They spent the next two days recuperating, so to speak. Tomas was taking it easy the first day, spending most of the time flat on his back due to his headache and the fact that any faster movement made him dizzy. Marcus made himself busy with cooking and annoying Tomas every time he looked to be too lost in his catholic guilt. By the afternoon though not even Marcus's good-natured ribbing could get Tomas out of his self-imposed funk.
"I told you, I'm not hungry," Tomas said grumpily and pushed away the plate Marcus put before him.
"Okay, I give up!" Marcus said, throwing his arms up dramatically. "You're impossible when you feel sick. It's all 'I don't need this, Marcus' 'I'm fine, I just thought I'd rather lie down on the floor than the couch' or 'I don't need to eat, I live on air'," Marcus said in his best imitation of Tomas' voice, adding air quotes for emphasis. "I try to be nice and this is the thanks I get," Marcus grumbled, ignoring the stunned look on Tomas's face. That is, until he heard the strange sound coming from the priest. Looking up, worried that his outburst might've had a rather more negative effect that he planned, Marcus was surprised to see the smile on Tomas' face. That strange sound changed into a full blown chuckle and suddenly the tension of the last two days vanished.
Marcus stopped his grumbling, hands on hips in a pose of an angry wife, yet there was a smile tugging at his lips. Still, he forced his features to look stern, although there was no hiding the spark in his eyes.
"Oh, and now you're laughing at me. Nice. See if I ever make you lunch again, Tomas."
At that Tomas snorted, then rubbed the tears from his eyes, muttering something.
"What's that?"
"Your imitation of me is awful."
"Really? That's all you took from it?"
Tomas shook his head, still smiling.
"First off, I don't have a British accent."
"Oh, and what's the second?" Marcus asked, eyebrows raised and arms crossed on his chest.
"You bought this pizza across the road. Hardly the epitome of cooking," Tomas added cheekily.
"I still had to bring it in and put it on the plate, so the least you can do is taste it," Marcus said with an imploring look.
As if to humor him, Tomas reached for the plate and took a careful bite of the pizza. He chewed it slowly while Marcus sat down next to him with his own plate and a bottle of beer. Tomas looked at the beer inquiringly.
"No beer for me?"
"Please," Marcus snorted. "You barely drink beer as it is. Definitely not giving you one when you're taking painkillers. How's my cooking?"
"Tastes like cardboard," Tomas answered truthfully. "But I'm sure the Chinese you'll bring for dinner will be an improvement," he added with a grin, earning a look of contempt.
"As if-" Whatever Marcus planned to reply was interrupted by the ringing of the phone.
"It's Rose," Marcus said when he saw the number and picked up the phone. Tomas put the pizza down, his barely existing appetite all gone. He listened to the one sided conversation, his stomach in knots with fear that Harper might've taken a turn for the worse. Marcus' face and answers didn't give him anything to go on so he had to wait until the call finished.
"Well?" he prompted after Marcus put away the phone and took a swig of his beer.
"What? Oh, are you curious about the phone call?" he asked in mock surprise, his eyes sparkling and Tomas fought the urge to smack him. Unsuccessfully.
"Ow!" Marcus yelped, rubbing at his shoulder dramatically then wincing for real as the movement pulled on the cut on his arm. "Watch the arm."
"I hit you on the other arm," Tomas protested, though he looked to be sorry. "Shouldn't you change that bandage anyway?"
Marcus rolled his eyes.
"And here I thought you'd like to know what the call was about."
"One doesn't exclude the other," Tomas protested. "How is Harper doing?"
Marcus looked at Tomas seriously, then a small grin broke through his facade.
"She woke up earlier today... kept asking for us. Rose said the doctors think they could release her in just a few days."
"That's great," Tomas smiled softly, then looked away, the smile gone as quickly as it came. Marcus sighed.
"I thought you'd be happy about the news."
"I am happy that she's awake and doing better."
"Your face is saying something else."
Tomas frowned.
"Do you think it is wise for her to see us again? After what happened?"
"Seeing us or do you mean see you?"
Tomas shrugged, a bit astonished when Marcus turned to face him and leaned back on the arm of the couch, looking at him as if he was a really interesting specimen.
"What?" Tomas snapped. That look made him nervous.
"Rose said Harper was asking for us. And if she wants to see us, I sure as hell won't let her down." The look on Marcus face clearly said that Tomas better not disappoint her either. The two men had a short stare down before Tomas succumbed.
"When do you want to go?"
"Atta boy," Marcus slapped Tomas on the leg with a grin. "We have been invited to come tomorrow, once the visiting hours start. So you have plenty of time to get your head on straight and drop that guilty look. I'm not a fan and Harper shouldn't be on the receiving end of it either."
"You're all heart today," Tomas said with a sigh and slowly stood up, relieved when the world stayed in its place. Maybe eating something wasn't such a bad idea after all.
