Blake rushed into the emergency room, straight into an overwhelming police presence. Her heart briefly seized before prodding her further into the hospital, fear prickling her skin as she cast wary glances at every man and woman in uniform. They spoke in low voices to each other or into their radios, their commanding aura winding the air tight as a spring begging to burst free. Not recognizing any of the officers, she hurried to the reception desk.

"I'm here for Yang Xiao Long," she said, her voice breathless after running from the cab through the doors. "Is she here? Is she alright?"

The nurse's gaze flitted to the nearby officers before she offered a patient smile.

"What's the nature of your relationship?"

"I'm her girlfriend." Blake had never described herself as Yang's girlfriend before but now wasn't the time to dwell on the significance. "Is she alright? Please tell me she's alright."

"I'm sorry, but we can only provide information to her immediate family."

The nurse's sympathetic smile did nothing to loosen the vice around Blake's heart or the hot tears stinging her eyes. Before she begged, bartered, or pleaded for even a kernel of information - was Yang even alive? - someone else ran into the lobby. Every officer reacted like moths drawn to a flame, flocking to Ruby's side and escorting her further into the building. Blake could do nothing but watch them go, hoping they took Ruby to Yang as fast as possible.

The officers hardly disappeared, releasing the tension in the lobby, before Weiss strode through the sliding doors. Her cool blue gaze instantly locked onto Blake, and she joined Blake near the reception desk seconds later.

"How'd you beat us here?" she asked, already frowning. "Yang said you had a work event, and you work on the other side of town."

"It wasn't at the office."

Weiss' eyes narrowed, but Blake turned away and paced in front of the door leading further into the hospital. Her stomach twisted in knots while her thoughts alternated between anger and anguish. Hours ago, she told Yang that she loved her and meant it. Yang nearly convinced her to stay. To ditch the plan. The White Fang. And she should have. If she had, then she wouldn't be here wondering if Yang was even still alive.

She rubbed her wrist, feeling the bruises where Adam had grabbed her, and glanced at the door every time it swung open or someone passed by the hall beyond. Weiss sat nearby and watched her, adding unwelcome pressure to the overwhelming turmoil.

"What's taking so long?" she whispered to no one in particular, glancing at the door in the hope that Ruby would return with news. Her heart jumped when the door swung open only to crash further into her chest when two unfamiliar officers walked by. Their soft voices and somber expressions renewed her fear, but they exited the hospital without a word to anyone other than each other.

She wished that she could go back in time and never talk to Yang. No, she wished that she could go back in time and never meet Adam. Never share their goals. Never form the White Fang.

It was too late now. Now, all she could do was pace, waiting for someone to tell her what was happening.

She didn't know how much time passed, how long she berated herself for being so stupid, before Ruby returned to the lobby. The doors had hardly shut behind her by the time Blake rushed over.

"Is she alright?"

"She's in surgery." The response shattered Blake's heart, but Ruby mustered a small smile and gently led her over to Weiss. "She was shot in the shoulder," Ruby explained to both of them, her voice low and eyes tired. "They're operating now. They think -" Ruby paused and took a deep breath. "They think she'll be fine. We just have to wait for her to get out of surgery and then hopefully we can see her. Could be a few hours."

Weiss set a hand on Ruby's shoulder, drawing Ruby's silver gaze, while Blake stood still as a statue, unable to believe that Yang would be fine. 'They think she'll be fine.' She got shot. Yuma shot her. Cinder brought Yuma in, Adam forced Blake to bring him along, and then he shot Yang. He shouldn't have even been there. He shouldn't have had a gun.

"She'll be ok." Ruby squeezed Blake's hand and offered an encouraging smile. "She's tough. She'll get through this."

Blake nodded but wouldn't believe it until she saw Yang again. Until she could erase the last image of Yang burned into her memories: Yang clutching her shoulder while blood streamed between her fingers.

"If you want to go home, we'll call you when she's out."

"No. I'm staying here."

Blake didn't care if she sat here all night, all week. She wouldn't leave until she saw with her own eyes that Yang was alright.

"Let's sit down then," Weiss concluded, shepherding Ruby and Blake to empty chairs in one corner of the lobby. From there, they could watch the door leading into the hospital but were far enough away to avoid being a nuisance.

