Hi guys! Thank you so much for being patient with me during my overly long Hiatus! This is of course Chapter 10! I hope you guys are happy with it leave all constructive criticism in the reviews, and once again thank you so much for all of the praise and ideas for the story and I hope I don't let you down, Please Enjoy and Please Comment!

Chapter 10: Interviewing a Psychiatrist

The day after the incident with Zsasz I found myself in Lilly's office, stared down by not only my siblings but about three to four other guards. I told them what had happened and they checked the cameras that night. My whole body was sore, not only from the injuries sustained from my fight with Zsasz but also from the beating Croc gave me two days ago. I had taken my pain killers before I left to find The Riddler and the adrenaline pumping through me numbed the pain during the conflict. Now, however, my body ached and my muscles burned like each individual tendon was on fire. Lilly was convinced it was, in fact, self defense. Gorian, however, was convinced it stopped being self-defense after I had him on the ground. "Then it turned into revenge!" He reasoned darkly glaring down at me. "You could've stopped after you had him pinned down but you had to make sure to beat the hell out of him, and in front of more than thirty inmates." I looked at Stone who neither gave an approving or disapproving look, which worried me. Gorian clicked the play button on a remote and the camera's footage appeared on screen.

It showed me delivering the final blow to his temple and standing up and posing victoriously for the incarcerated audience. Gorian paused it. "What the fuck were you doing? Did you think you were in the fucking Roman Coliseum? You're not a gladiator, you're not a warrior, you're a fucking doctor at a mental istitution and you sho-"

"Gorian shut up!" Lilly snapped raising her voice and standing up. "You guys, out!" She addressed the other guards. "Ramsey, please fetch Rex for me, tell him to come in." Everyone in the office aside from Gorian, Stone, Lilly, and myself removed themselves from the room and shut the door behind them.

"What are you doing?" Gorian asserted sternly.

"You don't have to humiliate your brother in front of your fucking friends Gorian!" Lilly chortled with a dark tone. I stared at her in shock, I'd never heard her speak like that before, especially to her own sibling. "You may take some kind of pleasure out of asserting your authority over your own little brother but I won't stand for it! Back off or you're fired!" Gorian was speechless, his face was frozen with an expression I'd never seen before. Lilly sat back in her chair as a knock broke the silence. "C'mon in Rex."

Rex entered as instructed and looked at me with a smile that showed he was glad I was safe and alive. I returned the smile, though it was still weak from the wounds. "Good to see you're still breathing man," Rex laughed clapping me on the back.

"FUCK!" I screamed grabbing the now throbbing section of my back.

"Oh shit, sorry dude," Rex laughed apologetically.

"It's cool...just sore," I replied bowing my head in pain.

"Damian, the point behind this meeting, and my calling you in here, is to, not only understand what really happened, but also to make sure that you'll be able to continuing working as you were prior to last night's episode, are you able or not? Will the previous circumstances convince you to take a vacation or even retire from your current position?" It depressed me to hear her speaking so professionally towards me but I knew it was her job to do so. I shook my head.

"No, I want to continue working here, I enjoy my job, my position," I announced with a confident smile. "I enjoy working with not only you but also with Croc and Edward too. I'm not going to let one incident force me out of the one job that means so much to me." Lilly and Rex smiled at my words. I looked at Stone who rolled his eyes and smirked. When I looked at Gorian he nodded without even a grin.

"Well alright then, Zsasz is to be transferred to solitary once he's released from the medical facility, you won't have to deal with him anymore," Lilly informed me. My stomach churned when her words hit me. Zsasz was still alive? I would never tell them but I meant to kill him, I wanted him dead by my hands, but that monster's resilience and malice kept his heart beating! "I do, however, want you to take the next couple days off," Lilly continued. "No interviews, no work, nothing okay?" She stared at me in all seriousness.

"Okay," I replied with a nod. "I think a day's rest will be good for me actually." I stood up and Rex smiled laying a hand gently on my shoulder.

"I'll come by and see ya tomorrow alright bud?" I smiled and nodded, stepping out of the room.

...I found my way to my apartment. As I opened my door i was surprised to see my apartment, which was a wreck from my little temper tantrum when I left this morning, was now clean and tidy. The coffee table was back where it was supposed to be, the holes in the walls were all patched up, and all the broken glass was swept up and out of sight.

