscious at the moment. "Don't worry, once you go check your 'present' I won't need your butler here anymore."

Bruce looked like he was contemplating what to do next. He gave me one last glare before he ran to the direction of his room. I dropped the old man to the floor, and ran to the exit of the house. Either he would be smart enough, and not touch the canister, which by the way has highly effective chemicals, or be foolish, and try to reach out to it. But considering the circumstances, I'd prefer the latter.

I reached the outside of the mansion, and could see that the young man was sitting in his car with his face planted firmly to the steering wheel. I knocked on his window, startling him.

"Oh, um it's you a-"

I cut him off in his little speech. "Hurry up, and start the car." I say as I get into the backseat.

"O-okay."

He starts the car, and we start heading back to his news stand. This is the boy from the night our mask was taken away.

Yes. But he's been quite useful, he never asks idiotic questions.

Still, he could put us in danger. Give him a dose of your toxin when we stop.

Can you think for a moment, if I do that then I'm practically signaling to the Batman that I know this young boy.

Speaking about the Batman, you would have thought that he be after you by now.

Heh, he probably opened up the small canister, and right now he must be suffering his greatest fear.

Before Scarecrow could reply Kyle broke me out of my thoughts. "We're here."

We arrived to his news stand, and I made my way to get out of the car. Before he could open his door any further, I closed it back all the way, startling him.

"Listen, if anyone asks about me, you don't know me or have seen me. Got it?"

The boy nodded with a frightful expression on his face.

"Good."

I make my way back to my apartment, and close the door quietly. I take off my scarf, and place my glasses back on my face. When I'm done I take my mask out from my suit jacket, placing it on the small round table. I slide the chair out, and sit on it, crossing my legs over the other with my arms crossed over my chest. I stare at my mask, and close my eyes. Letting myself be taken from this pitiful world.

The next time I open my eyes, I'm on the floor in what looks like a corn field. I stand up, and dust myself off. I walk for about five minutes until I see a farm house. I push the corn out of my way, and make my way to the old looking farm house. The heat is bearable, not to hot, and not to cold. Just like Scarecrow likes it. The last time I was here it felt like it was below zero, and it kept going down, but that was when I didn't have my mask. I look at the small farm house, and could tell that the paint was dissolving; making it look older than it has to be.

I open the red dull door, and close it behind. Inside the farm house is a lot of hay stacks. I look around, and notice that there's a ladder leading up to the second level of the farm house. I begin to climb the ladder as it creaks. Making my presence known to whomever was here. I made it to the top of the ladder, and stood up. I looked around, and then I stopped my wondering as I saw the Scarecrow lying on top of one of the hay stacks with what seems to be a piece of hay sticking out of his mouth. I moved closer to him, and notice that he has his arms supporting the back of his head, and that his hat is covering his eyes. I move closer to him, and-

"Good evening, Jonathan."

I stop mid step as he spoke. "How did you know I was here?"

He took out his hay sticking out from his mouth, and tossed it away. "This is my world you're in, Jonathan. I know everything that goes on. Have you noticed the weather lately? It's quite… peaceful, to say the least."

"Yes, it seems to suite your environment."

Scarecrow sits up, and sits in a lotus pose with his arms over his knees. He moves one of his arms, and takes off his hat. Setting it on the side, he pats the other side of the hay as to invite me to sit there.

"Come. You don't need to stand there all day."

I smile as I made my way to the side, and sit next to Scarecrow. Everything after that became a blur as the minutes soon turned into hours, and the sun quickly turning into the moon.

Scarecrow stopped mid sentence as he looked out the huge window that shows off the corn field. He stared out into the corn field as a dog who just found a rat.

"Someone is coming."

"What?"

He looked back at me with a calm stare. "It's time for you to return, Jonathan. Or else someone will catch you off guard."

With that said I closed my eyes, and reopened them to see that it was already dark outside. I hear a knock on my door. I narrow my eyes on it. I'm not expecting anyone.

