Exhausted and taken out of their elements, Fluttershy and Twilight had nothing to say as night fell and the waiting room began to empty. Dash remained isolated, keeping her back to them. At first they figured she was ignoring them, stewing in her own juices... but in fact she had withdrawn into a fine point. Their cyan friend had finally reached a place where her mind was blank and she felt somewhat at rest. No pony bothered asking Rainbow how she was feeling, and it would have been surprising to each if they had since everypony felt similarly enough.

Scootaloo's cries, once resonating throughout the ward, eventually fell silent. It wasn't certain if her silence was a good or bad thing, so they sat and waited. Despite the room's relaxing vibe, no pony wondered. Thinking agitated them all.

Dr. Stable finally came through the doors. His face was serious, but not grim:

"Scootaloo's caretakers?" He asked them, already knowing who they were... it was more a formality.

Rainbow Dash snapped back into awareness and pulled the cloak-blanket down, ready to bolt to her hooves:

"How is she, doc?"

Dr. Stable smiled reassuringly:

"She is unconscious at the moment, but stable. It was a terrible, terrible accident, but fortunately we need to do no more work on her for the time being. We've given her a dose of antibiotics, though infection could still severely complicate her healing. We'll know for sure within the next few days if she'll be okay."

Hearing this, Twilight and Fluttershy heaved a well-needed sigh of relief. Dash remained unmoving and unblinking, however:

"When can we see her now?"

"I'm afraid not. Even though she's out, she needs her rest. Visiting hours start at 9 AM. She should be better by then but," he looked at Rainbow Dash very firmly. "You are not getting in until your fever breaks."

"We have all the information we need," said Twilight. "And all the information you can give us... come on, Rainbow Dash. Me or Fluttershy will happily put you up for the night."

Rainbow didn't look back as Fluttershy nodded reassuringly.

"I don't want to leave this place," she said. "Not until I know Scootaloo's talking and smiling like she used to, and not dying of some weird infection."

"Thankfully the filly sustained no brain damage so she should be alright in that respect," replied Dr. Stable. "And infection is unlikely, but of concern. Rainbow Dash, your concern for her well-being is admirable, but there is nothing you can do. Do as your friends suggest and go home. Don't allow your body to get run down and sick... then you won't be able to visit her. I can assure you if you do end up in the ward, too, we will certainly not be putting you both in the same room. Your feelings for her are very strong, yet being solely focused on one thing when you should be resting will adversely affect your healing!"

If Rainbow were in better physical shape, she would have challenged the Doctor... only to be promptly removed by security. She sighed:

"Fine."

Dash, Twilight, and Fluttershy all got up, preparing to walk off.

"Go to bed as soon as you can, but first have some hot soup and drink lots of fluids!" Exclaimed the Doctor. "Hopefully, I'll see you all bright and early."

"We'll take good care of her," Twilight reassured the Dr. Stable as she used her magic to fix the cyan blanket Dash was still wrapped in. "I have an assistant at home who makes the best soup to have when I've got the sniffles!"

Dr. Stable smiled and waved them off:

"Wonderful!"

The walk back to the library from the hospital was fairly short. Dash remained silent while Fluttershy and Twilight spoke quietly about Scootaloo and when they could visit her the next day. They approached a bouncing Pinkie Pie, who looked to be headed in the direction of the hospital. She had a bulging saddlebag which screamed portable pink party pack.

She approached, looking through both Twilight and Fluttershy at their cyan companion:

"Oh, Dashie, you look terrible!"

Dash sniffled, drawing the blanket over her shoulders:

"Yeah, well I saved her."

Pinkie Pie smiled in response:

"I just got back and was going to pay her a visit! How is she?"

"It was touch and go for a while, Pinkie," said Twilight. "But she's okay. No visitors until tomorrow after 9 AM."

"Bummer." The pink mare dragged a hoof across the ground. "I brought all these goodies for her..."

"She's in no shape for your goodies, Pinkie," Rainbow Dash replied, sneezing.

"Oh... okee!" She turned towards Twilight, a nervous look in her eye. "That bad, huh?"

"I'm afraid so..."

"Well..." The pink pony thought for a moment, then promptly turned around, bouncing away. "See you gals tomorrow after 9 then!"

"See you later Pinkie!" Both Fluttershy and Twilight shouted.