I walked through the house and examined all of the renovations and repairs with a smile on my face. "What the hell?" I laughed then noticed a small piece of paper on the rightly placed table. I picked it up and read it aloud. "Damian, I came up to see how you were doing but you already left. I noticed this place was a horrid pigsty from hell so I thought I'd clean it up for ya, patch up the walls and stuff. Anway, I hope you get some good sleep in an apartment that doesn't look like the ass end of a donkey. Love ya brother! Rex." I laughed and pocketed the note. "Thanks Rex." And with that I walked into my room and fell on my bed. I hadn't realized how tired I really was until my head hit the pillow and I was out like a light.

...I awoke to the sound of knocking on the front door. I sat up with a dreary groan and put on a shirt. As I stepped up to my door I muttered. "Who is it?"

"It's Kainan, do let me in," I opened the door and Kainan stepped inside. He was dressed in a gray suit as always and his hair was a mess, but stylishly so. "How have you been Damian?" He asked turning to look at me.

I shrugged and walked over to sit on the couch. "Fine I suppose, yourself?"

"Irrelevant," he said bluntly. He was quiet for a moment then said. "Fine."

"Good, what can I do for you?" I asked rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

"I wanted to see how you were handling yourself, taking a wallop like that from Jones and then such a beating from Zsasz the next day isn't healthy you know." Kainan, while talking, had made his way to the kitchen and had started putting a pot of coffee on.

"Why don't you drink your coffee?" I asked watching him with an impatiant expression on my face.

"Because I don't have Sugai Kona," Kainan said with a smartass smirk on his face. "Now I wanted to know what exactly your punishment was."

"Punishment?" I asked cocking an eyebrow.

"Yes, you must have gotten reprimanded for your little stunt with Zsasz, no?" I glared at him and, with some kind of personal pleasure, asked him.

"You do realize it was self-defense right? I didn't attack him, he escaped his cell and attacked me." I smiled smugly at proving him wrong but he merely shrugged.

"I could've sworn you went looking for some kind of self-satisfying revenge." He had the same apathetic tone which drove me crazy. "It just seems so much like you I suppose."

"Thanks man...you're such an ass...you know me so well," I said through gritted teeth. "Anything else or did you just come to sustain yourself through my self-anguish? Oh and drink my coffee."

"Actually I did yes," Kainan said pouring a cup and adding a bit of milk to it. He took a sip from the coffee mug as pleasure shined on his face blatantly. "I've been hearing of mistakes you've been making during your interviewing sessions. What with being attacked by Quinn, pissing off the patients, and turning off the tape mid-session." I glared at him irritated at his blunt words. "So I'd like to show you a bit of how I do it," Kainan said with the same apathetic face. "I'd like you to see how another psychiatrist does it and see if you can pick anything up for your own sessions in the future."

"And let me guess, you want me to learn from you, the best, right?" I asked sarcastically finding this to be a little more narcissistic of Kainan than usual.

"Actually I'd have preferred you not watch my interviews out of fear that you'd upset the inmate," Kainan replied verbally sticking a nail in my hand. "But nobody else would let you sit in with them out of the same fear as my own. So I took it upon myself to allow you to join one of mine."

"You're an asshole Kainan," I retorted standing up.

"Yes but one that might be able to teach you something should you be willing to listen!" he snapped. I was surprised by the sudden emotion in his voice. "You can't go through life making mistake after mistake and just expect to be thrown another chance Damian. This is an important job, one that requires at least eight years of college for. I participated in ten myself." I sat back down and looked at him as he walked back into the living room with his coffee. "You take for granted that your sister is the Warden and that this fact grants you immunity from all disciplinary charges. But you're wrong!" I winced at the volume of his usually-calm voice. "Think for once in your life, stop being naive and take some responsibility in your career choice. If you mess up again, I promise you, I will see to it myself that you are discharged. There are many inmates in this asylum that need help, and they certainly aren't receiving any from you, no matter what you may think. So shape up and stop being stupid!"

"Kainan...I..."

"Quiet," Kainan snapped cutting me off. "I consider you one of my dearest friends, I do, but that doesn't mean I will overlook your failures like the others have. I'm being professional and would like to help these criminals. And sometimes I'm not even sure if that's what you have in mind anymore. You must help them Damian, not fight them, not injure them, and certainly not give them what they want, conflict." I sank my head low as his words circled around the inside of my mind. "They need help, and that's what you must give them, otherwise they have no one to look to." I looked at him. His apathetic expression was back and the calmness had returned to his voice.

"Okay, I'll try my best Kainan, I'm sorry," I said with a sour expression.

