I'm glad they're trying to get back to normal. I sometimes think Jonathan just deserves something to make him feel optimistic. Oh, and you should watch out for Dr. Mare (not that he's real or anything) ... such a nasty piece of work... His first name is Norris. I hate that name so much.

/-^l^-\ Same week. Thursday. /-^l^-\

Dr. Mare entered the office.

"Dr. MacLeod. I'm here for that assessment we talked about."

"Oh right. So you're here to see my session with... Edward," she grinned as he was brought in, "Edward. We have an unusual arrangement today. Dr. Mare will be looking in on our session, okay?"

"She's awesome," said Edward, sitting down. Alison smiled and sat back in her chair. Dr. Mare cautiously went over to a seat in the corner and sat back.

"Edward," she said, "how are you today?"

"I'm a little tired. Didn't really sleep last night."

"Any particular reason why?"

"I was writing some puzzles. Do you want to solve them?" he asked, holding the piece of paper up. Alison raised a brow.

"On one condition, Edward."

"Yes?"

"You declare me a victor and don't feel intimidated if I should happen to solve them? Take it as a challenge, for you to write harder puzzles next time the urge comes along," she said, taking the paper.

"Alright."

Alison worked through two mazes which were no doubt challenging, a few very complex riddles and a few logical problems. She could answer all but two out of 14. The Riddler checked them over, and grinned.

"I'm not going to tell you the answer."

"You'll make them even harder for next time?"

"Of course, Doctor."

"I'm proud of you, Edward. I wish you'd have seen that this was your forte in the first place; not theft, not homicide. I need to touch upon an tender topic with you today. We've been resolving some of your aggressive behaviour but as is typical, I'd like to hear an honest account of your childhood."

"Well Doctor, pin your lugholes back."

"I am listening."

"One word; father. Description; brute. He was never pleased with anything. I could have cured cancer and I'd still be doing something wrong in his eyes..."

Alison took notes and listened carefully as Edward Nygma poured out his life before her, some of the woes of stood up dates and failed first dates, his first kiss being a joke amongst other things. And being rejected for dynamic ideas, which pushed him over the edge.

Dr. Mare was paralysed. It was only when he coughed that Edward stopped speaking. He jumped and turned, then seemed to panic.

"Oh no! Dr. MacLeod! Did he hear! Did he hear!" cried Edward, standing up. Alison stood too.

"Calm down. Dr. Mare, perhaps you should leave-"

"You can't tell me what to do, young-"

"Get out or I will get security to manhandle you out!" boomed Alison, pushing Edward away. Edward sat down in awe. Alison demanded control. Dr. Mare looked horrified. He left the room swiftly. He had what he needed.

/-^l^-\ Same week. Friday. /-^l^-\

"Alison. I have endlessly good feedback from you as a doctor but towards other staff I cannot have you shouting, cursing and barking orders towards other doctors like they are beneath you. The incident has been described as 'upsetting, frightening and degrading' . This is now the fifth run in that you have had."

"I would like to point out an apparent vendetta," said Jonathan quickly, "see, I came into my office last night to find Dr. Brigshaw messing around my desk. I told her to get away and get out and that I wouldn't say if she just left. But I feel now I am forced to say as I have heard on several occasions, Dr. Brigshaw and Dr. Mare talking about Alison in a negative and ... degrading manner."

"Yes. Dr. Brigshaw came to me with a complaint about you regarding your extended hours."

"For paperwork."

"Is that so? Can you produce any evidence."

"All the evidence you need is on my computer. Did you listen to what I just said?"

"Vendetta?"

"About the break-in to my office."

"I don't think you understand. They are trying to make fools out of us, Dr. Penrose," said Alison, glancing at Jonathan. He glanced back at her and nodded. "Look, I appreciate Dr. Mare was required to assess me but the simple fact is-"

"Assessing?" questioned Dr. Penrose.

"Yes. He showed me a letter. Something about me needing to be assessed by an older member of staff."

"No, no. I have to do that, not them. I never issued a letter. Assessments occur in the first three weeks. Dr. Crane observed you," he pointed out. Alison glanced at Jonathan and raised a brow.

"What? It's part of my job."

"No. Why did he show me a letter saying I needed assessing?" asked Alison lowly.

"Because he was trying to set you up!" said Jonathan, "Listen, you can't investigate us when they clearly manipulated this! At least look at all sides of this!"

"And you say Mary was rummaging through your desk?" asked Dr. Penrose, pulling out a folder from behind him.

"Yes. Last night, at about 6pm as I came up from my last session."

"Alright," nodded Dr. Penrose, "you may leave. I'll call you back if needed. I need to get this sorted."

"Thank you," said Alison. Jonathan nodded and left with her. Alison was storming off. He followed swiftly after her. When she got into her office she kicked the waste bin over with some violence.

"Hey," he said, "it's okay. Calm down-"

"Don't... don't tell me to do that," she warned, holding a finger out.

"I'm here for you, Alison," he said, lowering her hand, "Stop avoiding me now. And don't take this the wrong way, I mean it in a good way. You're one very good manipulator. Why not get them before they get you? Make sure that no matter what they look terrible?"

"What about you?"

"I'm pretty sure I have nothing to worry about. They're going to try pit your age, your 'inexperience' and your mood swings against you. Make sure you have more ammunition!"

"You're telling me to use my contacts," she nodded.

"Exactly!"

"I'm still pissed," she whispered.

"I know," he stated simply, squeezing her shoulder. She tensed at first but then calmed down instantly after and pressed her hand down on his.

"Thanks, Jonathan."

/-^1^-\

Jonathan tip-toed in, surprisingly quite for a man of his size. Then again, he didn't carry much weight. He approached the desk and stood in a clear gap next to Alison, and pressed his hands to either side of her, leaning over her sleeping figure.

"Alison," he whispered into her ear, softly.

"Hmm..."

"Alison, wake up," he said, keeping close. She opened her eyes, aware of how close he was to her so didn't sit up straight away. He stood up following this, unaware as he smoothly ran his hand over her arm in a comforting manner; just to touch her. "It's 7pm."

"Why are you still here?"

"Well, I lost track of time myself. I'm going now though."

"Okay," she nodded, standing up and trying to slip into her shoes. Jonathan held her hands when she got the first one on, giving her a little bit of support. At least I know I do actually have it in me to be a gentleman. "Thank you," she smiled, grabbing her coat. "Goodnight, Jonathan," she smiled, hugging him quickly and leaving. He grinned foolishly.

He watched her out of the door. There were so many more things he could have just done and said and he didn't. He was such a loser sometimes. He had Alison, and only Alison on his side in this world right now. He was genuinely thankful for the second chance.

Alison hoped onto the bus now she knew which one to get. At first she had been a little psyched out by Jonathan's habit of dropping by her office... all the time. Or his way of creeping after her during the medication round. But she figured after a while that Jonathan hardly communicated with any of the other staff members and she did. He was probably just a little clingy to that.

Then after that incident she'd been absolutely frustrated and terrified by the way he'd follow her about. And by now, it was getting to the point of adorable because it was clearly also a conflict for him to want to be that way.

She could just see it in his eyes; reluctance every time he realised he was getting a little curious and felt he shouldn't have been... or times like that, where he'd purposely put himself close and wouldn't be able to do much more than that because rationality failed him. Him chasing her like a puppy was pretty ... cute. Though that wasn't at all the word to describe him really.

I lie. I think he is cute.