"Do you think he still needs the fentanyl?" Adriana asked Dr. Kapoor as they looked over the Joker's chart. "His inflammation markers are down."
"Perhaps he is still in pain," the doctor said, not looking at her.
"You're afraid," she said. "You want to keep him medicated...because you're afraid of him."
"Mrs. Wayne, that is not..." the doctor said, starting to deny what she was saying. "Well, perhaps. You on the other hand are a strong, experienced vigilante. I am not."
"He's not going to hurt you, Dr. Kapoor," Adriana said.
"We don't know that," the doctor said. "We do not know his plan.."
"He doesn't have one," she said. "Trust me."
"You don't know what he is thinking and nor does anyone else."
"Actually...I do," she said. "I know what he's thinking and I know what you are too. I know you've seen my medical records and how many times I was institutionalized and how many medications I have been on. It's because I can hear thoughts and memories."
"I"m sorry?" he asked, wondering if she still needed medication.
"I don't still need medication," she said. "Test it. Think of anything.. a number for instance."
The doctor, somewhat amused, paused to think of a number.
"Six million, seven hundred twelve thousand," she said. "Eighteen. Nineteen. Four hundred one."
"This is...this makes no sense...how-"
"Ive been like this since I was a child. Trust me. I know what he's thinking and he won't hurt us."
The doctor nodded after some contemplation. "Okay..we'll move to an oral medication..An NSAID."
"Good," she said.
"He's recovering well, it's been three days..his fever is stable, he's handling the protein drinks and nutrition formula well," the doctor went on, still visually stunned by the fact that she could read his mind. "He has gained four pounds. I think we can proceed with the dental implant surgery soon. This way, he will be able to eat solid food again."
"Great," Adriana replied. "I'll tell him."
"Also," the doctor said. "I would like to give him a comprehensive physical exam. From what I can tell, his joints may be swollen..possible arthritis. He's been sleeping and sitting on a concrete floor for over a year. I would like to see if he can walk and how his movement is."
"Got it," Adriana said and waited for the doctor to say more. "So, you would like me to check his walking to assess how much physical therapy he will need."
"Yes..." the doctor said, again testing her gift.
"Okay. We can get started tomorrow."
.
.
.
"Good morning," Adriana said to the Joker, bringing him a tall plastic cup with a straw. "Here's breakfast."
He sat up slowly and took the two pills she handed him along with the cup. She watched the scars in his cheek fall inwards as he swallowed without teeth. His facial expression was neutral and his thoughts didn't tell her much.
"So, the doctor wants me to have you walk a bit today," she said. "To see how well you can get around."
"Doc," the Joker said, Adriana hearing his personality returning to his voice now that the opiates were out of his system. He was acclimating a bit to speaking with out teeth. "Therripied, hm?"
Adriana looked down at her hands for a second. "Do you blame him?"
The Joker rolled his eyes and looked away. It had been a few days since his surgery and he was beginning to realize that this was reality. He was really here.
"Good to see you're feeling like yourself again," she commented on his attitude. "He thinks we can get started on your dental implants as well."
"Mmm," the Joker murmured and looked at her again.
"He also wants to give you a full physical exam...and he's thinking a possible psych evaluation as well," she told him. "You've been through a lot and we just want to make sure you're healthy."
"Hmmh," he said, still looking her in the eye.
She fought to break eye contact with him, feeling herself getting lost. He was so calm and relaxed, but she felt herself leaping around inside. "I'll..um," she managed. "I'll go and get the walker for you to lean on. I'll be right back."
He was quiet as she left. When she came back he was sitting on the edge of the bed. She pushed the walker in front of him and watched him lean on it to stand. He wasn't as skeletal looking as he was a few days ago, but he was still painfully thin. The joints, especially in his hips, gave him great pain. He moved like he was elderly as he pushed the walker. She held open the door as he walked out into the hall. Through his thoughts she could see the amount of pain that he was in oh, but he was doing a great job at concealing it. He looked around at the wide hallway, it was very long and had numerous doors. It was much more quiet than an actual hospital. He couldn't see any windows, he had no idea where the building he was in was located.
They made two laps to the end of the hall and back before he had to sit on the cushioned seat in the walker.
"You're doing really well," she told him.
"Mm," he said briefly and eyed her again.
She had to examine his thoughts. She almost got the feeling that he was getting tired of her presence but she wasn't sure. He didn't think very much. But little by little she could see what he was thinking. He wasn't exactly pleased while looking at her, which surprised her. But it wasn't because of her..it was because of his own memories. When he saw her, all he could feel was regret. He had been horrible to her ever since the moment they had met, so he thought. She had no reason to help him, to save his life, to fix his teeth. She had no reason to give him anything.
