For ten days Bruce kept Jason in a drug induced state of unconsciousness. He and Alfred came up with a theory that would, hopefully, tell them when the temporary effects of the Dionesium had passed. It was their belief that it would be when Jason's adrenaline levels began dropping. On the seventh day, the levels began going down. However, they gave it an extra three days, just to be on the safe side.
Not that anything about Jason waking up was going to be easy. He had so much rage inside of him that was directed at Bruce. Bruce understands all too well, and has prepared himself for any spiteful words Jason might say to him in anger. He also prepared himself for the post withdrawal phase of Jason's drug addiction. It would be likely that Jason could experience anxiety, frustration, cravings, and depression.
Bruce had synthesized many psychiatric drugs, amplifying them in a way that they might work on Jason. The chemicals in his blood altered everything. Bruce had learned that through the Joker. What Bruce hadn't learned through his years of studying the Joker, was what actually worked. He doesn't know if any of what he synthesized would work on Jason. Truth be told, when it comes to psychiatric drugs, a lot of it was a placebo effect. (a beneficial effect produced by a drug or treatment, which can't be attributed to the properties of the placebo itself, and must therefore be due to the patient's belief in that treatment.)
Bruce sat behind the bat computer as Alfred looked through the thick bullet proof glass at Jason sleeping.
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It wouldn't be long until he began to wake up. The chemicals would burn off the sedatives three times faster than they would in a normal person. That was why Bruce had sedated him with a constant IV drip. The dose was enough to kill five people, or sedate ten for a week.
"Master Bruce," Alfred says, "I've been thinking about something for quite some time now."
"What's that?" Bruce asks, only half paying attention as he continued what he was doing.
"Have you given any thought to how his physical appearance could hinder any attempts to rehabilitate him?" He asks Bruce.
Bruce's gaze raises to look at the back of Alfred as he stood in front of Jason's cell. "Yes. It would be reasonable to assume that it will most likely be a complication."
Alfred looks over his shoulder at Bruce, "The entire premise of his rehabilitation is to make him abandon his Joker persona. Each time he sees his own reflection all he sees is the Joker. It reinforces the act."
Bruce's eyes drift away. He knew Alfred was right. How could he really expect Jason to move beyond the Joker act, when the physical appearance is still there? Unfortunately, it served as a constant reminder. It was concrete evidence that suggested he was indeed the Joker. Could someone pretend to be someone else so long, that they started to believe they were that person? How could such not create psychological issues? Delusion? Psychosis? Disassociation?
Bruce had no studies to go by. No books had been written. No one had ever given a seminar. It was unheard of that someone literally becomes someone else. It was considered impossible. This was something that no one has ever speculated, in reality or in theory. Bruce was treading through experimental waters. He has to count on his gut feelings to guide him on this one.
