Part 8 is the calm before the storm, just saying *insert evil author cackle.*

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The next time Charlize visited Arkham, it was with her students on an educational visit.

By then, the revamp project was complete, and Arkham no longer seemed the desolate asylum it once had been.

With the construction all wrapped up and the therapy rooms functional, Arkham's status was finally elevated to that of a proper mental health facility. As a result, it started receiving attention from the city council and became a topic of discussion by the press as well.

At that point, everything seemed to be going in Jonathan Crane's favor and finally, like the asylum that he had restored, he was cementing a significant place in his field.

He was openly acknowledged as the best psychiatrist in Gotham, a man who had transformed Arkham from a neglected prison to a fully functioning mental health institution. The rest of his colleagues, other psychiatrists and researchers who didn't quite like him for his methods, could also not deny that he had somehow made the impossible possible.

However, not many people knew about the struggle that went into achieving that almost impossible. And certainly no one knew about his deal with Carmine Falcone. As a result, most of Gotham was awed by his zeal and sheer determination to transform Arkham and steer it to a new era of development and progress. No one had cared to ask where he got all the financial investment and the manpower required for that execution.

Jonathan took all that appreciation with a pinch of salt. He knew that all those people still didn't approve of him, they just couldn't go against him because now he held a respectable position in society.

His opinion was respected at the city court and when it came to Arkham, he held all the power and authority. Going against him now would be idiocy.

To set old records straight, Gotham University had also extended their support toward him by approving half yearly student visits to Arkham. Jonathan didn't know whether it was done begrudgingly by Doctor Hargrave or if Charlize was right and the department was actually becoming more receptive toward clinical studies and practical research under the mostly younger faculty members.

Nevertheless, that day a visit was scheduled and Miguel was spearheading the operation that nothing at Arkham would be out of order. Jonathan had already discussed with an educational committee at the university about what areas would be permissible for visit and which would be off limits.

So he easily got the basement and the top security cells ruled out of the visit, stating a concern for student safety. According to him, the basement laboratory functioned on strict confidentiality to ensure that every patient received the utmost care and proper medication. On the other hand, it was rather understandable why he didn't want any student near the prison cells as the patients housed there were volatile and could be a danger to them.

With those ground rules set, all that was left for him to do was to wait for Charlize and her students.

Right on the dot, at the time discussed earlier for the commencement of the visit, the students and their professor were standing outside Arkham. Miguel opened up the gate, leading them in and Jonathan himself was standing to receive them.

Deep down, he felt nervous but seeing her gentle features and how much she trusted that visit would go well, he let himself relax.

There was nothing to worry about, he reassured himself for what seemed to be the thirtieth time since that morning but as his eyes connected with Charlize's, the worries began to slowly dissolve.

"Welcome to Arkham Asylum," he greeted the guests, his voice switching into a calm and professional tone. "I am Jonathan Crane, the Head Psychiatrist at Arkham. I hope this educational visit proves to be insightful for you all."

He could sense a mixed response from the students assembled before him. Some of them were nervous, some looked bored and very few seemed genuinely interested. But he bottled that feeling of dislike that simmered inside him. 

He had to get done with the visit and the sooner he wrapped it up, the better it would be.

Charlize made an attempt to dissolve the tension between the group and the stoic figure who was supposed to be their host for the day. "Thank you so much for hosting us, Doctor Crane. The students are very eager to see the changes you have implemented to Arkham." 

"I can see that," he remarked with a cold smile but then added, "I think we should begin. Please keep your questions for the end. And I will request you to refrain from any photography or digital recording whatsoever. You can takes notes if you want to."

At his stern voice, the students quickly put away their phones and Charlize also checked that no one was discreetly taking any pictures or videos. 

He nodded at Miguel as he and the group passed by the reception. On that silent gesture, Miguel counted the students in attendance, noting down in a small notebook. 

The group followed Doctor Crane through the hall, struck by the stark difference of the internal environment from the asylum's former reputation. 

