"No. You don't know that."

Ginny's eyes darted back and forth as her mind raced. Something could have made this all turn out differently. Her heart twisted in her chest. Or someone. "I shouldn't have listened. If I'd only stayed to help, maybe I could-"

"Stop it, Ginny."

"No! If I'd-"

"Stop it!"

The clerk looked up from her work but Lindsay lifted her hand, acknowledging that, despite appearances to the contrary, everything was all right.

Ginny's mouth snapped shut at the harsh words.

Now it was Lindsay's turn to lose her temper. She leaned forward and lowered her voice, speaking with an almost savage intensity."For Christ's sake, listen to what you're saying. If you'd stayed, you probably be dead too. You said yourself that no one made it out of the building after you did. You couldn't have done anything else that night other than stay behind and die."Believe what I'm saying, she willed the younger woman.

"I know. I know," Ginny whispered, squeezing her eyes tightly shut. Her anger melted away as suddenly as it had flared. She felt like a wrung-out dishcloth. "It's not fair. They had their entire lives ahead of them, Lindsay."

Lindsay's dark eyes softened."So do you."

Ginny gave her a watery grin."I guess I do." A thoughtful pause."What would I have done without you these past weeks? It makes me sick to even think of it."

And that caught Lindsay so flat-footed that her mouth worked for several seconds but she couldn't manage a single sound.

"Don't be embarrassed," Ginny insisted in a low voice, not quite able to meet Lindsay's flabbergasted stare."I don't expect you to say anything. I... well, I just wanted you to know."Her eyes lifted to meet Lindsay's and she could see that she was making her uncomfortable. She smiled what she hoped was a reassuring smile and bumped shoulders with Lindsay. "Go on. Go see if they have some day-old bread or something they'd be willing to part with. We can save it for breakfast." She gestured with her chin towards the clerk, who was working diligently slicing a large slab of ham.

"Ahh... Ginny." Lindsay let out a shaky breath."You... well, it hasn't been any trouble or anything. I-"

"It's okay," Ginny assured her. "Really. Now go be charming and get us some breakfast."

Lindsay's eyebrows shot skywards and her mouth curled into a wry grin."Have you ever seen me be charming?" she asked bluntly.

Ginny laughed, her spirits rising merely from the expression on Lindsay's face."Well... I have faith in you."

"Well, then, stand back." Lindsay wiped an imaginary piece of lint from the front of her dark woolen coat. Then she smoothed her lapels with exaggerated care."I have people to influence."

Ginny watched fondly as Lindsay strolled up to the counter and leaned against the glass, then casually struck up a conversation with the clerk. Her friend was probably the least charming person she'd ever known. Ginny still found Lindsay brash, crude, and impatient. But she also found Lindsay... she didn't know exactly what. Captivating, maybe. Or perhaps compelling. There was simply something indefinable about her that made Ginny want to stare into those pretty brown eyes and get lost. The mere thought made her stomach flop and she sighed, giving up on any form of introspection tonight. She was just too tired.

The wind had begun to howl and the snow had turned to sleet. Ginny could see a layer of ice forming on the metal lamppost across the street. God, being outside is not going to be fun. For the last few nights they'd managed to avoid sleeping outside, always finding a church or shelter willing to let them curl up on the floor somewhere. Please let us be that lucky tonight.

"Ginny?"

Light blue eyes flicked sideways at the sound of Lindsay's voice. Next to her stood the clerk. Lindsay had a strange look on her face and Ginny quickly pushed herself to her feet."What's wrong? What is it?"

"Nothing. Nothing," Lindsay promised her quickly."I just thought you should hear this."She turned to the clerk."Ester, can you tell my friend here what you told me?"

The middle-aged woman nodded dumbly, her confusion evident from the scowl on her face.

"Look, if this is about the bread, we were just asking.... You don't-"

"I can't give you any bread."The woman shrugged."Sorry."

Ginny shot Lindsay a meaningful look that said 'you brought her over here to tell me that?'

Lindsay shifted impatiently from one foot to the other."Tell her why you can't."

Ginny looked expectantly at Ester, who wiped her greasy fingers on her stained white apron.

"Well, I can't give it to you because I give it to charity."

Ginny's gaze went back to Lindsay."That's nice?" she hazarded.

Lindsay rubbed her temples."Tell her more about the charity, Ester. Everything you told me."

"Is this some kind of game?" The woman scowled again.

Lindsay bared her eyeteeth in what Ginny most certainly considered a snarl.

"Fine." The woman shrugged again, not minding being out from behind the counter for a change."The charity we give it to is an orphanage. It's where we got our little Mildred."

Ginny's ears perked up."This place is near here?"

"Maybe two miles. Every other day my husband carts over what we don't sell."

Ginny stepped away from the table."Lindsay-"

"Wait," Lindsay interrupted."There's more. But for God's sake, I'll tell you so I don't explode. Ester tells me this orphanage is in more need than ever after taking in a few children... sudden like."

