Part 6

"Professor Crane?" Willow said, approaching the terrified man carefully. "Jonathan?"

"Yes child?"

"There is a room back here where you'll be safe."

"Safe?"

She smiled gently slowly extending her hand to him. He took hers and let her lead him into the storeroom where I assume she left him. She smiled sadly at us and waited quietly while I sent Batman the message through Oracle.

"He'll be here as soon as he can be."

"Good thing you're travelling in Mr. Waynes private plane and not via a commercial airline," Giles remarked.

"Tell them to come in from the car," I said to Tim. "I'd better wait until the Bat arrives."

Dick called the airport and told the pilots to remain on standby, while our quiet conversation wait was punctuated by noisy, fear filled whimpers from the storeroom.

"We'll lift the spell once Batman has him," I said to Willow.

She nodded, her eyes glancing sadly at the storeroom door every now and then.

Batman came but Willow had to put the handcuffs on The Scarecrow. Nobody else could get close without him howling in fear and the noise just wasn't worth it. She convinced him that Batman wouldn't hurt him and when Batman nodded that he had a good hold of the man Willow ended the fear spell.

The change was instant. Instead of cowering, he began to rage, thrashing about in Batman's grip. With a curt nod, the Dark Knight disappeared into the night.

The heavy silence continued to weigh on us until we arrived at the airport. "I'm sorry that you had to do that Will. Cast that spell and all," I said to her as we all got out. She was taking the car home to her house for the next four days, then picking mum, dawn and I up when we came home.

"I'm sorry that he escaped. What a horrible way to live for three weeks. In the Sunnydale sewers scared of your own shadow."

"It's over now," Dick said quietly.

"Yeah. Well, at least it won't recur in the bloodstream like his fear toxin does."

"That's true. Well you guys have a great holiday and I'll see you when you get back." I hugged Willow then took Dicks hand as we walked into the airport.

Some hours later we arrived safely in Gotham where Alfred picked us up in the stretch limo, much to my mother and sisters astonishment.

Alfred apologised that Master Bruce wouldn't be meeting us but that he was being kept at the office by an emergency. Behind him I saw the Batsignal clear in the sky above Gotham.

I had just put the phone down after talking to Cassandra and Barbara for more than an hour and was making my way to the lounge room to join the others.

"Miss Summers?" Alfred called quietly, beckoning me closer.

I walked away from the lounge room doorway and over to Alfred. "What is it?"

"Master Bruce telephoned. They will be taking The Scarecrow back to Arkham Asylum soon. He thought you might like to know."

"Yes. Thank you Alfred. Dick? Could we go for a short drive?" I called out as I went back to the lounge room.

"Where to?" he said, standing up and making his way across the room to me.

"To Arkham Asylum," I answered, taking his hand in mine and looking at it. I like the look of it. His hands are larger than mine, and callused from his early years in the circus and his life as Robin then Nightwing. I don't want to fall in love. It hurts too much. I looked up at him again and quietly said, "For closure."

After I watched The Scarecrow enter the doors of Arkham I relaxed. "They always try to take my town. When will they learn?" I asked looking away from the terrible sight of Arkham Asylum. I'm grateful that it didn't take the death of a family member to bring me into this life. I don't have to like what it has taken from me but I know that if I were given the opportunity to change my path I wouldn't. I don't like the person I was in LA before I became the Slayer. So shallow it makes me nauseous to think about it. I have no idea what sort of good I would have been to society as that person. I may complain about how awkward my life can be but I wouldn't change it. And I think these new friends will make it that much easier.

"Probably about the same time they learn that Gotham is Batman's town." He was quiet for a few moments. I think he was watching me trying not to look up at Arkham. "Time to go home Buffy."

"Home?" I asked, confused, lost in my own thoughts.

"Wayne Manor. For Thanksgiving. Alfred roasts the best turkey..." Dick coaxed me back to the car.

I was silent on the journey back to the Manor, still lost in my thoughts. I don't understand the 'criminally insane'. Neither does anyone else obviously but they're even more strange than the demons and squidgy, scary, nightmarish things I deal with almost as often as I deal with people.

After the huge Thanksgiving meal, I fell asleep cuddled up to Dick on the sofa while we all watched a movie.

I woke up with a start. Strange room. Big room. Someone tapping gently at the door. "Uh... come in?"

Alfred came in smiling, staying close by the door. "Good morning Miss Summers. I trust you slept well?"

"Yes."

"Master Bruce asked me to tell you that he'd been called into the office and apologises that he isn't here to take you and your family into Gotham today."

"Does Master Bruce know what a telephone is Alfred?" I asked, rubbing my eyes sleepily.

"Yes Miss," Alfred said, confusion on his face.

"Does he know how to use one cause I'm sure you have plenty to do today," I chuckled.

Alfred smiled warmly. "It's habit I think Miss. Breakfast will be served in twenty minutes."

"Thank you Alfred. Oh, and dinner was fabulous. Thank you."

"All part of the service Miss."

"Told you Alfred roasted a mean turkey," Dick said from the doorway. Dick must have seen my bewildered looks around the room. "I carried you up last night. Your mum put you to bed."

"Ah," I said, stretching my arms a little.

"Breakfast is better than dinner so be ready when it's served or Tim will eat it all. I'll save you a place at the table," he said, pulling the door shut as he left.