ALICE:  Nothingjust I like the clothes!  Alice smiled and than turned her attention back to Shane.  Shane felt herself growing sick again, her body ached and she couldnt really focus on anything.  She rolled her head from side to side and moaned, the heat rising in her body.  She never felt so bad, she felt her body dry heaving, and her head pounded.  She wished her head would pound her into oblivion, she felt her stomach lurch again and she prayed for darkness as it enveloped her.  Oh shitBetteturn the water on!  Alice pushed Shane down into the tub, and watched the cold water wash over her.  She carefully kept her head out of the water, and dabbed her face with a cold wash cloth.  The whole time she spoke to Shanepromising her she was fineand reassuring the unconscious woman that she was there with heralways.

 Tina came into the bathroom, she searched through Alices medicine cabinet for a thermometer.  Finally locating one, she fell to here knees beside Alice, and thrust it in Shanes mouth, holding it steady to keep the frail woman from swallowing it.  She glanced at Bette, the worry etched on her face.  Slowly she withdrew the thermometer, checking the temperature.

TINA:  101ْ does she feel cooler. 

ALICE:  Yeah, a cold shower really helpsurma couple more minutes and Ill turn it off. 

BETTE:  Maybe we should take her to a hospital?

ALICE:  Noshe hates themif you dont want to helpthan I can take care of her.  Alice spat out more harshly than she intended. 

TINA:  NoAliceBette is trying to help.  Tina stuck the thermometer back in Shanes mouth.

ALICE:  I knowIm sorry Betteits justI want to let her know that she can trust me, and I told her I wouldnt take hershe needs me.  Alice felt her self tear up.  How the ***** did Shane crawl so deep in her heart, it almost as if she crawled into her very soul.

TINA:  99 degrees…Tina reached over and shut the water off.  Should we move her or make sure the fever is broken?  Alice thought for a moment.

ALICE:  Lets give it fifteen minutes, last time it came back quick and strong, so if it does well be ready.  She looked at Shanes small body, and her cold and wet clothes hugging her meager frame.  Lets get these clothes off her, it cant be good for her.  Alice motioned for Bette to leave, she knew it would take two people to change no matter what her size, because of the cast.  She didnt feel right about having more than enough though.  Tina held Shanes arm cast as Alice gingerly took the green scrub top off.  She placed a towel protectively around her chest, trying hard not to look at the bruises and scars on Shanes chest and abdomen.  I dont want to dress her until Im sure the fever has broken.  Tina nodded.  I think Ill cut the pants away.  Tina nodded again, she was stunned by how damaged and frail Shane was.  She cried for Shane right there, and Alice didnt let on that she could hear Tina weep; she just continued to work caring for her…steadfast and determined to get Shane over the hump.