Jonathan knew he had a two day head start before Miss Dawes came sniffing around. Falcone had failed to get rid of her and the problem which she was causing him was unprecedented. Her accusations of him being corrupt were travelling around Arkham – much to his dismay. People still did nothing, though. They let him carry on with his job and his experiments.
But, he knew somewhere deep down that would stop. It would stop when he came to town. And, Jonathan knew that wasn't far away. He had insisted that Falcone be placed into two days of solitary confinement, saying that he was presented as a danger to himself and to others. Miss Dawes had been down to Arkham, standing in the hallways with her coat draped over her arm and her bag held tightly against her side as she demanded to see him.
Jonathan had told her it was not possible. She would see him in two days when he said so. Until then, he continued working on the toxin, making sure it was all ready to be dispatched. The thought enthralled him terribly.
And then there was the simple matter of his wife. His, loving, devoted Isabelle. The woman who would never say no to him or boo to a goose. When all of this came out then she would see. She would see how powerful he was. But, he wouldn't let her be intoxicated with the toxin. No, he'd give her the antidote and make sure she was safe. He didn't want to lose her deliciously, naive mind, did he?
Once he had finished his work at Arkham, he took the ride back to their apartment in silence, his mind wondering onto the panic which would soon be endured throughout Gotham. Gotham would soon be held to ransom and Crane would have held a major part in it. Well, that was what he thought, anyway.
He parked his car on the side of the road before climbing out, his briefcase drooping by his side as he yawned, his glasses falling slightly as he did so. The apartment was clouded in darkness as he made his way up into it. He didn't need the light. He knew what he was doing as he dropped his case and shrugged out of his jacket. His ears pricked up as he heard a soft mumble come from the bedroom. The door was open and the only light available was from the curtain which was pushed open slightly, revealing a street light.
"No...I'm sorry...daddy...I didn't know..." he heard his wife sob. Jonathan remained stood in the doorway, fiddling with his tie as he tried to remove it and he watched her roll about in the bed, her hand thumping down onto his cushion as her blonde hair stuck to her face. He had never heard her sleep talk before. And, it was clear she wasn't having a pleasant dream as she sobbed.
It seemed that his wife feared a great number of things.
Jonathan moved over to the bed dropping his tie on the bedpost before gently lowering himself to squat down, his hands resting on the side of the bed. Isabelle lay on her back, her chest rising and falling quickly before she muttered the word he never wanted to hear come out of her lips.
"Scarecrow."
Jonathan hastily moved his hand onto her arm, squeezing it as his cheeks paled and his eyes showed fear for a second. Isabelle would have nothing to do with the Scarecrow. He refused to let that happen. He refused to let his own wife fear the Scarecrow.
"Isabelle," he said; his voice stern and controlling as he shook her. "Wake up. Isabelle, open your eyes."
It didn't take long until as she did as she was asked. Her tired and bewildered state didn't help her as she peered around the darkness, her breaths coming out in short and deep pants whilst Jonathan looked at her, his hand moving to her cheek as he did so.
"You're safe," he promised her. "Isabelle...you're safe...it's me...it was just a dream..."
"Oh...God...Jonathan...you're here," she responded, sitting up as Jonathan stood and then shrugged out of his sweater and shoes as he moved to his side of the bed and lay on top of the covers. It took less than a minute for her to move into his hold. It was the only place she could feel safe.
"I'm here," he simply replied, feeling her tears against his neck as she draped an arm across his skinny waist and he held her back, his thumb reassuringly stroking her back, trying to get her to calm down.
"I'll always be here."
...
Sneaking into apartments was easy compared to what he had done before. Defeating the whole mob was something which he had found rather...well...enjoyable. If he could help to clean up Gotham then he would feel complete with his work. But, there was someone who he needed to see.
As he stood on the Fire Escape stairs, he took in the view of the city. The Narrows were visible across the bridges and Wayne Tower was also easy to see. They lived in the middle. He made his move, opening the fire escape and then moving down the hall to the correct apartment before he allowed himself in. It really was all too easy. He didn't switch the lights on, instead he remained silent, looking around and listening with intent.
He'd been told Jonathan Crane was the type of man who rarely left the office. So, he deduced, he would have to see Isabelle at night. He didn't expect what he saw.
The soft murmurs were definitely a man's. That should have told him enough. That should have told him that Jonathan Crane was home as no other male lived in the apartment, unless, she was cheating on him, which seemed unlikely considering how devoted to him she was.
"I'll never leave you, Isabelle," the murmurs became clearer as he moved closer to the door, lurking behind it before he dared to peek. No one could see him. It was dark and he was wearing black. He was safe.
"You're my wife...Isabelle...you've failed no one...you're a beautiful, young woman...he wouldn't be ashamed of you...he'd have learned to understand what we have...he'd know that you love me and there is nothing which can stop that...it's too late now...it doesn't matter...you're safe...Isabelle...I have you."
He stood back, listening as the woman calmed down in her husband's hold and he soothed her, his hand running down her blonde curls as his other hand held her close to him. He could barely believe what he was seeing. Was this the same man who had set an entire building on fire and tried to kill him? Was this the same man who had that fear toxin? It didn't look like it as he comforted his wife.
