Chapter 13: Lockdown

"I wanted to be transparent about what is happening. I just wanted to make it clear this doesn't hinder my performance at work, and will not be taking me away from the importance of the trial. It's strictly personal and will remain that way."

Dr. Quinzel spoke firmly across from Warden Santos' desk. No emotional allowance in her speech. He nodded and stretched his lips to the declaration.

"Alright. I appreciate your honesty, Dr. Quinzel. I want to offer my sympathies; this must be a very trying time for you. Just know you have me in your corner and mental health services are here if you need it. Unfortunately, the HR appointed counsellor is…"

"Dr. Crane, I know. Don't worry I will seek my own help outside the hospital on my own dollar. I just don't want any suspicion; I'd rather rip off the bandaid and tell you than have you find out another way. As of now, he's in jail. Court proceedings are in the process. It's dealt with, giving me time to breathe and focus on the trial."

Warden Santos smiled and said, "On the brighter side, being single will help in that regard. If you were dealing with this disruption at home, I can only imagine the work you'll dish out when there is no stress."

Dr. Quinzel smirked and shrugged, "Yeah, sure."

"Unless you're already seeing someone…"

Her thoughts wandered to Jay again. A small blip of excitement tried to express on her face, but she shook her head, "No. Married to the work."

Warden Santos chuckled, "Atta' girl."

9:00am struck another Therapy Room, the redemption for yesterday as Dr. Quinzel was still troubled how she left them. With the weight of Daniel off her shoulders, she was open and excited to another day. Jay came in first to her delight. He entered with a smile that was confidently greeted as usual. She was hoping he knew she did the right thing.

"Dr. Quinzel, radiant as always." He beamed.

She gestured to the chair, "Welcome back, Jay. Take a seat."

Lazlo came in next. He urgently went to his corner first and grabbed a sheet of paper.

"Hello, Lazlo!" She greeted. He handed her the paper bashfully.

"For you, Dr. Quinzel."

It was a rip out from a flower colouring book. The flowers were coloured out of the lines, and colours did not match too well, but it was signed by him and read, 'For Dr. Quinzel, get better soon!' underneath.

The act grew a smile to her, "Oh, my. This is beautiful, Lazlo! Thank you so much!"

"How are you feeling today, Miss Quinzel?" He asked calmly.

She smiled, "Very good. Much better than yesterday. Thank you for asking."

As they all took their seats, she affirmed, "Thank you all for being patient with me yesterday. I'm sorry for the disturbance it may have caused. I had a very trying time and the words you all said to me was like a warm hug. None of you upset me, you comforted me. Thank you again."

Coralline asked, "You're okay, though. Right?"

"Yes, I'm fine, Coralline. Much better now. No more spontaneous tears, I don't think. Not for todays' group exercise, anyway. Speaking of, we are gonna be playing a game today! I figured we needed a breather after yesterday, and we've been tackling some serious topics. Let's get to know each other even more. Two Truths, One Lie."

Coralline huffed, "Ugh, I hate this game."

Lazlo spat, "I love this game!"

"How we play, we all will say three facts about ourselves. However, two will be truth, one will be a lie. We have to guess which is the lie before the timer runs out! Who wants to go first?"

They all stayed quiet, feeling like they were in an interrogation disguised as a game. Harleen relented, "Okay. I will, I guess," she thought for a few moments and said, "Okay, I got some. I used to be cheer captain in high school. I had a pet ferret growing up. I'm allergic to cashews. Mutual agreement, guys. You got one minute to all agree on one lie. Go!"

Coralline hushed to Edward, "It's the ferret."

He hushed back, "I think it's the allergy to cashews."

Lazlo said, "I think she's lying about the ferret. Who would want one as a pet? Dirty things."

Jay agreed, "We all agree on ferret, then?"

Edward shook his head, "No. It's cashews."

"Who votes ferret?" Jay asked, raising his hand. Coralline and Lazlo joined him.

Edward shrugged, "You're all wrong, but okay."

"The lie is the pet ferret!"

