The base of a cup of tea rattled as it was placed unevenly onto the coffee table in the living room, above Richard's shop later that evening. Richard watched Thomas's unsteady hand with some concern. Last night he had come home late and had been quiet, with obviously a lot on his mind. He had asked Thomas if everything was okay but Thomas had just brushed his concerns off saying he had had a busy day and a lot to think about. Richard was sure that something was wrong. He knew pushing Thomas was pointless. If he wanted to share what was on his mind he would, but eventually and in his own time. Maybe he's just tired. He hasn't taken a day off for a while and David's sudden arrival must have left him with a lot to think about. I'm tired too, this evening has been chaotic.

It was true. The evening had begun as any other would have. Chris had once again left the shop rather quickly after five, heading for the farm to see David again and Richard had set his mind to making himself dinner since Thomas ate at Downton this evening. His plans for a peaceful evening were scuppered by Wilde and his gift of a live sparrow. Richard had managed to trap it in the hallway before it flew into the kitchen but not before the poor little creature had messed up the stairs and the floor. After finally coaxing the bird out the door where it flew away eventually, he had then spent a good hour checking for bird droppings and cleaning them up. Wilde, who as a result of his actions was not in Richard's good books at the time, was banished outside. Eventually, he managed to throw something together to eat and had just finished clearing that away when Thomas arrived home. Richard had told him about Wilde's actions and normally Thomas would have found such a story funny or, at the very least, interesting. But as he retold this evening's events, Richard saw that his partner was only half listening. Something was still bothering him, even after another day had passed. Richard decided to try to find out once more before leaving the subject well alone. "Is your hand hurting you?"

Thomas looked up suddenly, not realising that Richard had been watching him closely. "No, it's fine. The cup just slipped that's all."

Richard didn't believe that for a second. Thomas was rather skilled at hiding the truth but not from him. "What is the matter? Something happened yesterday I'm sure of it." He touched Thomas's arm gently. "You've been off all day and yesterday."

Thomas watched as Richard's hand left his arm and rested on his hand, covering it. His touch was warm, owing to the mug of sweet hot chocolate that Richard always liked to drink in the evening, winter or summer. "Nothing happened as such, not really. Nothing new anyway."

Thomas's answer fueled Richard's curiosity. "I want to help if I can, but if you want to leave it-"

"-No, no nothing needs to be fixed. I just had a conversation with David yesterday. He came to Downton to see me especially. He wanted to ask me about Chris. He wanted to know if Chris was interested in him."

Richard relaxed, although he couldn't shake the feeling there was more to it than just that. "That's nothing bad surely?"

"No, I told him what is obvious to anyone who knows what to look for. I did what a good friend should have done and told him he was an idiot and that of course Chris was interested."

Richard sniggered. "Well done for that. Perhaps now they might finally begin to get somewhere." His mood faded a bit when he noticed that Thomas did not react to his humorous reply. "What else happened?"

Thomas leaned back into the softness of the double seated sofa, although despite the comforting embrace of the chair, his back sat rigid. "It would have been the end of it but David saw...saw these." Thomas turned his wrist around.

Richard felt hollow inside when he saw the thin faint scars on Thomas's wrists. The only physical indication of Thomas's past torment. Of course. How did I not realise? Oh darling I'm so sorry. "I'm sorry, I didn't pick up on this."

Thomas shook his head. "Doesn't matter. You can't read my mind and I didn't make it easy. It's okay though, really. I am glad that David knows. He had to notice though as I don't think I could have ever built up the courage to tell him." Richard didn't reply with words. He shuffled closer and lifted Thomas's hand slowly, his eyes flicking up and meeting him as if he was asking for permission. Thomas didn't stop him as Richard floated a gentle kiss that landed softly on his wrist, a repeat of the similar reaction Richard had when Thomas had first told him about his suicide attempt when they were away in London. Thomas then gently lifted Richard's chin with his hand so that he was looking at him. Richard took the hint and tenderly kissed him on his lips. "About David though," he began after they parted. "I spoke to him again today. I invited him to meet everyone at Downton. People have been asking me about him, I think they want to meet him properly."

"I suppose they would be curious. He's a new face around here." Richard stayed close to Thomas, but it seemed that Thomas had decided to drop the previous subject and move on.

"I've left the invitation open to Chris too. Asked David to ask him for me."