Instead of a desolate prison, it was thriving as a mental health facility. The only strange thing about it was the lack of staff as it seemed like even then not many people wanted to work there.

"We have implemented comprehensive treatment protocols and innovative therapeutic techniques, all with the goal of rehabilitating our patients and reintegrating them back into society. This way, please."

As they walked through the pristine halls, he pointed out the various amenities Arkham now included—a modern infirmary, a well-equipped recreational area, and even a newly constructed art therapy studio. The students listened raptly, their initial apprehension slowly giving way to a sense of professional curiosity.

"Of course, the security and safety of our staff and patients remains our top priority," Crane interjected. "All visitors are subject to thorough screening, according to security protocols. If you weren't Doctor Thorne's students, I would have to put you all through the same procedure for other visitors."

Charlize felt slightly flustered, "If there was such a requirement, you should have kept it up. None of us would mind."

"It's time consuming." He brushed it off, adding in a low voice so only she could hear him as she was walking close to him compared to the rest of the group, "I trust you to ensure that your students stay in line."

"Of course, you won't have to worry about that."

As they were passing by the top security wing, he spoke up, "This area is off limits since it's the top security wing where most of the faces you see in the Gotham Gazette are residing. For your safety and their peace, we will skip this wing. Please come up ahead."

The students held their collective breath, their eyes wide with a mixture of fascination and dread as they passed by the wing that housed Gotham's most notorious criminals. 

He redirected the group's attention to the newly added therapy rooms, explaining the additions they had incorporated within. The students caught glimpses of patients engaged in various therapeutic activities, their expressions calm and focused. They could watch them from afar as Jonathan insisted on maintaining a safe distance and did not let them step inside the therapy rooms. 

The atmosphere, still tinged with an underlying unease, felt remarkably more serene and welcoming than the students had anticipated.

"I hope you've gained a better understanding of the challenges and complexities involved in caring for the mentally unstable." He concluded the tour as they had returned to the main hall. "Mental health is a serious issue in this city and to be a psychiatrist in this day and age, you always have to be on your toes. I hope you take career seriously and get involved in the field at a practical level. We are constantly in need of talented, dedicated individuals who share our passion for helping the most vulnerable members of our society."

Then, he turned to Charlize, gesturing her to take the lead.

Her eyes swept over the students, doing a headcount. Once she was sure they were all there, she remarked, "Now, if any of you have any questions, feel free to ask."

A heavy silence engulfed the group as they were too hesitant to say anything. 

Their professor tried to encourage them, "No questions? That's not a very good impression you all are giving to Doctor Crane. In our field, questions are a given."

"Indeed," Jonathan added, managing a polite smile, "If you don't question things around you, you fail to understand their significance."

A hand shot up from the back, and Crane nodded to the student, allowing him to ask. 

"Are all people housed in Arkham criminally insane or does the facility provide care to other lenient cases too?"

A basic question, he thought. But of course, he had to answer. 

"Currently, most of the patients in here have a criminal background. Since Arkham has just recently started working as a facility for all, regardless of their background, there are a few exceptions who are enrolled only for treatment purposes and not detained by law. I hope that answers your question."

Another hand went up although a bit nervously.

"You mentioned the top security wing on our way here," the student began, his voice carrying a hint of trepidation. "Have you revamped it too or is it just full of prison cells like earlier?"

His eyes flickered to the student, cold as always, but with a slight caution. "At this point, we must understand that a patient is still a patient, no matter how dangerous. The level of care provided to them differs slightly, that's all. Therefore, at Arkham, we no longer have prison cells. Each cell is an area allocated to the patient according to their needs."

"But if they are dangerous..."

Jonathan interrupted the question, "Rest assured, every precaution has been taken to ensure the safety of both our staff and our patients. Next question."

Charlize noticed the shift in his tone and she gestured to another student to ask her question instead. "Do you think mental disorders have a lot to do with their crimes?"