Blake sat on the thinly padded seat but almost immediately popped back to her feet and paced instead. Her mind refused to slow down even as danger faded away, jumping from one thought to another in no particular pattern.

They should have bailed when they tripped the motion sensor. She should have insisted. Why did she still go along with it? She should have told Adam that she wasn't staying. They couldn't continue without her. She could have prevented this from happening. This time, at least.

This time.

She could have stopped it this time, but what about next time, and the time after that? Adam would never stop. The White Fang might pursue Blake's goals, but it was Adam's calling. His life's work. Eventually, this was bound to happen - if not to Yang then to someone else who just happened to get in the way.

Nearly an hour passed before she finally sat down and rubbed her shins. They were swollen where she slammed into the back of the van, but they were the least of her current concerns.

Weiss bought coffees and snacks around the two-hour mark. The coffee tasted like tap water poured through recycled grounds, but Blake drank it anyway. The bitterness captured some of how she felt watching Weiss comfort Ruby. Weiss' hand hardly left Ruby's thigh, Ruby's arm, Ruby's elbow, while she whispered soft assurances. She was there for Ruby with frankness and sincerity that made Blake's heart ache.

Blake wanted to be that for Yang. She wanted to be Yang's person. The one who Yang turned to when life got hard, who offered encouragement and a supporting shoulder. She could do it - she believed that she could - but she needed the chance first. She needed Yang to be alright first. To make it through this so that Blake could be better.

Every minute lost upped Blake's bargain with fate. Not only would she be there for Yang through good times and bad, but she would figure out a way to fix this mess. She would find another way to help others. She would never touch a safe again. She would give up anything so long as she could see Yang's sunny smile again and watch those lilac eyes light up with joy.

The emergency room emptied as the night dragged on, but her knee bounced nonstop and her butt went numb from the uncomfortable chair. Weiss glared at her knee several times, clearly annoyed by the incessant motion, but she couldn't and wouldn't stop.

The next shift of nurses arrived for work and what felt like another lifetime passed before a woman in dark green scrubs entered the emergency room. As soon as Ruby leaped to her feet, Blake followed.

"How is she?" Ruby asked before the woman even made it to them.

"She's out of surgery," the woman, who had 'Dr. Gale' stitched on her scrubs, replied. "Everything went as expected. We removed the bullet and repaired a tear in her pericardium. She'll need physical therapy to regain full strength and mobility in that shoulder, but I expect her to make a full recovery in a few months."

Dr. Gale paused to let the news sink in, smiling when Ruby faintly sighed and shook Weiss' shoulder. Tears abruptly returned to Blake's eyes - tears of relief rather than fear this time.

"She's very lucky," Dr. Gale added. "A few centimeters and that shot could have been fatal."

The added remark stole the breath from Blake's lungs, but Ruby beamed and said, "Thank you. Thank you so much."

"When can we see her?" Weiss asked.

"She's in recovery now, but I'll have someone get you as soon as she's up."

"Thank you, Doctor."

The woman dipped her chin before returning to her other patients. Blake, meanwhile, clasped her hands together and tried to control what felt like every emotion under the sun.

"She's ok," Ruby said aloud, drawing Blake's focus to what was most important. "She's ok. She's going to be ok."

"I told you she would be," Weiss replied. Her tone lacked its usual sarcasm and bite, but Blake could hardly appreciate the sincerity before restlessness reappeared.

She wanted to see Yang now. Instead, she was forced to sit back down and wait. Ruby and Weiss discussed what sort of physical therapy Yang might need and how long it would take, but Blake only half-listened to them while staring at the door separating the emergency room from the rest of the hospital.

As soon as a nurse walked through and looked around, Blake shot back to her feet. The action drew the young woman's attention, so she walked over.

"Are you Miss Rose?"

"That's me," Ruby said, popping to her feet along with Weiss. "Can we see her now?"

"Yes. She's awake and asking for you. Just follow me."

The nurse motioned after her and led them through the door that had separated Blake from Yang for too many hours now. A labyrinth of hallways lay beyond, each filled with so many doors. Blake glanced through every window, many of them covered by blinds, many empty, and none containing Yang.

Far from the entrance, the nurse finally stopped beside a door, opened it, and stepped aside. Blake needed no further instruction to rush into the room and, as soon as she saw Yang lying on the hospital bed inside, burst into tears.

