"Come on, big guy." Ruby rubs his back and leads him along, and when she asks and he complies with guiding her to his room, she takes one of his arms and drops it over her shoulder, her arm around his waist to help steady him, through wine fog and cold-numbed limbs.

She's glad to steer him and help him down hallways and through door frames. The advantage of the Wolf? She's mighty strong for a lady. And the advantage of him showing her the way is that she'll know where to go to check up on him.

"You sure there's no one you want me to let know? They can check in on you." She'll be checking in anyway, but you know.