"Thank you," Kainan said swallowing the rest of his coffee and putting the mug in the sink. "Now, I have an interview session tomorrow with Doctor Jonathan Crane and I want you to be there, ten o'clock tomorrow morning." He looked at me for recognition, which came in a nod. "Good, see you then Damian, and do remember to groom yourself before you make yourself present." He nodded with a smile and waved as he exited the room and shut the door behind him.

I sat on the couch with my head low and thought about the words he told me. "Help them, don't give them conflict, they need someone to look to," I repeated to myself quietly. Suddenly there was another knock at the door.

"It's Gorian," the voice behind the door muttered quietly. I got to my feet and opened it. "Got a minute?" My oldest brother asked ducking his head to step into the door.

"Yeah," I said allowing him entry into my apartment. "Something wrong? Am I fired?" I had genuine worry in my voice as Gorian sat on one of the recliners.

His expression showed he was hurt by my words. "No...I...I didn't come to fire you," he muttered interweaving his fingers together. "I...can't a brother come and visit family now and again?" He had confused me already.

"Gorian, this is the first time you've come to see me at my apartment for anything other than to yell at me." I said cocking an eyebrow. My voice was a tad harsher than I meant for it to be but I couldn't help it. I was still angry at him for inviting more guards in to humiliate me. "Plus you've kinda been an asshole ever since I got started here at the Asylum." Gorian's head sank a bit and he sighed heavily, his broad, massive shoulders climbing then falling.

"I know," he said quietly. "I apologize for all the shit I've said and done since you got this job." I couldn't hide my surprise. He apologized? He never apologizes!

"Uh...it...it's alright man," I assured him reluctantly stepping up to him and putting a cautious hand on his broad shoulder.

"No it isn't," Gorian said standing up, scaring the crap out of me. "Look at you, you're scared of me? That's not how it should be." He looked away from me in shame. "I'm your brother, your big brother, I'm supposed to protect you, all of you, that's what I promised dad before he died." My eyes dropped to the ground at the thought of our parents. "I was with him when he was in the hospital...mom...she was already..." he didn't finish the thought. I knew what he was going to say. He turned to me and laid both of his hands on my shoulders. "I told dad I would protect you, you, Lilly, and Stone. But mostly you."

"Me?" I asked a little surprised.

"Yeah, dad was afraid for you, the rest of us, Stone, Lilly, and I we each spent at least five years knowing our parents. You were two years old when they died, my god you barely knew them." I could see his eyes begin to swell up with tears. "He was so ashamed of leaving you without parents. We knew our parents, were able to grow up with them more than you, learn from them." Gorian's hands dropped from my shoulders and he sat back down on the recliner. "He wanted me to take good care of you, especially. He knew you wouldn't have parents to look up to, to protect you." He looked at me. "I'm your brother, but I also wanted to be a father figure for you when you were growing up."

"And you were," I said with a smile laying a hand on his shoulder again, this time all caution was gone. "You were a great brother for me Gorian, all three of you taught me so much growing up, even Stone, but you, you were there when I needed help, whenever I was bullied by the older kids you were there to scare them off and told me to turn the other cheek, when I didn't understand a sexual innuendo, analogies, personal problems, I came to you and you helped me to understand them without hesitation. You were an excellent mentor," I rubbed his shoulder gently. "And an even greater brother." He looked up at me, I followed a tear sliding gently down his cheek, but he smiled. "You helped me when nobody else was around, when nobody else understood. You were the closest thing to a father I had as a child."

"I'm sorry I've been acting the way I've been," he apologized again standing up, his full height towering over me. "I want you to know that no matter what happens, never let anyone tell you what you should do." He smiled softly. "Not even me or Lilly. You make your own decisions Damian. Only you know what's right for yourself." I cocked an eyebrow and asked.

"Where did this come from?"

"It's a lesson I've lived by all my life and it's one I meant to teach you for so long but never found the patience or time to." He turned from me and headed towards the door. "I know your fight with Zsasz was self-defense. And if it wasn't, that was your decision to make. And yours alone." He nodded at me and smiled turning to leave, shutting the door behind him.

I was left to my thoughts. "I'm getting a lot of life lessons lately," I chuckled with a warm smile. I walked through my apartment and crashed on my bed.

...

I stepped through the corridors of the psychiatric ward impatiently poking at the bandages around my injured hand, which I so professionally wrapped once again. "Damn thing's gonna get infected," I grumbled down at my injury.

"It's never going to heal if you keep poking at it," Kainan said scaring the shit out of me.

After recovering my heart which I immediately threw up from fright, I glared back at him. "Don't fucking do that!" Kainan's lips curved into a wicked little grin but quickly straightened again as he began walking to his office.

