Alice helped Alma walk to the end of the block where a little clinic was nestled between a McDonald's and a music store. Upon entering, they were immediately welcomed by the all too familiar smell of Chemical Disinfectant.

Alma hesitated, suddenly hit with a barrage of unpleasant memories spent in her brother's captivity.

"You alright, Alma?" Alice asked.

Alma pulled herself out of her flashback, and glanced at her.

"I'm fine", she smiled, "I've just never enjoyed the smell of chemicals."

Alice nodded,"Me neither. But we can't get rid of the smell, no matter how hard we try."

Alma chuckled as Alice helped her through the waiting room. The other patients gawked at them as Alice took Alma straight into the examination room and sat her down on the bench. Alice set Alma's groceries on a chair.

"Uhh, Miss Hawthorn-".

"Please call me Alice."

Alma was rather taken aback by the informality, but continued.

"Right. Alice, shouldn't we have talked to the Doctor or the receptionist before we barged in here?"

"It's okay, I work here. I'm a licensed Doctor but also help out with the paperwork", Alice said as she dug through the cabinets for gauze and disinfectant.

Before Alma could reply, she heard a whiny female voice say, "But those women just walked in here and we've been waiting her for hours. Why can't my son get that treatment too?"

Then a calm male voice answered," Lady, please, we don't know who they are and they not getting special treatment. Please just sit down and let us sort this out."

Then a tall, handsome man with soft, brown hair and brown eyes entered their small room. His eyebrows rose in surprise as he saw Alice. "Alice! I thought you were on lunch break." Then he noticed Alma. "Who's this?"

"This is Alma Peregrine, Ed. Alma, this is Edward Baker. He's the doctor in charge here." Alma held out her hand and Ed shook it, smiling.

"It's a pleasure to meet you", Alma said politely.

"Likewise", Ed said. Then he gestured to her torn jeans and cut knee. "Looks like you took quite a fall."

"Yes she did," Alice interjected. Alice knelt in front of Alma with a bottle of disinfectant and gauze. "This might hurt a bit," she said. Alma nodded and let her continue. Alice dabbed the gauze onto the wound, but Alma didn't mind the sting. She had endured much worse pain; both mental and physical.

While Alice cleaned her knee, Alma asked Ed, "So what, if you don't mind me asking, was the conversation in the hall about?"

Ed rolled his eyes. "Just an entitled mother wanting special treatment for her kid, even though anyone can see he's faking being sick so he can get out of school."

"Sounds awful. And she let's him get away with it?"

Ed snorted, "Those kinds of people would let their kids get away with stealing."

"All done!" Alice chimed in as she threw the bloodied gauze into the trash. Then she looked up at Alma, "You don't mind if I roll up your jeans, do you? I just need to bandage your leg."

"You may," Alma replied.

"I better get going," Ed said as they heard the Entitled Mother's whining through the door.

"It was nice meeting you," Alma said.

"It was nice meeting you too," Ed returned.

Ed left and Alice gently began to roll up Alma's pant leg. Just as Alice had carefully rolled the cuff up over the wound, she paused for a moment. Alma knew she had probably seen the long scars that meshed over the back of Alma's legs. The reminders of Jack's crimes.

Alma watched the blonde woman's face intently. But there was not the disgust or the pity she had expected to see. Instead, Alice's face was lined with a profound sadness. But she continued, and did not comment; for which Alma was grateful.

Gently, Alice laid fresh gauze over Alma's wound and bound it tightly with bandages and medical tape. Alma had blushed a lot as Alice's hand slid up the back of Alma's calf as she bandaged her knee.

"There," Alice said, "all done."

"Thank you," Alma said and reached into her bag. "How much do I owe you?"

"Nothing."

"No really, how much-".

"Nothing, I was on my lunch break. I have no right to charge you. Please," Alice stated. Alma stared at her for a moment then nodded and took her hand out of her purse.

"Do you want me to drive you home?" Alice asked as Alma stood up and tested her knee.

"I think I'll be alright," Alma said, still slightly flustered from when Alice had brushed her fingers against her thigh.

"I think it would be best if I did," Alice said.

Alma gave her a half smile. "You really don't have to."

"No. It won't be any trouble," Alice said and she held out her arm so Alma could balance herself more easily. Alma took her arm and Alice led her down the hallway, back through the waiting room, and out into the afternoon sun.