The Girl he Wants

44- My Other Half.

RECAP: Elizabeth has the hospital call Sam while she washes the blood off her hands. Asher is arrested for being by the body and Hanes is taken in too, for admitting he was at the scene. Ruth, Sam, and Natalie catch a ride with a second cop to the hospital.

***RUTH'S P.O.V***

Ruth hops out of the cop car, extremely grateful for being able to sit in the front. Both Sam and Natalie had to sit in the tight-fitting back seat, probably both feeling like caged animals.

Ruth figures she had grown on the woman cop because when they arrive at the front doors she asks her, "Who is this Elizabeth girl to you?"

   "Best friend." Ruth informs her, taking a calming breath. She's the one to open the door and the one to step through first. The rest of the group is behind, so she takes initiative to arrive at the counter and say, "Where are Elizabeth and Jay?"

   "Who?" The older woman with curly white hair and a confused expression questions. Her aging brown eyes meet Ruth's gaze and then the cop's.

   "Elizabeth. Jay." Ruth repeats as she stares at the older woman impatiently.

   Fortunately, the lady to her left rises from her seat. "Jay? He was wheeled to the back."

   Ruth turns and gratefully meets her gaze. "Thanks. Do you know where Elizabeth is and what happened?"

   "Elizabeth is in the bathroom. I have no clue what happened, hun." As the group starts walking toward the bathroom, the woman calls, "She's pretty shaken up. If I were you, I'd only send one person in."

   Ruth continues walking as if the woman hasn't said anything but out of the corner of her eye she notices that everyone else has slowed. The cop tells her, "I need to talk to her after you."

"Okay." Ruth calls over her shoulder, just before she pushes the bathroom door open and enters the room. At first, Ruth doesn't spot Elizabeth. And then she gazes down near the floor and spies a girl leaning against the wall, knees pulled up to her chest and head resting on her knees. "Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth quickly turns her head up, tired blue eyes widening. "Ruth?"

Ruth's light eyes are narrowed, her body suddenly feeling heavy. "My God, you look awful. Like a hobo who is on her period."

"Thanks." Elizabeth laughs vacantly, gradually climbing to her feet. "Jay looks worse."

Ruth steps forward but automatically freezes. She was planning to embrace her in a hug but she notices the oversized suit, her bare bra, and the blood stain at Elizabeth's heart. With her small fingers Ruth pulls apart the suit and peers at Elizabeth's shaking body. "Aren't you cold?!"

"A little, but I'm too numb to feel anything." Elizabeth confirms, letting out a breath. "I'm so glad you're here."

A few splotches of blood decorate Elizabeth's skinny face and Ruth says, "Let me wash you up."

"What?" Elizabeth moves to the sink and gazes in the mirror directly across from her. Shaking her head, she says, "I thought I got it all off."

Elizabeth goes to put her trembling hands under the water as she sniffles, but Ruth stops her by grasping them with her own. "I'll clean you up. What I need you to do is explain what happened."