Scarecrow

Session one

The following events take place after the first movie in the dark knight trilogy.

Doctor Katrina Pines P.o.V.

I had no sooner sat at my desk in my office at Arkham when my supervisor, Doctor Taylor, knocked my door before walking in uninvited with an appologetic look on his face. Apon hearing the door I had instinctly threw one of my drawers open and with one swoop of my arm had cleared my desk of all notepads. They contained the chemical makeup of drugs I was testing on some of my patients. Just the ones that wouldn't be missed by anyone. I sat awkwardly at my desk, my spine felt like a hotwheels track, I could only imagine how unnatural it looked.

"Doctor Pines, I'm so sorry, I have terrible news" he cleared his throat, totally glossing over the strange position I was sat in.

I was braced for the terminational of my employment, I had been for the past 6 months that I had actively been trialing my drugs. I'm surprised no one has noticed anything wrong with my behaviour. It was basic things, staying too late in the office, arriving early, hell even just sitting the way I am now. And yet no one questioned a thing. 

"One of your patients, Brian Thomson, passed away last night" he clasped his hands together as he looked at me sympathetically

My eyes widened, "oh thats horrible"

Shit, had they found anything in his system? The dosage I gave him was right and according to the make up of the drug he should still be alive. I must have miscalculated. There was a brief silence before I continued, delicately so as not to raise any suspicion.

"Do you know...how he died?" I asked softly

"Asphixiation, he was killed in the yard. Amazingly, non of the guards seen the incident" He said shaking his head "please don't blame yourself doctor, there was nothing you could have done"

I nodded, trying to hide my frustration, I had only injected him days ago, I hadn't even had time to properly record the effects. I looked up at my supervisor "Do you think you could give me a couple of minutes, I'm aware I have a new patient today but I...I just need a few minutes"

"Of course. I left the details of your new patient on your desk this morning, I tried to catch you earlier but you must have been away for your coffee. Take it easy, Pines" He said before he left the room, gently shutting the door.

I stood up and ran a hand through my hair, dragging in a long deep breath. I would have to pick another candidate, only a few were viable and I couldn't drug them all. Letting out an irritiated sigh I shook my head, picking up the brown envelope Doctor Taylor had mentioned.
I impatiently tore the top of the envelope and grabbed the papers, scanning it. Jonathan Crane, his name was in bold writing. A former doctor at Arkham. I chuckled as I tucked the documents back into the envelope and threw it carelessly on the desk.

Walking out the room and locking the door, I made my way down to the holding rooms. I scanned my pass at the gate and walked to the room with Jonathans shiny new name plate slotted in at the side, where I once again scanned my pass and entered the room.
Jonathan sat at the end of the table unassuming, his arms restrained in a straight jacket, his gaze casually shifted from the walls to me. If I hadn't known better I would have said his eyes were glowing, a bright cool blue. This was the infamous Jonathan Crane? I had heard the stories and had read about the crimes he had comitted but I never thought he would have looked like this.

"Good morning Mr. Crane, I'm Doctor Pines, it's nice to meet you" I said as I took a seat opposite him "I'll be working-"

"Doctor Crane" He interjected so casually "It's Doctor. Crane"

I paused for a second, slightly bewildered that he was so bothered about such a small, seemingly insignificant detail. I shook my head slightly and took in a sharp breath.

"I'm sorry but I won't be calling -"

He went from slouching in self pity to upright in a matter of seconds. His eyes widened as he spluttered "It's DOCTOR Crane and you will address me as such!"

"I don't think you're in a position to be making such requests" I said trying to prevent my lips curling into a smile "you did get your medical liscence revoked correct?"

"Are you here to treat me or rub salt on the wounds Doctor?" Jonathan asked after letting out a deflated sigh, he sank back into his chair.

"Mr Crane, I want to help my patients. All of them. After all that's what a Doctor should do right?" 

There was a profound silence, I naively thought I had caught him offguard, then he spoke softly "Is this your wing in Arkham?"

I never aswered, his volatile behaviour was jarring. Although I was used to patients behaving this way it somehow never got any easier to deal with.

Jonathan sighed longingly, his eyes tracing over the cracks on the wall and the poorly applied paint. He scoffed "Based off of your incredibly detailed response, I'm assuming it isn't then.  I had my own wing you know."

"It's closed currently, after the stunt you pulled." I said sharply, furrowing my eyebrows, I could feel myself getting angry at the jab he slide into the conversation "I don't know how you got off so easy for what you done, you shouldn't have been sent here at all, it's a total conflict of interest"

He laughed "That hit a nerve didn't it? Very unprofessional to get so worked up over some silly words." He shook his head before leaning in closer, his eyes narrowed slyly. Lowering his voice almost to a whisper he spoke calmly"Sounds like you're in the wrong profession Doctor" 

My face flushed, turning a soft red colour. I could feel the heat in my cheeks as his eyes bore into my own. If I had any sense I would have walked out there and then. But I didn't.

He chuckled, clearly amused at my reaction. Jonathan leaned back confidently in his chair tilting his head up ever so slightly as he casually slipped in another, less subtle jibe "And you do realise I'm the best Doctor to ever come out of Arkham."

I shifted uncomfortably, my head was full of things I wanted to say but I had to remain calm, after all I was the doctor here, I was in control. I was used to criminals boasting about themselves, that was nothing new, but there was something about Jonathan that made me feel like this was my first day on the job.

"I specialise in fear, Doctor. I can see it a mile away, and it seems to me...that you're out of your comfort zone. Any fool could see that" He said condescendingly,  "Could it be because you know...you can't possibly compare to me?" 

I tried to shut him down but before I could get a word in he continued "Or is it something else?" 

I felt my ears burning as I tried to compose myself before I spoke "You don't scare me Mr Crane, I've dealt with worse criminals"

"Is that why I'm in a straight jacket?" Jonathan spoke softly as he squinted his eyes, a sly smile plastered on his face.

Before I could answer I heard the door opening, followed by Doctor Taylors voice frantically telling me to come quickly. Standing up my chair shrieked  across the floor, I took one last look at Jonathan before I left the room. His eyes followed me, almost like one of those old eery paintings. I hate that he got the last word.

And with that the door slammed shut, and I was back out in the freezing hallways following Doctor Taylor. He explained to me that he was going to take his daughter to the hospital with a fever and that he needed me to wait in the lab to sign for a package. I agreed of course but I was irritated my session had been cut short. 
Doctor Taylor took off leaving me alone to reflect on Jonathan, an egotistical, selfish and ignorant man. I don't know why I'm surprised, criminals just like him were a dime a dozen and I've treated them all. What was it about him that made me feel so incompetent? 

It could have been his crimes. It could have been my lack of morning coffee. It could have been his history working here. 

Whatever it was it didn't matter. I had drawn one conclusion. 

I found my new test subject.