Ginny held her breath, her entire being riveted on Lindsay's every word.

"Seems there was a terrible fire in Manhattan."

The redhead's jaw sagged."That has to be them!" she crowed, grabbing a startled Ester and hugging her for all she was worth."Thank you."

"Umm..." Ester blinked and pried herself lose from Ginny's embrace, slowly backing towards the counter and away from the crazy person. "No problem."

"Can you tell us the address of the orphanage?"Ginny was already buttoning her coat.

Ester shook her head. "Never was good with addresses. But if you come back tomorrow just after sunrise, you can go with my husband."

"I don't want to wait."Ginny grabbed Lindsay's hand and began tugging her towards the door. "Can you just tell us what street? Which way to go?"

"Won't do you any good, honey," Ester told her."The caretaker, a sweetheart of a man, closes the place up tighter than a drum once the sun goes down. Won't even answer the door." She nodded approvingly."That's one way to keep some of the ruffians in line. A strict curfew and locked doors."

Ginny's entire body slumped and Lindsay couldn't help but curl her arm around those sagging shoulders."Tomorrow. We'll go tomorrow. If they're there now, they'll still be there then."

Ginny took several calming breaths, desperately trying to grab hold of her scattered emotions, which were making her head spin and tempting her to do something crazy like run outside and stop every person in the street until someone told her exactly where the orphanage was."Right. I can be patient." She looked a little lost."I hope."

"Besides..." Lindsay's face took on grim expression as she glanced back out the window. It was raining ice."We don't want to be wandering the streets out in this weather."She leaned close to Ginny's ear and whispered, "You'll need to be rested for them. Tomorrow will be soon enough."Don't get your hopes up too high, Ginny.

Ginny sighed and straightened, deciding it couldn't hurt to hope for the best and ignore the worst. That had never worked before in her life. But somehow she always managed to dredge up the optimism to try just one more time."Thank you for thinking about them. You're right. I need to rest. They'll run me ragged for the rest of my life." Relief flooded her as she let the very real possibility of being reunited with her siblings roll around in her mind. She gently patted Lindsay's lower back and then strode over to the counter."Ester," she began hopefully, "how would you feel about a couple of boarders here in the store for the night?"She jerked her thumb sideways and smiled."I'm betting that my friend here wields a mean broom."

"I ca-ca...can't believe sh-she said no," Ginny complained again, ducking her head to avoid the sting of the sleet."Not ju-just no. But hell no." Her teeth were chattering so hard that she was getting a headache and she'd already accidentally bitten her tongue. Twice. Lamplight reflected off the sheen of ice covering her coat and hair, and every breath released a haze of fog that was instantly swept away by the wind. She could smell the water again and knew they'd somehow looped around towards the river during their trek.

Lindsay snorted. Her cheeks were bright red, and frosty air made her eyes feel dry and scratchy. "Would you let two strangers sleep in your shop?"

Ginny's eyebrows drew together."Yes."

"Figures," Lindsay mumbled.

"What was that?"Ginny stuffed her hands deeper into her pockets as they turned a corner and found themselves on the edge of a railroad yard. No, her mind corrected, a railroad graveyard.

"Never mind. C'mon, we can sleep here."

"Where is 'here'?" Ginny squinted through the rain. Torn up tracks were piled haphazardly and crisscrossed the area, which was surrounded by a tall wire fence. Engine parts, oiled wooden planks, and rusted steel boxcars dotted the snow-covered ground, their doors either missing altogether or partially opened. If she looked hard, Ginny thought could see smoke rising from the openings of several of the metal boxes. She shivered.

Ginny eyed the obstacle before them."The fence-?" She hadn't even finished her thought when Lindsay grabbed hold of the wire mesh and gave it a strong pull, exposing an undetected slit in the fencing.

"I'll hold this for you."Lindsay shook her head to clear the sleet from her eyes. She was soaked to the bone and the bandages that held the splint on her fingers were a sodden mess.

"Okay. Thanks." Ginny ducked down and grunted a little as she shimmied through the opening. "I think I can make... Uh oh."Her coat caught on a sharp barb of wire and she awkwardly tried to free herself, her brain sending urgent message to fingers that were far to cold to respond quickly. With a sharp jerk, she ripped a small tear in her coat."Crap."

Lindsay stepped through behind Ginny, tucking under her arm the sack containing Bertha's dress, the clothes that Lindsay stole from the hospital for Ginny, and a few things they'd purchased after leaving the delicatessen. She allowed the fence to fall back into place with a clank, smothering a groan at the pain the twisting had caused her ribs.

Ginny pushed soaking bangs off her forehead and waited for Lindsay's next move.

"All right."Lindsay moved directly in front of Ginny and looked her squarely in the eye."You need to listen to me and do what I say."

