The first thing Julia noticed when she woke up was that she no longer wore her doctor's coat, but...a patient's hospital gown. So he didn't kill me. But then she had a terrible thought. What if they think I'm the one that's gone insane, and not Crane? What if this is the asylum? 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHWflmR6Nv
"She's waking up," a woman's voice said. A nurse, she realized when she opened her eyes. "I think her medicine's wearing off." 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKd9aUNw3qC
That made Julia nearly bolt upright. She was about to ask just what kind of "medicine" she was referring to when she saw her parents sitting next to her bed and...was that Batman and Robin standing in the far corner? No, she wasn't crazy--it was really them. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlIERrM9WY
"Yes, they saved you," her father said, seeing her amazement, and both her parents threw their arms around her to where it was almost immobilizing. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvvzD9XlgM
"Careful now, she's still pretty shaken up," the nurse warned. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqVOdEgx3Y
Julia hugged her parents back, dreading the conversation she would soon have with them yet again. Hopefully they could save it for later. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡei9k93Dmfz
"Are you feeling alright?" her dad asked, his face creased with worry. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIaQVys2He
"I don't even know. Everything is kind of a blur..."785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGJYxPZN5N
"That's because they put you on strong relaxants to cancel out...whatever that stuff was." He shuddered bitterly. "I hope that man is locked up for life." 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMtSEE2YUZ
"That reminds me...how did you find out about...me?" Julia asked the two heroes still standing nearby. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5qs63cG97
"Robin and I overheard a somewhat intense conversation between Crane and another one of the doctors outside of Arkham--David Hutchinson was his name," Batman said, coming out of the shadowy far corner. "We've had our eye on Crane for a while, and when we gathered from their discussion that you were going to meet him that night and also that the patients' behavior had changed along with their medicine, we thought we'd check it out. But unfortunately we didn't get there in time to save him." 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOWNv2vynd
"Dave... They really killed Dave, didn't they? All because I didn't listen to him." 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmUCp77b9M
"Yes, I'm afraid so," Batman said. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5e0YJ0GZH
"Well, we're glad they didn't kill you," Robin chimed in, probably in the hopes of adding some optimism to the conversation.785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWys9gKSNg
Both Julia's parents looked like they couldn't agree with that more.785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMJ4O5G8iQ
"And you don't need to worry--Crane and his goons are in jail right now," he added. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilZgF7s5RP
"It's good that you noticed something and spoke up about it. I'm just sorry things had to come out this way. But if these events hadn't taken place I'm afraid he would have hurt and killed a lot more people," Batman concluded. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8X6qfvK8Ie
"How long have I been like this?" Julia sighed, laying back down as the nurse left the room. She felt so dazed right now--there would be time for tears later. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMRx7SDJWE
"Two days," Julia's mother said. "We got a call from the police the same night it happened, and they told us everything. We drove up here right after getting that call." She sniffed, which surprised Julia--her parents had seemed to never cry up to now. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurA908CwHI
"I know you don't want to hear this," her father said, "but this is the exact reason why we don't want you living so far away from us." 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzgKbl26Dm
"The nurse said not to work me up, remember," Julia said irritably. "Can't we talk about this later when I don't feel so out of it?" 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSHMfKhqC3
Julia's mom gave her husband a look and said, "Of course." 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZsgUhXX7y
"Just be glad you have a family, Ms. Madison," Batman said, and Robin raised his eyebrows and nodded his agreement. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfA4LNDlAI
Julia nodded meekly, knowing he was right, then remembered something just as they turned to go. "Oh, and...thank you. Both of you, for saving me. That night I really thought I was..." She looked back at her parents and decided not to say that last word. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQC2rFlj1Db
Batman gave a small nod as if he understood. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAfyR2tRNC
"Hey, it's what we do," Robin shrugged. "We'd better go now and let you get some rest, but we hope you have an early recovery." With that, they both hastily left. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfwmYDVfo2
She normally would have wanted them to stay, to talk with them as long as she could about the other people they saved on a daily basis, but knew this wasn't the time or place to do it, and they probably did have other criminals to catch. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLOth3CVfM
The nurse re-entered the room...and she held a needle. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Jn6nVLYAE
Julia grabbed her mom's hand out of pure instinct. "What is that...?" 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PxiLKK8x3
"This won't take long, okay? Just give me your arm," the nurse said gently. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2Lj2gOEiV
Julia tried to breathe. All she could think of was that fateful moment that night that may have already changed her permenantly. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszhofoCWws
"It won't hurt you, I promise," the nurse said. "This is going to help with what those toxins did to you." 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnylDl9W6e
"Julia. Take this, okay?" Julia's mom handed her what looked like her old stuffed bunny from when she was 5, that they'd apparently brought with them from home. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8Jzov0eD4
She usually wasn't one for cute things now, but holding the toy did seem to help even as she felt the needle go into her. Finding a happy place was probably what she needed most given the circumstances. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpo4m7GCOX
Her relaxation gradually restoring itself as she hugged the bunny, she looked up at her parents and managed a laugh. "Well. I never dreamed I'd wake up to you guys and two vigilantes all in the same room together." 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FkJhIuqvw
Her parents smiled--a little. "Well, you should probably get some rest now like Robin said, Julia," her dad said. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tC2upZjoj
Julia stifled a yawn, handing the stuffed animal back to her parents. "Why? You said it's been two days." 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRSEryvtyq
"I know, but before long you'll have a number of journalists and whatnot you'll have to tell your story to." 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNiVPZ0lQn
She nodded, letting her yawn out. "I don't mind telling them. If anything, it'll be good to...get it out..." With that, Julia's eyes fluttered closed once again. 785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7LOBZDlG4
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