Vale followed Billy into the room and made sure he was out of the way until firing the shotgun. The sound echoed through the room as one of the guys instantly dropped. It was dark so she couldn't see where she had hit him but by the sounds of it he wasn't getting up. It was music to her ears.

The backdoor opened up as the shimmer from the moon shone through it. It was just enough light that Vale could make out the outline of another figure just to the left of the door. She knew it wasn't Billy as the figure was too small, without hesitation she cocked the shotgun again and fired in the direction of the shadow. Again the sound of a body falling to the floor could be heard, along with the hum of chatter coming from the front room.

Needless to say the guys weren't expecting Billy and Vale to be packing so much heat. The sound of the bell on the front door chimed, the two up there were running for their lives it seemed or at least she had hoped.

The situation was over or she thought it was, that was until she got outside to see Billy holding his side. His hand blood soaked, he muttered something about getting that car. Was something that needed to happen.

"I heard the other two run out the front door, I think they might have shit themselves when they heard all that gunfire. I'm not leaving you here though while I go get the car, you have to come with me."

She took his one free arm and placed it over her shoulder. "We aren't that far from that club and even closer to the car, you got this."

Billy shook his head.

"Faster if you go without me. I'll walk, but you go ahead. Take the shotgun, keep your eyes out."

He started down the alley with her under his arm, and continued to insist the entire way down the street. All the way to the car, constantly insisting that she leave him, and yet, they arrived at the car together.

"Alright, fine, don't go ahead of me, but you're driving."

He flung open the back door of the sedan and climbed in so he could lay down.

"I'm getting tired, I know that's not a great sign, you should floor it V."

He smiled at her then and clutched his wound a bit harder to cling to consciousness. Pain was the body's way of keeping you awake in times like this.

"So, talk to me, keep me awake. What you do to piss those guys off huh? Think it was just the money from tonight, or is that a deeper thing?"

Vale continued to usher Billy to car, even without his wanting. She wasn't going to just leave him there by himself, who would do that? Definitely not her that was for sure. It took only a couple of minutes for them to reach the sedan, where Rogers lifeless body still sat in the front. With Billy draped over her shoulders, Vale struggled a bit to get the back door opened. It was the angle and with Billy's weight on her, it just made it hard. Eventually she did manage to get the door opened and was able to get Billy situated in the back. 

She rushed around the front side and opened the driver side door. Without much thought, she reached in and pulled Rogers lifeless body out, tossing him on the cold pavers. Normally she would have taken a bit more care of someone in this situation but with Billy bleeding out in the backseat, he took priority.

Vale jumped into the car, luckily for her the keys were still in the ignition. With a simple turn the car started, she put it into gear and pushed the pedal to the metal.

"You can't sleep, you know this! So stay your ass awake..."

Vale whipped around the corner out of the alleyway and down the road. There was one big issue though, she had the slightest idea where the nearest hospital was. Hopefully some signs would pop up to show her the way, otherwise things could end badly here.

"I don't know who those guys were."

She stopped to think about the one guy, the guy that she knew she had seen somewhere. That's when it hit her...

"Oh my... you know what... I knew that one guy looked familiar. He was the guy sitting next to me on the plane. That plane came non stop from Philly, I don't think that had anything to do with the money..."

Vale glanced over her shoulder to give Billy a look over, he was starting to close his eyes. So Vale did the only thing she knew to do at that time. She slammed on the brakes and yelled.

"BILLY! STAY THE HELL AWAKE!"

Billy sprung up in a bit of agony but he was up, that's all that mattered. Vale then directed her vision back on the road, just as they were passing a sign that said hospital 1 mile ahead.

"We're almost there."

Billy blinked as Valencia explained the origins of the one man to her. The one she recognized. He blinked again. It was getting harder to keep his eyes open. Just as he thought they were going to stay shut a sudden jolt moved him in his seat and the pain forced his eyes open again.

"Yeah, awake. I got it."

He readjusted in the back seat again and then looked to Valencia. They could not make eye contact since she was driving, and yet, he knew she could tell he was looking at her.