Dr. Quinzel stopped her pocket watch and made a game show buzz sound, "Nope! The lie was cashews! Edward was on the money!"

Coralline groaned and Jay chuckled. Lazlo detested, "Why would you want a ferret as a pet? They smell like a morgue!"

"His name was Ginger. He did stink, but man oh man, he was cute. Stinking cute. He ran out of my yard when I was ten, never saw him after that."

Edward said teasingly, "Shoulda listened to me…"

"How did you know it was cashews, Ed?" Quinzel asked.

"The ferret and cheer captain seemed a little out there. Cashews was generic. It was obvious… for me, anyway."

Jay mocked, "Yeah, yeah. The brilliance of Nashton overlooked once again. We get it. Who's next?"

Dr. Quinzel insisted, "What about Edward? He will give us a challenge, I'm sure."

Edward flummoxed, "Uh. I don't know… if I…"

"You can do it. You're smart enough to fumble us. Whatever the truths are we aren't here to judge, right guys?"

They shook their heads eagerly agreeing.

Edward sighed and thought for a moment. He looked down to the floor calculating. He smacked his lips together and said, "I have a master's in business and accounting. I used to deliver pizzas. I smashed a turtle to death with a rock when I was ten."

Coralline spooked, "What the hell is up with that last one?!"

Jay was trying not to laugh, "Imaginative, Nashton. Really. Kind of obvious, though."

"There are no turtles in Gotham. As far as I know," mentioned Quinzel.

Lazlo raised his finger and spoke firmly, "The pizza delivery one. I cannot see our man, Nashton, delivering pizzas. He was a forensic accountant, if I'm not mistaken."

"No, you're right," said Quinzel, "Hm. Very perplexing options, Edward. I knew you wouldn't disappoint."

Edward had a smile of duper's delight on his face, still looking to the floor shyly.

Jay raised, "I was a connoisseur of ordering pizzas, never did I see Nashton. I always remembered the pizza man's face. Always."

Coralline irked, "Creepy flex, but okay."

"Thirty seconds guys, we have to vote on one. I'm voting the pizza delivery," said Harleen.

Coralline said, "The turtle, obviously."

"I'm with the turtle," Jay agreed.

Lazlo pondered, "Hm. I suppose I'll go with turtle."

Edward asked cheekily, "Is that your final answer?"

Coralline, Jay, and Lazlo reflected in a blip of self doubt but relented, "Yeah!"

Edward chimed, "Alright, well. I will say the turtle story was in fact… truth!"

"What?!"

"My degree was the lie. I only have a bachelor's in accounting. I went to community college, guys. Come on."

"You slick git!" Jay laughed.

Coralline fussed abruptly, "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Okay, I can see you as a pizza delivery guy… but you killed a turtle?"

Jay laughed, "He also killed a commissioner, mayor, and lawyer. What's your point?"

Edward nervously looked away from them, feeling their eyes judging. Dr. Quinzel lectured, "Guys, remember. We are not judging. We've all done things far from moral, I think we can all agree there."

"Why?" Coralline persisted.

"Atkins, quit." Quinzel warned.

"No, it's okay," Edward said sullenly, "I can explain. I… it wasn't my idea. It was at the orphanage. A lot of kids bullied me, but one was a real piece of work. He forced me to do it. I could have said no but… I was scared of what he'd do if I did. I did not enjoy it."

Coralline saddened at this, regretting her choice to pry. Jay was less delicate, "I used to have very creative ways to deal with bullies."

"Oh, I did," said Edward aloofly, "after I was done, his face looked worse than yours."

Jay only cackled at this, and Quinzel swiftly changed the subject, "Okay. Let's move on. Edward, I just want to say I'm so sorry that happened to you. But I can't tell you how proud I am that you chose to share that in therapy. You've progressed by leagues. We will revisit it in our private sessions."

Edward sighed, "I'd rather not. But thank you, doctor."

"Fair enough. Onto our next. Coralline, you got something?"