"I have Jonathan Crane already seated in my office and I'd appreciate you not disrupting his composure," Kainan explained with his hands folded behind his back. "Dr. Crane and I have become quite comfortable with each other's company and I'd appreciate it staying as such." He turned to me as he neared the door to the office where he conducted his sessions. "Are we clear on this."

"Yes mother," I said picking my nose with my pinky immaturely knowing it would aggravate him.

"And please refrain from doing that," Kainan said with an irritated tone.

"Yes mommy," I said pulling my hand away and smiling innocently.

"Oh and one more thing," Kainan said.

"Yes?" I asked curiously.

"Shut the hell up," Kainan said hiding his grin.

"YES SIR!" I bellowed saluting.

"Damn straight," he replied opening the door and stepping inside.

Upon entering the office I felt a strange sensation overtake me, though it was strange it was also familiar. Sitting in the chair nearest to the door was the same thin, handsome, dark-haired man I saw some time ago in his cell, one I went to certain lengths to avoid. Crane turned and his orange eyes landed on me, a small, twisted grin befell his lips and his square-rimmed glasses flashed with interest.

"Hello Dr. Crane," Kainan greeted him kindly.

"Hello Dr. Fall," the infamous Scarecrow responded in a mild, attractive, and somewhat sultry voice. "And I see we are joined by the infamous Dr. Rykotsu."

"Infamous?" I couldn't stop myself from asking.

"You are the one who so viciously assaulted Mr. Zsasz are you not?" His fiendish grin gave me cold chills I had only gotten from Zsasz before.

"It was self-defense," I replied averting my eyes and seating myself next to Kainan across the table.

"Let us begin the interview, Dr. Rykotsu will be joining us today Jonathan, is that alright with you?"

"The more the merrier Kainan," Crane replied coolly.

I was a bit disturbed by the first name basis they had acquired with each other but ignored if for the time being as Kainan hit the record button on his tape recorder...

Click...

Kainan Fall: This is Doctor Kainan Fall, six year veteran member of the Psychiatric staff here at Arkham Asylum. Joining me today is Doctor Damian Rykotsu and Doctor Jonathan Crane. Also referred to as the Scarecrow by Gotham citizens.

Damian Rykotsu: I didn't know you worked here for six years. I mean I knew it was for a long time but, Jesus, six years?

...silence...

Damian Rykotsu: ...okay, jeeze, just saying...

Kainan Fall: Doctor Rykotsu will be joining Doctor Crane and myself as merely a witness to how an Interview Session should be rightfully conducted. The current time is...four o'four p.m. Thursday November, ninth.

Jonathan Crane: Accurate and precise as always Doctor.

Kainan Fall: Of course, as customary with our sessions I've brought with a pot of fresh, hot tea, would you like some Doctor Crane?

Jonathan Crane: Of course, Doctor.

Tea pot pours...

Kainan Fall: Damian?

Damian Rykotsu: I'm good, thanks.

Kainan Fall: So Jonathan, we were previously discussing…Damian? Are you alright?

Damian Rykotsu: Huh? Oh…yeah…just a little light headed I guess…I'll be fine…

…Tea pours into cup…

Damian Rykotsu: Kainan I said I was fine, I didn't want any tea…

Kainan Fall: Just drink it and shut up.

Damian Rykotsu: Fine!

Kainan Fall: Now Doctor Crane, last time we left off…

Jonathan Crane: My assistance in the Joker's hostile takeover of this lovely asylum, yes.

Kainan Fall: Yes, so tell me Doctor, what was the point of helping the Joker in such a pointless conquest? One you must've known was destined for failure.

Jonathan Crane: Dear Doctor, you must know of the Joker's charisma? The man could lead the planet in a second holocaust if he found it necessary…or funny…enough.

Kainan Fall: And if he did…? Would you follow him in such an apocalyptic opportunity?

Jonathan Crane: Doctor…of course I would!

Damian Rykotsu: Why?

…silence…

Jonathan Crane: Why Doctor?

Damian Rykotsu: Yes, why would you assist someone in something like that? Such a horrible event in history and you would be completely willing to aide a madman like the Joker in initiating another? So many people would die, or worse…the holocaust was…

Jonathan Crane: It was survival! It forced humanity into its basest element. A primal instinct comes over us, we slaughter each other, we run, we hide, and when we are found we fight like cornered animals…and what, good doctor, causes us to act this way?

…silence…

Damian Rykotsu: …fear…

Jonathan Crane: Very good, Doctor.