He couldn't talk to her about it now. But, he knew he had to. He knew it was Jonathan Crane who was going to help cause havoc over Gotham.
...
Jonathan awoke early, seeing Isabelle still sleeping peacefully as he sighed to himself and ran his hands down his cheeks. He would call her in sick today. She needed the day off. And he didn't intend to work late. He wanted to be home early and spend time with her, especially because they may not have much of that left when he got to town. And when Miss Dawes declared her own evaluation of Falcone.
"I'm late!" he heard a sudden voice yell as he sat at the small table in his kitchen with his cereal in front of him. He held his spoon halfway to his mouth as he watched her rush out. Her hair was like a bird's nest and his shirt on her was completely askew.
"I've told them you're not going in today," Jonathan said to his wife who looked back at him with wide eyes.
"Why?" she wondered and Jonathan finished off his cereal before standing up and moving over to the sink, depositing it there.
"You had a traumatic nightmare, Isabelle," he said, his voice stern as he did so. "You would have had that because you've been stressed and overworked. One day off won't kill you."
"Why don't you take your own advice, then?" she wondered from him as he at her with his stubborn gaze.
"Do as I say and not as I do," he simply spoke, kissing her on the cheek before picking his briefcase up. "I won't be back late. I was thinking we could have dinner together tonight, that would make a nice change, wouldn't it?"
"Yes," Isabelle agreed. "It would."
"So, I shall see you later."
...
Isabelle didn't know what to do with her new found freedom for the day. Having not to go to work was certainly different. She managed to shower, changing into her jeans and blouse before she quickly blew dry her hair. Cleaning the apartment was something which she could start. She sighed to herself, moving into the living area and picking up some magazines which she had as she looked at the books Jonathan kept lying around.
And that was when she noticed him.
"Holy crap!" she exclaimed, dropping the papers from her hold as he remained still, stood by her husband's desk as he looked at her.
"I'm not here to hurt you," he assured her, his voice gravelly and low as she strained to hear him and she gulped, folding her arms as he looked at her through his mask. "I need to talk to you."
"Me?" she checked. "You must have the wrong apartment...and aren't bats nocturnal?"
"Not today," he simply responded. "Your husband. He's Jonathan Crane, is he not?"
"Yes," Isabelle replied, looking at the Batman as he stood opposite her. This could not be happening. It wasn't possible. What did he want with her? What did he want with Jonathan?
"He's up to something big at the Asylum where he works," the Batman replied. He needed to get to the point. He needed to be in and out of the apartment as quickly as possible for he had other matters to attend to. He knew Rachel was intending on going down to the Asylum and he needed to help her. He needed to make sure she was safe.
"What?" Isabelle replied, shaking her head as she did so and bending down to pick up the magazines. "You're wrong. Jonathan is just a psychiatrist who specialises in pharmacology. That's all he does."
"He's created a fear toxin," Batman hissed at her, folding his arms as she looked at him, her eyes wide and she shook her head, but he continued. "He's been working with the mob. He's been working with Falcone. His fear toxin is sprayed and then whoever it reaches sees their greatest fear."
"No," Isabelle snapped at him, placing the magazines into a pile on the coffee table. "You're lying to me. Jonathan would never do anything like that. He's a good man. Whatever this fear toxin is...you've got it wrong...it all sounds ridiculous!"
"It may do," Batman assured her, moving closer to her as she remained looking at him. "But, it isn't a lie. Your husband is a dangerous man. You need to leave him before anything serious can happen."
"You expect me to believe this?" Isabelle yelled. "You expect me to believe some...man who dresses up as a Bat...instead of the man I love and married?"
"Yes," he replied as if it was simple. "I'll let you ask your husband about this yourself."
"He'll think it is as crazy as I do," Isabelle assured him and he shrugged. "Jonathan wouldn't lie to me. He wouldn't do anything to hurt anyone else."
"You care for him deeply," Batman said and Isabelle had slight déjà vu. "You must really love him."
"I do," she whispered. "Who are you?" she blurted out and she noted his lips pull up into a slight smirk as he walked past her, his gloved hand resting on her shoulder as he did so.
"I don't expect you to believe me over your husband." Batman promised her. "I know I haven't explained this well. I don't know much more, but, I intend to find out. I had to warn you to make sure you could stay safe against him."
"He wouldn't hurt me," Isabelle whispered. "All of this is preposterous. You must have gotten it wrong."
"No," Batman said quickly, opening the window to the apartment. "I haven't."
"Who are you?" Isabelle responded and he turned to look at her as he stood on the ledge and his eyes looked into hers.
"You know." He simply told her before he jumped down from the apartment. Isabelle rushed over to the window, looking out of it as he swooped in the air and landed on another building. She shut the glass pane and leant against the wall as she thought long and hard.
He'd said something similar to her in the mansion...You must really love him...
He'd said the exact same words. But, it couldn't be. It wasn't possible that a billionaire, orphan playboy was running around Gotham pretending to be the Batman. It was ridiculous.
...
A/N: Thank you to mahxie, Kaflute14, Cheekymonkey97, ins0mniac, Sam0728, Summer and reverie-scriptor for reviewing! More to come tonight so stay tuned! Dr Crane has a lot of explaining to do, I'm sensing!