"From Philly huh? Guess gangsters aren't hometown heroes to everyone. Who knew?"

He chuckled a second and then looked out the front window toward the hospital lights in the distance, the bright neon red of a cross like a beacon in the darkness.

"After you drop me off, you should skedaddle. I mean, the guy might have been from Philly, but at least you know you have your people there, they can help protect you. Here? I don't have any kind of pull here anymore. I can't do anything for you. And besides, if that guy survived, and was able to pull four other guys together on a moment's notice like that. I'm wondering what kind of pull he has."

It was not the first time Billy had thought about his little tiff with Durden. It was just as likely the guy would send some nobody to bother a Godmother as it was him.

As the car came to a stop, Billy reached out for the handle and flung the door open, stepping outside. The pain was actually subsiding a bit, which was probably not a good sign, but it gave him the ability to walk on his own into the emergency room without the help of anyone else. To his great embarrassment though, he did collapse in front of the nurse's station. Big guy like him falling down like that? It never looked graceful.

Vale shook her head in disagreement, yes it would have probably been smart for her to hightail it out of Detroit but she couldn't just leave Billy. Hell if it weren't for him, who knows where she'd be at right now or if she'd even be alive. So needless to say she wasn't going anywhere, at least not until she knew he was taken care of.

Once the car stopped Billy swung the door opened, the way she pulled into the hospital Billy's door was facing the door of the hospital and Vales on the other side. Now she wasn't sure how Billy was able to beat her out of the car and inside but he did. By the time she got inside he was on the floor in front of the nurses station. The staff just sat there in awe, like they had never seen anything like this before.

"He's bleeding out, he needs a doctor. What the fuck are you all waiting around for?" The tone in her voice said it all as the nurse came rushing from around the counter. There were at least a half a dozen of them that converged on him. She knew he was in good hands now, so she took a step back.

There was only one thing more that she needed to do, she needed to call his wife. The only question now was, how the hell would she do that? She didn't know her, she didn't know her phone number and she the slightest idea where to even start. Just then she heard a voice coming from behind her.

"Ma'am... Ma'am..."

Vale turned around to see one of the nurses standing behind her.

"Me?"

"Yes you, is that your husband?"

Vale shook her from side to side.

"No, he's a friend. Though he is married."

"Oh, well you may want to get a hold of her. Just in case something happens to him, he's lost a lot of blood you know."

"Yeah, I'm aware. I'll get a hold of her, somehow..."

The nurse nodded then walked off. Vale continued to stand there for a moment, thinking to herself. "Ok... need to figure out how to contact his wife. Aurora, I think he said..."

Luck. Sheer fucking luck. Sometimes that was all that mattered.

After his woefully unsuccessful interaction with Aurora in Vegas and the subsequent failure of the orchestrated event in Boulder City, Rufus had pretty much given up hope of ever improving his standing with the Mastrosimone family. He had pushed too far and been too presumptuous, suffering grievously for it. Sadly for him apart from the loss of a potential romantic distraction, a major chunk of the information network he could have built to support his business ventures was for all intents and purposes out of his reach.

Having decided to peruse the opportunities on offer in the Canadian smuggling trade, he had recently arrived in Detroit but the shift in weather had not quite agreed with him. So after setting up a couple of Foxholes, he made his way to the nearest hospital, registered with the receptionist and squeezed between a man with a fractured leg and a rather obese woman with some form of a skin condition on a sofa in the lobby overlooking the entrance.

Fate though not always the kindest friend had opted to drop a gift in his lap today. Within moments of his sitting down, Billy Mastrosimone, the man himself stumbled in through the glass doors bleeding profusely onto the marble floor, accompanied by a woman who had not come up during his investigation.

Medical staff descended on the injured man and rushed him inside while the woman waited around, calmer than most would have been in her position. Intrigued by this sudden turn of events and unwilling to look a Gift horse in the mouth, he stood up and eyed her in amusement. Fixing his hat carefully, he clutched his hands behind his back and approached her cautiously so as not to spook her. 