She thought for a moment and nodded, "Yeah. I think so. Okay, I used to be addicted to drops. I pooped my pants in 4th grade. Oh, and I'm a virgin, only kissed a boy once."

There was awkward silence for a moment till Jay inevitably broke it with laughter.

"Touché, Atkins." He guffawed.

Edward itched his brow in disturbance, "Wow."

Lazlo said, "I have to say the last one is the lie."

"How can you be a virgin and a drops user at the same time? Nah, last one." Jay agreed.

Quinzel added, "Or the drops is the lie."

Edward interjected, "But no one is questioning the second one, right? I think that one is the lie. It's way too out there."

"I'm kind of offended that no one is guessing the second one except Eddie but okay." Coralline grumbled.

"Is it the second one?" Jay asked.

Coralline squawked, "I'm not telling you!"

Lazlo explained, "No offence, Miss Atkins. Your mental state has led me to believe that drops were a factor in your past. I can strangely enough see you soiling yourself as a child. But… being a virgin is the only outlandish statement that compels me to say that is a lie."

"So, in other words, you see me as a drop-addicted slut who shits herself. Nice, Lazlo. Thanks."

"Hey, you laid it all out for us." Jay laughed.

Quinzel asked, "So which one are we agreeing on, then? The last one?"

Jay and Lazlo responded in tandem, "Yes."

Edward squinted his eyes, "It's not."

"Well guess what," Coralline nagged, "You three are wrong! Edward was right, I didn't fucking shit myself!"

Edward quietly clapped to himself with a smile. Lazlo's jaw dropped in shock, and Jay was shaking his head.

"Heavens. You still attain your maiden voyage, Coralline?" Lazlo asked in bewilderment.

She curdled, "Don't call it that."

"We haven't gotten one right yet! Goes to show we still have a lot to learn about each other. Surrendering the maiden voyage is a personal and imperative choice, Lazlo. Kudos to Coralline for protecting it."

"If you had to give it up to one person in this room, who would it be?" Jay asked impulsively (laughing as he did so). He was discreetly pointing at Edward who caught it right as Quinzel spoke.

"Okay! Okay! New subject, please. Jay, it's your turn. Got some ready?"

"Yes! But I need to change the rules for mine."

Coralline groaned, "Here we go."

"Two lies… one truth. You'll have to figure out what the truth is."

Quinzel blew a raspberry and relented, "Fine."

"Alright! You all ready?" He clapped his hands and rubbed them together, "I ate a cat alive on video to scare the police. I tried to kiss Batman. I got a blowjob from a hooker while I was taking a shit on the toilet. Known commonly as a blumpkin. Oh, sorry, Coralline. Cover your virgin ears."

Coralline snapped, "Shut up."

The other three were understandably disturbed. Harleen was silently regretting initiating the game. Edward sighed under his breath, "It just gets worse."

Lazlo fumbled for a moment and said, "Joseph, those all sound like truth in your case."

"Is a blumpkin even a real thing?" Coralline asked.

Jay laughed, "Whoa! You really are a virgin."

Edward spoke, "It's the last one. The last one is the truth. Trust me."

"I'm with Eddie. Last one." Coralline agreed.

Lazlo nodded in agreement, as well. Dr. Quinzel shrugged, "I guess the last one. They are all equally weird and gross, but last one."

Jay stomped his foot, "Damn it! How did you know Edward? Was the hooker an ex of yours or something?"

"It was grossly specific." He replied.

Lazlo excitedly yelped, "My turn! I have mine ready."

Dr. Quinzel gestured, "Alright, let's see what you got, Lazlo!"

Lazlo warned, "I must say these are incredibly inquisitive. It will take a keen mind to decipher it! I feel even our Edward will squirm at it."

"Just say it." Jay groaned.

"I grew up in a military home. A fantastic cardio-thoracic surgeon. I fed a meat pie to my neighbour that was made of her homophobic husband's innards."

"What the fuck…" Coralline irked, "It's obviously the second one, but that just confirms the last one is true."

"Lazlo, you've already told us you were a neurosurgeon…" Dr. Quinzel tittered.

