Ginny eyed her jealously, feeling ten times grungier because she was looking at someone freshly scrubbed. She could still smell the faint echo of smoke on her skin and could feel the barest hint of grime on her belly and back, and it turned her stomach. She hoped it would be her turn for a bath today. Though she wasn't exactly comfortable with the thought of another person washing her, she knew it had to be done. Lindsay, on the other hand, had pitched such a holy hell-fit over another person touching her that the nurse allowed her to bath herself-one-handed.

"What is it now, String Bean?" Nurse Goletz asked tiredly."And be quick about it. I'm in a hurry."

"I can see that," Lindsay informed her bluntly. She stopped when she saw Nurse Goletz's hackles begin to rise and her lips thin. Taking a calming breath, she tried for diplomacy."How about you let me feed Ginny," so I don't have to watch that disgusting oatmeal concoction pouring down her chin, "and then you can tend to your other patients?"

The nurse blinked. She hasn't expected that offer from String Bean, who barely said a word to any of the medical staff except for the occasional request for pain medication. She'd been switched to laudanum today."I don't know..." The nurse rubbed her jaw in contemplation. She'd scolded that new nurse up one side and down the other when she'd found String Bean and Ginny's beds pushed together the day before. Not only was it wholly indecent in its appearance, but, even if it was an emergency, a patient shouldn't be asked to assist with another patient's care. That was improper.

Ginny's eyes lit up at Lindsay's suggestion. I might get to eat like a human being instead of a starving wolf."Please, Nurse Goletz," she begged, her voice stronger than the day before."I know that... um... String Bean would do a good job. And that you have far more important duties to attend to than feeding me."

Lindsay smiled at Ginny's use of her nickname. She knew the younger woman hated it for some reason but was inordinately pleased that she hadn't shared her real name with the nurse. It wasn't as though it was a secret. It just wasn't any of the hospital's business who the hell she was. If 'String Bean' was good enough for her, it would have to be good enough for them. Besides, she liked the way her real name sounded when Ginny said it, and she didn't have the slightest interest in hearing it otherwise.

"Well," the nurse paused as she looked into Ginny's pleading eyes. She sighed."I suppose since it's a non-medical task it would be all right. We are busy."

"You truly are," Ginny intoned seriously, biting back an enormous grin."Thank you."

Lindsay began to sit up as the nurse eased herself off her perch on Ginny's bed.

The redhead watched silently as Lindsay bit her lip to keep from crying out as she shifted until she could swing her feet around to the side of the bed and stand. Ginny instantly felt a pang of guilt. How can I be so selfish?

The nurse handed Lindsay the bowl of porridge and spoon and a cloth."The doctor will be by to see you soon, String Bean."

"You said that yesterday. And the day before," Lindsay grumbled.

"He'll be here today."

"Is it my turn yet?" a woman eight beds down called out to the nurse. Both her arms were in casts and she had a pitiful look plastered across her face.

Nurse Goletz bit back a nasty retort and began to push her cart filled with bowls of breakfast down the aisle."Yes, yes. It's your turn, Mrs. Adolf."

Lindsay sat down on Ginny's bed and Ginny instantly reached out and laid her bandaged hand on Lindsay's arm."You're hurting this morning," she whispered, her voice full of concern."I should have told the nurse that she could keep feeding me."

"I'm fine."

"You're sure?"

Lindsay's eyes softened."My side is just tender and the stitches are starting to itch," she assured. A smirk began pulling at the edges of her mouth.

"What's so funny?"Ginny questioned suspiciously, sitting up a little straighter and preparing to open her mouth like a hungry baby bird if necessary.

"You. There is food all over your chin."

"Well, scoop it up and feed it to me, for God's sake." She opened her mouth so wide Lindsay could see her tonsils."I'm starving."

Lindsay chuckled but ignored the request and took a moment to clean Ginny's face and throw away her food-covered bib. Only then did she give Ginny a fresh bite of porridge from the bowl. "Open wide for the choo choo."

"Funny stuff, Potato Head. Especially... mmm..." Ginny hummed in delight.

Lindsay's face twisted in revulsion."You actually like this?" She lifted a big spoonful of the gray mixture up to the light and made a loud gagging noise.

Ginny swallowed slowly, sighing at how much better that felt on her throat than rushing it down."No, this is the most vile porridge I've ever tasted, but I'm hungry so I'm not picky. If you think I'm a messy eater you wouldn't believe Jane. She-" Ginny abruptly stopped as she realized what she was going to say. Jane. James and Lewis. Where are you? She closed her eyes to stop the leaking of the tears she could feel welling up.

"You'll find her, Ginny. You'll find all of them. I know it."

Ginny nodded. I will not cry. I've already cried enough. She could hear Lindsay holding her breath, waiting to see if she would be blubbering again, and that was enough to help her firm her resolve. She opened her eyes."Yes. I will."With your help.

Lindsay smiled.