Richard chuckled and raised his eyebrow in a knowing expression. "Oh, well done Mr Barrow. I see you are dropping hints now."

"Just playing my part, that's all."

Thomas's feigned innocence was not lost on Richard. "Indeed. I take it I'm invited?"

"Naturally, I'll need your help to keep an eye on them both!"

...

The sky was grey overhead the following morning as David sauntered along the narrow lane that would take him to Chris's cottage. The clouds hung low and dark in the sky, a mixture of dark grey and white. The trees above him on either side of the lane, that was lined with stone walls long overtaken by bracken and other foliage so that they appeared more green and brown instead of grey, moved only ever so slightly above him. Hardly a breath of wind. If it rains, then it will be here to stay for a while. Spontaneous thoughts about the weather got in the way of the reason he was visiting Chris yet again. It was a Sunday and therefore he should be home. Most people right now will be at church and David had never asked Chris if he attended each Sunday like most others did. He hoped his assumption that church and religion were not things that Chris held in high esteem, was correct and that he would be home. He had accepted Thomas's invitation gladly, but he was not a fool and knew that Thomas's insistence that he didn't have the time to ask Chris was a lie, or a ploy to get him to ask Chris instead. Cheeky bastard! He smiled as he shook his head as he thought about how his friend was eagerly encouraging his relationship, or whatever it is right now, with Chris. He still had no idea how to raise the subject with Chris, he had intended too when Chris visited him in the field yesterday but the moment passed and he was still clueless. The cowardly part of him hoped that maybe Chris would say something.

The lane was a dead end and only led to a small clearing where two solitary cottages were situated. The first, the largest of the two, belonged to the woman who owned them both and who was subsequently Chris's landlady. Whilst they were on Downton land technically, it seemed the Crawley's did not actually own the cottages. David assumed they were sold off at some point in the past. There was a large oak tree outside the front garden of the cottage. The second cottage, the smaller one next door, was where Chris lived. The lane was not smooth as it was rough and littered with small pot holes and loose gravel. These two cottages were a bit of a distance from the main village, but David assumed that Chris, after living in fear for so long, wanted to be away from people and the gossip that living in a more central location would likely bring.

David expected that if Chris was home then he would be inside or maybe around the back. He had only been here once before as they preferred to talk away from anyone who could potentially overhear them. A few drops of rain began to fall as he approached the first cottage and the oak tree. David looked up. Mathew was right. Said it would rain. David let occasional rain drop fall onto his upturned face. He stood in the lane and closed his eyes as he felt the freshness of the drops hit his forehead. "David?"

David's eyes flew open as he heard Chris's voice. "Fancy seeing you here." Chris was leaning on his garden wall watching him with an amused expression on his face.

"Yeah well, I do live here." Chris had been watching David walk very slowly down the small section of lane towards him. He had stopped near the oak tree next door and as it started to rain, seemed to be enjoying getting wet. He's a strange one.

"Not at church like we should be?"

"Not my thing."

"Nah, me neither. I am here on Thomas's behalf actually." The rain began to get heavier as David casually walked over to Chris. He didn't mind the rain, most of the time he enjoyed how it refreshed everything it touched. Chris wasn't keen, but at the moment he didn't seem to notice it.

"Oh, why? Is he okay?"

"Yeah fine. Just lazy."

Chris scoffed. "I wouldn't call him that."

"No, but you would never insult him." David meant this as a joke, but he regretted it when Chris's smile faltered ever so slightly. After spending so much time on the receiving end of Chris attentions recently, he may have forgotten how Chris, until recently, only had eyes for Thomas Barrow. "Sorry."

Chris dismissed the remark with a wave of his hand. He knew what David had intended. His sense of humour was something he loved about him. Loved? Not liked or admired? But David could get carried away sometimes. "It's fine. What does he need?"

"He's invited me to Downton this evening for dinner. He wants to know if you'd like to come with me? I mean, with us...um them. Richard is coming too." David stumbled over his words as easily as he stumbled over his own feet a few days ago.

"I suppose I could. Since you are asking." Chris noticed David's beaming smile.

"Good. Great." There was an awkward silence between them both as they both tried to speak but neither could manage a single word. "Right then."

"Um, you could come in...if you like? My neighbour is at church and won't be home for a few hours," Chris asked nervously.

"I'd like that. Besides only so much rain I will enjoy. It's getting heavier."