"Did I really?"

"Yeah," said Edward, "Multiple times."

"Drat!"

"Good effort, Pyg," mentioned Jay, "Gotta say that last one is inspired. Good for you."

"Okay, guys. Interesting lies and even more so truths. We've been at this for thirty minutes, I'll let you guys enjoy the rest of the time you have. See you guys after the weekend!"

Jay strode over to Lazlo who was pulling open the tupperware for crayons. He asked boldly, "So you minced your neighbour and put him in a pie. Did they actually… you know… eat it?"

"Oh, yes. They enjoyed it, too. I don't think they know to this day it was her husband. She still thinks he ran off with a younger woman. Hilariously dim, they were. Cruel and ignorant."

"And that's how you ended up at this holiday resort."

"No," Lazlo laughed, "Much worse. The dollotrons sent me here. The doctors. They did not see the replenishment of life. Just how they did not see Garret's conditions. You know they would not let me operate on him? He had a tumour in his frontal lobe. As a neurosurgeon attending, they wouldn't even accept my medical opinion. I knew their approach was far too invasive, but did they listen? They killed him. So, I strapped them to my table, in my operating room. Cured them of their scorn in decision making. I made them perfect. Obsolete. This did not please the authorities as it should have. But it pleased me. Do not tell Ms Quinzel, but it still does."

"Your secret is safe with me, Lazlo," smiled Jay, "That's the best truth I've heard from you all day."

Dr. Quinzel jotted down the notes from their game on her laptop. Warden Santos came in alarmingly so.

She startled, "Oh, hello. Come to spectate, sir?"

"Uh, not quite. I'm actually here to talk to you. On the matter of your trial."

Dr. Quinzel twirled her chair to him visibly upset.

"Nothing bad! Your trial is safe. It's actually… did Dr. Crane speak to you about Zsasz?"

Dr. Quinzel dropped her pen to the table and replied cautiously, "Yes. What is this about?"

"Well, despite the friction between you two, he made some valid points. You'll be due to introduce another patient soon, the probation period is over. Zsasz has made some great strides. He may be the perfect addition to the others. I can see they are all getting along very well."

"Sir… I'm still making inroads with these guys. They've grown a camaraderie because it's just them. Zsasz will be the odd one out, creating even more friction, except in my trial. I don't trust anything Dr. Crane pulls, this seems like a ploy. It's abrupt."

"Do you have another patient you're considering?"

Dr. Quinzel went quiet. She shook her head, "I haven't gotten to it yet."

"If you can't recommend someone in the timeframe, I will. And it will be Zsasz. Harleen."

"Okay, I understand. I'll get on it. I at least need a week with Zsasz in private sessions to see if he's compatible myself. I'm not taking Crane's word for anything. Quite frankly, sir, neither should you. This is my trial; I'll decide who fits the criteria."

"Then you best get to it. I'll let Crane know to transfer Zsasz back to your care and you can decide if he meets it from there. There are slim pickings in HRS, Harleen. You know this. Zsasz may be your best option."

He left her to her thoughts. She was annoyed to hear it, and resistant to accept from Crane's referral. However, the time for selection was closing, and soon she'd have no other choice but to indulge it.

Coralline was sitting under her canopy with a book. Edward timidly walked over, "Hey."

She beamed a grin, "Hi! Sit." She pat her hand on the carpet beside her. He did as she asked with no objection, despite struggling to get under the shallow canopy against his tall frame. He swatted away the chiffon and huffed, much to Coralline's enjoyment who was giggling away. He thudded down in heavy breath and chuckled, "A little out of my element in here."

"Too pink and fluffy?" She smiled.

"And too small." He was squeezed up against stuffed animals, and Coralline's shoulder pressed into his upper arm.

She cooed, "Perfect for cuddling, though."

He changed the subject suddenly, "What are you reading?"

Coralline closed the book and slapped it in her hands, "Soapy love drama."

"You like those?"

"A little," she looked up to him sadly, "I'm sorry if it seemed like I was judging you about the turtle thing. I just wanted to know why."