"Where you going?"
"For the first aid kit. I might be concussed, but I didn't forget about your arm. Last thing we need is for it to get infected like the bite on my hand. I'd hate to get in a brawl with you," Tomas said, earning a confused look from Marcus.
"You okay? Cause that didn't make any sense to me."
"Ah, I might've forgot to tell you about the time when I got into a fight at a pharmacy and had to call Maria Walters to bail me out."
"What?" Marcus spluttered, almost choking on another bite of his pizza.
Tomas chuckled and used the fact that Marcus momentarily had trouble speaking to retrieve the med kit. When he returned, Marcus had put down the pizza holding his beer instead and eyeing him warily.
"You were just taking the piss with that, right?"
"I'm afraid not," Tomas said, grimacing. It wasn't one of his finest moments, never mind the fact that he was obviously pouring his heart out to someone who was trying to become integrated with a demon. Even the thought of that made him shudder.
"How come I'm just hearing about it then?"
"Truth be said, there were more important things to talk about," Tomas said a bit guardedly.
"Six months, Tomas. Really... there wasn't a moment you thought about bringing that up?"
Tomas shrugged.
"Not my finest day," he admitted and pointed towards Marcus' arm. "Mind if we take care of that?"
"Only if you tell me all about Maria Walters bailing you out. And don't leave any details out, please."
When Tomas finished his story and the cut on Marcus' arm was once again neatly bandaged, Marcus just smirked up at him.
"I told you that cactus wouldn't be enough," Marcus reminded him smugly and Tomas fought the urge to roll his eyes.
"I could hardly go to an A&E with a bite mark on my hand when my face was on the TV for a week, looking for Casey. I mean... that would be a bit hard to explain, don't you think?"
Marcus just shrugged.
"You could've said it was one of your homeless parishioners. Mistook your hand for ham," Marcus grinned, then turned a bit more sober.
"So how did you fix it?"
"What, the hand or the fact I just attacked a guy and made a total fool of myself in front of our wannabe demon initiate?" Tomas stood, cleaning up the mess from the table, his voice ripe with disgust.
"I think punching someone was the least of your problems, although I'd pay for a chance to see that. Our Saint Tomas, throwing punches," Marcus chuckled, the mirth in his eyes overriding Tomas' urge to clock him on the head.
"Now it's you who sounds like a doubting Thomas," Tomas said with a smirk. The smile slipped off Marcus's face and Tomas realized he struck a chord. He just wasn't sure what the problem was.
"Yeah well, sometimes there is reason for doubt."
"Yes, but even St. Thomas found the way and his faith in Christ, even though he needed proof first."
Marcus gave a thoughtful nod, but didn't comment. Tomas could see something was bothering the older man, but by the tense set of his shoulders and closed-off look on his face, Tomas was pretty sure Marcus wasn't ready or willing to talk about. Not yet, anyway. Leaving him to his thoughts, Tomas decided to go for a short walk. The oncoming visit to the hospital made him have his own doubts that needed to be resolved before he saw Harper.
When they arrived to the hospital next day, Harper already looked better. She was awake and quietly talking to a nurse. Marcus entered the room first and the nurse paused, a question about who he was on her lips. Tomas quickly slipped in too and the collar on his neck made the nurse reconsider. However, it was Harper and her happy shout of "Father Marcus!" that made the nurse relax and smile.
"Ah, you're the two saviors Harper has been talking about since morning," the nurse said. Marcus beamed at her, but Tomas looked sheepishly at the floor, a frozen protest on his lips.
"How are you, my duckling?" Marcus flopped down on the side of Harper's bed, and she smiled up at him happily. Marcus brushed a string of hair away from her face and she blushed, the redness of her cheeks looking much healthier than her previous paleness.
"I'm feeling better, father Marcus," she said, her voice filled with disbelief over that simple fact and Marcus had to force down the sudden surge of anger he felt towards Harper's mother.
"That's good to hear, love," he said and Tomas had to admire how calm he sounded, even though one of his hands was clenched into a fist. Tomas swallowed and looked at the nurse, wondering if she could sense the intense feeling radiating from the older man, but the nurse seemed oblivious.
"She will feel even better in a few days, as long as she makes more of an effort to eat something," the nurse chided lightly and Marcus threw her a concerned look then focused back on Harper.
"What's that I hear? Don't tell me you don't like the hospital food," Marcus said with playful disbelief and Harper chuckled at the face he made, then grimaced.
"It tastes gross," she whispered, then frowned at the nurse. Tomas had to hide the smile on his face as Marcus also gave the nurse a mocking glare.
"Now we can't leave it at that. I'm pretty sure we can get you something that'll taste just right."