I move to the door, taking quite steps as to not show that somebody lives here. There isn't no more knocking on the door which makes me think that it was my imagination.

Knock Knock

No wonder I couldn't tell if someone was knocking, especially if someone knocks that low. I grab the door knob, and turn it around quietly. When I open the door my eyes can't hold back the surprise that I just received.

"I-its you."

"Yes. I have come here to ask of you something, Dr. Crane."

"What could the butler of the Batman want with me?"

"An antidote."

When he said that, the smirk on my lips took over as I imagined why he could ask me of such of thing.

"What antidote?"

He frowned at me. "The antidote for the toxin you sprayed Master Wayne with."

Ha, so Batman was foolish enough to actually touch the canister!

I silently agreed with Scarecrow. "And, why would I give you an antidote for? You do realize you're no match for me, so threats are definitely out of the question Mr..."

"Alfred and I'm not here to threaten you Dr. Crane. I'm here to make you a proposition."

I arched my eyebrow at this. "Does Mr. Wayne know you're making a deal with an ex-doctor or is this your idea?"

"Master Wayne is the one who told me about this proposition he wants to make with you. I, on the other hand do not agree with it, but it is for the well being of my Master Wayne."

Of course it is.

I waved my hand around. "Then what is this proposition, I'm quite curios."

He cleared his throat as he began speaking. "If you come with me, and give Master Wayne an antidote for his state, then he shall promise you one request, of course a request within reason, mind you."

A request, does that man really believe you would fall for such a thing, Jonathan. Jonathan? Don't tell me you're considering this!

"Any request?"

Jonathan, what are you doing!

I tried to block out the Scarecrow's yells. It would seem he didn't see what I was up to.

"Within reason, yes."

Jonathan!

I frowned as his screams began to get louder. "Fine, I'll do it."

You are making a mistake, Jonathan! A big mistake!

I went to grab my scarf and sunglasses as I followed the butler out. Taking my brief case just in case.

During the whole ride to the mansion, Scarecrow hasn't said a word to me. When we arrived I opened the door, and followed close behind the butler. What great memories. He took me all the way to Bruce's bedroom once again. He opened the door, and I closed it right behind me. There on the bed lied Bruce Wayne. He looked like he was experiencing a high fever from what I could tell. He also was moving his head from left to right. He was probably experiencing some hallucination or in what I hoped; a nightmare.

The butler moved to stand beside the tossing around Bruce Wayne. "As you can see I have tried everything to try to calm down his fever. But nothing works, which lead me to believe you may know what to do. Since you are the one to get him to this state."

Flattery won't work. I took off my scarf, and placed it on the edge of the bed. Changing my sunglasses for my glasses as to get a better look at things. "Well, I may have something to calm him down, but I would need you to exit the premises."

"And why should I do that?"

"Because things could get ugly. Now please, if you may." I motioned to the door.

He moved to the door, and opened it up, but before he could leave he turned around. "Don't try anything suspicious, Dr. Crane"

I held up my hand in the defense. "Wouldn't dream of it."

With that said the butler left the room. Leaving me with a poor defenseless Bruce Wayne.

I got closer to the bed, and placed my brief case on the floor. "Now why would I dream of something so pathetic if I got the real thing right before my eyes?"

I looked at the man before me. He was shacking, and breathing out heavily through his mouth. Whispering words that I could not understand. I placed my hand over his forehead, and could tell that he had a fever. I frowned at the realization. A fever? I believe it was something completely different. I placed my hand in my suit jacket to take out one of the canisters, and I examined it thoroughly. Oh, this was the chemical that I have been working on. I guess I must have misplaced my canisters, and mixed them up. I quickly placed it back inside my jacket. "But at the same time this isn't any fever. No, this a fever that would worsen as the day's go by. Consider yourself a lucky man Mr. Wayne because I'm the only one to have an antidote to this."

