His vision was blurry, but he thought he made out Ariel's silhouette sitting next to him. Of course, he could have been dreaming. He dreamed a lot about Ariel in the three months she had left. In fact, that was all he dreamed about. He wasn't sure where he was or what had happened, but the pain in his side reminded him of everything. It brought him out of the fugue state and into reality. He had been shot. He had gone to Ariel for help because she was the only person he knew and, with that thinking, had also put her into danger.

"Vin, it's me," Ariel spoke. She must have realized he was awake. "They have you on pain meds. I brought you here after you passed out on my doorstep."

Vin opened his eyes the entire way and saw Ariel smiling down at him. "Hi," She said.

"Where's here?" Vin asked, although he didn't need to. He already guessed where they were.

"The hospital. You've been shot. The bullet was still in you. Doctors were able to get it out. You've been asleep for three hours."

Vin raised his head and tried to sit up, but the dull throbbing pain became an instant stabbing that went straight down his legs and back up to his chest. His head fell back onto the crisp white pillowcase. He took a few deep breaths and then tried again. This time with Ariel's help, he was able to sit up slightly.

"I couldn't remember the number for Chris and the others to call them. I told them you were my boyfriend and you had no family around. The police are around here. They want to speak to you as soon as you're awake."

Vin smiled at her. It had been so long since he had seen her. Letters did nothing for the imagination. When he last saw Ariel three months ago, she looked tired, pale, and unhealthy. Her husband had did that to her. Today, she looked healthy, but the tired and pale were still in her face. For that, he had only himself to blame.

"We can't stay here," Vin said. "I can't talk to the police until I find out what's going on."

Ariel scrunched her forehead. "What is going on, Vin? I didn't tell the police much because I didn't know much. How much trouble are we in, Vin?"

Vin heard the 'we' and smiled. He cupped Ariel's cheek and sent her the reassuring smile. "I'll tell you everything I can when we get out of here. Where are my clothes?"

Ariel hurried to the small closet that held patient's clothes. She handed him the white plastic bag and lingered only a moment as he started to take off his gown. "I'll find a wheelchair," She said, and disappeared. Vin changed; noting the horrible smell his clothing gave off. He never smelled it before, but then again he was bleeding from a gunshot wound and that took precedence over finding a Laundromat. He changed quickly, leaving only his shoes and socks off. Ariel came back twenty-five minutes later with a wheelchair and a new change of clothes. She was wearing light blue scrubs and had her red hair tied back.

"Wow, you became a doctor pretty quickly." Vin said as he slid into the wheelchair. Ariel slipped his shoes and socks on him and wheeled him out. She knew the police were around there because they told her they weren't going to leave until they had a chance to see Vin. She maneuvered the chair into the elevator and took them to the main floor. Her car was parked in the main parking lot with a lot of other cars and it wasn't flashy. Vin slipped out of the wheelchair and into the passenger seat. Ariel ditched the wheelchair in an empty parking space and got into the driver's seat.

"Where too?" Ariel asked, as she pulled into the steady stream of evening traffic. When she got no answer, Ariel looked over to find Vin asleep. "I guess it's my choice then," Ariel told herself as she made a left turn and headed toward a safe place.