"Good luck with that," the nurse muttered, knowing well enough the quality of their own food. This time Tomas coughed to cover up the chuckle. The nurse rolled her eyes and looked at her watch.
"Okay gentlemen, you have about twenty minutes to scrounge up something for our angel without me 'noticing it'. Then she'll need a bit of a rest before some tests."
The nurse left and Harper started instantly telling Marcus about the horror that was supposed to be her breakfast. Marcus looked particularly shocked and started coming up with better alternatives. While they were chatting away, Tomas slowly made his way across the room, feeling more awkward than ever. He knew he should be happy to see Harper feeling better, but every time he looked at her all he saw were her sunken cheeks, the bruises on her face and an accusing look. Even though the last one was just his imagination, it caused Tomas to keep well away from the girl, happy that at least Marcus didn't have to struggle with guilt and could offer some genuine help.
"Tomas?"
He must've zoned out for a second, because the talk about breakfast was obviously over and Tomas blinked, surprised to have two pairs of eyes looking at his face with curiosity.
"Hm? Sorry, I... got lost in my thoughts," he offered as an explanation, ignoring the raised eyebrow on Marcus' face. "What were you talking about?" he asked with a smile. Marcus rolled his eyes. He was obviously itching to say something but didn't want to, not in front of Harper.
"Stop sulking by the window and come over here." Marcus turned back to Harper. "He's just sulking cause it was me who picked up our present for you," he said and with a wink pulled out a small stuffed tabby cat from his bag. Harper's face lit up in a smile and she took the plushy toy, looking at both men with joy.
"Thank you, father Marcus, father Tomas," she said, holding the cat carefully.
"You know you can call us just Marcus and Tomas, right?" Tomas asked and Harper shrugged, suddenly nervous.
"You can call us whatever you like, dear, no worries. Now, what was it you'd wanted to try from the snack machine?"
"Snickers!" Harper called, suddenly enthusiastic. "Mom never let me have one..."
"Snickers it is. I'll also try and find something that won't pull all your teeth out, right?" Marcus stood up from the bed and headed for the door, giving Tomas an imploring look, which Tomas interpreted as 'Talk, but don't mess it up'. As if that was so easy.
Marcus closed the door and Harper and Tomas were suddenly left alone, but in awkward silence. Harper was biting her lip sheepishly, throwing covert looks at Tomas while he was looking around, seemingly lost for words. Finally with a sigh he pulled a chair next to Harper's bed and sat down.
"Well... this is a really nice looking room," Tomas started, looking at the happy paintings of animals. His eyes landed on the painting of something small and green and he froze, thinking it was a frog, but quickly realizing it was just a strangely drawn turtle.
"Y-yeah, it's nice," Harper replied then sighed.
"What's wrong?" Tomas asked with concern, his attention fully on Harper now.
"I just..." Harper focused on the cat, then looked up, her eyes landing on the bruise on his temple. "Are you mad at me?" she finally asked and Tomas froze, unsure if he heard right.
"I'm sorry, Harper... what? Of course not!" Tomas shook his head, ignoring the spark of pain. Instead he reached out gently and touched Harper's hand.
"Why would you think that?"
Harper seemed to relax, some of the tension leaving her body. She pointed towards Tomas' head.
"My mom did that to you... cause of me?"
There was guilt in her eyes and Tomas wasn't prepared for that. He didn't know how to react, how to make it right. He was cursing Harper's mother, his own visions and most of all Marcus, because the bastard left him alone to deal with this. Most of all, he was shocked that it was guilt in Harper's eyes and not an accusation.
"That's not true, Harper," he said once he found his voice. He gently squeezed Harper's hand to make sure he had her full attention before he continued to speak.
"Your mom is sick... it was her who was sick, not you. You have nothing to feel guilty about. If anything, it should be me, because..." Tomas paused, unsure what to say.
"Because you believed her," Harper finished for him and Tomas looked away, ashamed. He nodded slowly.
"I did," he admitted, guilt and self recrimination pouring from his voice. "I am truly sorry for that."
The hand he was still holding pulled away and Tomas felt like someone just twisted the dagger already stuck in his stomach. But a moment later the hand was back, warm and gentle.
"It's okay," Harper said and Tomas dared to look up with hope. "I believed her too."
And if that didn't just break his heart, he knew nothing else would. He had to pull himself together, because this was not the moment to fall apart. With a hoarse voice, Tomas said a quiet prayer and squeezed the offered hand, his eyes feeling like sandpaper.
"We both know better now, yes?" he finally said and Harper blinked, then gave him a small smile.
"I think so."
The tension in the room eased slightly and Tomas leaned back in his chair, rubbing at his tired eyes.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" he reached into the inside pocket of his coat and pulled out a small coloring book with a pack of coloring pens. "This is for you. I thought you might need some distraction."
Harper took the coloring book with some doubt.
