She wasn't surprised when they let her go, because they'd been thinking about it around her for 48 hours before they did it. But River was a little surprised by the way they treated her once she'd tried to escape.
They didn't undo her restraints, or stop the medication, but they did, once she was gathered back to her room, provide her with a nurse that reminded her a great deal of Inara. She was older, but was calm and patient and had the demeanor of a companion. She made River smile. And she spent almost that entire 48 hours with River prior to her release.
She knew she was being babysat, of course, but somehow it was easier to take since the babysitter was so nice.
River was otherwise quite annoyed by her stay in Arkham. The entire experience had upset her, reminded her of what the Alliance had done to her, and separated her from those she cared about.
When she was to be discharged, she was simply wheeled on her gurney to the elevator, then taken to the main floor lobby. Her friend the nurse was then instructed to unrestrain her and get her dressed, and give her the paperwork she needed as well as call her a taxi. River didn't like this move, but understood it; The City knew she'd be likely to harm those who put her here or kept her here. She'd already harmed some of them.
The first thing River wanted to do was eat.
She felt weak and tired, and imagined fresh bao and apples. But apples on their own would be good. And then she could go back to her apartment, or find Hannibal. Or Simon.
She stood in the small market next to little tables full of coffee-drinking patrons, the fold of her shirt full of apples to buy. She was adding more to the pile, which would soon be wider than she was.
"Basket would make more sense," she said to herself.