"He's not safe here." he remarked with a neutral expression. "It won't be long before word of him being admitted is spread and enemies will crawl out of the woodwork to come and finish the job." Rufus's eyes stared right at hers, piercing into her soul. He wondered just how paranoid she was and would she trust a complete stranger with helping her.

Vale was in the midst of trying to figure out how to contact his wife or even what the next step from here would be. A simple getaway had rather quickly turned into a fiasco, she was trying to get away from all the violence but seemed it was just something that was attracted to her. She was lost in her thoughts, for a moment or two oblivious to her surroundings. That was until she heard the voice, the voice of a man coming from behind her.

"He's not safe here."

It was a statement that sent a shiver down her spine. Her heart sunk for a moment as she realized she had left the shotgun in the car outside. Quickly she spun around locking eyes with the man now standing in front of her. He was well dressed, with quite the long beard though he didn't have a threatening persona about him. That didn't mean he wasn't a threat, just meant she may give him the time of day. Listen to what he has to say.

She took a step back, just in case. Never know when a couple extra feet could be of use.

"What do you mean he is not safe here? This is a hospital, isn't it?"

Vale glanced to her right, then to her left. The only people about either worked here or seemed like they needed to be here but he had her interested piqued. If there was something askew she wanted to know. She crossed her arms over each other and gave the man a glare.

"Well? I'm listening!"

Undaunted by her glare he nodded towards the lobby and remarked nonchalantly. "I don't see any armed guards watching out for him, do you?" Scratching his chin casually, he turned his attention towards the hallway where the doctors had led Billy. "His return from Vegas was not without its complications. The man who left this city is not the man who returned." There was a fair bit of truth to the statement even though Rufus was attempting to exaggerate the level of threat.

"There are elements within Detroit who aren't exactly welcoming towards him and his sphere of influence is far from secure. He was unsafe in the streets he called his home, he got wounded despite being fully alert and healthy." Cocking his head towards her he continued sombrely. "If these elements were to learn that he is unarmed and wounded, stuck in a hospital with no bodyguards and no body doubles, they will rush forth, armed to the teeth to end the threat he represents once and for all." 

Looking back towards the hallway he sighed and added. "Word needs to be sent to his wife or his cousin. But he can not stay here waiting for their arrival. I do not know who you are or what your business with him is. But if you care for his life, you need to help me get him out of here as soon as possible. Even if it means forcing the doctors to opt for a quick temporary fix at gunpoint instead of a long protracted surgery."

She had not the slightest idea whom this man was but everything he stated sounded reasonable. Normally she was a good one to decipher when someone was lying out their teeth, this man showed no signs of this. To trust him though, that was another thing. She needed more information from him first. If he was truly willing to help, she needed to know what his intentions were and on top of that who he actually was. 

"Ok, so who are you to Billy? How do you know him and why are you oh so willing to help out? I know many people in our business and to say things are never black and white is quite the understatement." She paused for a quick moment and took another glance around the hospital waiting room area. There were a couple more people that had walked in, without her noticing. Which in itself was kind of scary, usually she was quite good at keeping an eye on her surroundings.

Needless to say the paranoia within her began to intensify, she didn't give him much time to answer her previous questions until she was onto the next thing.

"I have a shotgun in the car out front, there should be a couple rounds left in it but that's about all I have. I mean I think Billy had a pistol still, I think. Unless he dropped it or left it in the backseat."

She glanced at the man in front of her, waiting to hear what he had to say next.

Who was he really to Billy? A friend? A rival? An associate? A threat? A potential relative? Rufus was not quite sure. But as long as he managed to get the man out of this mess, he could bargain that into considerable favour or two, perhaps even cultivate a useful temporary alliance while he expanded his network further.

"I do not know Mr Mastrosimone personally." I did flirt with his cousin and accidentally threaten his wife though.