Why was she here? Why would she be wasting her time doing this? Why would anyone?
"So," he said, finally breaking the silence as he sat in the walker seat. "How lonnk?"
"How long..." she knew his thoughts as he struggled to ask. How long was he underground. This was what he wanted to know. "How long were you gone?"
"Ya," he said.
"About fourteen months," she said. He didn't look like she had given him the answer he was expecting. He felt sure he had been underground for at least a decade. He considered how he felt. The aged feeling in his body and joints. But she still looked the same, youthful and beautiful. Somehow, something he had only very rarely thought before passed his mind. He wondered how he looked, he wanted to look into a mirror. But he didn't tell her.
She almost offered to get a mirror for him but then decided it was best to just stay out of his thoughts.
"Was new?" he asked, casually.
"What's new with me?" she clarified. He shrugged.
"Ya," he replied.
"Oh..um, not much," she managed to say.
He looked down and reached over to her, taking her hand. She felt her knees loosen awkwardly from within as soon as his skin touched hers, but she made herself maintain a firm stance with great difficulty. He very calmly looked at the ring on her finger.
"Oh..." she said and looked down. "Right...I got married."
"Whoosee?" he asked.
"Who am I married to?" she suddenly felt like he was invading her privacy. "Um..you don't know him. Why does it matter?"
"He's..." the Joker said, letting go of her hand. "Ofeeslee...somun."
She could tell what he meant. Whoever she was married to was 'obviously...someone'. The size of the ring told him that.
"Congriss," he said.
"Thanks," she replied, wanting to change the subject. "So, if you're ready we can go back to the room so the doctor can start your physical. He wants to run more blood work and everything."
"Mm," he said and stood and walked the few feet ahead of him back the door of the room where had been in for days.
The doctor was already in the room when they arrived, and he watched the Joker's manner of walking until he sat.
"Hip joint compression," the doctor said to Adriana.
"Yes," she said. "Right and left but the left is worse."
"Okay," he said. "We'll do a scan."
"Alright," Adriana said.
"Alright, Mister..." the doctor wasn't sure what to call him. Mostly it had been Adriana going into his room so far and speaking with him and checking up on him. The doctor had been a bit timid and afraid to go in. Today he was taking a chance because he knew that Adriana knew the Joker's thoughts and felt that the situation was safe. This was the first time he was actually engaging in conversation with his patient even though it had been several days."Is..Joker alright?"
"Mm," the Joker said carelessly.
"What's your date of birth?" the doctor asked.
The Joker didn't answer.
"Age?" the doctor went on, and again the Joker didn't respond.
The Joker was sure that he was at least 40 but had no idea what to tell the doctor since he didn't know his date of birth for certain. So he just didn't answer and shrugged.
"Can I see you in the hall for a minute, Dr. Kapoor?" Adriana asked him.
The doctor nodded and they left, shutting the door behind them. Then they took a few steps away from the door until they were out of earshot.
"He's..." Adriana said, about to tell the doctor what the Joker didn't even know. "His birthday is July 11th. He's 28. His father had high blood pressure but other than that..no other family history of illness."
"And he cannot recall any of this?" the doctor asked her as he made notes.
"No," she told him.
He nodded a bit sadly as they walked back to the room.
"Alright, Mr. Joker," the doctor said as Adriana took a seat. "I'd like to do a scan to check the health of your joints at some point today. Also, a full blood panel to check for any health ailments. I'd like to perform a vision test, a dermatological skin exam of your full body to check for any abnormal moles or possible skin cancers, a more complete nutrition panel to make sure everything is on track and so that I can see which supplements we need to add to your diet...I'd like to give you all immunizations, some cognition testing...a few other things may be optional."
"Mmm," the Joker replied. It sounded like a lot and very boring.
"Do you experience any headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, any aches or pains other than your hip and knee joints?" the doctor asked. "Any health complaints?"
"No," the Joker answered.
"Great," the doctor replied and calmly but somewhat anxiously proceeded to his next question. "Any concerns of sexually transmitted illness?"
The Joker frowned a bit and then glanced in Adriana's direction. She looked away.
"Actually," Adriana said and stood up very quickly "I probably should get going...I forgot I have something to do...but I can come back later to assist with the dental implants."
"Oh.." the doctor said. He was not expecting Adriana to suddenly leave him alone with the Joker, and the the Joker could tell. "Alright then."
"Okay, see you guys later," Adriana said and left abruptly.
The Joker sat looking at the doctor, who suddenly looked very nervous. He wanted Adriana to stay the entire time because he did not quite feel safe, although the Joker seemed quite harmless, primarily due to his frail physique.
