Rumplestiltskin pushed open the door to the ridiculous home Regina had given Mr. Gold. He vaguely remembered saying something about being comfortable but, like with everything else, she'd twisted it into something unpleasant. While he'd been with Belle, Dove had done his job. The front door was fully operational, complete with lock, and the kitchen and foyer were spotless.

Rumple swallowed the lump in his throat.

Even with the floors shiny once more, he could see his beloved's blood all over the room. His eyes involuntarily flooded with tears. The pain in his chest tightened to the point where it tipped over into anger. Belle's father, Maurice French, had been reported in town, with his lackey Gaston, covered in all manner of gunk not even an hour after Belle had supposedly been attacked. He was nearly positive they were the culprits behind the attack.

Maybe he'd even shower first.

Belle heaved a sigh as Doctor Whale finally left her room, throwing a smile she wasn't quite comfortable with over his shoulder. The man had just spent the better part of an hour quizzing her on everything from her name to how she'd ended up in the hospital. Thankfully, her memory was returning, Belle could recite her name and remember all sorts of details from her life on the streets. She even remembered breaking into Mr. Gold's house this morning, though she was less than excited to tell the doctor about that particular fact.

The only thing she couldn't remember was exactly how she'd ended up so hurt. Obviously something had gone wrong during her time in Mr. Gold's. She'd been bedridden for days so she smelled like she hadn't even gotten to the shower portion of her routine, but it was impossible to know for certain. The nurses, Ruby to be exact, had wanted to give her some sort of sponge bath but Belle couldn't bear their touch.

What had happened?

She glanced up at the clock mounted on the wall. It had been three hours since Mr. Gold had left. She sighed. He'd said he'd come back but he had no reason to. She was simply the woman who ruined his property, not anyone important. The heaviness in her chest settled more deeply with the thought. Something within her battered brain hinted at the possibility of some sort of relationship with Mr. Gold, but her memories were already fuzzy. The feeling she was having was just that, a feeling.

Belle glanced out the windows that lined one entire wall of her small, private room. She definitely couldn't afford this. A small voice thought maybe Mr. Gold had something to do with the service she was receiving but a larger voice quickly dismissed the thought. To even think to do something like that was far too caring. Belle knew Mr. Gold wasn't a monster but she was just a stranger to him.

Doctor Whale had mentioned that she'd most likely be discharged in the next day or so, now that the swelling in her brain had gone down. Going back to the streets was the last thing Belle wanted to do, but where else was she supposed to go.

Outside, the wind was blowing leaves gently off the trees that had been planted to surround the hospital. It hadn't started snowing yet, but it was only a matter of time. Belle could only pray the weather would hold off a little while she readjusted to being outside all the time. It wasn't like she could go back to Mr. Gold's again after this.

A sob welled up in her throat as she realized her time sharing some semblance of a life with Mr. Gold was over and it hadn't even been her choice. Sure the bed and shower were nice, the food was obviously important, but it had been the thought that she was somehow connected with another human being on the planet that had brought her the most comfort.

Tears leaked down her face onto the pillow.

She was alone again.

She allowed herself to just succumb to the maelstrom of emotions and cried even harder. Normally, having a breakdown like this on the streets was suicide, you were a sitting duck, but here in the tiny room with no one watching, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. Through her tear blurred eyes she could see, and hear, the annoyingly cheerful clock ticking away the seconds. It had now been three and a half hours since Mr. Gold had left. How long before she accepted he wasn't coming back. When it was dark? When they finally kicked her out of the hospital? Belle knew she was on borrowed time. Hospitals didn't exist to help the homeless, the people more at risk for disease or illness, they existed to help paying customers. They would want her private room for someone more important sooner rather than later.

While she was trying to tame the sniffles escaping into her pillow when the door clicked and began to slide open causing Belle's heart to squeeze. She clenched her eyes shut. As long as she didn't look, she could pretend it definitely was Mr. Gold instead of it just being a possibility. Quiet footsteps echoed into the room. Whomever it was was definitely wearing either sneakers or dress shoes. It could still be him.

A hand touched Belle's shoulder causing her to nearly fall out of the bed. Mr. Gold would never startle her like this. It wasn't him. A crushing wave of disappointment washed over Belle as she peaked open her eyes and saw Nurse Ruby leaning over her bed.

"Belle?" She murmured, obviously trying to be soothing. "Are you awake?"

Belle bit a snarky response back in her mouth. It wasn't Ruby's fault she wasn't a certain Scottish landlord. In truth, she'd been the kindest to her out of everyone she'd encountered.