He paused but then replied, "Yes. For most patients here, their mental disorders are a massive influence on their crimes. Especially schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline and antisocial personality disorder. They either don't understand what we consider as bad, or they were too unwell to know that it's wrong. In some cases, the patient has been damaged due to substance use or psychosis, losing their sense of reality. Although I am not allowed to share further due to confidentiality protocol."

At last, Charlize asked, "I was wondering about the treatment methods you use here. I noticed the art therapy studio, but what other innovative approaches have you implemented?"

He nodded, satisfied with that question. "I'm glad you asked. In addition to traditional talk therapy and pharmacological interventions, we've incorporated various sensory-based therapies, including music, aromatherapy, and even virtual reality simulations. The goal is to address the multi-faceted psychological needs of our patients."

However, she had another question as well, "What measures have you taken to ensure patient confidentiality and privacy? Given the sensitive nature of the work you do here, I imagine there are significant ethical considerations to navigate."

His eyes met hers, subtly judging her expression to see if she was asking out of curiosity or suspicion. "Ah, yes, patient confidentiality is of the utmost importance. We have stringent protocols in place, including secure record-keeping and restricted access to patient files." 

His tone was matter-of-fact, but there was an undercurrent of tension. Part of him had wanted to brush off the question and change the subject. But he knew that would only raise more suspicions.

"Furthermore, all research and experimental treatments are subject to rigorous ethical review and approval." He resumed carefully, "Any experimental approaches are thoroughly reviewed and approved by a government appointed medical ethics board. The well-being of our patients is our top priority and I would never compromise on the integrity of this institution."

A murmur of interest rippled through the audience, and he waited patiently for the next question. But the silence indicated no one was willing to ask. So he thought it best to end the tour then and there.

"I hope I've been able to provide you with a glimpse into the important work we do here at Arkham. Please, feel free to reach out if you have any other inquiries." However, nothing about his demeanor conveyed that he would be happy to engage with them a second time.

"Thank you so much," Charlize added, "All of us appreciate the thoroughly detailed tour you gave us."

He nodded, eyes softening as he looked at her but there was no such softness in his demeanor for the students. It was clear he wanted them to leave as soon as possible. "You're welcome."

She felt that stiffness on his part too so she asked the students to wait for her outside in the bus. As they filed out of the asylum, she turned to face Jonathan.

"If you had any prior commitment, you could have told us."

"Why do you ask?" He feigned ignorance as he questioned her with a smile.

"You felt... A little uneasy—disinterested even," she replied, concern flickering in her eyes. "And I can't help but notice that you're exhausted. We could easily have rescheduled."

He shook his head, his thoughts unwillingly deviating to the upcoming commitment with the Demon Head. Of course, he was exhausted and couldn't recall the last time he slept through the night. Aside from working at Arkham he was now involved in something much darker. 

"No, it's better that we got done with this visit now. I have no time for the next three months."

"Oh..." She sighed softly, the questions she wanted to ask from him but was holding back easily evident to him through her transparent eyes.

"Look, I was not bothered by you and your students coming here for the trip," he elaborated, "It's just that interacting with people, especially those who are part of my field but not using it to the full potential, ticks me off."

She paused, trying to figure out what exactly did he mean by that. "What do you mean?"

He shrugged, "Well, Charlize, pardon me but most of them are duller than pond scum."

She looked slightly taken aback, "Jonathan!"

"I am sorry, I really am. But I simply had to say that." It seemed he felt much better after getting that remark out of his system. "Did you even hear their questions? I was expecting something more intellectual from students at this level."

"They are still my students. Insulting them like that means insulting me," she remarked, shaking her head in disapproval as her lips pursed together.

He paused, but then quickly added upon realizing that he had offended her, "Oh no, no. That's definitely not what I meant. I take my words back."

"Good." Finally, a smile threatened to break out on her face at his immediate response to take back his words. But she controlled it, giving him the impression that his careless remark had irked her. "You shouldn't say things like that about anyone though regardless."

"Come on, Charlize, I would never insult you or... Or anyone," he noticed her failing attempts to control that smile but added nevertheless, not wanting her to be angry at him.