I take out one of the syringes from my brief case, and examine it to see if it's the right one. I roll up his sleeve past his elbow, and right before I inject him, he starts to toss around once again. "Now, now, Mr. Wayne. We wouldn't want to waste the only antidote I have with me." He calms down once again, and starts muttering words like "sorry," "mother," "father," and then he just goes back to breathing heavily through his mouth. So, that's it, huh. I place my hand on his forearm, holding it still so that it cannot move. I bring the syringe to his shoulder, and inject him with the antidote. He tries tossing around, but I hold down his arm to keep the syringe from moving. Once I'm done I move back, and store the syringe into my brief case.

"Well, all you need is a good night sleep, and you'll be good as new, Mr. Wayne."

I take a seat on one of the vacant chair in front of the bed; crossing my legs, and arms.

Do you realize what you've done!

I was wondering where you were. And to answer that question, yes. Yes, I do know what I did.

I could see the Scarecrow fuming with anger. Then explain to me, why you helped the enemy? Have you forgotten all the pain he's put you through! Have you forgotten when he sprayed you with your own toxin!

I frowned as I was getting a headache from all of the screaming he was doing. I rubbed my forehead in annoyance. Of course I remember! I didn't do this from the goodness of my heart. I did this because I can use this to my advantage.

He crossed his arms as he looked annoyed. Do you think the Batman will stick to his promise?

The 'Batman', no. But Bruce Wayne will.

I came out of my trance as I heard moaning coming over from the bed. I looked over to the Batman's form starting to move. He ran a hand through his hair, and started to open his eyes. I stood up, and made my presence known. Walking over to the side of the bed.

"Good morning, Mr. Wayne. Or should I say 'goodnight'."

He blinked his eyes quite a bit, trying to get them adjusted to the light emanating from the room. "Crane?"

I smiled. "Of course. Now about that request. Unless you really aren't a man of your word, and brought me here all for nothing."

He frowned as he tried to get up using his elbows. "You think, coming here was for nothing if you didn't get anything out of it. You are insane."

"Now, now, Mr. Wayne. Is that really anyway to treat the person who has just cured you. You really are ungrateful, aren't you?"

"Only to those who try to take advantage of others to get what they want, but a promise is a promise. What do you want?"

I placed my hands behind my back as my smile widened. "Oh, not much, just access to your chemical lab."

"What?" He tried to sit up more, but fell back down onto the bed in pain.

"Careful now, you just woke up," not really meaning the sweet words that came out of my mouth, "also I don't see what's wrong with giving me access to your lab."

He opened his eyes back up trying to form words in his condition. "What's wrong is that you just want to make more toxins, and experiment on people again."

You know me to well. I adjusted my glasses. "Well, how about this. You can keep a close eye on my experiments while I work, and in return I will not use people as test subjects."

He looked as if he was contemplating my offer. "People will get suspicious."

"Come now Mr. Wayne let's not use any excuses. Especially for someone who was able to hide he was the 'Batman' for quite a while."

"Fine."

Perfect. N-

"On one condition."

I tilted my head. "What?"

"I'll keep watch of your every move."

I had a bad feeling about this. "Meaning…"

He looked at me straight in the eyes. "Meaning, that from this day on you will live here with me as my assistant."

… What…

A/N: So, I'm sick, literally I'm ill but I was able to write this chapter because it wouldn't leave me alone. This chapter took me about six hours to write, and I'm freakin tired also.

The title is from one of the songs I was listening while writing this chapter called "Start a Fire" by Ryan Star.

The line that Bruce uses "You are insane" is from Year One Scarecrow Dc Comic. Also the canister that Jonathan was carrying is also another prop from the Year One Scarecrow.

I want to know if you guys like this chapter or hate it, because I really don't know. My story is favorited but I also want to know what you guys think of this story. I'm actually putting allot of thought into this story in particular, and I want to know if I should improve in any areas or just compliment. This is also one of the most longest chapter I have written for this story I'm wondering if I should keep them long or brake them up to mini chapters?

So, reviews are appreciated, and to those who have reviewed thank you.