In statu nascendi (ch.39 up) - sequel to ATTFABH

[fosforito]

Hhahaha!!

Thank your for your nice comments, ladies!

LOL, yeah I also can´t picture a singing Crane but that´s why I wrote it - I did it on purpose

We learned before how much Scarecrow changed Jonathan in a negative way, so why shouldn´t it be possible for Jon to "explore" little positive things in life via Alex again, you know what I mean?

I think the singing has just more a metaforical function for both - it shows that they´re on their first step to let their wounds heal and to help each other.

[ciaran]

Beautiful Alex, it worked so well, I'm so happy! This was the perfect context to put the song in. I have to agree with blue-eyed, I love how Alexandra and Jonathan have their own tastes, Jonathan more rigid and Alex very playful. She brings out the best in him as it should be.

I'm dying to read the scenes where they reveal all and...ooh...reveal all...that could work too. *tosses cilly bar*

[fosforito]

Hey ladies!

I thank you all very very much for your nice comments!

I´m glad to hear that you all like the chapter and this scene. I wasn´t really sure if this one would work out fine or Jon and Alex would get too sweet but your comments showed me that I was wrong LOL

I think I´ll have another chapter ready for you for thw upcoming weekend..
I´m still busy at med school but the big thing - anatomy - is over now and after some trouble I finally made my 3rd exam.. yay!

So I think I´ll have some more time to go on with the story soon (I already started writing the new chapter in the subway )

[ciaran]

I knew you would pass it this time, yay! I'm so happy for you, you need to celebrate girl! Secretly though, I'm super happy you're writing cause I'm too excited to find out what happens when they get to wherever Jonathan's taking her.

[fosforito]

Awww, thank you Ciaran!

Yeah, thanx God I made this exam!! But now I´m realizing how exhaused I am from the learning marathon and I still have two weeks left, now with neuroanatomy - and learning the whole stuff in 2 weeks
And I´m getting sick again, last night I was laying in bed, freezing like hell and today the same thing again

Though I managed to translate the next chapter (I have to thank the people on my knees who invented the PDA) and here it is...

chapter 34..

Hope you´ll like it

Chapter 34 (Cuesta Verde)

`Welcome to Cuesta Verde!´, Alexandra could read, written in big letters on the signpost when Jonathan drove his Jaguar into the town.

She was surprised because she was thinking that Jonathan wanted to drive to the country with her. Instead of this, Alexandra realized, they had arrived in a small town now, located directly next to the coast. She noticed lined streets, idyllic small houses and a beautiful park. Indeed, a lot of trees and bushes were now carrying the colours of autumn and some of them were even losing their leaves now, but in spring and summer, they would probably turn the whole town into a green paradise and make a nice contrast to the beach and the deep blue ocean.

Jonathan noticed Alexandra´ s surprised expression on her face and smiled lightly, but he didn´t say anything. Alexandra could hear the seagulls and the rush of the sea when Jonathan conducted the Jaguar on a small parking lot nearby the beach promenade.

How long didn´t she heard the rush of the sea? How long she hasn´t been at the beach? It must have been years.

Alexandra snapped off her thoughts when she could hear Jonathan´s voice.

"What do you think about check into the hotel first?", he asked and turned off the motor after closing the covering again.

"Umm.. yes, sure, why not?", Alexandra responded and gazed at Jonathan.

She was still observing the new environments and she was still surprised of the small town´s beauty.

Jonathan smiled lightly and kissed Alexandra, then both got out of the Jaguar and Jonathan locked the car.

***

„Dr. Crane! How nice to have you here again!", shouted the elder, lightly stout woman, standing behind the counter when Jonathan and Alexandra stepped into the entrance hall of the hotel, just a few steps away from the parking lot.

„Hello, Mrs Smith.", Jonathan replied politely and placed his car keys on the countertop. „Thank you. I´m glad to be here again. I hope, everything is ready for us?"

„But of course, Dr. Crane.", Mrs. Smith answered in a calm voice and placed a printed sheet of paper in front of Jonathan on the countertop. „If you don´t mind..."

„Oh, of course.", Jonathan said in a low voice while Mrs. Smith handed him a pen to fill out the registration form.

Alexandra´s gaze moved over the hotel lobby. It was small and simple, but it was appointed in a nice and inviting way, with a small seating accommodation in the corner, framed paintings of sailing ships on the walls and big windows with a view on the beach promenade and the sea.

