"Shadows of the Mind" (Dr. Crane backstory)

[fosforito]

whoa, Azina!

This chapter is sooooo great!

And again it shows Jonathan´s "way of revenge", way of punishment but in a way...hmm.. how can I describe it?
I can´t - it´s just great!!

And this was sooo good, when Dr. Gooding came inside, self-confident and all, thinking he could hurt Jon´s mom again, and then he finds Jon there.
...and now Jon will give him a lesson!!
Very very good!!!

but... Jon´s mom really gone insane, isn´t she ?

Will Jon cure her?

Anyway: Great chapter Azina!!!

[azina]

At this point, yeah, his mom's mental health has deteriorated rapidly ... leading eventually to the way you saw her in Chapter 11. It was really intense writing that scene, and yes, I love it when Jon has his revenge, it certainly has been long in coming.

[hell0sunshine]

this was really good.

i loved it! =)

[azina]

thanks ... I'm glad you enjoyed it

[azina]

Wow, I can't believe this is the end. It's amazing I've come to the end of this really long journey with Crane. I hope you've enjoyed reading it.

Crane felt elated for the first time in many years, although he couldn’t show it. At Arkham a somber, almost funereal atmosphere settled upon the staff like a heavy shroud. The nurses didn’t smile. The usually flippant, unprofessional behavior of the younger orderlies wasn’t present today. All talking was done in hushed tones. Crane had prepared himself long before the official “announcement” when he arrived that morning. He was completely ready when orderlies, nurses and few of the interns swarmed about him, telling him the same thing in their panic. Gooding had been found in Mrs. Crane’s cell collapsed on the floor. While Mrs. Crane appeared to be okay, Gooding seemed to have suffered a psychotic breakdown.

Crane had rehearsed a shocked face several times in the mirror back in his apartment and was confident enough he could pull it off convincingly. At the right moment he registered his shock, but quickly appeared strong for them and calm, giving them orders to take Gooding to the sick ward and he would temporarily resume Gooding’s responsibilities in his stead until he became well. The staff seemed soothed by his confidence and calmness in the midst of this unexpected turn of events. Dr. Gooding suffering a sudden psychotic breakdown! Who would have thought? Crane smiled inwardly in his mind while keeping his visage cool, collected and emotionless.

I am mourning for the unfortunate breakdown of my dear colleague, Dr. Gooding. I must remember that.

But Crane was relishing at last being the head of Arkham Asylum while Gooding, who lorded it over him for so long, now lay glassy-eyed in the sick ward, bound fast in a straightjacket, muttering over and over again “Scarecrow.”

Yes, life was very good for Crane now. He snapped closed his briefcase; about ready to make his rounds to his patients, eager to begin his new cure methods when Nurse Susan Parker approached him, very distraught.

“Dr. Crane, so sorry to disturb you. I know you must be so busy, trying to take over for Dr. Gooding. Oh, poor, Dr. Gooding!”

“Yes, I hope he recovers soon and I’ll be able to resume my normal duties at Arkham.” Crane paused for dramatic effect as he appeared sorrowful at the condition of his colleague. “Is there something you wish to ask me, Miss Parker?”

“Oh, yes. You have a visitor, Dr. Crane. I meant to tell you earlier, but he doesn’t necessarily make – ah – appointments.”

“What visitor doesn’t make appointments? Tell him to wait. I will see him after I make my rounds.”

“Uhh, I don’t think you can do that – uh – Dr. Crane, sir.”

Crane looked at her sharply, but could clearly see this young, petite nurse was terrified at having to contradict him.

“And pray, Miss Parker, what visitor is so important I must interrupt my busy schedule to see him?”

“He really is Dr. Gooding’s visitor, Dr. Crane. I wouldn’t bother you, only – you did say this morning you were taking on his responsibilities.”

“Who – is – he?”

“Carmine Falcone.”

Hatred and loathing swelled up in Dr. Crane at the mention of the name though he kept his face a mask, his eyes unreadable.

“And pray, Miss Parker, what is Mr. Falcone doing here?”

“I’m sorry, Dr. Crane. You’ll have to meet him for yourself. He’s in Suite 107.”