"I'm awake." She muttered.

Ruby straightened. "Great! I have good news! Doctor Whale says you've been discharged! I'm here to help you gather your things."

Belle bolted up into a sitting position. "What? I just had my MRI an hour ago! Doctor Whale said it would be at least a day!" She tucked up her knees to her chest, rocking back and forth. They were going to throw her out. The sun was going down and she had no where to go. She didn't even have any standing with the other homeless inhabitants in Storybrooke and it wasn't like she could go back to New York. She was stuck.

Ruby closed the distance between them again and laid a hand on her back, rubbing soft circles into the scratchy fabric of her hospital gown. "We got your scans back, everything looks great! There's no reason to keep you stuck in this place."

She withdrew her hand forcing cheer into every aspect of the room. Belle felt her sobs push up her throat threatening to spill over onto her lashes. She curled onto her side, trying to take up as little space as possible in the bed that suddenly felt sickeningly soft.

Ruby had finally moved away and stopped touching her. "Do you need a bag for your belongings? I can fetch you one. Doctor Whale wanted to speak with you one last time before you leave."

Belle snuffed into the pillow. She didn't have enough belongings to fill any bag. The clothes she'd come in with she assumed were covered in blood and unwearable. All she had was the thing hospital gown that didn't even cover her butt. If she could actually open her mouth, maybe Ruby could do something about it. The nurse had been gentle with her through all the cleaning and prodding the past few hours had held.

"Hey Ruby? Do you think you could find me something to wear? Maybe a sweatshirt? I don't...have anything anymore." Belle trembled into the pillow. She hated asking for things. Yes, she was homeless but that didn't mean she couldn't take care of herself. She just had to be resourceful. She didn't like to advertise her sorrows to a stranger but the wind picking up outside told her that she didn't have a choice.

Belle heard Ruby's footsteps near the bed again and a beat later, her hand was back on her shoulder.

"Oh of course. I didn't even think...I'll go find something for you."

She left the room with accompanied by the gentle swish of the sliding door. Finally. Belle sat up. She had to make sure she could move if she was going back to the streets tonight. Her IV was still implanted in her arm so she maneuvered herself next to the rolling stand that held her bagged antibiotics. A terrifying thought crossed her mind. What if the doctor expected her to take antibiotic pills after she left? She couldn't afford medication. She couldn't even fathom how she was going to pay for this stay.

She sagged back against the bed, all attempts of moving forgotten. One measly egg had gotten her into this entire mess. She berated herself as tears welled up in her eyes. She'd done more crying since she got to this hospital then she had in the entire past year. Enough was enough. This was another road block, nothing more.

She was still reaffirming herself when the slider's soothing call sounded again alerting Belle to another person. She glanced up. Or rather, persons. Both Doctor Whale and Nurse Ruby were standing in her doorway. At least Ruby had some second hand looking clothes in her arms, that was promising. Doctor Whale cleared his throat suddenly looking much more uncomfortable than he usually did. Perhaps he'd finally realized that he was tossing a homeless woman still healing from assault into the cold. He was holding her chart, she assumed, and he flipped it open, making a soft humming noise.

"Well Belle, all of your test results have come back and I'm shocked but you're completely fine. Sure you'll have the cuts and bruises for a while but there's nothing seriously wrong with you. You should be fine to return to your normal life. I would like to keep you on an antibiotic for at least a couple weeks. You should be able to pick it up at the hospital's pharmacy." His slick smile slid back into place as he slipped the folder under his arm. "Ruby will help you get your IV unhooked and into some clothes? If you need anything, feel free to come back."

With the seemingly insincere statement, he drug his eyes over Nurse Ruby's form before retreating back into the hallway. Ruby's attention then shifted over to Belle and an apologetic smile graced her features.

"Sorry about him. He's a good doctor, honestly, he just gets a little, well…" Her voice trailed off.

"Slimy?" Belle supplied, unafraid to insult the man that had supposedly helped her.

Ruby chuckled, "I was going to say slick, but slimy words. Somehow men like him always need some sort of 's' adjective. I found you some clothes in our donated bins. They're probably going to be a little big on you but they should at least keep you warm until you get where you're going."

Belle smiled half touched by Ruby's kindness, half amused that Ruby hadn't connected the dots and realized she was really going anywhere. She grabbed the bundle from where Ruby had set it on the bed. There was a soft cotton t-shirt along with faded jeans and a hoodie not unlike the one she had lost. As far as basic clothing would go, it would do. Wrapped in the jeans were two pairs of socks plus three pairs of underwear and two soft sports bras. Belle looked back up at Ruby, who was now facing away from her preparing to remove her IV, maybe she was aware.

