From her little wooden chair Emelie could observe the snow gently falling outside, almost starting to cover the dirty hospital street. In front of her a man covered in bandages so only less than half of his was visible, was still sleeping deeply, the only one looking more out than Dent probably being that nurse which had shortly been inside of the room, that man had looked completely out, Emilie could have sworn there had gone nothing on behind the blank eyes had he not so carefully and professionally been checking Dent's face bandages.
Emilie's eyes turned downwards and she turned another page in her book.. yet another law book. She couldn't help but fell triumphant as she realised it was so much easier to understand the written languet then when she had started. In the beginning it had felt like a huge mountain impossible to climb, but at least she was getting some-where.. And no just in understanding books.
Emilie swallowed, some-where in life to, at last.. after so much time where her life had been only consistent of her apartment and her job, something would happen.
Suddenly the man started groaning ever so slightly. Emilie smiled warmly at him as she observed Harvey Dent for the first time starting to turning. "Mr. Dent." she called.
"Where… where am I?" he asked groggily.
"The hospital Mr. Dent, how are you feeling?"
"The hospital?" he asked. "What am I doing here? What are you doing here?"
"I'm standing guard." Emilie told honestly. "But as you slept any-way I could spend the time study, you how-ever, finished an operation two days ago and have been a sleep since."
"Operation?" Harvey asked the one eye that was visible blinking, and then his good hand raised to lightly touch his bandaged head.
"Careful." Emilie told. "The doctors said we shouldn't touch that if it could avoided."
"I don't remember getting here.." Harvey murmered. "Am I dreaming?"
"Harley Quinn suddenly out of no-where thought it was a good idea to steal sedatives and give them all at you at ones." Emilie admitted. "You were out cold, but we decided to bring you any-way to not waste time and resources."
"I can't… I can't fell my face.. my hand." Harvey told managing to glance down on his bad hand, which was now also completely bandaged.
"The doctors said that could happen, but it would go away. What they did was first fixing the splinters in your nose and chin, so it came into shape, which means they would have to sedace the nerves or the natural pain contraptions would have made the process difficult, then they made a skin transplantation from your good face side and neck side and sewn in on, again, had to use exstra strong sedatives for you not to wince from the natural pain, and as it's now re-growing you are under constant local sedation so you wont fell the nerve ends re-attach. I have no idea how it looks though, I just know your eye is still yellow, but normal's seized, nothing to be done about that apparently, and your hair needs colouring, that's easy done though."
"You talk as a true professional listing the facts." Harvey nodded as his good hand suddenly was behind his ear, a habit he had Emilie had noticed a long time ago, and he sighed relieved as if the motion meant something, well, all people had their weird habits. "Good job, that is how a lawyer would tell a client what their current condition is should the client be an victim of assault, deliver all of the facts up front without wrapping it in."
"I'm doing my best Mr. Dent." Emilie returned a little proud of the praise. "All though, can you explain this to me?" she asked turning around the book and reached it towards him. "I don't quite understand, ."
"Well, that is a dilemma isn't it?" Harvey asked looking at the passage she had pointed out. "So it's up to the lawyer to make a decision based upon facts and intuition, often in that kind of work it's a lot about finding the fine line between rules and order, and the heart."
"But still, if I go by this procedure, it would be unfair to the convicted."
"The justice system is definitely not flawless." Harvey admitted. "It's enough to drive everyone passionate and righteous a little insane some times.!
At that Emilie lifted an eyebrow.
"Yeas I know, it all started when I took justice into own hand, I wanted to see Thorne suffer no matter the cost, so don't make such a mistake, I think the real cruel joke is that I became the same as him, I think that's why we have a law system to make the rules for us, to ensure we avoid becoming them."
"What about such people as the Batman?" Emilie asked and then stopped. "Sorry, you don't have to answer that."
"It's a legitimate question." Harvey nodded. "And in this city, in the line of work I hope you'll be doing, it's a personal statement and choice you'll have to take at some point. Batman acts outside of the law, there is no denying that, he's a vigilantly not following police procedures, he stands for a lifetime imprisonment at current time, And where's the line? I thought I was doing good, by finally bringing justice to all those lousy mobs sulking on the city, by out ruling them, In my case how-ever, it was not worth such a sacrifice, and what's the use of getting rid of one problem by placing an even bigger one? Though in his defence, all he does is catching the crooks in the act, he leaves the law to handle their punishment, he acts like a glorified policeman who is not bound by rules, nothing more, question is, is the city better or worse with him?"