A single red eyebrow inched upward but Ginny's natural survival instinct kicked in and she simply nodded. Anything to be out of the weather. At least I hope we're getting out of the weather.

"Don't look at anyone as you walk. Keep facing straight ahead. If anyone comes near you, you run. And come right out at this spot. You're smaller than most men here and should be able to get through the fence quickly."

"Is that all?"

"No. If someone speaks to you, ignore them and keep walking. Ignore everybody."

"Even-?"

"For fuck's sake, Ginny! Please," Lindsay exclaimed, then looked around self-consciously, hoping nobody had heard. "I'll explain in a minute, but I'm freezing to death now and I don't have the energy to argue."

"Don't swear at me. And I wasn't going to argue," Ginny answered peevishly."I was going to ask if I should even ignore you."

"Oh." Lindsay brought her shaking fingers to her mouth and blew warm air on them. She bounced on her toes a bit in an effort to send blood to her frigid limbs."Sorry."Her face was properly contrite and then her lips curled into a wry smile. "Don't ignore me. I hate to be ignored."

Ginny's smile was playfully sarcastic."I noticed."She glanced around again, this time worriedly. These were the kinds of places her mother had always told her to walk quickly past, where strangers lurked in the shadows. But, she admitted, it wasn't nearly as bad as it would be alone. She had faith that Lindsay would be able to handle, and help her handle, anything that came up. Ginny was so caught up in her own thoughts that she started when Lindsay reached out and grabbed her hand.

"Remember what I said."

Ginny nodded slowly and whispered, "All right."

They moved quickly, avoiding the broken bottles and scattered crates that were strewn over partial pieces of track and broken railroad ties. The sleet suddenly changed to snow and the flakes instantly stuck to their wet coats and faces. About halfway across the yard the shouting started: disembodied voices that came from different boxcars and could be clearly heard above the roaring wind.

"Ooo... hey, girly, that's a pretty dress. Come over here by me and keep me warm. It's warm in my box. Yours too, I'll bet."

Raucous laughter.

"Is that you, String Bean?"

Ginny couldn't help it, even though Lindsay's stride hadn't as much as slowed; she turned her head towards the voice.

"Must be. String Bean? I heard you was dead. You got more lives than a damn alley cat! Those biting rats improve your looks any?"

Her looks? What's that supposed to mean? Ginny felt the grip on her hand tighten and knew it was a signal to keep moving, but it did nothing to quell the surge of rage welling up within her, threatening to boil over. With effort, she continued to walk. They think that's funny? That she was hurt."Assholes," she seethed, too angry to be shocked by her own choice of words.

"C'mon, String Bean. I'm sure the rats didn't eat. Much. You can come over here and share my fire."

The redhead came to an abrupt stop and whirled around towards one of the boxcars, eyes blazing.

"Ginny."It was a low, almost sub-vocal warning.

Ginny bit her tongue as she waged an internal war over whether or not to simply march over to that boxcar and rip off somebody's head. But she allowed Lindsay to retake her trembling hand. They moved faster now, the snow wasn't as deep in this part of the yard.

"Here."Lindsay pointed towards a muddy brown boxcar whose sliding door was partially open.

A few more paces and Ginny was about to step inside.

"Wait," Lindsay insisted, her voice a harsh whisper."Lemme check it out first. Someone might be inside."

"Why do you need to check it out?" Ginny asked warily, instinctively moving closer to Lindsay.

"Because someone might be inside," she repeated slowly, as though talking to a dull child. Didn't I already explain this? "You should wait here."

"So it might be dangerous then? Someplace you shouldn't go alone?"

Lindsay recognized that challenging expression on Ginny's face, and she jumped up into the boxcar before she had to deal with an argument.

"Lindsay," she rasped.

Are all women this much trouble? Lindsay's feet thudded against the dirty metal floor, sending a quiet echo through the mostly-hollow structure. She hadn't meant to do that, and before she could lament her error she was wobbling precariously on the edge of the car. But a second later she'd found her footing and disappeared into the inky darkness.

Ginny narrowed her eyes. They would talk about that little move later. She looked over her shoulder then back into the boxcar. The railway yard had gone eerily quiet except for the pinging of sleet against steel and the pitiful moan of the wind. She waited several seconds, hoping to detect any sound from inside the car.

There was none.

Ginny swallowed and pulled aside a strand of wet hair that was plastered to her cheek."Lindsay?" she whispered.

Nothing.

Ginny dropped to her knees and reached blindly into an ice-encrusted pile of snow, fishing for anything she could use as a weapon. She found a piece of splintered wood and pulled it from the snow as she rose to her feet and carefully lifted one foot into the boxcar. The wood was icy and it stung sensitive fingertips as she wrapped her hand tightly around it and climbed inside. She let out a tiny grunt as she pushed herself to her feet."Lindsay?" she repeated, her eyes widening as she peered into the blackness.