Again, Dash remained silent.

They continued on for a bit until they ended up in front of the library. Off in the distance they heard what sounded like Rarity's voice calling into the night air. They could tell whoever it was, was definitely outside and shouting at the top of her lungs:

"Sweetie Belle!"

Both Fluttershy and Twilight froze dead in their tracks. They all were all sure that's what she was calling, even Rainbow... who's eyes went wide.

"Did I just hear what I thought I heard?" Asked Fluttershy.

"I... uh, think so," Twilight replied, opening her door with her magic. "Spike! Come put Rainbow Dash in our guest bed. She needs some of your special soup and some warm chamomile tea!"

Spike came to the door right away, extending a claw to his new charge:

"Gah! You look sick!" He exclaimed, looking up at the Unicorn and cocking his head. "This going to make me sick, too?"

"She is sick, Spike... plus she's distraught over Scootaloo. Just be sure to take your vitamins if you're afraid of catching something."

"Okay, Twilight..." He welcomed her in slowly. "Come on, Rainbow... the guest bed is really comfy!"

Once the door closed, Twilight turned to Fluttershy:

"Let's go investigate that shouting."

Fluttershy didn't even have to nod. In the direction of Rarity's shop they both went.

It was dark out, but the lights were lit on both stories. From a distance it looked as though the place was open for business, yet the sign on the door distinctly said closed.

Twilight walked up to the boutique and hesitantly knocked on the door... waiting a few moments in silence. While the crickets chirped, each passed the other an uneasy glance. There had to be something wrong for the lights to be on after dark, plus... had they really heard Rarity calling out for Sweetie Belle?

The door slowly creaked open. Out stepped Rarity in a purple bathrobe with no make-up on.

"Twilight! Fluttershy!" She exclaimed in surprise. "I was just about to have a shower and turn in for the night.... what in Equestria are you two doing here at this hour?"

"We wanted to see how you're doing," said Twilight, ignoring the fact that it was barely after 7.

"We heard a voice shouting Swee-" Fluttershy began to say, but Twilight put a hoof to her lips.

"What she means to say is we were wondering if you heard any shouting?"

Rarity looked at them both for a moment as though she were confused... then suddenly threw her head up towards the sky. Starlight hit her eyes as she giggled, looking down at her purple friend as though she was being silly:

"Twilight, I have no idea what you're taking about! I certainly would have heard somepony shouting if there were any shouting to be heard. As you know, darling, the walls on my boutique are almost paper thin. It can be quite irritating at times."

"You're right, Rarity," replied Twilight, remembering how many times outside noises had disturbed their conversations in there. "We're mostly just worried."

"Don't be!"

"But Rarity," said Fluttershy. "Aren't you a little concerned about Scootaloo?"

Rarity yawned:

"Why yes, darling. Dreadfully so! How is she?"

"Stable." Twilight said, with clinical detachment. "Hospital visiting hours are 9 to 5... will you be able to make it tomorrow?"

"I'm afraid not," replied the ivory Unicorn, looking over her shoulder at a pile of fabrics on her counter. "Unless they can bend the rules, I simply have too much work to do..."

"Do you know how Scootaloo got injured?"

Rarity hesitated for a second, then nodded quietly:

"Yes... I'd prefer not to talk about it."

Twilight smiled warmly:

"Don't worry! It's not your-"

Rarit cut her short by stamping her hoof on the floor, causing Fluttershy to wince:

"Twilight, are your ears stopped up?"

The purple mare began to answer:

"No, I just thought -"

Rarity cut her off again, causing Fluttershy to take a couple steps back and cover her ears:

"What you thought, Twilight, is you could lay your anxieties concerning Sweetie Belle on me when I clearly stated that I do not wish to discuss it! 'You do know how Scootaloo was injured?' Yes, Twilight, I do know how she was injured!"

"Rarity, that's not what I-"

"Twilight, I feel just awful... and yes, I do wish to see her, but I simply don't have the time! Now that we've established that you shan't need to ask me again. Truth is, I am far too exhausted by my work load and simply can't afford to pour anymore of my emotions into her than I already have. To think of all the ponies I know who I'd expect to understand that... you and Fluttershy come to mind first. Yet adding insult to injury, rather than just acting like a true friend and showing legitimate concern... you come to my door in the middle of the night and try to play therapist, asking me such a loaded question... how dare you, Twilight Sparkle!?"