Usually, he wouldn't care what the other person thought about him but for Charlize, he couldn't help making an exception.

From behind the reception desk, Miguel watched as Jonathan talked to her, a smile on his face and his always alert demeanor seeming comparatively more relaxed. 

It was hard not to notice the chemistry between them.

Something about Jonathan changed in her presence. He would be more amiable, his actions felt genuine rather than layered with a polite formality, and his eyes seemed to follow her around with almost a reverent admiration.

Feeling his observant gaze on him, Jonathan tilted his head in his direction but Miguel quickly busied himself.

After Charlize left, he came to the desk, his arms folding at the wooden top, blue eyes piercing through the man in front of him. "Did you want to say something to me, Miguel?"

He was startled but tried to control it. "Uh... No... I mean, yes."

"What is it?"

He paused, trying to guess Jonathan's mood before speaking up. But as always, he found an impassive look on the psychiatrist's face that cleverly hid his emotions.

"Doctor Crane, I wanted to invite you to have tea with us. I mean, at my house with my family..."

Jonathan had not expected that, "You're inviting me?"

"Yes. When we first met, I meant it when I said we would love to have you over for tea," he elaborated, motivated by the fact that Jonathan hadn't refused him outright. "Gloria keeps asking me if you'd ever visit or not."

Silence engulfed them as Jonathan contemplated his words. At last, he spoke up, "That's... Very kind of you. I hadn't expected that."

"We're neighbors and you've also helped me out at a difficult time."

He paused, a ghost of a smile playing upon his lips. "Ah, so you wish to thank me?"

"Yes, something like that."

"Miguel, I did not help you out in any way. Instead, you're the one here who has helped me out tremendously," Jonathan's tone softened, the suspicion that clung to his features dissolved as well. "If it hadn't been for you, my project and my vision for Arkham would be in shambles by now."

"But... But I have done nothing out of my job requirements..." Miguel was getting flustered by then, certainly not expecting Jonathan to be appreciative of his work.

"Well, you have done everything that has exceeded my expectations. All I could do was bring in the investment and initiate the project. You're the one who made it possible by managing it so well. If there's anyone who should be grateful, that's me."

Miguel didn't know whether it was the aftermath of Charlize's presence or if Jonathan was really in a much pleasant mood to admit that so easily. Not used to compliments, he felt the need to change the topic.

"Then, I would be obliged if you come over for tea," he tried one last time, hoping Jonathan would agree.

He observed the man in front of him, knowing he was genuinely inviting him and had no other intentions. So he nodded his head, much to his neighbor's relief, "Alright. How about tomorrow evening then?"

"Perfect."

***

The doorbell rang and young Gregory Hanson sprung up to answer it. Behind him, Seth crawled on the carpet, eager to see who had come to their house.

As the door opened, Jonathan instinctively stepped back, seeing the two kids. For some reason, he felt an instant revulsion to children. The little humans were so capable of ruining things with the slightest of push or tug of their limbs.

A nuisance, as he would often state to himself.

"Hello, Uncle Jonathan!" Greg's bright smile showed a missing tooth and he held his hand out for him to shake.

He paused, taken aback at how casually the child greeted him, making no attempt to take the chubby hand. "Uncle?"

"Come in please," Greg opened the door wider, taking Seth's arm and pulling him back. "Mom, Dad, the Doc is here!"

A wave of excitement buzzed through the household at that announcement. The elder Hansons were setting the table and hearing the remark, Miguel came to the door, bringing him in.

He noticed that the house was slightly messy, indicating that the couple had mischievous children. A young girl was curled up on the couch, reading from a dark leather bound book but at her father's voice, she looked up and saw him with their neighbor.

Jonathan had forgotten her name although he remembered seeing her with the Hansons the first time they met. Macy? Marie? Millie? The name had simply slipped from his memory.

"Molly," Miguel remarked, furnishing the answer himself. "And this is Greg, then Seth. And our little ones, William and Amanda."