"Blake -"

That was all Yang got out in the time it took Blake to rush over and kiss her. Tears slid down Blake's cheeks, but she paid them no mind while cupping Yang's face in her hands and staring into light purple eyes that she had feared she might never see again.

"You idiot," she said through her tears. "What were you thinking?"

"It's ok…I'm fine."

"'Fine?'"

Blake pointed two fingers at the layer of bandages covering Yang's chest then moved them an inch lower to point directly at Yang's heart. Anger and anguish swelled in her chest, both fighting for control as she recognized just how lucky Yang was. Yuma aimed for the heart and missed. He tried to kill her. One flimsy inch and Blake would be sobbing in the waiting room versus crying in Yang's arms.

"I'm fine," Yang reassured her, this time with a small, tired smile. She didn't look fine though - she looked like she just went through hell. Her cheeks were pale, dark circles lurked under her eyes, and her left arm had been immobilized by a sling, through which an IV line had been carefully woven to reach her wrist. Several IV bags hung beside the bed, steadily dispensing the medication she needed, while her prosthetic lay on the table on the other side of the room. Still, she smiled for Blake.

"How do you feel?" Weiss asked as gently as Blake had ever heard her speak.

"Groggy, and kind of…floaty." Yang blinked and then refocused on Blake with another smile. "Pretty sure that's the painkillers talking."

"No pain?"

"Not really…not anymore."

Blake flinched, hating the thought of how much pain Yang just went through. She stood beside the bed and gently ran her hands through Yang's hair, careful not to tug or pull on any snags but wanting to do anything to lend comfort. Ruby, on the other hand, stood at the end of the bed and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Where was your backup?"

"You know I didn't wait for them…" Yang mumbled, refusing to meet her sister's gaze.

"We have backup for a reason, Yang -"

"They were there, ok? Right there. Waiting meant letting them get away."

"And not waiting meant getting shot. You know which one I'd prefer? The one where my sister isn't in the hospital."

Blake's brow rose at the stern rebuke, having wrongfully assumed that Ruby's bubbly demeanor never wavered. Yang, however, wouldn't look up from her lap.

"I know…I'm sorry. I got caught up in the moment, and that was stupid. I should've waited."

The apology deflated Ruby's anger like air being let out of a balloon. "I probably would've done the same thing," she admitted while sitting beside Yang. "But then you'd be mad at me."

"You'd better not do something like that," Weiss pitched in, crossing her arms over her chest while standing beside the room's only chair.

"And Weiss would be way madder," Ruby joked before her gaze flitted to Blake. "You're lucky Blake's letting you off so easy."

Blake couldn't imagine being mad when this was her fault. Maybe Yang shouldn't have rushed into the bank without backup, but Blake shouldn't have been there at all.

"I'm just glad you're alright," she sighed, smoothing her fingers through Yang's hair and stealing another tender kiss.

"And scars are sexy, right?" Yang asked.

"So sexy," Blake assured her. "But this is the last one you get, ok? Any more and you'll be too sexy."

"'Too sexy' doesn't sound like a bad thing…"

"But taking years off my life making me sit in the ER is."

Yang blinked at the response, and then her eyes filled with remorse.

"Don't apologize," Blake interrupted as soon as Yang opened her mouth. "Just…don't get hurt again. Please."

She sealed the plea by pressing another kiss to Yang's lips and Yang was smiling by the time she pulled away. Yang then shifted on the bed, looking vaguely uncomfortable, before glancing at her right arm - or where her right arm should be. Her gaze flitted to Weiss and Ruby before landing on Blake.

"Hey, um…" Yang's gaze again flitted Ruby and Weiss' way. "Do you think you could…help me with my arm?" She nodded to her prosthetic, so Blake quickly nodded and kissed Yang's forehead before retrieving it. As soon as she picked it up, however, her heart stopped beating.

Dried blood covered the palm, streaked across the fingers, and ran down the wrist. The dark, rusty brown had cracked and flaked off in many places, but Blake could still see the memory clear as day. Blood running through Yang's fingers as she clutched her shoulder, trying to stem the bleeding while Adam dragged Blake out of the building, leaving her there to potentially bleed out in the bank's lobby.