"Yeah. I'll get you a towel." Chris opened the garden gate for David but at that moment they both turned suddenly in the direction of the oak tree when they heard a pitiful meow coming from up in the tree. "Oh not again!" Up in the higher branches of the tree they could just make out a small ginger face of a cat looking sorry for itself. "It's my neighbour's cat Timmy. Got himself stuck up there again. Second time this week now!"

David walked over to the tree, Chris following him shortly after. There was some shelter from the heavy rain under the leaves, the ground in the shadow of the tree still dry and lighter in colour compared to the ground outside away from the shelter of the tree. "Can't leave him up there, especially now. Probably soaking wet already. You said this happened before? How did he get down the first time?"

"Well I'm not much use on a ladder so I had to fetch someone from the village to help. I don't fancy that right now, not a mile walk in the pouring rain." Chris didn't get a reply from David immediately. David had his back to him, hands on his hips as he looked up into the tree, clearly trying to think about what to do. Chris could only see three options: Leave Timmy up there until the rain calms down, which he wasn't keen on. Find a ladder and climb up or climb the tree without a ladder. Both of the last two options were possible for David.

"Do you have a ladder?"

"No, but Mrs Robinson next door does. She doesn't have any use for it so I don't know how strong it will be, it was her late husband who used it apparently."

"Any idea where it might be?"

"Probably around the side of the cottage in the garden. Although like I said it's not been used in a while, no idea if the wood is still strong enough."

David faced Chris again, a few drops of rain were now making their way through the tree above them and were falling heavily on their heads. "Probably our best option. I'll just go and fetch it. Make sure the cat doesn't do anything stupid okay?"

Chris didn't get a chance to reply as David had already made a run for it, hurrying through the rain to the gate next door and disappearing around the side of the cottage. "And how am I supposed to do that?" He said both to himself and Timmy the slender ginger and white cat who was looking down at him from a branch in the tree. "You won't learn will you? You'll be up there again and you'll find yourself in the same tricky spot I bet it."

"Got it!" Chris took his attention away from Timmy and back towards the sound of David's shout. David emerged from Mrs Robinson's garden carrying a ladder. Chris held open the gate for him and soon the ladder was propped up against the trunk of the tree. David tested the bottom rung of the ladder with his foot and then tried to put both feet on it to test his weight on the aging ladder. "Should be okay I think?"

"You think?" The last thing Chris wanted was for David to fall.

"Yeah. No problem I reckon." David's whole mannerism oozed confidence. "You'll catch me though if all else fails though right?"

Chris sighed and rolled his eyes at David's ability to make light of such a situation. "You know I'll try but I'd rather not find out so be careful okay?"

"Sure, I'm always careful." David's foot chose that exact moment to slip as he stepped onto the ladder.

"Right, of course you are."

"That won't happen again." David gave Chris one last confident smile before climbing up, more carefully this time, into the tree on the wet and slippery ladder.

I bet you enjoy this don't you? Being the hero. Showing off. Are you showing off? Perhaps I should be annoyed that I can't rescue the cat myself, that my stupid disability means I am useless in situations like these. Chris looked up into the tree as he heard David grunt as he stretched for a hold on a thicker branch so he could reach Timmy. Maybe I should feel pathetic? I think I normally would but...but not this time. Not with you. How do you do that to me? "You okay up there?" he shouted above the loud patter of the rain in the tree and on the ground around them.