Damian Rykotsu: Then that was your intention for…

Jonathan Crane: Dear Doctor have you even read my files? Those the warden and her marry group of guards have so kindly written about me over the years of my incarceration? My methods are purely based on my research. My life, my actions, my reasoning, all based around my ever-growing love of human fear!

Chair legs scratch across the floor

Damian Rykotsu: If you're such an expert on human fear than you should know that it is one of the many elements in life that should not be tampered with Crane! You're messing with the very psyche of men, something that causes them to…to…

Jonathan Crane: Do you understand now Doctor? Do you understand why I love the very thought of fear? You are correct in saying that fear is an element that must not be tampered with. But you must realize; if one can possess the very thing that causes fear, can manipulate fear for his own personal gain…

Damian Rykotsu: You become a god…

Jonathan Crane: (Laughs) My dear Doctor, you give me too much credit! …I like this one Dr. Fall you must invite him to more of our interviews!

Damian Rykotsu: …

Kainan Fall: Dr. Rykotsu…are you alright?

Damian Rykotsu: Yes…yes I'm fine…

Kainan Fall: Dr. Crane would you mind giving us a moment?

Jonathan Crane: Not at all Doctor.

…(click)…

Kainan turned off the recorder, grabbed me by my collar, and subtly dragged my ass out of the interviewing room. As we got outside I realize how fucked up I felt. My vision was blurring and my mind was starting to fade in and out, my thoughts couldn't settle on one subject it kept hazing over. "What's going on?" Kainan laughed and said.

"I told you to drink the tea didn't I?" Damian looked at him and cocked an eyebrow as his woozy head till twisted.

"What is with you and the tea?"

"Damian I have been interviewing Dr. Crane for quite some time, however, the very first few times I sat down to interview him I had the same reaction. You see, Crane has been using that fear toxin for so long that it has practically imprinted itself into his skin. So, whenever he perspires even the slightest bit, the toxin will evaporate into a gaseous state and will circle around the room infecting anyone close enough." Damian couldn't believe Kainan had figured that out. He looked at Kainan respectfully and replied.

"So you've made a serum out of the tea that is suppose to negate the effects of Crane's fear toxin?" Kainan nodded smirking. "That's absolutely genius!"

"Yes I know," Kainan said with a small chuckle. "Now Damian, it would seem that I've found your problem when it comes to these interviews."

Damian cocked an eyebrow again. "Oh? And what might that be?"

"You get far too involved in them." Damian looked confused so Kainan continued. "It's simple, you go in ready for a conversation, ready to learn everything about them, all the way down to the deepest, simplest detail. Am I correct in saying so?" Damian was still confused but nodded and said.

"Of course Kainan, that's our job isn't it? I mean we're expected to go in there and get results in any way we can short of assault of any variation…right?" Kainan sighed.

"Usually, you'd be right, but Damian you must understand, these are hardened criminals! They kill, they rape, they steal, they pillage, and they destroy! Damian you're not dealing with regular mental patients in Arkham, you're dealing with Drug Dealers, Mafioso's, Corporate Leaders, Terrorists, Murderers, and just plain Sadists all together. Damian we want you to get only what you need then get the fuck out of there and move on to someone else, for your own sake! We don't want you getting so far into the inmate's head you can't crawl back out. You need to be careful how much you pry and dig or you may find yourself digging a hole you won't be able to…or worse…won't want to dig out of!"

Damian was disturbed by the seriousness in his voice. "Kainan…you…you don't honestly think I'd become one of these psychopaths do you? I mean…c'mon I'm better than this I couldn't hurt a fly let alone…" I had to stop, my mind landing on the events only a couple days ago. I had intentionally beaten Zsasz to a bloody pulp on the Penitentiary floor. "Look…never mind…I'm gonna go see Lilly. I'll see you later Kainan…" Without another word I left my dear friend alone in the halls of the building as I wandered out into the courtyard towards the mansion.