Dr. Crane ground his teeth, his fingers digging into his briefcase.

Instead of visiting my patients and doing some good I get to see the crime boss of Gotham City who hired the scum I just tortured into madness. Just wonderful!

Crane briskly walked down the hall, channeling his frustration into his steps until he reached the suite. Before he opened the door he took a deep breath and opened it. Immediately Crane saw the one man responsible for all the pain and suffering of Gotham City sitting right before him on one of the plush leather seats in front of a lacquered walnut table.

“Mr. Falcone, the pleasure is all mine,” Crane said smoothly, favoring him with a smile.

“Hey! What is this,” Falcone demanded. “Where is Dr. Gooding? I only meet with Dr. Gooding.”

“I regret to inform you that he is indisposed today. I will be fulfilling his duties until his recovery.” Dr. Crane took a seat opposite him and folded his hands. “And what may I help you with today, Mr. Falcone?”

Falcone leaned back in his leather chair, completely taken aback.

“I don’t get this at all! Gooding should have called me if he was going to play hooky today.”

“Unfortunately he is unable, Mr. Falcone. He suffered a psychotic breakdown last night. Causes are yet unknown, but the outlook is still good, if I may say so myself.” Crane looked at him with his pale blue eyes. “I will be seeing to his treatment myself.”

“Well, excuse me while I get out a hanky, but that doesn’t help my situation any Mr. – uh?”

“Dr. Crane.”

“Okay, see here, doc. Gooding has a contract with me and clearly if he’s gone nuts, if you say he has, he can’t fulfill his end of the bargain, see?”

“Yes, I see. But I fail to observe how this has anything to do with me.”

“Well, it might have something to do with you if you shut up and let me talk, doc.”

Crane ground his teeth, his eyes piercing while Scarecrow over and over tormented him to use the Fear Toxin on the most evil man in Gotham.

(You will be saving everyone, Scarecrow whispered. Just think of it!)

Then another will take his place just as quickly, thought Crane. No, let’s first see where he is going with this. In due time we will have him, one way or another.

“Now doc, tomorrow one of my guys is appearing in court. His name is Jim Fessanti. Are you familiar with the guy?”

“Yes, serial killer, multiple robberies, heavy mob activity.”

“Ah, that’s my boy,” Falcone crowed. “But you know, doc, the mind is such an unstable thing. The time in prison has proved to be too much for him. Even before this he’s been a bit – you know – unbalanced.”

“I surmised as much after he shot Adam Tyler when he wouldn’t pick up his tab at Monique Restaurant.”

“Exactly! You see where I’m going with this, doc. He’s appearing in court tomorrow and I need a certified psychiatrist to verify in those fancy words you use that he needs to be committed here.”

Falcone snapped open his briefcase and slowly turned it towards Crane. It was filled with neat packets of crisp, new thousand dollar bills.

“Now I wasn’t expecting to negotiate a new contract. This is not all you will get once you finish the job.”

Falcone grabbed one of the packets of thousand dollar bills, thumbing the money for dramatic effect, before shoving it toward Crane.

“That is what you will get to testify in court tomorrow, doc. And this money here,” Falcone pointed at the briefcase. “This money is what you will get once my boy is safe and sound in this fine institution of yours.”

Crane gazed at the packet of money, then at Falcone.

Blood money from all the crime and corruption he brings to Gotham.

“Why do you want Mr. Fessanti here?”

“Quit asking questions,” Falcone said. “That’s my business. You just do your job and get rich, just like Gooding did.”

Suddenly Crane imagined having Fessanti, the most notorious serial killer, in his asylum, completely at his mercy.

I will cure him, like my other patients. In my hands, at last he will meet justice, just like Machiano. And if Falcone sends others to me, they too will be mine! Oh, they will cringe, not realizing what a great good they will serve. In prison they would just rot and what then? They would be released on Gotham to murder, rape and rob again. But in my asylum they will never be free, never escape. Their screams will fill the halls and I will cure him, like Machiano. They will be harmless then, they will hurt no one ever again. I will save Gotham. I will save them all – save them by Fear!

Falcone smiled indulgently at Crane, like a child who didn’t know better.