"Yeah, almost got him!" David risked a quick look down through the branches that criss crossed his view of Chris below him. He didn't want to lose his balance now. He used to climb trees bigger than this one all the time for fun as a child. In some ways he felt like he was back in his youth again with Thomas waiting patiently at the bottom of the tree he insisted on conquering, except this time it was Chris waiting for him. He tried to block out any thoughts about Thomas or Chris out of his mind and focus instead on the reason he was up a tree in a downpour. "Right then. Timmy isn't it?" He kept his voice calm in an effort not to frighten the cat. He was a young cat, not a kitten but probably only a few years old and obviously still had a lot to learn in regards to chasing birds and squirrels up trees. The cat starred back at him with big black eyes, wide and alert, his ears twitching in response to David's voice. "Now, since you have no collar, I will probably have to grab you rather tight, but I promise it is better than the alternative of falling down there." Despite David's efforts to reassure the cat, Timmy shuffled a step or two backwards along the branch away from him and meowed pitifully. I know they can't understand me but I thought the tone and talking alone might help. Been a while since I've done this but it worked before. "Don't believe me, do you? Right, well I know cats are supposed to land on their feet but surely you don't want to test that theory whilst being hit by all those twigs and branches on your way down?" David was running out of options. The branch Timmy was sitting on was not thick enough to support his weight if he moved further onto it. Timmy was watching him fearfully, although he hadn't moved back any further. David looked down towards Chris again and then back at Timmy. "You see that man down there? I'm not sure if cats remember people's names but you know him don't you? He is kind to you even though you take over his home without asking. I like that man a lot and I am trying to impress him. It would be helpful if you don't make me look stupid." Talking to a cat about him now? I'm getting a cat from a tree, hardly impressive, especially how this seems to be going. Timmy took a few tentative steps towards him and David, seeing his one opportunity, lunged for the cat with one hand, and grabbed the cat unceremoniously by the scruff of the neck. Several scratches on his arms later, he got the cat into a grip that allowed him to retreat back down the tree and onto the ladder, which Chris held as he climbed back down.

"Well done!" Chris congratulated David as he set his feet on the ground once again.

"He didn't make it easy." David set a very wet and spiky young cat down on the ground, who made a run for the door of Chris's cottage that he had left open.

"You don't look so great though." David was wet through and had scratches on his arms from Timmy's claws. Chris didn't mind David's usual rugged or untidy appearance, not normally. "That one is bleeding."

David looked at a long scratch on his arm near his elbow. "Oh yeah, so it is. Didn't notice. Doesn't matter. Could have been worse right?"

Chris frowned. How are you so...? "Well you really need to dry off now. We both do. Get inside." They left the relative shelter of the tree and welcomed the dry warmth of Chris's hallway and the ability to shut the rain outside. Timmy, it seemed, had made himself at home on the floor in the kitchen, making the most out of the leftover heat from the oven. They both laughed as they caught their breath. Chris watched a drip of water fall from David's forehead and trail down his left cheek, before settling on his lips. He took slow breath in and out and blinked several times. "I'd better get us some towels." Chris left David at the bottom of the stairs and returned a moment later with a towel for each of them. He found David by the sink in the kitchen finishing off rinsing off the cut on his arm.

"Hope you don't mind?" David asked as Chris handed him a towel.

"No, it's fine. Stopped bleeding then?"

"Yeah, just a scratch." David rubbed frantically with the towel leaving it sticking out in a hundred different directions. "Want me to do yours?"

"Err...no. I prefer not to look like I've well, just climbed down a tree," Chris smirked. A rub with a towel is tempting though...no shut up!

"Shall I make us a drink?"

"No, you sit down. I should, you're the hero after all." Chris cringed at his own words but his embarrassment was worth it when he saw David blush. "You know...you don't need to...you don't need to impress me." David stopped as he passed Chris on his way to the living room, so they were only a few inches apart. Chris smiled again, but with more confidence this time. "I was impressed long ago."

…

"Stop." David grabbed Chris's arm suddenly as they walked through the dimly lit woods on their way to Downton Abbey that evening. The sun was going to set soon, it was around eight in the evening and with every day, the days were getting shorter.

Chris jumped, partly due to David's touch, partly to the jolt of fear that ran through him as he considered what might be wrong. "What?"

"Do you hear that?"

Chris listened. He listened for what he always listened for. The sounds of footsteps, the crunch of twigs or dry leaves and pine needles, the accidental scuffle of loose stones on the ground. The indication that they were not alone or that they were being watched by judging and suspicious eyes. Nothing. It's quiet. Is it too quiet though? He looked at the man next to him. David looked concerned but not scared and he was looking around him and listening keenly for something. "No, what?"

"Shh." David held up his hand. He then focused on an area of thick bushes and undergrowth several paces of the rough path they were following. Without a word he crept over to an area of brambles and foliage and pushed aside a few branches.

Chris followed and saw what David had heard but he had not. Beneath the branches and leaves there was a tangle of old wire, brown and rusty. Old fencing wire? He pushed another thin branch aside. Tangled within the wire was a bird, a sparrow. It struggled in response to the movement of the branches that otherwise was hiding it from view. "David you can't get that out of there, not without breaking its wing." The bird had somehow got the thin wire caught around its tiny feet.

