"As far as I can tell," Dr. Kapoor said to Bruce. "Stem cell therapy is not reversing the damage to your knee."
Bruce looked at Dr. Kapoor intently.
"Is my knee worse than it was a couple weeks go?" Bruce asked.
"Your asking if there's been more degradation?" the doctor asked.
"You've just said it yourself," Bruce said. "It hasn't reversed the damage. But there hasn't been any further damage, correct?"
Dr. Kapoor could see where Bruce was going with this, and he was not pleased.
"Bruce," Dr. Kapoor said. "You are correct. The deterioration seems to have stabilized but that it not the outcome we are looking for. Even if your knee does not progress and get worse...which is highly unlikely...you will still require surgery. Nothing will change that at this point."
"My body recovers," Bruce said. "Very well."
"You are strong and healthy, Bruce," Dr. Kapoor agreed. "That is true. And I would like to keep it that way."
"And I would not like to reduce the strength of one side of my body," Bruce said.
"A 25% reduction in muscle strength at most," Dr. Kapoor said. "You are fit and adept and building strength. I doubt you would notice much of a change-"
"I will allow my body to recover naturally," Bruce said.
Dr. Kapoor felt like he was at a loss. Bruce was refusing a surgery that was absolutely necessary. He could tell that Bruce had a sense of strength..to the point of invincibility. It wasn't realistic for the situation.
The doctor cleared his throat.
"If there is to be any type of a recovery," the doctor said. "Which..again, I do not see as being a realistic outcome..the process will be long and painful. You must be in a great deal of pain, Bruce."
"It is not unbearable," Bruce said. "I have a high pain threshold and this is manageable."
"Well..." the doctor said. "Looking at the scans I've done...I do not see how that is possible. You still have some low grade swelling and inflammation-"
"It's a three on a one to ten," Bruce told the doctor.
"Are you taking anything for the pain?" the doctor asked.
Bruce looked the doctor directly in the eyes and answered. "Aspirin."
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"Doc will be here in a few," the Joker told Lucius as he looked at the impeccably organized boxes. "Therapy appointment."
"I suppose you'll want to talk to him about some of these..." Lucius looked into a small box full of knives. "Relics."
"Perhaps," the Joker said and taped the box in front of Lucius shut.
After all the boxes were sealed they took them to Lucius' car.
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.
"I always preferred using knives," the Joker told the doctor. "But you already know that...we've discussed this before."
"Yes," the doctor said. "But we can talk about it if you like."
"Rather not," the Joker said.
"Okay then," the doctor said. "Has anything else been on your mind?"
"Sure," the Joker replied. "Adriana."
"What about her?" the doctor asked.
"You know..." the Joker said. "Bruce has a lot of problems."
"Problems..." the doctor said.
"His issues with pills," the Joker said. "Recent development I'm sure you're aware of."
The doctor looked the Joker in the eyes.
"I cannot discuss another patient of mine with you," the doctor said. "That being said...what makes you believe he has such an issue."
"Right...you can't discuss him, but I can," the Joker said. "Seeing that he and I are friends now.."
The doctor raised his eyebrows.
"You have concerns?" the doctor asked him.
"Nope," the Joker said. "Adriana does."
"So you have no evidence," the doctor said.
"No," the Joker answered. "And based on your body language, neither do you."
The Joker sighed.
"Why have you been thinking about Adriana?" the doctor tried to change the subject.
"Been wondering if I should tell her about something," the Joker said. "While ago. My neighbor came by while I was watching Arsenio. She commented repeatedly on how much the kid looks like me. Said that he had to be mine because of the resemblance. And of course that boy understood everything she said."
"Did he ask you about it?" the doctor asked.
"I told him many people look alike...that it's normal," the Joker said. "He must have bought it because Adriana hasn't mentioned him bringing it up."
"I see," the doctor said. "And how does that make you feel?"
"One day..." the Joker said. "Her son will be old enough to see the truth. It's not as though he only looks a little like me. He looks like he got almost none of Adriana's genetics. He's smart. Maybe that's where her genes came in. He can't read minds but his mind is different. Sharp. Only a matter of time before he realizes.."
"Yes," the doctor said. "Arsenio is an extremely bright child. Will you speak to Adriana about what happened?"
"At some point," the Joker said. "Now isn't the best time though, is it? With Bruce popping painkillers-"
"Again," the doctor said. "None of us have any evidence that is happening."
The Joker made a grumpy sound and crossed his arms.
"Are you concerned for him?" the doctor asked.
"Ehh..." the Joker said. "Of course. He's Arsenio's father. He's responsible for him."
The doctor nodded. "Is that it?"
"He's responsible for taking care of Adriana," the Joker added.
"Any other reason?" the doctor could sense the Joker was keeping something to himself. "Jack?"
"Fine," the Joker said and threw up his hands. "I feel that this is my fault."
The doctor looked surprised. "Why?"
"Because he hurt himself helping me," the Joker said. "He hurt his knee jumping down while we were going to exchange my DNA. To protect my identity. He hurt himself doing that. And now Adriana is dealing with the consequences."