My mind impulsively wandered to all of the event since my employment here at the asylum, it was so hard to think it was only a little over a month with so much that had happened. "Jesus…I must be the worst employee they've ever fucking hired…" I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck stressed from the lack of sleep and numerous other things. Suddenly my thoughts were cut short by the sound of footsteps approaching. I looked up and saw a group of guards all attached to chains. Each chain linked into a collar around a tall man's neck. I could barely see past the guards but I was able to make out the prisoner's attire. A black pair of pants with a black tank top adorned the very broad man. When the guards passed by me I recognized the mask on his head, white and black with red sockets for the eyes. "Bane…" I whispered to myself. I did a stupid thing then. I ran up beside the traveling guard band and began trying to converse with the extremely dangerous prisoner. "Hello Bane, my name is Damian Rykotsu, I'm a psychiatrist here at the Asylum. How are you today?" I smiled at the chained prisoner, the guards transporting him stared at me like I was a mentally handicapped child with underwear on my head. Yeah, ever gotten that look before? Of course, Bane said nothing as he walked in unison with the rest of the caravan. "I was wondering if you wouldn't mind me coming by your cell and speaking with you later…" he remained silent, I just felt more and more foolish as I walked beside them like a dog barking at a car. "…if you don't mind of course. You see, I've read your file and, as I figured, you're a very intelligent man, you were…"

"Doctor Rykotsu!" One of the guards said stopping the rest of the group. I felt my heart skip a beat as I tripped over my own feet and landing square on my face. As I regained my footing to the snickers and giggles of the guards I cleared my throat.

"Yes?" I said stupidly with a dumb grin.

"With all due respect Doctor, please remove yourself from the courtyard before I am forced to do it myself!" He stared at me in the same fashion Gorian always did when I fucked up. I opened my mouth but nothing came out. I bowed my head and nodded returning to my previous trek to the mansion, a symphony of laughs walking in the other direction behind me. My face, beet red, was filled with disgrace and embarrassment. "Fuck you…" I whispered as I opened the door to the mansion.

I found my way to Lilly's office and knocked on the door. When no answer replied I opened the door to an empty room. I sighed and knocked my head softly against the door. "What's wrong with me? The first sign that things are going downhill and I go to Lilly? What the fuck is wrong with me?" I shut the door and locked it up as I went through the corridors and, again, out into the courtyard. "Maybe a riddle will make me feel better." I smirked a bit as I thought of Edward's clever little grin, the look on his face when his mind was busy at work devising new ways to foil my intelligence. I smacked myself in the forehead and screamed. "What the fuck is wrong with me?" I couldn't believe, because I was depressed, that I would actually go to The Riddler for a pick-me-up. I was going to visit a convicted criminal for a way of bettering my mood! I might as well go and find Zsasz and ask him to fucking cut me a few times just to make sure I'm still alive!" In an act of impulse I found myself, back against a tree, in the middle of the courtyard. I leaned my head back against the tree behind me and sighed out. "What is wrong with me?" I blinked up into the sky. "And why did I say that again?" I thumped my head against the tree gently. "Why is it I have to fuck up on every turn? I round a corner and I slam into a fucking stop sign. Or hit by a fucking car…" he remembered the beating from Croc. "…ok…semi-truck." He bounced his head off the tree harder. "Why can't I be like the other Psychiatrists and just mind my own goddamn business? Why do I find myself getting close to these convicted criminals?" Most would be able to answer the questions concerning their own actions, but, in my own case…I had no fucking idea! I couldn't fathom why the hell I wanted so badly to become close to those who chose to murder and rape and torture others. "I mean…nobody is truly innocent right? We've all sinned…we've all committed some sort of crime…maybe not as bad as others….but still…is what I'm doing really that bad?" I thought for a few minutes. "Wait a minute!" I jumped to my feet at a sudden realization. "I'm trusted by the fucking inmates! A few of them even told me they respected me! Even fucking Edward Nigma told me he fucking respected me! How many of the fucking doctors can say that?" The smile had returned to my face upon my realization. I was getting more respect than any of the fucking guards. "I'm getting more respect than Lilly, and she's the goddamn warden!" I laughed and stood up straight as I wandered off towards the penitentiary. "I think I'll go and hear me a riddle!"

I walked proudly down the halls of the penitentiary. I looked like a dumbass trust me… As I passed the cells I heard whispers about my fight with Zsasz and how I had kicked his ass, one even noting how I reminded him of a gladiator from ancient Rome, it may have been Maxi Zeus, not sure. I was on my way to Nigma's cell when I was stopped by the calling of my name. I jumped a bit not actually expecting any of the inmates to actually call my attention. I turned to see the dark cell that belonged to none other than Jonathan Crane. I stepped cautiously over to the cell that was imprinted with the stench of the fear toxin. "Yes Doctor Crane?" I asked without a sign of fear.

"I wanted to apologize for ruining our interview today," he said with dark courtesy. I cocked an eyebrow as I replied.

"You did no such thing Doctor Crane. If anything, my running off in the middle of it ruined it, so I apologize." The doctor's dark orange eyes flashed as his thin handsome face curled into a grin.