The rest of the bowl was emptied in silence, and when Lindsay was done she wiped Ginny's face once more and set the bowl on the floor between their beds, groaning when she straightened."Now that that's over I won't lose my breakfast watching you trying to eat your breakfast."

"Very funny." But Ginny couldn't help but smile.

"I... umm..." Lindsay looked around self-consciously."I have a favor to ask you, Ginny."She licked her lips nervously.

Ginny's eyebrows jumped."You do?"

Lindsay nodded. "Unless you don't want-"

"No! No. You've been so kind to me," she explained in a rush. "I'll do anything I can." She lifted her hands and looked at them ruefully."But I can't do much without these."

"You don't need hands for this. I can hold it."Lindsay swallowed and looked down."It's okay if you laugh. I-"

"Whatever it is, I won't laugh."I'll bite my tongue through if I have to.

"Okay."Lindsay reached out with her good hand and pulled her hospital chart from the holder at the foot of her bed, presenting it to Ginny."Can you tell me what they did to me? They said surgery but nobody will come and tell me what."

Ginny frowned and turned her concerned gaze on Lindsay."Your eyes...are they?"

Lindsay shook her head, sending her hair scattering across her shoulders. With an annoyed hand she pushed a stray lock out of her eyes, wishing for her long gone cap. "My eyes are fine."She held the medical chart closer."Please?"

"I can try. But I don't know that I'll understand the medical terms."

"That's okay." Lindsay smiled self-consciously. She knew that Ginny understood now and felt confident the girl wouldn't laugh."I won't understand any of it unless it's my name, a railway map, or a city name."

"Can you open it?"

Lindsay laid it on her lap and opened the thin metal lid, exposing the lined papers covered in scribbles beneath."Hey," she pointed to the top line. "That says 'woman'." She knew that from the signs on outhouses.

"It sure does. Guess that officially rules out jackass, huh?"

Lindsay burst out laughing, causing several women to look up from their breakfasts."No, Ginny. I wouldn't say that exactly. What else does it say?" she asked anxiously.

Ginny's face went very serious as she read. Several times she visibly flinched."Here it says puncture wounds and multiple lacerations, most likely canine in origin."

Lindsay looked confused.

"Dog bites," Ginny clarified, not looking too happy."And cuts and scratches, I think."

Lindsay rolled her eyes."No shit. Tell me something I don't know."

Ginny looked around the room as though the "curse word police" would jump out and arrest them at any second."Don't say that!"

"Say what?"Lindsay grinned unrepentantly.

Ginny narrowed her eyes but continued to read. "Concussion."

"Cracked open my head. Got it."

"Two fractured ribs, one broken rib. Ouch. And fractures of the third and fourth... meta... meta." She sighed."If I had a dictionary..."

"Never mind," Lindsay dismissed."Gotta be my fingers. They're the other thing broken that I know of."She held up her hand, showing off scratches that ran from her wrist to elbow that were still red and raw.

"Mmm... true," Ginny acknowledged."This says a shifting of your broken rib after you arrived at the hospital resulted in ruptured spleen and then after it-" She looked up from the chart."Can you turn the page?"

Lindsay blinked."Yeah, yeah, sure."

Ginny read a few more lines before going very still. Her voice took on a solemn note and she looked up again at Lindsay before saying, "After ruptured spleen it says you required a sple.. sple... splenectomy."

"What the hell is that?" Lindsay roared in alarm.

"Shhh." Ginny looked around again, wincing at the disapproving frowns thrown their way by several women."Are you crazy?"

"I dunno. Does having a splenectomy cause that? Because if so, then I probably am!" I'm feeding strangers for Christ's sake. Isn't that proof enough?

"Calm down, will you?"She carefully laid both hands over the chart, closing it. "I think it means they removed your spleen."

"You mean cut out my spleen, don't you?" Lindsay corrected angrily."Then again, if it was something critical I guess I'd be dead by now."

Ginny stiffened."That's not funny."

Lindsay paled."I guess it's not."

"We'll ask the doctor when he comes." She held up a hand to forestall Lindsay's words."He will come. Eventually."He has to, doesn't he?

Lindsay gathered up the chart and moved back to her bed, lying down.

Ginny didn't want her to go but didn't feel as though she could ask her to stay either. She shifted onto her side and looked at her friend."It can't be too bad, Lindsay." Her heart clenched at the thought of something being seriously wrong with the young woman whom she'd come to think of as a friend."You're getting better, not worse, right?" There was a hint of pleading in Ginny's voice that Lindsay couldn't help but respond to.

Lindsay carefully rolled onto her side so that they were facing each other, the two feet between the beds all that separated them. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Right. I can move around a little today."

Neither woman could think of anything to say and Ginny cast around desperately for a change of subject."What made you think I could read your chart?" Ginny asked finally, fully aware that over half the population, including her parents, couldn't have.

Lindsay thought about that for a moment. Why did she? Ginny was in a charity hospital just as she was, which meant she probably hadn't had the luxury of much schooling. "I dunno." She shrugged."You just seemed smart, I guess."

