"What do you want?" Her voice was calm. Too calm. Gently inquisitive, even. Not demanding or frightened or suspicious. Just…calm. Oscar watched her through narrow eyes. His own mind was curious why he'd dropped in, literally.

"Wan'ed ta see ya." He'd tried going up the stairs. Obviously, that didn't work.

"There a reason?" That same voice.

"Ya hain't been 'round lately." They wouldn't tell him anything. Before she came back or after. Even when threatened. Nothing.

She motioned to the stool beside the bed. "Sit." As he sat, he watched her bite her lip and clench her eyes shut. When they opened, he dared to speak.

"Y'ok?"

She paused. "Yeah. Fine." Tender eyes looked at him. "It's ok. You didn't know." He knew her words went deeper than what was intoned. "Ya cain't do anyt'ing 'bout it now, Oscar." She worried her lip. "He'll get his due."

With those words he rose, slightly angry but also relieved. "S-Sorry."

She nodded, understandingly. "Go now, 'fore someone finds ya an' kills ya fer bein' in heah."

Oscar nodded, pulled his hat brim a little lower on his forehead, and crawled out the window.

- - - - - - - -

Red's gaze drifted toward the window involuntarily. A surprise, yes. Unexpected? Not really. Her mind drifted to the events of last night. She hadn't really remembered until Oscar had come. Her eyes closed, tired of thinking.

"Red?"

She shook herself and looked toward the door. There stood Blink with a bowl of hot vegetable soup in his hands. Thin, very thin, but vegetable soup nonetheless. She grinned at the treat. It seemed like forever since she'd last had vegetables. Blink came over and helped her sit up, setting the bowl on the nearby nightstand. He muttered to himself as he worked.

"Don't get how a goil could get so weak from a cough." He looked up to see her biting her lip. "Y'ok?"

A small pause. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said softly.

He sat on the side of her bed and took up the spoon. "You want help?"

"No. I got it."

Blink glared at her. She relented. "You can hold the bowl." She picked up the spoon and slowly guided it to her mouth.

He relaxed when he saw she knew what she was doing. He decided now was a good time to answer the question that had been on his mind almost since he'd first met her.

"S'ok if I ask a question?"

She paused, spoon halfway to her mouth. The soup, although very watery, was good. Better than she'd had for a long time. "I'll try."

"Seein' ya in a moment o' weakness is a rare t'ing indeedy. Ya gotta have special trainin' or sumptin' cuz if I eva took a beatin' like you've, I'd neva be dis calm. How—" but he was cut off by a strangled cry.

A small bit of worry crept into the lines around her eyes. "What beatin'?"

"Da one ya got las' night." All he got was a blank stare from Red. "Well, from what I coul' see, ya got a nice shina an' a few bruises on yer limbs." Now confused flames were scorching him. He lifted his eyebrow. "Jist an edjikated guess, babe."

Metal eyes bore into him. He glanced up from staring at her soup. "Wha—oh, yeah. No babe." His eyes fell back down to the bowl in his hands. Her spoon dipped toward the bowl again. As it headed back to her mouth, her hand trembled. Some of the broth dripped onto her blankets.

"Aw man, goil. Lookit dis trail ya got goin' dere." He angrily dabbed at the spots, making Red wince when he accidentally hit her legs. He glanced up and noticed her upper lip dotted with sweat. "Sorry. It'll come out. Lata."

She shook her head. "I ain't hungry no more." She let the spoon slip into the bowl. Blink eyed it ravenously. Red watched his face as he set it resolutely on the small nightstand next to the bed. He turned back to her, a caring look sparking some life into his sunken cheekbones.

"I really am glad you back, t'ough." His hand moved toward hers inconspicuously.

"Well, look who's back in da land o' da livin'!" The boisterous voice came from a small body that hurtled itself across the room. "Red! Far as da livin' day, you'se a sight!"

Red grinned at Race. "I prolly am." She smoothed back her hair semi-consciously. Race came up to the opposite side of the single bed and reached across, awkwardly hugging her. Red grinned over his shoulder. "Thanks Race. How was ya day at da tracks?"

As Race and Red began talking, Blink pushed away from the bed. The next time Red glanced over to him, he was gone. The door to her room was shut. Confused, she glanced at it, but tuned back into the conversation.

"How is evryone, Race?"

Race chuckled. "Cain't deny dat you goils don't got some influence ova ya male countaparts. Sellin's gotta be down least thoity pacent. 'Course, Blink's hardly been sellin' atall. Evryone's been woirred bout ya. E'en Spot dropped by, wit a few friends. Some new kids he picked up, t'ink dere names were Quirks an'…oh yeah! Tunes."

Red leaned back and just listened to Race's ramblings. She was brought back by a small bit of silence from Race. "Hm?"

"I said, didja wanna come down an' meet da boys or do ya jist want dem ta come up ta ya?"

Red decisively sat up a bit. "Dey betta jist come up heah. I might anga a coiten nurse o' mine uddawise."

Race chuckled. "Dat wouldn't be too good, uh? I'll run it by Blink, but some o' da boys are real anxious ta see ya, goil."

A small smile lingered on Red's face as he stood to go. He caught these words exit her throat before he left: "Ya neva know what you're woith until ya ain't dere." They were spoken softly, almost lost under the squeak of his shoe on the wooden floorboards.