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. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzW58XO9ji
"Be careful, okay?" Dave had warned her. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkw642eh2bA
"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. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KArcB6WVW
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. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGUxT4Nhof
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... 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYY1qsskGZ
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. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgaY5CuSyZ
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. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehS1Ft1KVc
"You've probably had a lot of questions lately, Julia," Dr. Crane began, taking a sip of his own coffee. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuekWJyuba
"But that doesn't make what I did today right," she said guiltily. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6icB90UyQT
"Well, either way, you'll have your answers. So, go ahead, ask me a question." He raised his eyebrows expectantly. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG09BaQlFmG
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." 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbyMPYKBuD
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." 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RkJZOIKmD
"Your...what?" 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08a1ovpssD
"My mask. I often use it as a form of therapy when I go in to talk to the patients." 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxurOaaBOw
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. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTXCh5knAO
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." 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrSVX6dYse
But why would he want to enhance their fears? "Oh... Maybe I do understand now. It provides a form of ventilation for them, right?" 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqpDy6OlnN
"Well, if you wanted to call it that, I guess you could. I could show you how it works later, if you'd like." 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1syKVx82YH
Julia hesitated, but then nodded. "Sure. A picture's worth a thousand words. But...you mean tonight?" 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ117rG8eWZj
"No time like the present," he said simply. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsScCAMM6Y
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. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sy4G8JtV5
"Only it can't be here," he said, lowering his voice. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0V2BE0YOV
"Why not?" Julia asked. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyAfYcNNMJ
"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." 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBaGmqTykM
"Right..." She patted the knife in her pocket under the table--just in case, she'd said. Just in case. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡny35sIawVF
"But before we do, any more questions in particular?" 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMwdr1G9AW
"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?" 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GWmFWjFcs
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." 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JnKjkPLL7
Julia had a hard time swallowing her last sips of espresso. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuPrupa2gh
"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." 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpENATzji6
"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. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfReQNAhJ0q
Dr. Crane smiled at her and squeezed back. "Just say Jonathan. We're not at work, after all." 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToYDqAp9iJ
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. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76W2IeZs8B
Jonathan finished his coffee, then exhaled contentedly. "So does that answer everything?" 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4GhHfhl4Q
"I think so," Julia nodded slowly. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkR1ZDTZ1s
"But what about you, Julia?" 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7q7f0wISD
"Me? What do you--"801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zigubYQUz
"What are you afraid of?" He leaned forward on his knuckles. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBzccxq5yX
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." 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6bj440jWz
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. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWm1SHprXPb
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. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkPHXImouG
She would have to make a decision about whether or not to trust him, and make it fast.
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pADUlwpHD
