Today had been even busier than yesterday, and Julia felt as if she could fall asleep right where she was standing. Having originally planned to go straight home to her warm apartment and curl up on the couch in front of a funny movie, coffee sounded good given the circumstances. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhs7B2D2smG
"Be careful, okay?" Dave had warned her. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOz37yn9iRo
"I will," Julia said with a weary laugh, despite the fact his face looked "as serious as a heart attack," as her mother always said. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0GUSgbuzM
When she got in her car, she tuned the radio to the loudest rock station she could find. It may not be all that pleasant to her ears, but it would keep her awake until she reached the cafe. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs31uEAXNEl
After finding a parking space and turning the car off, she opened her glove compartment and stared at the sharp steak knife, unable to get Dave's words out of her mind. Dr. Crane would never hurt me, and besides, if I was caught with one of these things in here... 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnvKN7t7nt
Julia took one look at the coffee shop, and another look at the streets around her. But then again, in a place like Gotham, who knows when you might need it? Nobody said I'd actually use it on HIM. She subtly pocketed the knife in one of the spacious pockets of her doctor's coat, cushioning it with a couple of tissues so it wouldn't show through the material, and entered the coffee shop. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5iVaU4lFX
She found Dr. Crane easily, since he was the only customer at the moment wearing a suit. He nodded to her, and she joined him after ordering herself an espresso. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0wIyMhafN
"You've probably had a lot of questions lately, Julia," Dr. Crane began, taking a sip of his own coffee. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAH1pHaCKBh
"But that doesn't make what I did today right," she said guiltily. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8IMXjBZMm
"Well, either way, you'll have your answers. So, go ahead, ask me a question." He raised his eyebrows expectantly. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWcPdeUUdj
His eyes seemed to twinkle slightly, but that was probably just Julia's imagination. "Well...first off, I was kind of wondering about what I found earlier--that burlap material sticking out of your breifcase." 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGIUgLi0iZ
His eyes twinkled even more, and Julia realized it hadn't been her imagination so much. "I was hoping you would ask that, since that is why we're here," he said. "That material is actually my mask." 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pOxD770dq
"Your...what?" 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRpmNU5FGT
"My mask. I often use it as a form of therapy when I go in to talk to the patients." 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMgbT8HMTH
Julia laughed. "Come on now. Halloween was over weeks ago." But she clamped her mouth shut when she saw that he didn't laugh in return. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLKwCYPZeg
Dr. Crane shrugged. "I know that it would seem...ludicrous to a lot of people, but it's actually very effective. They know their own fears more than they ever have." 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoGTils3wf
But why would he want to enhance their fears? "Oh... Maybe I do understand now. It provides a form of ventilation for them, right?" 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UEnNwPQKC
"Well, if you wanted to call it that, I guess you could. I could show you how it works later, if you'd like." 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdhtv0Q7mP
Julia hesitated, but then nodded. "Sure. A picture's worth a thousand words. But...you mean tonight?" 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6f7mJvsAte
"No time like the present," he said simply. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNl8Tm386d
She was starting to feel a lot better since that coffee kicked in... "I guess so," she said gamely, and she was glad she could rest assured that Dr. Crane really did know what he was doing and that the patients were probably just letting their feelings out. At least that's what she hoped was the case. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYciuuq9ZK
"Only it can't be here," he said, lowering his voice. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSMeqZBvfE
"Why not?" Julia asked. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlGUqpAfU4
"You know how people are these days." He looked off to the side at other customers nearby to prove his point. "They could think I was hurting you or...you know. Better to be safe than sorry." 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8vZUB7MxU
"Right..." She patted the knife in her pocket under the table--just in case, she'd said. Just in case. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqwl02eIdY
"But before we do, any more questions in particular?" 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIBw5YtQVX
"Yes, actually," Julia said with an almost nervous laugh, trying to relax. That coffee may have done too good a job of perking her up. "I mean, not that there's anything wrong with this, but...what made fear such an interest for you?" 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjc3Nli2rBI
He sighed, but she knew it wasn't from frustration or exasperation--just something he did whenever he was deep in thought. Then he explained to her about how he was an illegitimate child raised by his religious zealot grandmother, who would physically and mentally abuse him on a regular basis. He'd also been the victim of constant teasing at school because of his spindly frame and the old-fashioned clothing his grandmother made him wear. "I recall that 'Scarecrow' was their favorite name for me, but there were many others." 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMi1S3eYhw
Julia had a hard time swallowing her last sips of espresso. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHSCQ5Ic8J
"Fear is the main factor in abusive situations, but it was an emotion I came to accept," Dr. Crane went on, as calm as could be. "I told myself I would never be afraid of or give in to another human being as long as I lived." 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5kSVVVsX0
"Doctor...I'm sorry." She was so disturbed by his story that she reached across the table and gave his hand a squeeze. She wanted to go back to her car and put that knife away--or better yet break it in half, if she could do such a thing. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKDHhIHTOB
Dr. Crane smiled at her and squeezed back. "Just say Jonathan. We're not at work, after all." 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60XPxvBLbn
Julia couldn't stop a bit of a smile from crossing her face. Maybe, just maybe, she really did feel a little more than just curiosity towards him. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSwcinbrK6
Jonathan finished his coffee, then exhaled contentedly. "So does that answer everything?" 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZnExUYTwj
"I think so," Julia nodded slowly. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1FfC1wjzy
"But what about you, Julia?" 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1elxaD8U4y
"Me? What do you--"744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3UcWNdWfs
"What are you afraid of?" He leaned forward on his knuckles. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPyxWQDea9
She could answer that right away. "Carousel horses--especially at night. There's just something about their painted faces and wild eyes that makes them look...bloodthirsty. And I'm also terrified of heights." 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8dyCwmNfs
Jonathan nodded understandingly. After a thoughtful pause he said, "We'd best head out, then. We'll just take my car." He hadn't asked her, but simply stated it. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkC0HtgEyh
As they walked out of the heated building and into the cold windy night, Julia began to wonder if she wanted to see this little demonstration of his after all. 744Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNHOsJQVrx
She would have to make a decision about whether or not to trust him, and make it fast.
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