Apparently, there had been very recent additions to the Hanson family—twins sleeping peacefully in their cot for the time being. When awake, their cries would take the house by storm.

Jonathan couldn't even imagine having a single child and yet his neighbor had five already.

Too much responsibility, he thought, no wonder Miguel's eager to work any jobs he can...

Gloria came out of the kitchen and they exchanged a polite greeting. Jonathan mentioned that he appreciated their hospitality a lot and she smiled warmly, urging him to take a seat at the table.

His neighbors were far too friendly, he thought but then dismissed it.

Sitting with them to have tea was something he couldn't have imagined earlier. But then, life was unexpected and there he was at their apartment.

It was kind of endearing to see that despite all the chaos, the Hansons were a happy family, as close to normal as he could get to experience in a city as gloomy as Gotham.

They made him feel welcome too even though he was so strikingly different from them. Yet they all treated him as if he had visited them a few times earlier as well and it was a rather normal occurrence to have him over for tea.

Molly came to the table as well, putting her book beside her. Seth and Greg were playing in the living room and the twins were sound asleep.

As she put the book there, Jonathan noticed the title and it sparked his curiosity. "Are you reading Edgar Allen Poe?"

She looked up, not expecting him to ask her anything. "Yes..."

"Stories or poems?"

"Stories."

"I'm more inclined to reading his poetry but I've read some of his short stories too," he remarked, not noticing that both Miguel and Gloria were pleasantly surprised that he and their very reclusive Molly were interacting.

Her eyes sparkled in interest, "Really? Which one was your favorite?" 

"The Cask of Amontillado," he replied, "Have you read that one?"

"Yes!" 

By then, Jonathan finally got a topic he could talk on and Molly also seemed more forthcoming after discovering he had read Poe. He eased up further with the family, pushing out the unwanted thoughts and voices as he only focused on them.

Tea felt somewhat more bearable.

Jonathan was listening to Molly tell him about her favorite story when a commotion from the living room interrupted them. Miguel went to check and soon the boys came up behind him.

Seth was in tears while Greg was clutching a teddy bear torn at the neck, its cotton pooling out.

Gloria shook her head, "Boys, sit over here. You two fight all the time."

"Gweg tore my teddy," the younger boy sniffled, holding his arms up to his mother who lifted him up, setting him down in her lap as she tried to distract him by a cake piece. 

However, Jonathan's attention was focused on the torn teddy bear.

He tried to recall the boy's name who was clutching it then spoke up, "Gregory, can I have a look at this?"

"It's torn. And I didn't tear it, Seth did," Greg pouted but handed it over.

Jonathan tilted the sorry form of the torn teddy bear in his hands, an idea taking root as he observed it. He hadn't expected tea with the Hansons would end up solving one of the biggest problems he was dealing with recently.

"It can be sewn back, right?" He asked Gloria, handing the toy back to the boy.

"Yes, I will look after it," she replied, beckoning Greg to give her the stuffed bear. "A little more stuffing and a thread and needle will make it as good as new."

Jonathan nodded, changing the topic as he turned to Miguel, talking about the Asylum.

The gears in his brain were turning. He had gone into partnership with Ra's Al Ghul and formulated a fear toxin for which the main ingredient was a blue flower grown in Nanda Parbat. He had figured out a way to turn the powdered flower into a hallucinogen that could induce people's worst fears.

As a result, he was supposed to receive a shipment of those flowers for mass production but they were stuck on how to bring that shipment to the city without alerting anyone about its contents.

But looking at the torn teddy bear in Greg's hands, Jonathan felt his problem had been solved.

He had to talk to the representatives of the League of Shadows about sending the flowers inside sewn up teddy bears.

***

Hehehe we are at a turning point and I can't wait to go further.

If y'all have watched Batman Begins, the last scene would make more sense to you since this is an entire plotline in the DC Nolanverse. Jonathan smuggled the main ingredient of fear toxin in teddy bears and I simply had to write how he got that inspiration.

I hope you guys enjoy reading it.

See you soon with the next update!

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