Suddenly Alexandra was torn from her thoughts. What if Mrs. Smith would ask her to fill out a form, too? Her driving license, all her credit cards were issued to the name `Jane Deveraux´, she didn´t have any document which would confirm her identity as Alexandra Wentzler.

`If Jonathan sees my cards with this name, then I am sunk.´, Alexandra thought.

„I.. I´ll go to the car and get our luggage.", she said aloud and with these words, she gripped Jonathan´s car keys.

He and Mrs. Smith gazed at her in astonishment.

„Alex, just wait a minute. I could help you.", Jonathan said and got interrupted by Mrs. Smith.

„Miss, I will get someone for you who...", Mrs.Smith started.

„Oh no, no worries.", Alexandra objected. „I think, I forgot something in the car I need now anyway. Just handle it with the room, Jonathan. I´ll be right back."

Even before Jonathan could say anything, Alexandra left the entrance hall of the hotel and stepped outside to the parking lot.

Suddenly she could feel her heart throbbing wildely in her chest and cold sweat was covering her forehead.

`Damn Alex, now get your senses together. It didn´t happen anything, you were lucky this time.´, she thought and took a deep breath. `And now concentrate and do what you wanted to do.´

Alexandra walked slowly over the parking lot to Jonathan´s car, keeping on looking over her shoulder to check the area, if she could recognize something or someone suspicious. Although she was happy to be in such a beautiful place like Cuesta Verde, she still couldn´t get rid of the feeling, that Henri Ducard probably had sended someone to observe her, but as much she afforded it, there was nothing looking unusual or even suspicious.

`Maybe Henri just told me this to scare me.´, Alexandra thought and opened the trunk of Jonathan´s cabrio.

She pulled out her knapsack and put it over her shoulders, then she grabbed her and Jonathan´s bag and pulled them out of the trunk. She took a look at his briefcase and placed her hand on it. She could feel the rough surface under her fingertips.

`Maybe Jonathan needs the briefcase now.´, Alexandra thought and for a split second she remembered what she had found hanging out of the case 2 days ago – the rough, scratchy fabric.

Alexandra started to tip on the briefcase for a couple of times, then she pulled her hand out of the trunk and locked it again. She had decided to leave the briefcase in the car.

Alexandra opened the front door to check if she really had left something in the car, then she locked the Jaguar again, grabbed the bags and walked over the parking lot back to the hotel.

***

"Oh, Mrs. Crane?!", Mrs. Smith shouted when Alexandra stepped into the entrance hall with the bags in her hands.

Alexandra didn´t know why but she turned round.

"Here is your room key. Your husband is upstairs already.", Mrs. Smith responded and smiled lightly when Alexandra put the bags down to the floor to take the key. "Your room is on the first floor. And just leave your luggage here. I´ll send someone to bring it into your room."

"Oh, thank you very much.", Alexandra responded and she was still thinking of how Mrs. Smith had called her.

Did Jonathan know, she was hiding something? What did he said to Mrs. Smith when Alexandra was outside at the car? Or was it just the forgetfulness of an old lady, using the name she already knew to make is easier for herself?

"I wish you a nice stay here in Cuesta Verde.", Mrs. Smith said smiling and Alexandra nodded her good-bye before she went upstairs to the first floor.

Alexandra took a glance at the key to look for the room number.

`1-018.. hm, what a strange room number.´, she thought when she walked down the corridor, stopped at the last room door and put the key into the lock.

[beyond_beautiful]

WOOHOOO!

Cuesta Verde sounds like a nice place!

[ciaran]

All her id is in the name Jane Deveraux?? What if Jonathan would have gotten curious, he could have just gone in her purse and found this! I'm very surprised, I thought she would have had two sets of id, just in case, you know.

And aren't Jonathan's needles in his briefcase? He's going to need those if scarecrow continues to battle him as he has. I wonder what excuse Jonathan will make for needing the briefcase and if Alex will finally bring up the question going through her mind about that scratchy fabric. I'm soo glad she didn't open it this time, better to hear it from Jonathan than finding out like that.

Although she didn't see anyone, I somehow wouldn't be surprised if Ducard showed up. I have a feeling something weird is going to happen. Great chapter Alex! I'm so sorry you're not feeling well! *sending you Crane hugs to help you get well*

[azina]

Ohh, very interesting! Nice tension there as she's afraid her identity is almost discovered in something as simple as checking in at a hotel and I find it interesting that Alex did respond to being called Mrs. Crane - intentional to protect her cover or does this seem natural somehow? This does seem like a beautiful town, a safe haven and peaceful from Gotham City and hopefully away from Ducard's prying eyes. I hope they are able to be able to enjoy themselves without being disturbed and will finally be able to reveal their secrets to each other.