"I don't know." Emilie admitted. "Well, you wanted me to always be honest right."
"Always." Harvey nodded.
"Don't get a fit, not now.. I think it's a good thing he's here." Emilie then admitted warily observing every single of Harveys reactions, and swallowed even though Harvey hadn't made any angry expressions. "He's the one to bring in all those unstable people in Arkham, the police can't bring them to justice themselves, less people get hurt that way, right now, this moment, the city needs him, of cause there is the danger if he crosses a line, and then we should bring him to justice, and hopefully we are all working towards a time where we don't him, where he should hang up the cape and enjoy retirement or face the consequences, but for now, we should all let it slide, support him, he both gets the dangerous people out of the way and brings hope to the citizens of Gotham, that's worth more than all of the many flaws." She looked nervously at Harvey as she swallowed.
Harvey instead regarded her thoughtfully. "I agree and disagree." He nodded.
"How's that?" Emilie asked curiously.
"Your points are all valid and true." Harvey admitted. "Still, I know how out of control such a man can become, if he steps over the edge, it will be a disaster, think of all of that he can do! He has all ready done, and no one, not even the joker, not even me, can get rid of him or figure out who he is, he must all ready be a little unbalanced, he dresses up as a bat and catches crooks one by one, I believe, this dangers does not outweigh the goods in this case." Harvey told gravely.
"That's very valid points." Emilie nodded. "But can't we agree to disagree Mr. Dent?"
"We can." Harvey sighed deeply. "And.. we are outside of Arkham Kerrigan.. Emilie.., I've just woken up from an difficult operation and you are the only friendly face around, can't it be Harvey, just this ones."
"I don't know." Emilie hesitated. "It still fells like I am breaking some important rule."
"Which rule?" Harvey asked.
"I don't know, you are my prisoner and my teacher, I don't know what this is." Emilie admitted. "I just want to at least try and keep this some-what sensible."
"You are my guard and student." Harvey nodded. "Not a common sentence, but perhaps also, I certainly hope so, the one thing mutual is that we are friends?"
Emilie blinked. "Guards and prisoners are not supposed to be friends."
"I was lead to understand you were also my student." Harvey sighed. "And we work towards a goal where we can be colleagues, or so I thought, we are not just guard and prisoner are we?" Harvey asked.
Emilie took a deep breath and then defeated shook her head. "I never had any other mentor than myself." She finally admitted. "But we can't just slip on and off the professional state?"
"Why not?" Harvey asked. "That's what I want you to do, be professional when the situation requires it, and then relax and absorb when you can, you can do it, your one of the few who can, I'm sure of it."
"I'm a rock.." Emilie sighed.
"I promised to make you into a diamond with cutting edges." Harvey looked at her. "It's a work in progress, but we are slowly getting closer."
"Other girls are compared to flowers." Emilie muttered a little sadly.
"Grace was a flower." Harvey sighed leaning back. "But unfortunately, flowers are not as stable as the rocks, I don't need a flower, I would end up strangling it."
"You still miss her very much don't you?" Emilie asked a little sadly.
"Yeas.." Harvey admitted groaning tiredly. "I fell drowsy."
"I think that's natural, and I think you should sleep.."
"Thanks." Harvey whispered closing his eyes.
"You're welcome Mr. Dent..." Emilie responded and reached out to pull the covers over his shoulders. "I mean Harvey, I hope you have pleasant dreams, I really do."
"Go away!" Emilie was left to yell of the massive wall of people scooting and shouting on the heavy snow covered street on the date of December th 21. "I don't know where you would pick up such a rumour, but there's no Two-face at this hospital!"
"Then why are there Arkham guards constantly walking in and out of the hospital?" a journalist asked with eagerness.
"One of our patience got hurt on his last escape out in town!" Emilie answered promptly.
"Whom?" The obnoxious journalist asked at ones with a sneaky smile playing on her lips.
