Libby had been mostly sitting beside Ruby since she'd been brought in. Aside from breaks to get food or have a shower, and her one conversation with Desmond, that chair she sat in at that very moment in time had been her home. She'd even slept in it for the first night, which had killed her back so much that she'd snatched the empty bed beside Ruby afterward.

When Ruby opened her eyes, Libby couldn't quite believe it. She'd been seated beside what might as well have been a long-term coma patient for days, and it just seemed foreign. After a moment, however, the fact that her inmate was awake registered with her, and she gave Ruby a smile.

"Hey, hon. I'm glad you're awake. How are you feeling?"

"Don't strain yourself," Libby cautioned. She reached out, to tuck some stray hair behind Ruby's ear.

"I'm so sorry. There was nothing I could do for you..."

"Oh, no, Ruby." The look on her face was some mixture of horrified and ashamed--of herself, for not realizing it on her own. "Why? Why did you want that, even after asking for me to monitor your communication with him?"

"I'm supposed to be your warden...I should have figured it out somehow and kept you safe..."

But when Ruby touched her arm and said that, she was mildly confused. "I'm not sure what you mean."

Libby managed to keep composed for a few moments, but quickly found the mounting flood of tears to be too much for her to hold back. She bowed her head for a moment, lips quivering and tears slipping over her eyelashes, and took Ruby's hand off her arm to enfold it in both of hers.

She wasn't sure what to say, or how to say it; this was monumental, for the both of them. Ruby had finally seen the worth in who she was; it was as if the daughter Libby could never have was finally leaving the nest. She loved Ruby, she really did, and actually wondered if her body could take the strain of everything she felt for her at that moment. Finally, she decided there was something she needed to say before anything else, and looked her now-former inmate in the eyes with a smile.

"Congratulations, Ruby. You've just graduated."

Libby nodded, continuing to smile through the tears. "You've been so close for so long--the only step you had left to take was accepting yourself as a good person. And now you're free. I'm so, so proud of you, hon. You've come so far."

She leaned in close and placed a kiss on Ruby's cheek.

"And I'm glad you think of me like family...because as far as I'm concerned, you've been mine since we started together."

Libby hugged her back, careful not to add to whatever death-toll pains she might be feeling.

"You've more than earned your ticket out of here...but I am still going to miss you like crazy," she admitted with a little laugh.

Libby pulled back from the hug and smiled at her. She was glad Ruby would be trying her hand as a warden, as so many had suggested.

"I'll be honored to have you as my peer when that time comes."

She placed her hands on Ruby's shoulders.

"You are going to make someone a fantastic warden, sweetheart. When you get back, I'll help to get you oriented as best I can. And until then...do whatever will help you find the peace you deserve."

"Of course. Do you need any help walking, or--?"

"Okay. I'll see you later, Ruby. Congratulations--I love you, hon."

She hugged her once more before leaving the infirmary, giving Ruby a little time alone to compose herself, should she need it.