Ginny smiled weakly at the compliment but wasn't willing to let it go yet."It has nothing to do with being smart, Lindsay. I didn't have to start work until after the eleventh grade. It's just a matter of being taught. Anyone can learn," she hinted.

"I know," Lindsay said amiably, tossing her chart to the foot of her bed."Maybe I will someday."

Ginny nodded approvingly.

"Now answer me a question. Why did you ask me to help you find your family?"

Ginny didn't even stop to think as the words tumbled out."Because I'm scared out of my ever-lovin' mind. You helped me when there was no one else who could."

Lindsay's eyes widened.

"You seemed smart to me too, in every way. Not just street smart. Though I'm guessing you're experienced in things that I'll need to know, seeing as how I'm sure I'm jobless and I know I'm homeless." Ginny's eyes twinkled."I believe deep in my heart that I can trust you."

"Ummm..." Lindsay's jaw sagged. She thinks I'm smart? How does she know she can trust me? Maybe I'm only being nice so that I can steal her coat!

Ginny flushed at the dumbfounded, but pleased look on her companion's face."Does that answer your question?"

"Yeah."Lindsay could scarcely believe the kind words and she felt her own skin heat."That answers my question."

Twelve days later.

Ginny slowly slipped on her coat and leaned against the small slab of wall between her and Lindsay's beds. She was wearing a donated, plain gray dress that was a little too small and a pair of brown leather shoes that were a little too big. The heavy bandages had been removed from her hands two days ago and though they still hurt, they were mostly healed and functional. Now only a light layer of gauze covered them.

The doctor had matter-of-factly explained that some scar tissue would remain, but that since she would likely end up working in a factory, squeezing out a dozen children before she was thirty, or washing clothes for a living, the beauty of her hands would be short-lived anyway. He didn't see any reason for her to fret. Ginny smiled a little, recalling how Lindsay had sprung out of bed and berated the doctor for being an insensitive asshole who should be shot. It wasn't until later that night, long after her doctor had gone, that Ginny found out her stubborn, hot-tempered friend had torn several stitches during her spectacular leap from the bed.

She felt worse this morning than she had since she'd first arrived at the Charity hospital. But this time it wasn't because of her injuries or even the loss of her family that caused it. It was Lindsay, and the fact that Ginny was being discharged today while her friend was not.

"Buck up, Ginny," Lindsay encouraged mildly, feeling self-conscious in her hospital gown while the other woman was fully dressed.

"I'm all right."

Lindsay sighed at the obvious lie. No, you're not. Asshole doctor.

"I'll see you day after tomorrow on the late ferry."Ginny shot an evil glare towards the nurse's station where she could see Lindsay's doctor talking to Nurse Goletz. She privately wondered if, once the man found out Lindsay was anxious to leave the hospital, he'd decided to extend her stay by a day or two out of spite. Of course, her own discharge date had just been decided last night."I'll wait for you at the docks."

"No, you won't," Lindsay told her seriously.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Lindsay-"

"It's not safe."

Ginny smiled gently."You forget where I've been living the last six months, Lindsay. And even before that you could hardly call my family's station middle-class. I might not have any experience living on the streets, and I do need your help, but I'm no fool."She pushed herself away from the wall and sat down on Lindsay's bed, causing the springs to squeak loudly under her weight and bringing a hint of smoke to Lindsay's nose."I won't stand out on the dock watching the river for two days straight, waiting to be attacked."

"Of course you won't," Lindsay mumbled, embarrassed by her ridiculous assumption. But she couldn't help but feel the surge of relief that flooded through her. She's not an idiot, String Bean. Don't treat her like one."Are you sure?" But she was smiling when she said it.

"Humph."Ginny swatted Lindsay's arm with the back of her hand."Yes, Turnip Green, I'm sure."

Lindsay laughed."That's String Bean to you, missy." Though she secretly hoped she would continue to call her Lindsay. She was doing her best to ignore the woman in the bed across from Ginny, who was watching them again. The prostitute had one leg in traction and was extremely vocal about what she thought of the two young women's relationship. Nosy skank. And the way she stares at Lindsay... I have half a mind to break her other leg. All these prying eyes on me. On her. Every minute of the day. This place is driving me mad.

"I'll be careful," Ginny assured her as her gaze drifted to Lindsay's ribs."You'll be careful and not tear anymore stitches while I'm gone? And be nice to your pathetic excuse for a doctor? If you don't you'll never get discharged."

"Yes, Mother, I'll try," she grumbled good-naturedly. "But this hospital, and especially Doctor Asshole, is sadly mistaken if it thinks it can hold me here longer than I want to stay."Lindsay hadn't meant to say that last part out loud and when she glanced up into Ginny's face she realized her error.

Ginny eyes widened."Oh, no. No, no, no, no. That doesn't mean you're going to try something crazy, does it? Lindsay-"