"Okay Belle, just let me see your arm and we'll get that tube out of you and you can change."

Belle slid her left arm towards Ruby, screwing up her eyes. She'd never liked the sight of her own blood but this whole experience had cemented her lack of desire to see anything that was supposed to be inside her. She faintly heard Ruby count to three and then there was a slight pinch and then nothing.

"There. All done. You know where the bathroom is, unless you think you're unable to stand?"

"I'll be fine."

Ruby smiled once more before reminding Belle she'd be back in ten minutes with a wheelchair and forms and left Belle to her own devices.

She twisted her body, feet hitting cold laminate floor. Without the hinderance of the IV stand, she could simply get up and walk. She pushed herself into a standing position, swaying slightly as the blood rushed to her head. When her vision had cleared, she cautiously lifted one leg, testing her body's ability to balance. She didn't immediately go crashing to the ground and took that as a sign she could continue. One foot was placed in front of the other and she managed to cross the room to the en suite bathroom without harm.

She turned and locked the door behind her. At least in here she could guarantee she was truly alone. There was a mirror above the sink. Belle drank in her image unsurprised to see that her eyes were slightly bloodshot and her hair was a greasy, tangled mess.

Seeing as this was a hospital, the bathroom was equipped with a shower and fold down seat. Belle bit her lip, chewing softly as she wondered if she could rinse off before Ruby came back.

She decided it didn't matter. Who knew when she was going to have access to a shower again. She needed all the comfort she could get right now. She flipped on the water, steam quickly filling the small space. Her new clothes and hospital gown were placed in one of the corner, close enough so she could grab them if needed, far enough away they wouldn't get wet.

She didn't have any soap but the warm water was doing wonders on her skin making her feel so much more at home in her own body. She let her mind drift to the attack. Who had followed her to Mr. Gold's? Or...that wasn't right… Someone had wanted something of his, and she had gotten in the way. She knew Mr. Gold was powerful but what had been so important that they hadn't simply thrown her out. The train of thought had led her directly to the last place she'd wanted to be...Mr. Gold.

He'd never come back.

Belle considered herself a pretty good judge of character, it was a street life requirement, and something inside her knew emphatically that Mr. Gold was a good man. Maybe a little misunderstood, definitely temperamental, but not evil. He'd told her he'd be back. She'd seen in his eyes he hadn't been lying. Why hadn't he returned? He'd probably gotten home and realized that he was much more comfortable in his big house with his nice things versus sleeping in a hospital chair next to the woman who had almost died in his kitchen.

Another wave of emotion brought tears into Belle's eyes. This was why she was better off alone, existing on opposite ends of Mr. Gold's life. It was easier.

She leaned her head against the cool tile, the hot water pounding away at her back. She closed her eyes for a moment, willing herself to focus on anything besides the racing thoughts in her head.

A knock at the door startled her enough to make her almost lose her footing.

"Belle?!" It was Ruby. She was back early. "Belle, I can hear the shower and I brought you a towel. Open the door when you're finished."

Belle sighed softly. She hadn't even thought of a towel. She turned the shower off, she was getting wrinkly anyway. She turned the lock to the bathroom and extended a hand, feeling something fluffy a second later. She pulled the towel into the room, wicking the water off her body and hair. She wasn't entirely dry but it would have to do.

She grabbed the pile of clothes and held up the shirt. Ruby was right, it would be a little big, but beggars can't be choosers. She laughed at her own joke in her mind, Belle the beggar. She could be a character in a children's book. She finished dressing, pleased with the fit of the jeans and the warmth of the jacket and balled up the extra socks and underwear.

She opened the door to find Ruby sitting on her bed, a small cotton bag and worn pair of sneakers in her lap, the wheelchair Belle knew was for her parked a few feet away.

"I figured you'd need shoes. I guessed your size. The bag is for your extra things."

Belle reached out for the items, amazed that Ruby had even bothered to think of these things. People didn't usually bother. Mr. Gold certainly wasn't bothering. She shook her head. She couldn't afford to think of him anymore.

She slipped the shoes on, Ruby had correctly guessed her size, and stuffed her things into the bag, sliding it across her body. She looked at the wheelchair, "Is that really necessary?"

Ruby smiled, "Hospital policy."

Belle grimaced slightly and sat down in the uncomfortable chair, her wet hair pooling droplets onto her new sweatshirt. Ruby backed her out into the hallway, the noise of the busy floor quickly unsettling her.

