"Are you taking your leave to go back to Downton?" Jimmy asks him over breakfast one morning.

Thomas licks his lips, taking a drink of tea. It's tasteless and bitter; the army certainly doesn't cater to comfort, he notes drily.

"Don't really see the point. I would like to stop by the hospital there, though. Perhaps beg for a transfer," he smiles, joking, but Jimmy takes on an expression of horror.

"I'm not that apt to leave you behind, helpless and alone," he adds, striving to appear more smug than pleased.

"Helpless? Please, I am anything but! I just don't want to have to make a best mate all over again! It's a tedious process," Jimmy fails to hide his worry behind a glare.

Thomas can't suppress his smirk. "The lady doth protest too much."

The blond jabs him heartily in the ribs and they are able share a laugh.

"You don't have any family or friends that are eager for your safe return?" Jimmy suggests, looking at Thomas with a questioning gaze.

Well, no, he didn't. Not really, that is. Thomas reaches for a cigarette, quickly lighting it and bringing the rolled paper to his lips. "There's nothing for me there. Only some who hate me, which leaves the rest to merely dislike me; a trifle less than actually hating," he pauses, punctuating his words with an ominous cloud of smoke. "Wouldn't be coming home to much of a welcome party."

"Ah, the 'old' Thomas," Jimmy says, perplexed, as he props his chin up with a hand. "Will I ever get to witness this malevolent side of you?"

Thomas smiles wryly. "Wishin' to raise the evil spirits, are we?"

Jimmy chuckles. "I daresay I'll raise the devil himself, as you convey yourself to be!"

You could raise much more, Thomas thinks, and red immediately covers his face. Thankfully, Jimmy takes no notice. If anything, he found the blond's vain nature to be quite endearing. It reminded him of his own youthful days; arrogant and self-centred.

"Anyway, the reason I ask is because I was going to spend my week in Paris," I didn't know if you were available to split a hotel or doss house? They're terribly expensive and all," Jimmy continues.

Thomas ignores the phantom-like flutters in his chest.

"How much per night?" He forces his tone to remain as careless as possible.

"Mmm, 'bout four, five shillings. Extra if we want breakfast and dinner, but there's a good pub nearby called the Rouge Panthère," Jimmy peers at him. "Is that a yes, then?"

Thomas simulates deep consideration. "Hmmm… Paris? Bus fare is bloody expensive… but I suppose it's better than staying in this mess." He smiles at Jimmy. "Shall we hire a cicerone?"

Grinning happily, Jimmy claps Thomas on his shoulder. "Anything you wish!"

Thomas hardly doubts Jimmy could grant all of his wishes.