"I'm, uh, just going to -"

Blake motioned to the small bathroom before hurrying inside and shutting the door behind her. She leaned against the door for a second, trying to remember how to breathe, before turning on the faucet. She scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed at the blood, washing away everything but the memory. She could help Yang with a more thorough cleaning later but, for now, dried off the metal and returned to the room.

"Sorry," she mumbled while carrying the prosthetic to Yang's side. With Yang's other arm currently immobilized, Blake attached it herself. As soon as it connected, Yang flexed her fingers and then wrapped her hand around Blake's. Blake's heart jumped but then settled into a quicker rhythm when Yang smiled at her.

"Better," Yang concluded, prompting Blake's smile. Ruby and Weiss were watching, but Blake ignored them and savored the feeling of Yang's hand in hers. She hadn't realized how much such a simple gesture meant to her until fearing that she might never experience it again. Now…she didn't know if things would ever be the same.

"Can you tell us what happened?" Ruby asked.

"Does she really have to do that right now?" Blake cut in, sending Ruby a pleading look.

"It's best to get it out of her as soon as possible…before things get blurry."

"It's ok." Yang squeezed Blake's hand before furrowing her brow, so Blake mentally steeled herself to hear Yang's version of events. "I was at home and heard the call for a robbery in progress. I knew it was them, and they were right down the street, so I raced over there. Got there, got through the front door, got Shroud in my sights. I was trying to talk to her. Reason with her. Then…"

Yang frowned, and Blake squeezed her hand tighter.

"I - I don't really remember. I saw movement, then it felt like someone punched a hole in my shoulder. Which…I guess they kind of did."

"You didn't see the shooter?" Ruby asked, her tone businesslike. "Did you have a chance to react to them at all?"

"I didn't. I hardly even saw them."

"But they shot you."

"Yeah." Both Yang and Blake frowned in unison. "Yeah, I guess. I mean, I had my gun and light on Shroud, but…"

"But you weren't threatening them in any way."

"Of course not."

When stated that way, it sounded bad. Ruby and Weiss' shared look suggested that they agreed.

"Well," Ruby huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "As far as I'm concerned, the White Fang just declared war on the department."

"What a fuck up," Weiss added, her scowl deep and menacing.

"What do you mean?" Blake asked, keeping a steadying grasp on Yang's hand while her heart pounded in her ears.

"They had the public on their side," Weiss explained. "That changes when they start shooting cops. This makes them dangerous."

"We don't have to be as passive anymore," Yang added quietly, squeezing Blake's hand while foreboding pooled in the pit of Blake's stomach. "No one wants to see the police come down hard when it's only 'rich people' losing money. But now…people will be afraid. They'll want us to take care of it."

"Finally." Ruby clenched one of her hands into a fist. "I'm tired of them thinking they can get away with whatever they want. I hope I get the call when we find them. We'll shove every last one of them into a cell."

"Screw that," Weiss huffed. "Give me the word and I'll have them dumped in front of the department next week."

"What'd we say about not breaking the law?" Yang said.

"They shot you," Weiss snapped. "And you're going to talk to me about the fucking law?"

"I'd rather not have to arrest you…" Ruby said while rubbing Weiss' back. Weiss opened her mouth only to sigh and shake her head. Blake stared at her, watching her anger slowly diffuse due to Ruby's presence, before seeking shelter in Yang. Her pulse raced almost as fast as it had in the bank, but this time due to fear of the future rather than adrenaline of the present.

Adam thought that this was no big deal, but it was. They just pissed off the entire police department, including a prominent member of the SWAT team, and might have brought the full force and fury of Weiss Schnee after them, which was not something Blake could even comprehend or desire to experience. The Schnees' influence extended through the criminal underground like spores through well-ventilated air. Schnee loyalists or even just goons looking to earn some Schnee money were everywhere.

Still squeezing Yang's hand, more for her own comfort than Yang's now, Blake could only hope that Ruby's desire to keep Weiss' record clean trumped their desire for justice. Because if Weiss set her mind to taking down the White Fang and used every tool at her disposal, Blake really would be dropped off at the police department in a week - not necessarily alive.

"Did they say when I can go home?" Yang was asking Ruby when Blake tuned back into the conversation.

"A few days." When Yang sighed, Ruby grinned and patted her leg. "Come on, Yang. You know the whole department will visit. You have to ham it up."