"I am more...familiar with his family." Rufus elaborated as the woman glanced around nervously at strangers. He wondered if there was a reason for her paranoia or if she suffered from some form of affliction. As she mentioned the shotgun, he considered briefly before shaking his head in disapproval. "Too loud! Any gunfire will attract too much attention. We need to be discrete."

With a slow measured gait, he began walking forward. "Getting him out of here should be easy, the tricky part will be getting him to a safe house." Fortunately, Rufus had set up a Foxhole nearby that could offer brief shelter to the man while reinforcements arrived. With the woman following closely, he pushed open the double doors that led into the Operation Theatre where the Doctor and the nurses, clad in scrubs were busy bustling about Billy's body.

"HEY!" A nurse noticed him and shouted. "You can't be in here. Leave. Now!" Paying no attention to her he stood a few feet from the hospital bed and cleared his throat. "I apologize for bothering you in the middle of your procedure Sir, but I'm afraid you'll have to offer any temporary fix you can. The patient needs to leave as soon as possible."

The doctor stared at him in a mix of shock and annoyance. "This is preposterous, call security." He instructed one of the nurses. As she passed by Rufus, he caught her by the wrist, twisted her arm and pinned it behind her back. His free hand darted out and clasped a scalpel which he immediately pressed against the frightened young woman's neck. A drop of blood seeped from the point where the cold sharp metal dug into her warm soft skin. "Please do not misconstrue my words, Sir. This is not a negotiation. You will do as instructed." Catching the Doctor's gaze, he commented as calm as ever almost as if this series of events was trivial.

Vale stood slightly behind the man as the pair entered the room Billy was in. There were doctors and nurses all about, you would think with that many people in the room that it would be a bit chaotic. It wasn't though, things were running smoothly, like a well oiled machine. This didn't stop Vale and whomever this man was from interfering a bit.

She didn't say anything, just stood there and listened. The man calmly stated what needed to be done, there was a bit of resistance in the matter but the scalpel to the nurses throat kind of but things in their court. The doctor threw his hands up in the air as the rest of the nurses and staff in the room backed away from the table.

That was when Vale moved in closer to Billy, by the looks of it the doctor was in the middle of doing some sort of patch. A patch that needed to get finished and on top of that there was a blood bag being pumped into his right arm that still was more then half full. With a glare Vale stared the doctor down. 

"Let's go finish up, quickly! I'm not messing around here and neither is my colleague back there. If you don't fix him up quick enough you'll be in a panic to try and sew your nurses head back on. You got it?"

She could see the doctors eye jet off of her and over to his nurse then quickly back onto Billy. He picked up whatever tools he was using and in no time stitched Billy up and put a bandage over him. Once done he put his tools down and took a couple steps back from the table. Vale made her way to the top of the gurney where Billy's head was at and checked him over. He looked ok, well he's looked better obviously but he looked better then when she brought him in.

With a shrug she unlocked the brake on the wheels and began rolling him out of the room. The foot of the gurney pushed up against the doors, they opened slowly. Didn't take much force to push them opened, was kind of how it was made to be like. Before completely leaving the room, Vale looked over her shoulder at the man, the man who's name she didn't know yet. He gave her a nod and removed the blade from the neck of the nurse. Calmly he nodded at the staff and walked over to Vale.

"Let's go out through the back, will bring less attention onto us." The man stated as he pointed down the hallway. Vale had never been to this hospital, she had the slightest idea where to go. She let him lead the way and that he did; down the hallway, a left, a right then down another hallway before making another left into the room label "MORGUE".

It made her think for a brief moment but she had come this far, no sense in stopping now. She pushed through the door and stopped once inside. The man pointed to another door on the back side. "There it is, that door will bring us out into the back alley. There's usually an ambulance or two parked out back. Come on!"

As they exited the door, Rufus paused to glance around and consider his options. They could take an ambulance and attempt to flee but the hospital would report it stolen soon as security got word of their theatrics inside the operation theatre which judging by the shouts that were now nearing them, wouldn't be long. Alternatively, they could attempt to jack a car but then they would have to risk exposing themselves to the public at large.

