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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LoqTM9v20
"Be careful, okay?" Dave had warned her. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiy3EiqDHy1
"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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqwjxFAL68
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOhCbcI0Jh
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... 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6Gd6ZN2eV
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nS4Sfzesb
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3l3Dv1AS6
"You've probably had a lot of questions lately, Julia," Dr. Crane began, taking a sip of his own coffee. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDZBlG2HCW
"But that doesn't make what I did today right," she said guiltily. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHJwXv4D4F
"Well, either way, you'll have your answers. So, go ahead, ask me a question." He raised his eyebrows expectantly. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsF76qBhKJZ
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." 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjo4R1q5Bh4
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." 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nMvy0xwsS
"Your...what?" 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZQ5hBsomA
"My mask. I often use it as a form of therapy when I go in to talk to the patients." 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiToTzrdGi
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oN0L1kH9u
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." 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIc87fMNDCm
But why would he want to enhance their fears? "Oh... Maybe I do understand now. It provides a form of ventilation for them, right?" 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLjkymIDg5
"Well, if you wanted to call it that, I guess you could. I could show you how it works later, if you'd like." 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j1rFQReFH
Julia hesitated, but then nodded. "Sure. A picture's worth a thousand words. But...you mean tonight?" 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUpexgzoFU
"No time like the present," he said simply. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDoTZgKCNI
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIZLFrYhJK
"Only it can't be here," he said, lowering his voice. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDOD5ocRJj
"Why not?" Julia asked. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50jTikjr5M
"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." 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rh2jI726m
"Right..." She patted the knife in her pocket under the table--just in case, she'd said. Just in case. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PNxqIhalf
"But before we do, any more questions in particular?" 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBkL0bD6oW
"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?" 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEZxgO2Z9b
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." 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfCdlsyOhM
Julia had a hard time swallowing her last sips of espresso. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TSwaqPsi3
"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." 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85l9lWmy99
"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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51yOiFnx7o
Dr. Crane smiled at her and squeezed back. "Just say Jonathan. We're not at work, after all." 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxIvNFWhgH
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCThubBBTM
Jonathan finished his coffee, then exhaled contentedly. "So does that answer everything?" 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡel5JnM6aED
"I think so," Julia nodded slowly. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo48ocxQ6kT
"But what about you, Julia?" 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlvh8hgIhl
"Me? What do you--"827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOPTKrQ4ts
"What are you afraid of?" He leaned forward on his knuckles. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjHRgubcoB
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." 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2cAnXYo9C
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlJufK8dqk
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarzmw00rye
She would have to make a decision about whether or not to trust him, and make it fast.
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZS5U1djXK
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