"So.." the doctor said, repeating his question. "Any concerns of sexually transmitted illness?"
The Joker lifted one shoulder and dropped it.
"Okay, then," the doctor said. "I'm going ask you a bit about your sexual health practices, if that is alright and only if you are comfortable discussing."
"Ya," the Joker said boredly.
"I will try to keep the answers as yes or no as possible, since I know you're having some difficulty with speech," the doctor said before going on.
"Mmhm," the Joker responded in monotone.
"You've been.." the doctor now realized how difficult the discussion would be. "Indisposed for approximately fourteen months."
"Mm.."
"Typically when discussing sexual history we will go over the past twelve months but since you have been...otherwise detained... without any medical attention I would like to go over the past two years," the doctor said. "Do you understand?"
"Yep."
"Have you been sexually active in the past two years?" the doctor asked. He automatically assumed the answer would be no, even though he knew never to judge a patient.
"Yep," the Joker replied plainly. He could see the slight surprise in a micro-expression on the doctor's face even though he did an exceptional job of hiding it, the Joker thought.
"Alright," the doctor said, appearing to draw a small check mark on the sheet in front of him. "And how many partners have you had in the past 24 months? This question is optional and if you are uncomfortable answering feel free to just shake your head. You can use your fingers to indicate the number."
The Joker held up his index finger.
"One," the doctor said and looked like he was checking another box. "Female?"
The Joker gave a nod and watched him make another quick mark against his clipboard.
"Was this an ongoing situation?"
"Ya," the Joker tried to say.
"Was this a monogamous relationship?" the doctor asked.
The Joker was quiet. He wasn't entirely sure. He assumed so but still didn't answer the question. He shrugged.
"Alright," the doctor said after he didn't answer. "Did you and your partner use any protection to prevent STD's? And if so, could you tell me how often?"
The Joker paused again. "No."
"No protection? At any time?"
"No."
"Have you ever been tested for any STD?"
"No."
"Alright.." the doctor said and wrote some more. "Based on what you've told me I would like to run an STD panel to check for any illness. If you are not sure whether or not your partner is monogamous I would advise condom use every time to prevent STDs or unwanted pregnancy. This will help to keep you and your partner healthy. Do you understand?"
"Yeh," the Joker said aimlessly, but thinking about the doctor's words.
"Alright," the doctor went on. "I would like to take a few blood and urine samples and proceed with the physical."
.
.
.
"You were out a while," Bruce said to Adriana. She was surprised he was home since typically he went to the country club for hours on Saturdays. Adriana had left the baby with Evelyn but Bruce came home and let her take an afternoon shopping break.
"Oh..yeah had to run some errands," she said. "How's my baby?"
Arsenio was sitting on Bruce's lap while Bruce sat on the couch. They were watching a movie, The Polar Express. As Adriana watched them she began to feel like she had a double life. She needed to compartmentalize.
"He's good," Bruce said. "Just ate some oatmeal."
"Heyyy," Adriana said and sat beside Bruce and reached for Arsenio. Once he was in her arms she kissed the top of his head. "Looks like you're getting sleepy."
"Almost nap time," Bruce said and put both of his hand in his dark hair and stretched his torso.
"Maiiiyaya," Arsenio said sleepily. "Yayoo."
"Yess," Adriana said. "I love you too baby."
"He's so smart," Bruce said. "Impossibly intelligent for his age."
"I know," Adriana said. "Kinda scary."
Arsenio surprised them both by laughing. Sweet, sleepy, baby laugher.
"I'm pretty sure he understands everything we say," Bruce said and touched Arsenio's back.
Arsenio began to close his eyes and laid his head on her chest. Adriana and Bruce finished watching the second half of the movie as he slept. He woke up one for about ten minutes to nurse and then went back to sleep.
"Mr. and Mrs. Wayne," Evelyn said as she came through the front door with a few clothing shopping bags. "Hi."
"Hi there," Bruce said.
"I'm back," she said and sat her bags down, slightly out of breath. "I can take the baby if you guys need a break."
Bruce and Adriana looked at each other.
"We're good," Adriana said and Bruce nodded. Evelyn picked up her bags with a smile and went to her room, presumably to try on the outfits she got.
"That girl has the easiest cake job ever," Bruce laughed.
"She's lucky," Adriana agreed and gave Bruce a kiss. "So am I."
"Are you?" he smiled close to her lips and kissed her again.
"Mhm," she said.
"You're happy," he said. "I'm glad to see you happy and relaxed again. You were..a bit down earlier this week."
"I know.." she said, thinking of how stressful it had been. "I'm glad too."
"Good," he said and kissed her cheek.