"Could do with a pair of wire cutters," David thought out loud.

"Not something I tend to carry on me."

"Hmm...Do you have a handkerchief?"

"Err, I think so. Why?"

"Cover its eyes with it while I untangle it. It will make him calmer."

Chris pulled one out of his jacket pocket. "Here," he said, passing the material to David.

"Thanks." David had hold of the bird in a gentle grip to stop it from struggling and injuring itself. "Don't worry, I'll get you out of here in no time." He covered the bird's face but allowed it room to breathe. After some more initial twitching the bird became still and with one other hand he unwound the coil of wire around its feet, hoping that as the bird's fragile legs were revealed, that it wouldn't be injured. Chris watched in admiration. How does he do it? He watched as David talked to the bird, keeping it calm whilst working to set it free. He saw how he tenderly ran his finger over the bird's feathers stroking it as you would stroke a cat. Chris felt his heart flutter as he smiled fondly at him. I've never known anyone quite like you David. No one so tender, so full of care for everything. He looked to the ground and his smile faded. What on earth do you see in me? "Almost got him." Chris jumped and hoped David didn't notice. "Can you help me?"

"Sure, but you seem to know what you're doing."

"I think so, but I am not blessed with three hands so if you could just hold him while I get this last piece free?"

Chris hesitated. "How? I don't want to crush it."

"You won't. Put your hands below mine. I'll let go and as soon as I do you hold him okay? Just like this so that you only put enough weight on it to stop him from escaping." Chris followed David's instructions and cautiously held the bird in both hands as David let go. For a moment their fingers brushed each other's and Chris had to use all his self control to not react so he didn't harm the bird. He had never held such a fragile creature before. Its feathers were surprisingly soft and he noticed how intricately they covered the bird's body and wings. "Got it!" The last piece of wire was free and together they slowly stood up. Chris was still holding the bird as David removed the handkerchief from its eyes. The bird chirped as it looked around in Chris's hands. David bent down a little to look at the bird's legs and then gently looked at its wings each in turn.

"Is it okay?" Chris's question was answered before David even spoke by the joyful smile he gave him as he looked up at him.

David stood up. "He's a lucky one. It's getting dark, we should let him go so he can get out in the open."

"Do you want to do that?"

"No, you do it. You're holding him. Just open your hands and I bet anything that he'll just fly away."

Chris gently opened his hands and the bird stood on his hand and cheeped once more as it looked around and fluttered its wings as it got its bearings back. "You better go, little one. Not safe in the dark and we are late for dinner." David chuckled as Chris spoke to the bird. The bird took one more look around and then flew off up into the trees.

"There, good deed done for the day I reckon." David felt satisfied. Chris though looked proud of him.

"Second for you actually."

"Yeah I suppose so. It will give me something to say at dinner. I'm always rather useless at making pointless conversation."

...

Thomas sat at the head of the table with Richard to one side of him and unfortunately, Mr Carson at the other. Not ideal but I can't just tell him to go away. He looked at the clock on the wall. David and Chris were late. Maybe David decided not to come, or maybe they found better things to do? His questions were put to rest though as he heard the door close and David and Chris's voices. "Ah there you are! I was beginning to wonder if you changed your mind." Thomas stood and shook David and Chris's hands each in turn politely. It felt a bit strange being this formal but he decided to keep up appearances just in case.

"Yes, sorry we're late. We did cut through the woods to save us some time but I had to stop a few times. I don't get anywhere quickly as you know." Chris politely smiled at Thomas as he felt an all too familiar pang within him. However he then happened to look to his side at David and that feeling was overtaken by another entirely.

"We don't mind waiting for you Chris, it's no worry. You can leave your coats in my office. Charlotte would you take Mr Webster and Mr Mortimer's coats?"

"Of course Mr Barrow, but I could put them in the laundry room as they can dry off a bit in there?" Charlotte asked as she stood up and took the coats from the two men.

"Good idea. Thank you Charlotte."

"Take a seat Mr Webster, you must be tired. You to Mr Mortimer," Mrs Hughes said kindly. "It's lovely to finally meet you. Mr Barrow has spoken of you fondly."

"Thank you," David sat down opposite Chris. "I hope we didn't keep you waiting too long though. We may have been a bit earlier but due to what we got up to together alone in the woods on our way here we were later than we planned."