Ah, he thinks he has me, like so many others, yet another pawn in his twisted, criminal game. But he won’t realize – just like Gooding – until its too late, I am the snake under the flower waiting to strike. I am your favorite dessert you have eaten only to realize it has been laced with arsenic. I am the frail boy you think you can bully and beat and takes any abuse, only to turn into Scarecrow. I am far deadlier than any thug with a gun, any maniacal killer in an alley. I am the enemy you cannot see, the one who hides in the shadows, in the darkest recesses only to emerge when you feel safe and secure. I am the hidden enemy … I am Scarecrow.

“So do we have a deal, doc,” Falcone asked smugly, reaching out his hand.

“Yes, I believe we have reached an agreement,” Crane said, taking Falcone’s hand in his.

[fosforito]

OMG, Azina this is a great chapter!

The way how you made the connection to Falcone, unbelievable.

An Jon will "save" Gotham - in his own special way.

Congratulations Azina!

You did a wonderful job in writing this story.

I hope to read a sequel soon.!!!

[Dr. J Crane]

I cannot believe how much of the story I have missed!!!!

I had to read 3 chapters all at the same time - and OMG!! You've made it sound like Crane is only working for the good of Gotham, as if he's on Batman's side, instead of against him!!! As if, contrary to everything else, he is actually working against Falcone!!!!

Wow!!!

[seonedevinian]

wow, Azina, i just got caught up on all i missed in the last little while, and i am so impressed by the end of your story! just when i was ending mine..in a much less clear and concrete way, might i add. this was a good ending, which i sometimes lack. and a sequel would be great! this was an awesome treat to read, i loved it all the way through. congrats!

[azina]

We actually ended both our fictions on the same day. And you sell yourself short seonedevinian. I read yours before I left for work this morning because I just had to find out what happened to Jane and reread it again when I came back when I had more time. It is a fitting ending with some amazing writing. I will see about a sequel. I just worry it will not be worthy of SOTM.

[seonedevinian]

i'm sure anything you'd come up with would be worthy of your previous work, Azina!

[Dr. J Crane]

Azina, I feel awful, awful, awful. I did not catch up withy our story until the last 3 chapters were out and now I feel bad!!! I am usually the first to read them...so reading 3 chapters was bad!!!!

I love how the transformation is now complete. And it's interesting how Mrs. Crane can sense the evil in her son.

It twisted my heart to see her also go over the edge, like that - but on the plus side - YEESSSS!!!! Snake WILL NOT hurt anybody nor will Dr. Gooding (what a good son Crane is..

Azina, if you have ANY second thoughts about a sequel - DONT!!!! I want to read where this story goes now, with Falcone in the picture and everything else going on with Scarecrow.

[dior4ever]

I love it!!im like addicted to fan fics!!

[azina]

archie said:

Azina, I feel awful, awful, awful. I did not catch up withy our story until the last 3 chapters were out and now I feel bad!!! I am usually the first to read them...so reading 3 chapters was bad!!!!

I love how the transformation is now complete. And it's interesting how Mrs. Crane can sense the evil in her son.

It twisted my heart to see her also go over the edge, like that - but on the plus side - YEESSSS!!!! Snake WILL NOT hurt anybody nor will Dr. Gooding (what a good son Crane is..

Azina, if you have ANY second thoughts about a sequel - DONT!!!! I want to read where this story goes now, with Falcone in the picture and everything else going on with Scarecrow.

Please don't feel guilty about missing the chapters. I wrote them very quickly, about a chapter a night, posting each one per night over the weekend so it would be easy to miss if you weren't checking daily on the forum. And fanfics are for enjoyment and entertainment, not guilt trips.

I'm glad you enjoyed the turn of events with Crane ... I did want to turn him into a hero, albeit a twisted hero who does good even through evil means. I'm still running through a few scenarios in my mind on how start my sequel and when. I'm right now having to juggle two master's degree classes while holding down a full-time job.

[Dr. J Crane]

azina, get done with your degrees soon...we miss you and your brilliantly creative mind here..

[azina]

LOL. I won't wait until February (when I graduate) to start writing again. I think I would end up in Arkham if I did that! But maybe at the end of this week when I e-mail my latest updates on my capstone paper.