"And you can stay with us once you're released," Weiss added. "I'll hire a nurse to take care of you."

"What?" Yang chuckled and tried to shake her head but winced. "Come on, Weiss," she said instead. "That's going overboard."

"And I can look after her."

Blake hadn't realized she offered until they all looked at her.

"I'll take time off work," she added. "No need to hire anyone."

Yang beamed at Blake before turning back to Weiss. "So…stay at your place and hope you and Ruby keep your hands to yourselves or stay at home with my gorgeous girlfriend? Sorry, Weiss, but thanks for the offer." Yang might have said it as a joke, but she dropped the humor and added, "I appreciate it. Really."

Weiss nodded before studying Blake, her lips pursed and posture rigid. She was probably thinking that Blake wasn't a registered nurse with the best qualifications to take care of Yang in this state, but she kept that thought to herself because Ruby's yawn distracted her, reminding everyone of the exceptionally early hour.

"If you two want to go home and get some sleep, I'll stay here," Blake offered. "I can sleep in the chair or something." She motioned to the chair, which looked like it reclined enough to be reasonably comfortable. Ruby bit her lip, likely caught between wanting to stay with her sister and wanting to go to sleep, but the decision was made when Weiss took her hand.

"That's a good idea." Weiss tugged Ruby closer. "We can get some rest then come back first thing in the morning and spend the day here."

"Right." Ruby thought about it for another second before frowning. "But maybe we should station an officer here. You know…in case they come after you."

"I doubt they'll do that," Yang said while Blake shook her head. "They're pacifists, remember?" She laughed dryly before touching the bandage on her shoulder and wincing. "Their brand of nonviolence hurts like hell though…"

Fury slipped through Blake's veins, and she struggled to hold a caring expression when what she really wanted to do was tear Yuma apart. Before her anger boiled over, however, Yang squeezed her hand, releasing the tension building in her chest.

"I don't think they'll come after you," she assured Yang. Ruby thought about the situation for a little longer before finally nodding. Weiss, having waited patiently for Ruby's decision, smiled.

"We'll bring breakfast, so don't bother eating the horrible hospital food."

"That sounds great, Weiss. Thank you."

Weiss smiled again, looking relieved to be able to do something, and released Ruby's hand when Ruby went to hug Yang.

"I'm so glad you're ok…" Ruby sighed, gently squeezing Yang's good shoulder before pulling away. "We'll be back soon, alright?"

"Can't wait."

Yang smiled as Ruby returned to Weiss' side, and Ruby sent Blake a pleading look. Blake nodded, silently agreeing that she would stay up all night if that was what Yang needed. Only then did Ruby leave the room with Weiss in tow. The moment the door closed behind them, leaving the room in near silence, Blake's exhaustion hit her all at once. She sighed, let her shoulders slouch, and sat on the edge of Yang's bed.

"If you'd told me this was what you were going to do, I would've quit my job."

"But then I'd feel bad for running out on you during the middle of whatever we were doing."

Yang grinned and winked, but Blake sighed again. She couldn't tell Yang that none of this would have happened if she had stayed like she wanted to. There would be no robbery to stop, no shots fired, and no hospital visit. No surgery, no near-death experience.

A soft knock drew their attention to the nurse entering the room.

"Miss Schnee requested these for you." She held up some folded blankets and a pillow before setting them on the end of Yang's bed. "If you need anything else, feel free to find someone at the nurse's station."

"Thank you," Blake said, picking up the items as the nurse left the room. She ran her hand across the vaguely scratchy blankets and starchy pillow before arranging them on the chair and returning to Yang. "I haven't been in a hospital since my parents died…" she admitted while perching on the bed on Yang's uninjured side. "And before you apologize, it's not your fault."

"Yeah, but…" Yang thought about something for a few seconds before saying, "I'm not used to people besides Ruby and my dad worrying about me."

"And Weiss, apparently," Blake pointed out.

"And you." Yang smiled apologetically when Blake looked at her. "I'm sorry I made you worry," she said softly, brushing her fingers across Blake's cheek.

"I wasn't worried…" Blake whispered back. "I was terrified."

Tears returning, she leaned down and buried her eyes in the pillow beside Yang. Yang reached up and rubbed Blake's back, offering steadfast comfort despite her fragile state.