[beyond_beautiful]

sorry my comment was so short, i was in a weird mood

and now that i've read the two other comments, it seems like what i would say would be repeating what they said!

[ciaran]

^haha, this is usually me. I always end up commenting after everyone else has and then all I can say is ottid. For once I was the first one commenting and seemed to have an overabundance of things to say, lol.

[fosforito]

LOL,

no problems at all girls


Okay, there are a few things I have to say b/c it seems there´s a confusion somehow..

Ciaran, you ask for the syringes in Jonathans briefcase.

remember that passage in chapter 32 when Jon was in the garage?:

"While Alexandra was taking a shower, Jonathan finished to pack his travelling bag and brought it and his briefcase down into the parking-garage to his car.

After he got to his car, Jonathan took the prepared syringes out of the briefcase and packed them into his bag. In doing so, he casted a glance at the mask – Scarecrow´s mask."

So Jon was aware that Alex would probably find sth in the briefcase she shouldn´t find, that´s why he put the syringes into his bag - and let´s assume that the briefcase is locked (by key or by nubmer combination or whatever), as Alex couldn´t open the case in the night she found it in the kitchen.

I don´t think that besides of the briefcase and of the little love message Jon had placed between the wings of Alex´cell-phone Alex and Jonathan are sniffing around in each other´s stuff like purse or whatever. I don´t think, they are in that phase yet. Maybe they´re still too scared to do so or they´re awaiting the next days, hoping they can reveal everything to each other.

Concerning Alex´identity cards:

remember ch. 26 when Alex s talking to Rachel to make a deal with her?:

„If you start to investigate Rachel, you will realize that Alexandra Wentzler is missing since11 years and that she has been officially declared dead in Germany.“, she explained. „You will realize that Alexandra Wentzler never entried into Gotham, you won´t find any documents with this name here, no driving license, no credit card.“

So, because of the fact being declared dead, she can´t have cards with her real name on it.

Just have in mind that only Jonathan and also Rachel Dawes knows who she really is - not even Henri Ducard knows her true identity.

I know I know, these are tiny messages between the lines and I always tend to bring them out again in upcoming chapters but I hope you like it though

[ciaran]

I completely forgot these things! Yeah I do remember now Jonathan taking out the syringes and putting them in the bag, but you know me, what a horrible memory. Ok cool, so that explains a lot.

Anyone have any memory dust that actually restores memory? I could really use some, I'm sure I'm forgetting like half my life, lol. Hope you're feeling better today Alex.

[fosforito]

Thank you girl. I do, I think, it´s the lack of sleep.

And also the cold weather.. it´s snowing and I´m freezing here ...bbbrrrr.......

so, it´s really necessary to make myself "hot thoughts" - being with Jonathan in the cabin, mmmmmm......

[fosforito]

azina said:

Alex did respond to being called Mrs. Crane - intentional to protect her cover or does this seem natural somehow? .

Well, I think it was a unconcious decision. We might assume that Alex already had made her thoughts on hers and Jonathan´s future, to be together with him, to start a new life with him - and maybe she also had thought about a marriage, although she might not have confessed it to herself yet. So as you said, it possibly could be sth. strangely natural to her.

On the other hand it could be a concious desicion not to blow her cover. It could also be possible, that Alex has been the only guest in the reception area and that´s why she has reacted when Mrs. Smith called her.

But I personally think, it was more a unconcious desicion/reaction.

[fosforito]

okay, here´s the next chapter for you..

chapter 35..

Hope you´ll like it

and a big thank you to Azina for proof-reading it (sorry, was a bit unsure with the grammar)

Chapter 35 (The hotel room)

Jonathan was standing at the big balcony window and turned round when he heard the door being opened.

"Hey Jonathan.", Alexandra said while stepping over the threshold.

"Hey Alex," he responded, while Alexandra closed the door again and placed her knapsack on the floor. "Sorry for not waiting for you but I had to.. well, you know."

While saying this, Jonathan pointed with his head to the bathroom, blushing lightly but now he was telling Alexandra only half the truth. In reality he was gone upstairs to give himself one more injection, which he had hidden in the inner pocket of his coat to use in case of emergency. He could feel his hands starting to tremble during check-in, shortly after Alexandra had stepped outside and he could hear Scarecrow´s voice in the depths of his mind again.