"Ah yes, I suppose so, what sent you away? If I might ask?" He whispered darkly.

"I had to speak with Lilly," I lied not wanting to admit that his fear toxin had gotten to me, I knew he'd find satisfaction in that. "I'm sure I could talk Dr. Fall into conducting another interview with you while participate as an audience." Crane stood and strode to the bars of his cell, his rectangle slid to the tip of his nose as his orange eyes peered into mine.

"I've a better idea doctor." He pressed his face through the bars so his lips were next to my ear. "Why don't we just have a little interview right here and now, just the two of us?" He pulled away from the bars again and grinned wickedly, his thin white teeth gleamed in the light. "What do you say Doctor?" I cleared my throat, nervous at the wicked sadistic doctor being so close to me, close enough for me to inhale a good bit of his imprinted fear toxin.

"I suppose I don't see the harm in it I suppose," I amused him as I crossed my arms and looked at him. "So? Where shall we start?"

Crane twisted grin disappeared into a look of the utmost seriousness. He sat on his cot and asked. "When did you first realize you wanted to penetrate the minds of the criminally insane Doctor?" I blinked and stopped him.

"Wait…it was to my understanding I was going to interview you Doctor Crane."

Crane smiled replying. "I said no such thing. Are you afraid to answer my questions? That would be unfortunate." I gave a suspicious look to the sadistic super criminal but decided to play along.

"When I was a child I wanted to help people…well…get better in the head for lack of a better term. At least, that's how I put it during my childhood. While other kids pretended to be astronauts, cowboys, Batman, and Superman I would psycho-analyze my sister every Friday to see what was troubling her and try to make her feel better." I laughed thinking how I use to prescribe her gummybears in place of actual medicine, but I kept that part to myself.

"Why such a need to help those who can't even help themselves?" Crane asked pushing his glasses up to the bridge of his nose. "What benefit did it grant you?"

"The benefit was knowing that I'd helped them," I muttered completely forgetting I was supposed to be humoring Crane instead of getting psycho-analyzed myself. "I wanted so bad to help those who couldn't help them. I never had many friends growing up, and I wanted everyone I helped see that they had a friend in me…"

"I see, and what about those who didn't see it that way? How did they retaliate?"

I shivered at the thought of some of the bullies he faced in school. "They beat me within an inch of my life…" Crane's mouth formed a grin.

"And what did you do?" He asked darkly.

"I tried again…" I replied quietly. Crane's smirk disappeared.

"Why? What reason did you have to try and provide a friend for ingrates like them?"

"I pitied them…" Crane cocked an eyebrow and stood from his cot.

"Pitied the ones that thrashed you into a bloody, heaving pulp on the floor? And why exactly did you pity them Doctor?" I was silent…lost in thought. "Doctor? Why did you pity the savages?"

"Because they did it out of a self-loathing for themselves…I did it because they needed a friend. A real friend, not one that feared or respected them for their hostile actions…I wanted them to know that friends existed out of compassion." I realized after I said it how cliché and lame that sounded but shook it off.

"I see, did you every reach any of the brutes that beat you?"

This time is was my grin that broadened. "Yes," I replied smugly. "My best friend Rex use to be one of the bullies that would beat the shit out of me when I tried to help."

Crane's face was of shock, but I had my back turned so I couldn't see it. "And how did this come about exactly?"

"I found him crying in the bathroom at our school. It turns out that his dad was just as ruthless to him as he was to me. Well…he didn't like that I saw what I did so he attacked me, nearly beating me to death. He told me I would never tell anyone what I saw and that he was going to kill me." I paused for a moment remembering the pain my best friend today had brought me that day so long ago. The tears that mixed with blood and dirt that day. "After he was done beating me he pushed my head into the toilet and tried to drown me…" Crane was silent at this point. "He pushed my head in, it would almost seem humorous if I wasn't screaming into the water as I gasped for any air that I could get."

"And what happened then?" Crane asked sadistically.

"My brother Stone saved me. It was only to my great luck that he had to go to the bathroom at that point in time. If not….i would be dead right now…"

"At the hands of the man you call your best friend."

I smiled a bit. "He showed up when I was in he hospital." I laughed a bit. "He told me he was sorry he freaked out like he did, mind you he said all of this with a broken nose, black eye, busted lip, and fractured ribs, but he still apologized."

"Your brother must've really roughed him up," Crane said with a grin.

"Stone? He kicked his fuckin ass." I grinned too, we both laughed a bit. "Lilly and Gorian showed up while I was in the hospital…asked me if I was planning on pressing charges against Rex."