Rarity's eyes glowed blue with anger under the starlight. Twilight firmly stood her ground, staring back into Rarity's gaze.

"Come on, Twilight," meekly said Fluttershy, trying to push her friend into turning around. "Let's go home..."

"Okay, Rarity," said the purple Unicorn, turning around. "I just hope you can make it to see Scootaloo soon."

Twilight kept her eyes on Rarity as she and Fluttershy walked off. The ivory mare did not reply, much less even look up. Instead she turned around and shut her door with her magic.

"You've done everything you can for her," said Fluttershy as the two walked back to the library. "Just give her time..."

"The more time we give her, the weirder she gets," Twilight replied with a sigh. "I'm actually getting really worried at this point."

Fluttershy shrugged her shoulders in response. All the purple Unicorn could do was roll her eyes in annoyance...

Twilight had distinctly heard what Rarity had called Scootaloo, and that's what had "really worried" her... It was the second time she could recall this having happened, yet Fluttershy was too busy anticipating the sheer volume and surprise of Rarity's temper flare to apparently have noticed. The purple unicorn waited to hear her yellow friend bring it up on their walk home, yet if she had heard it she kept quiet about it.

Wishing Fluttershy a safe trip back to her cottage, Twilight entered her home:

"Spike?" She whispered into the silent library.

There was no answer. She looked around a bit and found Owlowiscious staring at her from a book case:

"Hoo!" He exclaimed, flying towards her to perch on an even closer shelf. He seemed to almost have an air of sympathy about him.

She smiled:

"I wonder if you can understand what's going on... they say pets are pretty smart."

He hoo'd again as she walked past him, keeping his eyes on her.

Twilight thought Spike was probably with Rainbow Dash, so she then climbed the stairs to the bedroom. The library was very quiet... only the sound of her hoofsteps could be heard through the building.

Once she reached the top of the stairs she saw Spike standing on a step stool in front of the guest bed, a steaming cup of tea on the nightstand and a bowl in his claws. Her jaw nearly hit the floor when she realized what he was doing: he was spoon-feeding a half-asleep Rainbow Dash very gently. She shuffled her hoof as he noticed her standing behind him.

"She is sick," he said, as he held the spoon to her mouth. "She collapsed once she made it up here... I only barely got her into the bed by myself. She's a lot heavier than she looks."

"I'm glad you were able to get her in bed, Spike," Twilight replied reassuringly as she approached. "She searched for Scootaloo in that rainstorm this afternoon."

The dragon's eyes went wide:

"She was out in that!?!"

"Yeah... and so was Scootaloo. The rainfall was almost six inches where she was found... Dr. Stable was surprised she hadn't drown in it. Maybe tomorrow morning Rainbow will be better and we'll all go see Scootaloo... maybe she'll be worse. Let's just be there for her right now. She's always there for us."

"You're right, Twilight. If she's not better tomorrow I'll watch her."

"You're a good assistant, Spike, but you don't have to if you'd rather see Scootaloo... I can always stay."

"Nah, it's alright."

Dash looked up at the two of them as they spoke, smiling weakly. Normally, when she was sick (unless she was really sick) she'd cover it up and hide it out... suddenly "too busy" to do anything, like a certain Unicorn they all knew. For the first time ever as an adult she had reached her limits and become worn out. Though Spike hadn't thought enough to take her temperature before giving her the soup, it certainly would have broken 100 degrees. Dash was now sedentary and it surprised her that she didn't mind being taken care of... just shutting off her brain and eating the soup this fine dragon a third her age was offering her. It felt nice.

The soup was gradually consumed as Twilight and Spike talked about the next day. Spike set up the tea with a crazy straw as he spoke intensely. The tea was relaxing and Rainbow did her best to listen in. Naturally Scootaloo's name was brought up a lot, and so was Rainbow's. Spike asked Twilight if she really thought Scootaloo was going to be okay... her answer:

"Earlier, Spike, I would have said I don't know for sure... but something tells me she's going to walk out of that hospital a very different filly."

Dash fell asleep shortly after that, those words on her mind... so tired, the words sunk in but neither comforted nor bothered her.