Shane sighed.  “I told you, Al.  I have things to take care of.  Now are you gonna help me or not?”

“Shane,” Alice began sternly.

“Fine, I’ll do it myself,” Shane interrupted.  She removed the tape from her arm and slowly slipped the needle out, wincing when blood began running down her forearm.  She quickly grabbed a towel and applied pressure to her arm.

Alice cringed.  “Ow.  You could have at least let one of the nurses do that.”

Tying the towel tightly around her forearm, Shane shook her head.  “The less time I have to spend in here, the better.  Now could you go find something for me to wear at the gift shop or something?”

“Shane, you really need to get back in bed.  I’m calling a doctor,” Alice announced, leaning over to press the button that called the nurses.

“No!” Shane protested, pulling her away.  “Look, I need something to wear.  Have a little sympathy for me – my ***** is hanging out of this gown.”

“All right,” Alice conceded, pulling a duffel bag from under her chair.  “I have some sweats in here that I was going to sleep in.  They might be a little big on you.”

“Thanks,” Shane said, accepting the sweats and immediately stripping off her gown.

Alice quickly turned her head.  “Thanks for the warning.”

Shane shimmied into the sweatpants and then slipped the shirt over her head.  “Now you have to help me get outta here, Al.”

Alice threw her hands up in frustration.  “You really need to let a doctor look at you, Shane.  Besides, it’s not as if they won’t be in here soon to check on you.”

“Al, if I mean anything to you, you’ll help me get out of here,” Shane pleaded.

Alice’s face softened.  “You know I love you, Shane.  What do you need?”

“That’s the Alice I know and love:  always ready to scheme,” Shane joked.  “I need you to get me to my truck.  Where is it?”

“It’s at the police impound,” Alice explained.  “It was considered part of a crime scene.”

“*****,” Shane swore, and then looked up at Alice hopefully.