"And you did."

"No…" Crane looked at me in shock his mouth open. "I mean yeah he pretty much broke half the bones in my body and I was eating out of a tube…but…" I grinned again with my back pressed against the bars. "But I couldn't be the reason Rex went to jail. He had his whole life ahead of him and if he went to jail it would ruin his school career…" I thought about it for a moment. "Ok…he did that by dropping out of high school…but still…at least it wasn't on me."

I stopped at the sound of Crane laughing, softly at first but then it evolved into a wicked cackle that made me feel quite uncomfortable. I turned to him, his face was in his hand and his eyes looked like they were full of tears of amusement. "I don't believe it! So after you refused to press charges, let me guess, he stuck by your hospital bed, you two got to know one another better, then you became thick as thieves? Oh and then, I know, I know…" he began laughing again. "…he protected you throughout high school? He made sure nobody ever bullied you again? Right?" I was silent. He guessed every bit of it…how did he know? How could he have?

"Yeah…that's right…" He laughed wickedly at my response cackling into his hand like a maniac.

"I figured as much!" He laughed a bit longer before it died down into a dark giggle. "And now, with no highs school diploma, no GED, and no college degree, he's working here as head of mechanics and engineering under your sister." He grinned turning it towards me. A nervous chill crept quickly down my spine.

"Yes…?" I couldn't figure out where he was going. What was he leading to?

"And all thanks to you!" His grin only broadened. "And let me guess, after he dropped out of high school he joined the military for a number of years and you didn't hear not a word from him until he got back correct?" I nodded a little confused. "And around the time your sister was fighting to become warden of the Asylum he finally contacted you? Said he knew for a fact that your sister would become warden in no time, he had full faith in her? Then you two started hanging out as friends again and you were so happy to see him?" It was then I figured out what he was saying.

"Are you saying…the only reason Rex regained contact with me was to cozy up to Lilly and get a job here at the Asylum?" I was shocked he would assume something like that.

"NO!" He pressed his face up against the bars wrapping his thin bony fingers around them. "Not just to get a job here! So you wouldn't press charges against him, so you wouldn't tell his daddy who would beat the shit out of him, so you wouldn't get him expelled, so you would get him a job at this asylum because he's a pathetic bum who couldn't finish school, joined the military so he'd make daddy and his own self-loathing proud. Then he had a naïve friend like you to manipulate into giving him whatever he wants. You are so fucking pathetic!" I grabbed his wrists, my eyes burning with anger as I tightened my grip around his bony limbs. He winced from the pain but smiled through it. "What's the matter Doctor? Getting angry? Over the truth? You know it's true don't you? And that's what burns you, what gets you angry. I know this doctor. But are you willing to admit it to the denial that festers in your mind? Or are you afraid to face the truth?" My teeth began to grind in anger as my body shook but my grip still tightened. I felt his body begin to tense as the bones in his wrist began to pop. "Go ahead doctor, break my wrists, that wouldn't sit well with your sister now would it?"

He was right, though it took me a moment to realize it. If I had broken his wrists what would Lilly say? I wouldn't be able to get away on self-defense this time…I released his wrists but kept the same rage in my face. "Watch what you say about my friends Crane, even if you are right about him…even if he is just using me to get what he needs…you don't talk about my friends that way Crane…or I will break you r scrawny little neck you got me asshole?" It's only a bit later that I realized how hostile and monstrous I sounded, but at the moment I didn't care I wanted to break this bastard in half and had half a mind to do so. So without a word I turned from him, forgetting my original plan of coming to see Edward and heading towards my room in Arkham Mansion.

Once I was in my room I fell on the couch and sighed as I thought on what Crane had said. I found examples from past situations. Rex had on more than one occasion proven Crane wrong. But what Crane had said, that Rex used me to get this job, that he sucked up to me to prevent expulsion from school, to keep his dad from finding out. I sighed and closed my eyes and leaned my head back. "What the hell is going on? What was I thinking talking to Crane like that?" I opened my eyes and looked around. "Who the hell am I talking to?" I sighed again and was surprised where my mind wandered. Three places actually, my first thought was how Jones was doing of course, then I thought of Ivy…the last time we I went to see her…well, yeah, my third thought was my brief encounter with Bane earlier. I didn't get a chance to actually speak with him because of that fucking guard…he would pay…I'm tired of being laughed at! Croc would understand…Ivy would understand…and I bet Bane would understand. "Think I'll go talk to him tomorrow…"