She could see the elevators along the wall closest to them. They didn't have to go far. Ruby pushed the button with a red nailed finger, humming again as she waited for it to ding. "We'll go down to the main lobby and you can grab your meds from the pharmacy on the way out."

Belle blanched. She'd forgotten about the pills. She couldn't pay for those. Ruby glanced down as if she'd felt the shift in Belle's thoughts.

"The hospital will put the first bottle on your tab."

The thought that she could get the medicine she needed was soured by the idea that she now had a "tab" at this hospital. She didn't want to owe this place, especially when she could never pay them back.

A soft ding and woosh gave them access to the elevator and one push of a button labeled 'L' and they were moving. Belle knew she was moving to the same freedom she'd left yet she couldn't help feel like she was going back into a cage. A smaller cage.

The elevator slid to a halt, it's doors opening once more. The fact that it was late afternoon had softened the crowds milling about the lobby. A large, red illuminated sign that read pharmacy hung over the window almost immediately to Belle's left. Ruby steered her to the counter and gestured at the sign in sheet.

Belle picked up the pen that was attached to the book.

When was the last time she'd held a pen?

Something in the back of her brain prodded at her consciousness and it felt like words had once been quite important to her but she couldn't pinpoint why. The pen grew warm from the heat of her hand feeling like a sixth finger she didn't know how to use. Ruby suddenly smacked her head.

"I forgot your discharge papers!" She made a comment to the pharmacist and scurried off to the main counter.

Belle sat, still holding the pen. She could identify herself with this small plastic stick. She could leave an imprint. A record. Something people could look back on and realize that there was a person named Belle who walked the earth at this time.

It seemed very important that Belle manage to write her name.

She placed the tip of the pen onto the paper as the pharmacist placed a white stapled bag next to her arm.

"Just sign your name and date it." He drolled.

Belle licked her lips. Why was she sweating? She put pressure on the pen again and slowly the ink spelled B-e-l-l-e. Her brain refused to offer up a surname but she figured it didn't matter at this point. She also didn't know the date and simply left it blank.

Ruby had bounced up while she was contemplating the fact that her name was inked onto something and she'd slid two more papers towards her.

"Sign these here, and here." She chirped sounding much more joyful than she had a mere five minutes ago. "One states you're aware you're being discharged and the other is a waiver because you don't have insurance."

The mention of a lack of insurance brought a heat of blood rushing to Belle's face. Of course she didn't have insurance. What did that even matter? She picked up the pen again, feeling slightly more comfortable with its weight, and pressed two more copies of her name into the sheets.

Ruby snatched the white bag off the counter with a thanks to the bored looking man and placed it in Belle's lap. She pushed slightly and then they were rolling towards the front doors of the hospital.

Night had fallen.

The streetlights were illuminating the path directly in front of her but Belle couldn't see into any sort of parking lot.

Ruby lent her a hand as she stood on her feet, armed with everything she had in the world. She ripped the white bag open letting the small orange bottle fall into her hand. She'd have to hide these well. You could get killed on the streets for simply having one of these bottles. The thugs hunting for them just knew they usually carried drugs, they didn't care what kind. Chances were they could sell anything they found and if the bottle was empty, well, then there was one less homeless person fighting for food.

The front door slid open letting a blast of cold air wash over Belle. She shivered slightly. She stuck the pills into her small satchel, making sure they were safely wedged in between the socks.

She turned to Ruby, "Thanks for everything."

Ruby stepped around the wheelchair enveloping her in a warm hug. "Don't be afraid to come back. Please."

Belle wiggled out of her embrace, trying to hide the shining of yet another wave of tears. She pulled the hood of her sweatshirt over her slightly curling hair tying the string securely.

"Okay thanks." She mumbled, walking through the doors and into the night. Two steps forward and her resolve to not fight her discharge almost crumbled.

No.

She'd survived for twenty three years, she could survive another night. She glanced back at the hospital once, wondering if Ruby was still watching at the front door. The tears that had threatened were now spilling over her cheeks. She knew she could never go back. She couldn't afford to go back. She stepped off the hospital's sidewalk, shoes sinking into the damp earth. She could take advantage of the shadows.

Her heart contracted as she held back sob after sob. She didn't care that she didn't have a roof over her head anymore or even a semi regular meal, even though it was only vaguely edible. Those things could be replaced.

Belle's tears flowed down her face openly.

She couldn't remember the last time someone had given her a hug.