"Jack," the doctor said sympathetically. "I cannot discuss Bruce's medical history with you, but I can tell you this. This is not your fault. Bruce has a choice to make...and he is making his own decisions and choices."
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"I feel like I've barely seen you this week," Bruce said to Adriana when she returned home at 3 a.m. on a Saturday morning.
"This...drug is getting out of control," Adriana told him. "I was chasing people down all night. All of them users. They're crazy Bruce...and so strong. They attack each other, they attack me..they attack the police."
"It's getting worse," he said.
"Yes.." Adriana said. "I don't know how much more I can take.."
Adriana walked over to the bed and sat next to him.
"Then quit," Bruce said. "Quit chasing the undead."
"Is that what you would do?" she asked. "If you were still practicing vigilantism? If Gotham didn't hate you?"
Bruce looked at her wordlessly. They both knew the answer was no. He wouldn't quit.
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'LEAVE THEM BE, OR BE ONE OF THEM.'
Shade held the letter that had been stapled to the front of the shirt of the man she had just chased down. The message was typed in all caps. He was high on Burgeon..the illegal street drug. She had knocked him out with a swift kick to the head.
The letter was for her. The person was a victim, used to send a message. It was a threat.
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"What does Bruce say?" the Joker asked Adriana when she showed him the letter.
"I haven't exactly...showed it to him yet," Adriana said. "I mean, there are no fingerprints or clue on this letter. Nothing."
"Why haven't you showed this to him?" the Joker asked the obvious question.
"Come on, Jack," Adriana said. "You know why! This is a threat and he'll tell me to stop what I'm doing..saving these people-"
"They're still dying in the hospital," the Joker said. "All of them. Every last one."
"So what are you saying? I should stop helping them becau-" she started to ask.
"I'm stating a simple fact," the Joker said and stood up.
"Well, you have to help me find out who's doing this," she said. "Like you helped me find that Catwoman-"
"We've been over this," the Joker said and sat the letter down.
"But-" Adriana tried to speak.
"Whoever this is.." the Joker said. "Has been able to elude even me. I have no leads or clues for ya either. And for that reason, you should be terrified."
"I'm not afraid," Adriana said.
"No of course you're not," the Joker said, his voice bitter and sarcastic.
"What's with the attitude?" she asked him.
"You know...you and Bruce are a lot alike," the Joker said pointing a finger at her and then up at the ceiling, looking like he was thinking deeply. "Both as stubborn as the day is long. Match made in heaven."
Adriana felt taken off guard. The tone in his voice was more harsh than she had heard it in ages.
"Don't give me that look," he said. "You know precisely what I am referring to."
His gaze was judgmental and sharp. Adriana looked away from him, but he shocked her again but grabbing her chin and turning her face back towards his very quickly. It was a dominant and controlling act, and Adriana wasn't sure whether or not she should slap him.
"Look at me," he demanded.
"Stop it," she said and tried to push his hand away but he grabbed her shoulders with both hands. "What is your problem?!"
"My problem is that you and Bruce are Arsenio's parents," the Joker said. "You reckless fools are responsible for him. Some parents you are."
"What?" Adriana said. "You're saying we're bad parents?"
"You will be soon, keep it up. I'm saying that you're willing to risk your life for the walking dead for no good reason," the Joker said. "And that Bruce hasn't stopped sweating in three months."
"He's-" Adriana didn't even know what she planned to say in response but the Joker cut her off anyway.
"It doesn't matter how many times he denies it, he's a junkie. An addict," the Joker said, his voice low but harsh enough that Adriana felt like she was being yelled at. "You see it. I see it. Stubborn fools the pair of you. The doctor sees it. How long will you let it go on? Hm?"
Adriana wrestled free but the Joker tried to grab her arms again.
"No me toques!" she shouted and snatched her arms away. "Déjame ir!" Don't touch me, let me go.
The Joker watched her go to pick up of her purse from the table. He didn't understand most of what she was saying as she continued to yell at him in Spanish.
"We are excellent parents," she said in English as she went to the door. "So, fuck you. Do you hear me? Fuck you. You don't know shit."
Adriana looked at him waiting for a response. When he said nothing she reached for the doorknob.
"Arsenio should stay with me," the Joker said, making her pause.
"Excuse me?" Adriana shot back.
"At least until your war with the undead is over and after Bruce enters rehab and comes out clean," the Joker said.
Adriana walked over to the Joker with enough tension in her body that he was sure he would be hit.
"You," she said, her voice low and almost shaking with anger. "Can fuck off. My son stays with me and his father. That's where he belongs. Entiende?" Understand?
"Yes well," the Joker said. "You and his father clearly have other priorities."
"You're saying we don't prioritize our son?" Adriana asked angrily.
"I said what I have said," he said. "You have other priorities."
"Our son is our top priority," Adriana said. "And you...you have no say in where he stays. Got it?"
The Joker looked at her saying nothing.
"Got it?" she asked him again.
He blinked and looked away, turning as she left. He heard the door slam behind her.