"That's confidential" Emilie stated firmly. "Our laws clearly states that our Arkham patience are entitled to private life and dignity, if they so themselves chooses to accept the press, that's their business, but our current hurt patients wishes to be left alone, and the employers by Arkham is bound by the law and a contrat to respect our patients wishes, so that means, no questions answered!" she stated firmly. "So clearly out!" she pointed to the side. "No one is allowed inside and if you don't move away from this parking lot in five minutes, I have authority to call in the police!" she stated grimly and then turned around marching back in through the door, where she kept walking in fast sure strides until she was well out of sight from the cameras and then exhausted leaned against he wall.
"Well handled."
"ARGH!" Emilie frigtehed jumped up and looked to the side. "Mr. Wayne!" she exclaimed. "How did you get in here? You snook up on me."
"Sorry." Bruce Wayne smiled apologetic at her. "I certainly didn't mean to Miss Kerrigan, are you all right."
"I'm fine." Emilie took a deep breath. "And boy, is that the sort of thing I'll have to handle now?" she asked pointing in the direction she had just come from.
"If you are still going to be Harves personal assistant, yeas, and that was nothing." Bruce told.
"Oh great." Emilie slammed a hand to her forehead.
"That was your first time getting rid of the press?" Bruce asked amused.
Emilie nodded as she swallowed.
"Impressive, I would not have guessed that." Bruce nodded.
"It was one of the first thing Harvey tutored me in, with the press, don't answer their questions if they are not supposed to be there, and don't be shy of threaten them with police force, be firm and never ever give in, then the next time they know they can bend you."
"Absolutely." Bruce nodded. "All of this unwanted attention is probably the hardest thing to deal with, it takes practise and skill, but promise me something, don't ever let them get to you, just remember who's your real friends."
Emilie smiled lightly. "I'm glad I could work like this with you Mr. Wayne, I do consider you a real friend amongst these new things."
"Glad to help, and erh." He bowed down to whisper. "You still have that number?" he asked. "Nothing happened to Harvey."
"I still have the number." Emilie nodded. "But so far I don't think there's any use for it."
"If there's an emergency." Bruce looked seriously at her. "Any reason of suspicion or doubt, Don't ever hesitate, even kow when he's getting better, trust me, all of my wishes are for the best for Harvey."
"I know." Emilie nodded. "But you still don't need to worry, at least I don't think so."
"So when did they plan to take off those bandages?" Bruce asked.
Emilie glanced down on her wrist watch. "Shoot!" she exclaimed. "We are late! They could begin any second! Hurry Mr. Wayne." And they both hurried down the corridors to stop abrupt up in front of the door.
Emilie gaped for air as Bruce slowly took the handle, and carefully opened the door to peer inside. "Harve?"
"Oh Mr. Wayne." The doctor who sat with the scissors greeted. "Just in time for the big reveal."
"Bruce?" Harvey asked, obviously completely blinded by the lair of bandages.
"Right here." Bruce went inside sitting down on his knee.
"Kerrigan?" Harvey then asked.
"Here, as always." Emilie nodded walking inside position herself in guard position in the corner beside Erick, so they stood side by side with their backs straight and arms behind their back.
Harvey nodded and turned his head back to the doctor. "The last layer right?" he asked.
"Indeed." The Doctor nodded. "Are we ready mr. Dent."
"As ready as I'll ever be I suppose." Harvey swallowed. "Just get over with it."
The doctor nodded. "Very well." And lifted the scissor. "Now remember, there may be just a little scaring left, the threats should have fallen out a while ago, and there is never any telling what splinters can do, yet we had our best man on the case and he himself says it's the best job he's ever done and a work of genuins." The doctor told as he finished the cutting and then held his breath, and so did both Bruce, Emilie and Erick was also in the room.
Untill at last, very gently, the doctor removed the last piece of bandage and then gasped in shock.
Also Emilie's eyes widened and Bruce was lost for words.
"What is it?" Harvey asked dead nervously.
"It's… amazing." Emilie barely whispered.
"He sure weren't kidding when he called this his masterpiece." The doctor commented in amazed tone.
"What?" Harvey asked. "A mirror, I need a mirror!"
"Relax Harve." Bruce was by his side. "Take a deep breath." He took the mirror and handed it to his friend. "It's all all-right."