Jonathan knew, it was still too early for another dose. He didn´t wait for at least 12 hours between the two injections and besides of that, he had increased the dosage of each injection. He knew, psychopharmacological drugs could cause serious side effects and Jonathan also was aware of the fact, he was taking a high risk now.

He had decided to use just half of the injection first, hoping to supress the first signs of Scarecrow that way. He would inject the rest of the dose somewhere else if necessary and for a split second, he had to think of his former professors at Gotham University. They would crucify him if they could see him like this now as Jonathan was now breaking every rule of doing injections and dosaging medication he had learned during his medical studies.

But he wanted to spend his time at Cuesta Verde without Scarecrow as much as possible and by no means Jonathan wanted Alexandra to know, he was giving himself injections. Probably she would get a completely wrong picture if she could see him like this now, as long as she didn´t know the whole truth, as long as she didn´t know the true reason - the reason why he had become a murderer.

Jonathan was torn from his thoughts when he noticed Alexandra´s grin on her face.

“What´s wrong?" he asked in a low voice and gazed at her.

For a short moment both didn´t say anything.

“Mrs. Crane?" Alexandra finally asked and her grin became wider.

“Well.." Jonathan started and smiled lightly while Alexandra walked over to him. “You know? Mrs. Smith is.. well, let´s say.. very old-fashioned.. that´s why I have.."

Jonathan didn´t come further as suddenly someone knocked at the room door.

“Oh wait, I´ll take care of this." he said and walked over to the door.

While Jonathan was talking to the room boy who had brought the luggage, Alexandra´s gaze moved around in the room.

The room was big and simple, but appointed very nice with a big kingsize bed standing at the wall in the middle of the room and a small nightstand on each side. Opposite to the bed there was a closet installed into the wall and next to it she noticed a round table with two seats. A basket was standing on the table, filled with all kind of fruits and chocolates, next to it several small bottles of water, juices and soft-drinks, a bouquet of red roses in a flower vase and two bottles of red and white wine.

Alexandra was now standing next to the window of the balcony, having a beautiful view on the sea and the beach. If the hotel guests would sit or stand outside on the balcony, they would have a good overview over the whole beach promenade as well. They could sit on the wooden bench in mild summer nights, observing the activities on the beach or just watching the sunset, relaxing a bit and drink a glass of good wine.

Alexandra turned round and watched the hotel boy leaving the room after Jonathan had given him a bill, thanking him for bringing the luggage. For a short moment Jonathan and Alexandra just gazed at each other.

“Do you like it here?" Jonathan asked in a soft voice. “I don´t know, maybe you have expected something else."

Alexandra shook her head.

“No Jonathan, I like the room. It´s really nice." she answered and took a big breath. “But somehow I wonder..."

“Yes?" Jonathan asked and frowned.

He sensed Alexandra was concerned with something.

“Well.." she finally said. “It´s obvious, you´re not here for the first time because of the way Mrs. Smith has talked to you... I wonder, if you have been here regularly... maybe with someone else?"

Jonathan rose his eyebrows. Now he knew what Alexandra was talking about. He realized that her question wasn´t unusual. They never had asked each other since Alexandra was back in his life again - if there was another partner in their lives, if they were already married with someone else.

“Oh, I see." Jonathan said and smiled lightly. “So you think, I already have been here with another woman?"

Alexandra bit her lower lip. She feared to have said something wrong now.

“Well..." she started, but Jonathan interrupted her.

“So, do you think, I´m engaged to another woman but spend a couple of days with you here at the same time?" Jonathan asked grinning and stuffed his hands into his pants pockets.

Now Jonathan looked like a big daring school boy, being accused of having done mischief - and Alexandra felt like the teacher who was now realizing she was wrong. Now, she felt really bad having this presumption but she also realized that Jonathan was evasive.

“Jonathan, I didn´t want to say that...," she started, but he interrupted her again.

“Come on, there is something, I want to show you.", he said grinning while putting on his coat.

Alexandra gazed at him, confused. So he wanted to end the conversation now and just leave it in its place?

“Jonathan, I think, we should clear this first, before doing something esle or going somewhere else." she said and now she could notice a light angry tone in her voice.

But Jonathan just smiled and stretched out his hand.

“Please Alex, come with me. What I´ll show you now will answer all your questions, I´m pretty sure."

Alexandra hesitated for a second and took a deep breath.

“Alright then." she finally said and gripped Jonathan´s hand.

Jonathan still was smiling and this irritated Alexandra even more when both left the room and Jonathan closed the door behind them.