David's words may have been meant innocently enough, but judging from the reactions of various others around the table, his words did not come off as simply as he intended. David! You really could have worded that differently. Now we have everyone thinking God knows what in their heads! He glanced quickly at Mr Carson, who's bushy eyebrows were raised on his forehead and accompanied by an accusing frown. He's now made the assumption that because you are my friend that means you must be like me as well. And yeah I know that is true but I was rather hoping we could be more subtle? He looked at Richard, who caught his eye as he bit his lip obviously trying not to laugh and appear unaffected by David's words. Down the table Phyllis had taken this moment to cut up the chicken on her plate into more pieces than was strictly necessary.

There was a clatter as Stephen's fork fell out of his hand too loudly to be coincidental. "Sorry Mr Barrow," he muttered.

Mr Bates seemed to catch Chris's eye for a split second before looking back down at his plate. Chris meanwhile, drank down a whole glass of water as if it was something a lot stronger. "Could you pass the jug of water Mr Bates?" he asked before taking the jug and refilling his glass. Thomas was hoping for a simple and straightforward introduction. As if that was ever going to happen. Chris drank half of his glass of water before clearing his throat. "I think what Mr Mortimer meant was that we had found ourselves on a bit of a rescue mission."

David seemed to gather what most other's were now thinking. You careless idiot, of course it sounded like that! "Yes, we came across a bird, a hedge sparrow I think, in a spot of bother, tangled in some old rusty wire. We were late as we had to get it free."

"Oh that was good of you Mr Mortimer," Phyllis said. And not out of character, he has a good heart. "Was it harmed?"

"No, it was lucky. Flew out of Ch- Mr Webster's hand with no trouble."

Richard put down his fork. "Well done then. Thomas has said that you are good with animals."

"Seems that you are. Second time you've helped an animal out today actually." Chris looked at David across the table. Thomas saw the pride both in his words and his face. "He rescued my neighbour's cat from the tree outside her cottage in the rain this morning."

Thomas felt relieved and grateful for the change in conversation. It seemed that the earlier confusion had been forgotten and the explanation accepted. Well by most anyway. Thomas noticed that Mr Carson hadn't said a word, which was unusual as he usually wanted to get many words into every conversation. He had been looking at Chris with suspicion. Thomas remembered back to last Christmas when Chris had eaten here with them. It was putting it mildly to say that they didn't get on that time and it seemed that they may clash again. Chris was fiddling with the bottom of his glass. "I hope you approve Mr Carson."

Chris don't. Don't give him a reason to dislike you. Thomas could see himself doing the same in Chris's place though. He had done in fact, many times, back in the day. "More potatoes Mr Webster?" Thomas hoped that a little distraction would work. It didn't.

"I'm fine Mr Barrow."

"I have nothing against rescuing creatures in need." Thomas breathed a little sigh of relief at Mr Carson's words. It was premature. "As long as that is all you were doing."

Other conversations stopped. Thomas heard Mrs Hughes breathe in. "Well I am afraid we can't ask the cat or the bird for proof but my neighbour Mrs Robinson was very grateful to David this morning for his help in rescuing her cat so if our word is not enough then you can ask her to verify our 'story'." Chris looked as though he was going to say more but Richard and Thomas both saw David give Chris a little subtle shake of the head to tell him to leave it be. It was enough, and along with Mrs Hughes giving her husband a bit of a glare, nothing more was said on the matter.

"I hear that you are working with Mr Tomlinson on his farm?" Mrs Hughes said. Thomas was grateful for her wonderful skills in defusing situations like these.

"Um...yes. I started several days ago. Bit of a change to what I am used to but I like it. I was living and working in Liverpool before you see."

"I assume you have a lot to learn then?" Mr Bates asked. He caught a grateful nod from Thomas. Neither of them wanted another argument and Thomas seemed grateful that he asked another question to steer the conversation in an easier direction.

"Fairly yes. But that is part of the interest. What's the point in knowing everything? Knowledge is the key to everything. Asking questions helps us to get to know things, and people." David looked right at Chris as he spoke those last two words.

Chris gave David an apologetic look. He hadn't meant to let Mr Carson get to him but his instincts to defend himself seemed only stronger now. I was defending you. I can't help that. He didn't know if David knew exactly what he was thinking, probably not. But as he felt David's foot accidentally on purpose touch his own under the table and out of sight, he thought that maybe David got the idea.