Shaking lightly Harvey reached for the mirror and then slowly picked it up, to stare wide-eyed at the image and letting out a gasp, slowly he lifted a hand to his chin. "Unbelievable." He whispered.
"I think you even look better than I remembered." Bruce commented in a slightly teasing tone.
"I honestly don't care if I am handsome or not." Harvey told just as stunned as he starred at his completely normal looking reflection, with a perfect sympatric face restored to normality. "This is.. this is better than I could have hoped for." And he did look good, the face was perfect, the eye normal the mouth normal, the skin the slightly darker than normal skin tone, only the hair was left white on one side.
"And the hair can be coloured today do you wish." The doctor told.
"Yeas." Harvey nodded. "Yeas cover it up."
"Why?" It was Kerrigan who asked.
Surprised Harvey's head turned to her.
"Erh I mean.. I am not a doctor or anything." Emilie started with that usual statement. "But isn't it better to acknowledge what happened and accept, deal with it, instead of covering it up? Isn't that what created Two-face in the first place? and beside, it looks good enough, it looks distinctive"
"Comment noted and appreciated." Harvey nodded. "But it's going to be covered up."
Emilie blinked as she stood there in the corner, for a while she starred at Harvey and then she shrugged. "It's your choice." She merely stated.
Suddenly a loud yells was sounding from outside, both Bruce and Emilie took a run for the window look down at all of the comossion.
"Oh no not again!" Emilie stated.
"What is it?" Harvey asked from his bed stop.
"The press has been bothering us all week." Emilie told. "Some-how they got a wind that Two-face is in the building, and now they wont go away."
"The press?" Harvey asked.
"You remember how obnoxious those could be right?" Bruce asked his old friend.
"I'll guess I have to go down there… again.." Emilie sighed. "I'll be right back as soon as I can." And she annoyed stomped outside and down the hall way, to take a run down the stars and sprint through the hall ways, determined to get rid of those infernal reporters as quick as possible, finally she burst through the doors. "All right! What did I say about the police?" she asked all of the cameras.
"Is it true Two-face is inside of the building?" The same red haired news reporter who had asked the same question twice before asked this time also.
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Kerrigan stated with crossed arms. "There's no Two-face here!" she stated. "So scram! A clown had a broken ankle; don't you have better stories than this to fish up? This city is the dirtiest place on earth, there's always something nasty going on! Go exposé that!"
"How I'll is Two-face!"
"there's no Two-face in there!" Kerrigan shouted. "Go away!"
And that same rant went on and on, the people keeping pushing on, Emilie not being able to get inside and get a phone, in fear some-one would perhaps slip by her if she did.
"There is no two-face here!" she stated again.
"You do know lying to the press is a court offend right?" A reporter asked.
"Then it's a good thing she isn't lying." A pleasant male voice suddenly sounded behind Emilie making her wince and she turned around to stare wide-eyed at Harvey Dent, standing there in a neat blue suit and a hat covering up his hair, having a hard time comprehending his stupidity. "There's no two-face here." He stated in a slight grin gesturing at his face.
The press silenced, in completely gobsmacked stunned awe.
"Why did you have to do that?" Emilie whispered to him.
"It had to be done at some point." Harvey told back. "The press would have figured out on their own soon enough, then this is better."
And finally the press people woke to life again. "Harvey Dent?" "Mr. Dent, cured?" "He looks the same as he used to."
"Mr. Dent how are you feeling?"
"Mr. Dent are you cured?"
"Are you going back into politics?"
"Calm down, calm down." Harvey gestured. "And you should know better." He looked at the news reporter who had accused Emilie of being against the law. "To tell the press cover up stories is far from court material, in fact it is quite legal when you are breaking a private entry and is breaking the privacy laws of America, which you all just did, this a is a hospital, a private hospital, I was declared mentally unstable and were I not so much better you could have caused another outbreak, the law is against you." He stated clearly. "You must excuse my new assistant Emilie Kerrigan here for not explaining that to you, she's extremely talented but new in this business."
"Wait what?" Emilie's head snapped around and starred on Harvey who send her a slight smile in return before returning to the press.
"The good doctor's says it's very bad for me to be exsposed to to much excitement so soon, so I'll be leaving now, I trust miss Kerrigan will be happy to answer a few questions, you can consider her my trusted right hand in this tough situation. Good day!" he nodded slightly and turned around to dissapear through the door.