"It's… um. It's okay," he stuttered, "It's pretty natural to want to know. I just hope you believe I didn't want to do it."

"I do. I don't know. I'm okay with you killing privileged, white and rich fuckwits. I have a soft spot for animals, though."

He asked, "What's your favourite?"

"Dogs. I love dogs."

"Me too." Edward smiled back. His eyes would constantly flick away, as if looking into her own was too much. A moment of awkward silence, he asked again, "You… used to do drops?"

"Yeah… regret it, big time. When I first came here the withdrawal was killer. I think I did them cause' it made my job easier… if that makes sense."

"I saw you on the news."

"Oh yeah? What did you think?"

He sighed, "I don't know. I didn't know you then. I was impressed with your chemistry knowledge."

"You dabble?"

"I love chemistry." He said shyly.

She breathed a smile, shaking her head to the floor and nearly whispering, "You're quickly becoming my favourite human."

Edward laughed nervously. He winced and cursed himself discreetly.

She suddenly said, "It's Friday."

"Yeah?"

"I need to tell you something."

He looked to her nervously and asked, "What… what is it?"

She took a deep breath in before looking him in eyes and saying firmly, "I know it's only been a week since we've started hanging out, but I promised myself I'd say this before the weekend so you could think about it. No matter what your answer is, you have to promise me we will keep being friends, okay?"

"What is it? You're freaking me out a little."

She pressed her lips together, inhaled through her nose and breathed out fast, "I like you."

Edward mumbled, "I like you, too?"

"No, I like you. I like that you're smart. I like your voice. Your glasses. The way you stutter when you're nervous. You're so awkward and I like it. I like all of it. Everything about you. I haven't had a crush on a guy since the 8th grade, so I don't really know how to do this. I know I'm being way too forward right now, and you can tell me to calm my tits and we can see how it goes. Or you can tell me I'm a dweeb and you're not interested, and we will just forget this ever happened. But… I really wanted you to know, because I really really like you. We only get two hours in this room for five days a week. I didn't want to waste the time we do have keeping it secret. I'm rambling… I'm sorry. I should probably let you respond. I'm sorry. Um…" She gestured to him awkwardly, looking down to her hands.

Edward heard it all, even given the speed of her voice. He was processing it for longer than needed. He was scared to move or reply, somehow the world didn't seem genuine at that point.

Am I imagining it?

"Edward?" Coralline said again, "You heard all of that, right? Am I freaking you out?"

He kept staring down to the floor listening to the distant conversations of Lazlo and Jay, too scared to move.

*WOOP WOOP WOOP WOOP WOOP…*

Lockdown alert. This is a code yellow. All patients who are not in their cells must be detained in the nearest room. All staff must stay with patients or progress to the nearest safety point. This is not a drill. Lockdown alert…

The emergency lights along the doors began to flicker along with the blaring alarms. The four sprang into panic. Edward and Coralline fought from the canopy and to their feet and officers' attention. Robinson's voice yelled over the commotion.

"Alright! All of you, hands behind your heads and stomachs to the floor, now!"

They did as asked in shared confusion, unsure of what was happening or the alert. Morello's radio went off. It was Dr. Quinzel.

"I can't get out! Doors in observation are locked. What's happening?!"

"Hold on, doc. We are assembling the patients. We are in lockdown."

Robinson tested the doors to Therapy Room; they too were locked, "Goddamn it, of course this shit happens on a Friday," she switched the channel of her radio, "Sierra Two. Abel Six and I are locked in Therapy Room with Atkins, Doe, Valentin and Nashton. What's the status?"

"We got a situation in the wards. Patient got out. You got them all on the floor?"

"Yes. Do we have to stay here till you find them?"

"Yeah, we are conducting searches. May be a while. Hold tight."

"For fuck sakes…" Robinson cursed, "Looks like we're stuck here."

The alarm and repeating alert over the intercom suddenly shut off, but the doors did not unlock.

"Safe rooms, do a count, make sure all patients and staff are accounted for."