The most reliable solution it seemed was to stash them in his nearby Foxhole. The relative isolation coupled with the supplies could ideally allow them to hold out long enough for Billy's family to arrive. Without hesitation, he unbuckled the man from the gurney. Draping an arm around his shoulder, and encouraging the woman to do the same, he managed to get the man back to his feet just as he began to slip in and out of consciousness.

Together they half-carried, half-dragged him through a maze of alleys to the rear entrance of an abandoned bakery. Reaching over the doorframe, he clasped the key he had taped there previously. With some effort, the two of them managed to continue holding Billy upright while he unlocked the door.

Once inside, he kicked a box aside, exposing the carpet underneath. Unsteadily, he rolled the carpet aside with his shoe and unearthed the cellar door hidden away in the floor. Laying Billy down on the carpet, he nodded towards the door, gesturing for her to shut it as he disappeared into the darkness below.

Moments later a set of blankets flew out of the trapdoor, followed by two packets of Military Rations and a couple of bottles of water. Subsequently, Rufus himself resurfaced, carrying a radio, a first aid kit and a snub-nosed revolver. He placed them down beside Billy and hunched over the man. 

Pausing to briefly collect his thoughts, he pulled the man up by his collar and slapped him twice across both cheeks. Luckily, the man seemed to stir and for the briefest of smiles appeared on Rufus's face in admiration. The man certainly had the heart to continue struggling even in his circumstance, when many would have simply given in to the darkness.

As he got back up to his feet and dusted off his clothes, he found his blazer was stained with blood that had seeped through Billy's hastily bandaged wound. With an exhausted sigh, Rufus rolled his eyes. "When he wakes up, tell him he owes me a new suit." He said unabashedly, with a reproachful look in his eye.

Setting up the radio to the local police frequency, he placed it next to the woman so she could listen in to any news that might concern them or their enemies. Gazing at her weary eyes he attempted a reassuring smile. Clasping her by the shoulder he whispered. "It's gonna be alright. You'll both be safe here. Don't worry, I'll make sure word of this reaches his family." Sliding the gun towards her he added. "Once I've left, lock the door. He should regain his lucidity soon. No matter who comes, do not open it unless he recognises them or they claim to be his wife or sister."

With a parting glance towards the wounded man, he walked out of the door, wondering just how he would sneak into Bricktown without arousing suspicion, hoping they did not just decide to shoot the messenger.

Aurora had been at The Blackhawk Restaurant with her kids and the family's security staff, waiting for the late arrival of Billy_Mastrosimone when Rufus_Volpe had arrived to deliver the news that Billy had been shot and that it was bad.  Things were bad enough he might not be able to stay awake long enough greet her once she arrives... bad enough that they wanted him to have protection before they moved him to a hospital for fear someone might want to finish the job. 

Who was behind this hit?  Was it Philly?  She'd told him going there for the stupid house had been a mistake!  Could someone there have seen his actions as a statement of loyalty to her late mother and therefore put a hit on Billy?  She prayed not.  What could she hope to do about it now? 

Was it Durden?  That shithead was always causing trouble.  Was it New York or Chicago or someone from Detroit even wanting to finish what they had done in Vegas?  Maybe they'd been allowed to live and it was no longer to be tolerated?  Was it some enemy Billy had made she didn't yet know about or an old enemy of the Byrne family? 

There were too many possible options.  Too many bullets with their names on them.  Aurora hated to admit it, but she wasn't just small fish in this pond... she was chum still, not yet even a made man.  If someone wanted she and Billy dead, they were probably fucked.

She blinked back the tears as the Dusenburg rolled up in front of the Bed & Breakfast where Emily-Renfroe had been staying with her girls.  The woman was more than a madam who worked for her husband, she was a dear friend and a woman with skill in medicine.  If anyone might help Billy have a shot of survival, it was Emily.  

