Not My Diagnosis

Title: Not My Diagnosis {Sequel to "The Crane That Got Away"}
Author: Dr. Crane
Pairing: Wayne/Crane
Rating: X? Adult ++
Note:
-To all readers: I hope all of my very loyal fans are still around to see this. I finally found time and inspiration to write a sequel and I would love to hear from all of you again. This one /will/ be updated regularly. I didn't want to post it yet, but thought I should. The next update will be on the first of August. Please, let me know what you think, as always, or just drop me a line. I do miss you and I'm sorry I couldn't be consistent with my others, but this time will be different.
~Dr. Crane


I stood in front of the mansion entrance, my feet unable to move, my heart in similar condition. My hair blew across my face and skin flushed as the fire roared, and I couldn't do any more but stand there. The west wing collapsed in and some of the embers touched my skin. Ras and his men came running by and my existence in this reality set in again as I grabbed Ras by the arm and attempted to throw him to the ground, but he recaptured my arm and put me to my back, placing one knee on my chest. The frosty bite of steel stung against my neck, his eyes glimmering in the firelight. "Do not make me regret your life. Unlike you and that failure inside, my sympathy does not extend beyond myself. I will be the one spilling your blood in the end if your insolence persists."

My hand shot up and clutched his neck, my grip tightening every second. "Then kill me." There was a pause of consideration, but it was then that the rest of the building in front of us fell in, launching charcoal and burning scrap in all directions. He stood quickly and hauled my up by my lapels, dragging me towards the building.

He tossed my onto the staircase, the heat unbearable. "I give you this one final gift. Your death here together," he shouted over the bellow of flame. I watched him flee and into his car, then up at the sound of a large crack to see more of the structure about to fall on me. I picked myself up and fled into the inferno, for there I was safer and had some chance at life. The doorway quickly filled with flaming debris and my lungs with smoke. I am still amazed that I remained conscious. I covered my mouth and nose with my coat as I choked out what I had inhaled.

I ran through the shambled room, looking for any sign of life beyond the breath of fire. I stumbled into the hallway to the right and saw him; he was trapped. I started to run towards him when one of the support beams fell in my path. I couldn't see through the wall between us and tried to find a way around it. To my last resort I kicked the beam through and saw him rush off with Alfred. He was all right. He was alive at least. I sank to the floor for a moment, my blood rushing in a strained attempt to find relief from the pain of the heat.

I stood once more and ran back through the room and through a shattered window. I rolled along the ground, far enough away that the cool of the ground overwhelmed my body with relief. I heard more of the building collapse and felt the rubble of the approach crumble. I took a glance around for Ras and everything went dark.


~~*~~


I awoke with a shock, coughing. I looked around and found myself where I had lost consciousness. The building was still a wildfire, eating itself alive. It couldn't have been that long. I pulled myself to my feet and saw something approach. Nightmare. The plan! He ran up to me and I grabbed on, hauling myself up and off we rode. My chest was still tight and my vision blurred, but the I couldn't let the experiment go to waste. I donned my mask and rode off into the narrows.


~~*~~


'I hate that woman.' I sat on a skyscraper near Wayne Enterprises, waiting for the midnight train. I wanted to see if that arrogant fool could actually accomplish what he though. I rubbed each of my cheeks with two fingers, trying to bring the feeling and muscular functionality back. 'He must have given her the antidote. She will die soon, then he won't have to suffer those insufferable advances.' And there it was, right on time, though something wasn't quite right. Several hundred yards in front of the train the track collapsed away. I don't think that was in his plan. Just soon after the train had split in two. And oh? The Batman, in all of his glory, swooped out. And down went that conceited man in fateful irony.

I could feel my heart swoon slightly at the pleasant comfort of seeing him, but I couldn't help but hate it. I stood, silhouetted in the night light, watching him soar. He glanced up, and I'm not sure if he saw me, but I could feel his gaze acknowledge my presence, even if he didn't.

I made my way back through the building and down to the street. People were still rushing around like idiots, but for some reason, this experiment didn't seem to hold my attention. I thought back to the operation of getting all of the chemical into the water; the Batman. I know my punishment would have been much less legally related had we been alone and I wonder what he would have done when I hadn't been up to date in my antidote treatment. I smiled at the thought; the passionate torment. He was terrifying.

I walked along, hoping Nightmare had taken his heed and gone back to the stable. I thought back to the asylum and chuckled to myself. Locked up there. I bet he would have enjoyed the straight jacket. And those priceless words. 'Time to play.' It echoed in my mind as the plan so deliciously came to fruition. I stopped as something moved around me. A change in the environment. I couldn't get the smirk to leave my face.

"Time to play..." I spoke softly. I removed one of the larger canisters from my belt and opened it as I pulled my mask on. The fumes drifted up around me and I dropped it, a white cloud thoroughly enveloping me. I stood still and listened for him, the screams leaving my mind as I focused on only him.