"I'm sorry…" she whispered again. "She was just…she was right there, Blake. Shroud. She was right in front of me. But then…"

Hearing dejection in Yang's voice, Blake pulled back and wiped away her tears.

"It's not your fault, Yang."

"But it is. I failed. Do you know what it feels like to be so close only for this to happen?" Yang gestured to her shoulder and hung her head. "She was right in front of me," she muttered toward her lap. "This all could've been over. Instead, they'll regroup and do it again. With guns now."

Blake wished that Yang was wrong. Rather than lie, she ran her fingers through Yang's hair to offer as much comfort as she could.

"How'd you know where they'd be?" she tentatively asked.

"I've been checking the smaller banks…looking for places with old security…" Yang mumbled, sounding exhausted and discouraged. "I convinced a few to add motion detectors since they're cheap and easy to install. One of the sensors went off, but it doesn't matter. They still got away."

Blake hated that her success came at Yang's failure. She hated that her scheming left Yang dejected. She hated that someone who sincerely wanted to help others ended up with a bullet in the chest for the effort.

"Maybe…maybe you should give the case to someone else."

"What?" Yang's gaze shot up, confused. "Why?"

"Because some low-rung White Fang goon just shot you, Yang. Clearly, they're escalating, and I - I don't want you to get hurt again."

It was a hopeless cause, but Blake still silently begged Yang to agree. Yang's brow furrowed instead.

"How'd you know who shot me?"

Blake blinked and abruptly sat back.

"Oh, sorry, I - I thought you said it wasn't someone you recognized. And I figured that - you seem to recognize Wilt and Shroud, so it must've been someone else."

Blake held her breath while Yang digested the answer, and only exhaled when Yang sighed.

"This is my job, Blake. There are always risks - if not the White Fang then from someone else. Is that…are you ok with that?"

When Yang looked up at Blake, expression worried, Blake melted onto the bed beside her.

"Of course it's ok…" she whispered while gently cupping Yang's cheeks in both hands and kissing her forehead. "I just hate seeing you hurt. You mean so much to me. I…I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."

That might be true tonight, but that didn't make it true forever - Blake understood that now more than ever. Yang handled her job so well that Blake never stopped to think about the dangers involved, but plenty of danger was involved. Tracking down criminals could lead to all kinds of altercations - Yang lived with that reality, and now Blake had to, too.

Absentmindedly running her hand through Yang's hair, she decided that she wouldn't mind if the danger came from actual criminals. But from the White Fang…from Blake…that knowledge sat like a heavy stone in her stomach.

"I think the medicine's kicking in now…" Yang said before long, closing her eyes.

"Good. You should get some sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up."

"Mmk…love you."

Blake's heart stuttered, but she whispered, "I love you, too," before pressing another soft kiss to Yang's temple. Yang's eyes remained closed and she likely fell asleep seconds later. Still, Blake gently rubbed Yang's back for quite some time, making sure she was fast asleep, before finally getting up and staring out of the window.

The sun was rising for a new day, but she quietly closed the blinds so that the light wouldn't wake Yang. She then rubbed her wrist, which felt angry and swollen, before sitting down and lifting up her pant legs to look at her throbbing shins. Slamming them into the back of the van was going to leave even worse bruises than the ones growing on her arm, and both would be lasting memories that she needed to hide from Yang until they healed.

Deciding to check her phone before trying to get some sleep, she found a message from Adam - a simple number five.

Five million dollars.

Usually, she would celebrate a successful heist - that was a lot of money that could help a lot of people. Today, she deleted her first response - a succinct 'fuck you' that he wouldn't let slide. Instead, she deleted his message, set her phone face down on the table, and buried her face in her hands.

Violence was never part of the deal. She wanted to help people. But this…this was the opposite of helping people. This was hurting people. Yang nearly died tonight because of her. Because of Yuma, because of Adam, because of the White Fang. They were supposed to be the good guys, but tonight…they fit the role of villains.

The worst part was that she genuinely cared for Yang, but caring for Yang was going to get Yang killed. If Yang kept thwarting plans or showing up at the wrong time, then this would happen again. To protect her, Blake had to stay a step ahead. She had to know everything Yang knew. She had to dig and pry further than she'd felt comfortable doing so far…at least until she figured out what to do next.