Dressed in her black sequin evening gown which revealed part of her Momento Mori tattoo on the front of her left shoulder and the Byrne family crest on the back of her left shoulder, Aurora ran up the steps carefully in her heels.  She knocked authoritatively on the door until the old woman who ran the place opened it, clearly not expecting anyone to come calling this late.

"We're full up."  The old woman croaked out.

"EMILY!"  She called out past the hunched over old woman into the dimly lit parlor. 

"I need Emily Renfroe, right the fuck now."  She told the old woman.

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave before I call the cops..." The old woman warned, trying her best to block Aurora from entering, nervous of the emotions on Rora's face that suggested she was a hairs breath from not giving a shit this was a nice old woman in front of her and not an obstacle to be removed.

Aurora could hear footfalls on the second floor, someone coming quickly, or several someones.  She prayed one of them was Emily.

"IT'S ROAR!  BILLY'S HURT!  EMILY!?!"

Half asleep with a Sears & Roebuck catalog on her lap, Emily was startled awake by the sound of shouting from downstairs. The catalog fell upside down on the floor as she jumped up, hearing her name. 

Jennifer appeared at the door. 

"What's going on?" 

The young woman looked panicked, and Emily could almost see the flashbacks of Vegas in her eyes. As she stuffed her feet into slippers, Emily laid a hand on Jen's shoulder. 

"I don't know. I'm sure it's alright. Go back to bed."

Quick as lightning, Emily started down the wooden stairs. That's when she heard Aurora clearly. 

"IT'S ROAR! BILLY IS HURT! EMILY??" 

Her heart sank. As she hit the bottom step, she saw Mrs. MacGregor trying to block Aurora from entering. 

"Edith! This is a friend. The girls are fine."

Sheepishly, but still skeptical, the old woman stepped aside just before Emily pushed past her. 

Aurora's face was blanched with fear, an uncomfortable sight on a woman known for her complete lack of fear. Emily pulled a coat on over her night gown and put an arm around Aurora. 

"Let's go. Tell me what you know."

​​​

​​​​​

Aurora lowered her voice, “He’s been shot Emily. I don’t know how bad but they said he’s not conscious. And they won’t take him to a hospital because they’re worried about his safety.  Will you need anything to help him?  Please tell me you know how to treat a gunshot wound?”  

Nodding, Emily turned back into the door and grabbed the duffel bag she kept there for just such emergencies. The bag was clearly well stocked, absolutely full. She heaved it over her shoulder. 

"I've removed plenty. And whoever is with him is smart but to move him. I will do everything I can for him, Aurora, don't worry. Let's get to him, though. Every second counts."

She glanced over her shoulder, through the door. Mrs. MacGregor had gone back to her canasta game, and Jen was watching from the top of the stairs. Emily gave her a reassuring nod and then turned, following Aurora. 

The drive to be a abandoned bakery was too long.  It wasn’t that the bakery was that far away, it was that Aurora was desperate to be there 10 minutes ago. In her mind a dozen scenarios played out.  Would she find her self a widow again? Would she have to tell her children that their father had died? How would she do that? Could she leave Detroit and the life forever? Would she give it all up? Or would she take a more desperate and terrifying route? How much would losing Billy mean this time?  Could she survive it?

Parking the car beside the curb, she turned to look to Emily. “I don’t know if it’s safe here. It’s possible the people who have Billy are not our friends. All I know is he’s with another woman and I do not know who she is or what she means to him. None of that matters now. I will keep you safe. I just need you to save his life, OK?  Everything else is just details.”

There was no way Billy was having an affair. The whole idea of that was ludicrous. Though she had to admit some small voice in the back of her head felt a pang of pain that Billy had been with another woman when danger came looking for him. Still, what she said to Emily was true, none of that mattered right now so much as saving his life. And if this woman had done that, if she had help save Billy, there was nothing she would not give to this woman.  She would forever be her sister, she would love her as much as she loved Will, Kat, and even Anton.

I love Anton?

It was in that moment she realized she did.  She had deep feelings for a man she barely knew, a man who had terrorized her family, and yet he was her brother the moment she knew who he was and nothing could change that.