"WHAT!" Emilie almost shouted after him. "Don't leave me here with them! You can't do that! I'm not.."
"How does it fell to represent one of the heaviest crime lords in Gotham?" a voice suddenly asked.
"Would you consider yourself a risk taker in such a regard."
"Do you and Mr, Dent have a history?"
"What is your history in politics?"
"Is Mr. Dent planning to make a full comeback?"
And the questions went on and on in a endless stream, slowly draining all hope out of Kerrigan's eyes.
Inside up in the hospital room Harvey and Bruce amused observed.
"That was cruel." Bruce commented.
"That down there is nothing next to what will come later." Harvey sighed. "You know that, there's no use trying to shield her, she needs to learn how to fly."
"So pushing her out of the window is your way of doing it?" Bruce asked.
Harvey observed his old friend slightly. "And that is not how you teach people around you?"
Bruce shrugged. "They need to learn, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if they broke in a serious situation, then the consequences could be horrible."
Harvey nodded. "Yeas, they need to be ready." And he looked out of the window. "Finally." He sighed as several cars with blinking lights came driving up the parking lot.
"You called them?" Bruce asked.
"Of cause." Harvey nodded as he observed Emilie beneath them almost collapse in sheer relief as the press scattered. And then Harvey sighed deeply. "I'm going to work from withih the asylum, but lord knows if I am ever going to make a come-back for real."
Bruce hesitated. "You're not going back to the asylum."
"What?" Harvey asked.
"Your forget, it's not a prison but an asylum, people in there is under patient asylum rules." Bruce told seriously. "And well, I talked with the doctors, they said that now is your chance to distance yourself from your former life, to put you back would be the same as remind you daily and be the most likely course of relapse, we all agree, you're not going back unless a relapse happen."
Harvey starred at Bruce as his hand nervously moved to his ear. "This can't be real, it's a dream right?"
"No." Bruce shook his head. "And I beg of you, make the best of it, don't be hard on yourself."
"Don't… ever… do.. that.." Emile gasped from the door. "Again."
Amused Harvey looked at her. "That was nothing." He answered honestly. "In one hour from now the world will assume you're my assistant, it's over night fame."
"No.." Emilie whispered.
"Yeas, you can of cause still pull out." Harvey told. "But I would hate if you do, I need an assistant now."
"I erh.. erh.." Emilie hesitated.
"Speaking of which, I'll like to pay you up front for the first month, you need to work on your image."
"My image?" Emilie asked.
"Your image is my image." Harvey told. "Go buy some smart fancy clothes, suits, get a smart hair cut."
"You can't be serious." Emilie gaped.
"I got a friend." Bruce offered. "Who would love to be your make-over artist, I'll even bet she would do it for free, I'll call her for you, you can go shopping."
"You can't be serious." Emilie repeated. "Some rich designer woman? How would I get along with such people?"
"From now on you have to." Harvey stated.
Looking like she had just discovered the most unbelievable horror Emilie starred out in the air as if she was seeing nothing, going as a zombie towards the hospital bed and sat down, still starring out in the air.
"Should I call her?" Bruce asked.
"Do what you must." Emilie responded in a emotionless devoid voice, and then show frowned. "Everything is going to change now isn't it?" she asked. "My life will never be the same."
Harvey sighed going over to the short lady sitting beside her. "Yeas." He said. "If you don't want to do it, pull out now, there will be no hard feelings, you all ready helped me so much, and if you come later I would still employ you in what-ever way I can."
"Stuff like this happens to no one." Emilie told. "I was on the street, now I will be a big some-one, but not in a criminal way, don't you see what this is?" she asked. "An example! I can actually be that brilliant shining example I needed in the past, who does that happen to?" she asked. "No one, that's who, Damn straight I am going to see it through! Give me that woman's number Mr. Wayne, I'll call her myself!"
"I like that fighting spirit." Bruce nodded.
"It's quite amazing isn't it?" Harvey asked.
"Well, it helps having two so huge men behind me." Emilie told. "Merry Christmas you two."
"Merry Christmas." Bruce responded.
"Happy Christmas." Harvey nodded.