“Stay close to me. Stay behind me. I might be dressed up nice, but I’m still Gavin Byrne’s daughter and I will fuck up anyone who comes between me and Billy and I will keep you safe I swear it.”

Eyes wide open, looking at rooftops crossing the street staying to the shadows and going down an alleyway - Aurora found herself holding her breath as tightly as she held the gun she pulled out of her purse. This wasn’t the first time she went hunting someone in an evening gown.  But she wouldn’t deny that it was a real pain in her ass.

 Heels were only ever worn by Aurora for two reasons. The first was attracting the attention of her husband who found the sound to be enticing. The other was to distract the eyes of potential foes at social gatherings. Aurora learned long ago that her beauty was a tool to be used in the trade of a hitman. No different than her gun or knives. If she had to run in them, she was well and truly fucked. Heels were not made for chasing down man or escaping them.

Finding the small fox carved into the door frame, she gave a nod to Emily. “This is it. Stay back just a bit if this goes south get to the car and go find my father.” She whispered.

Lowering her gun ever so, she knocked twice, and spoke loud enough to be heard inside, “I’m Aurora Mastrosimone.  I’ve brought medical help.”

Emily's eyes were fixed on the carving on the doorway. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Up until that moment, her only concern had been Billy's condition. Now, she, too, was concerned about who had him. Under her breath, barely a whisper, she murmured. 

"Red Fox..." 

The place wasn’t very well lite and had quite the musty odor to it. She could tell this place wasn’t well tended to, then again it wasn’t meant for luxury. It was strictly a place to hide, a place off the grid one to keep out of sight. The man said his goodbyes, not verbally but strictly with a glance as he parted the two. 

Shortly after the man left Vale gave her surroundings a look around. There wasn’t much to the room; a table, couple of chairs, a shelf with some odds and ends and a rather old looking icebox. Curious as to what was on the shelves and in the icebox, she went over to investigate. First stop was the shelves.

It was more so a piece of furniture, stood as tall as she was which wasn’t saying much at all. The bottom shelf had a couple dirty rags, they looked oil soaked but she didn’t further examine those. For all she knew it could have been black mold. The second shelf had some medical supplies, new medical supplies. Recently fresh and newly stocked, it was about the only thing in the room that looked new. It made send though as those were the supplies the man had left them. Next to the medical kit was a couple cans, the labels had been peeled off so who the hell knew what was actually in them. The third shelf there was a box, the box was entwined with cob webs and was super dusty. The cob webs were enough to send a shiver down her spine. Spiders were something she didn’t do well with. 

Backing away from the shelf she headed to the icebox, it was old but maintained. Unlike the box on the shelf it was free of cob webs, cracking it opened a brisk rush of cool air escaped the box. It was working and filled to the brim with mason jars which were filled with some kind of clear liquid. It could have been water, it could have been moonshine or he’ll it could have been anything. 

With a sigh Vale made her way back to her chair and turned the volume up on the radio. The channels were pretty dead, some white noises and every once in a while the dispatcher sending an officer to some sort of call. It was nothing out of the ordinary, a couple domestic violence calls, accidents etc...

Vale directed her attentions onto Billy who was laying rather still on the table, still not awake from his procedure. Every once in a while he’d twitch, which gave her a sense of hope. It was just a matter of time before he woke up but how long that would be was anyone’s guess. 

Only thing for her to do is wait, patience was key.

Billy stirred slightly as he began to come out of whatever medically induced stupor the doctors had put him into. As he looked around he realized it was dark. They must have kept the lights off after the surgery. He moved his fingers a bit and felt the rough hew of wood under him. This wasn't a metal operating table, and it wasn't a bed either. He opened his mouth to talk, but as he went to speak a shooting pain grew from his side where he'd been shot and all he could do was cry out.

It was almost immediate that he could see Valencia then, her hand cupped over his mouth. He willed himself to stop screaming then and stared a question at her. He didn't know where he was, or why, but he needed answers and he needed them now.