"Thank you, father Tomas," she said, looking at the cover strangely. Tomas seemed confused at the reaction.
"If you don't like it, I can exchange it for something else," he started and Harper shook her head.
"No, I like it, thank you. It's just..."
"Harper?"
"Aren't coloring books for small kids?" she asked and Tomas chuckled.
"Actually, I heard they are now quite popular for adults too."
Harper gave him a suspicious look, as if trying to figure out if a priest could be lying, which just made Tomas smile more.
"It's true... adults find it rather relaxing."
"I don't think this one is for adults though," Harper said, one eyebrow up, almost a small imitation of Marcus and Tomas fought back a snort. She pointed at the picture of a unicorn on the cover.
"You're probably right. But please, don't say that to Marcus," Tomas added, his voice suddenly turning conspiratorial.
"Why?"
"Well, I bought him a similar one a few days back and he seems to be enjoying it," Tomas winked and Harper laughed. Just then the door opened and Marcus walked in, his hands full of different packages of food. He looked at the two smiling faces and smirked.
"I see you were enjoying yourself while I was off on the food run," Marcus put down his loot with some satisfaction.
"Did you leave anything behind, Marcus? Or are you planning on putting Harper in a sugar coma?" Tomas exclaimed upon seeing all the different chocolate bars and chips. Marcus rolled his eyes.
"Spoil sport, isn't he?" he turned towards Harper who was eyeing the pile with wide eyes. "Though I would advice leaving some of this for later," he added after a moment of consideration.
"That's okay, I couldn't eat all that. You can take some too," Harper offered even as she reached after the Snickers bar. Tomas and Marcus exchanged silent looks, then Tomas quickly grabbed the candy bar Marcus refused to give him a few days back. With a triumphant smile he popped one candy into his mouth, ignoring Marcus' shake of head and the muttered 'like a child'. Tomas then reached out and offered another candy to Marcus, sort of a peace offering.
Harper watched them curiously, while slowly chewing on the chocolate bar.
"How's that, luv?" Marcus asked, flopping down on the chair that was previously occupied by Tomas.
"Sweet and... crunchy," Harper said just as she crunched down a peanut. "I like it."
"Mhm, I like that one too," Marcus said and looked at the clock on the wall, then at the stash of sweets. "Maybe we should hide these away, what do you say? Before the nurse comes back and kicks us out for spoiling your appetite."
Harper just shrugged and watched as Marcus put all the candies away in the bedside table. She also looked at the clock and the easy smile slipped from her face.
"What's wrong, luv?" Marcus asked, noticing the sudden change.
"Do you..." Harper started then paused, looking at the two men with uncertainty. Tomas' heart ached for her and Marcus leaned forward in the chair, giving the child his full attention.
"It's okay, duckling. You can ask us whatever you want," he softly said and Harper seemed to collect herself. Tomas was in awe at how much she trusted them... essentially strangers. But then if she couldn't trust her own mother what did blood even mean?
"Do you know what... what happens now? To me?" Harper asked, her voice barely audible. Marcus reached out, his hand cupping her face gently, careful of the open sores. Harper's eyes looked at him with such trust that Marcus had a hard time finding his own voice.
"You'll be just fine, luv," he said with conviction and a promise. He would make sure Harper ended up in right hands and that she was being taken care of properly. "You remember Rose?"
Harper nodded. "She's the lady that came with the policemen, when mom..." Harper's eyes looked at Marcus' bandaged arm and at Tomas standing by the foot of her bed. "When you saved me," she added, her voice stronger.
"That's her. Rose was trying to help you even before we came."
"She seems okay," Harper admitted and Marcus smiled at her.
"Well, she knows of a nice place you can stay at until everything gets sorted out. It's a small group home with only a few children."
"Were you there?" Harper asked with hope.
"No sweetheart, but I'm sure it's okay."
"I don't..." Harper shook her head, then she moved faster than any of the man expected and Marcus found himself with an armful of a small girl, her head burrowed into his chest as she spoke. "I don't want to go there. Can't I stay with you? Please?"
Both Marcus and Tomas froze, taken aback by the request. Marcus hugged the girl, putting a gentle kiss on the top of her head.
"I'm sorry luv, but that's really not possible. You know what we do... that's not a life I would wish on any child, especially not one as bright and great as you. Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you, okay?" Marcus muttered gentle reassurances and Harper pushed herself off his chest, sniffling a bit, but her eyes were dry.
"I'm scared," she whispered and Marcus nodded.
"I know. I would be scared too, angel. I was there, I know how hard it is." Marcus tapped Harper's chin."But I also know how strong you are and that you can handle it."
Harper grimaced, not as easily assured by platitudes.
"Will you come with me? I... I don't wanna go alone."
"Of course we will come," It was Tomas who spoke, earning an appreciative look from Marcus. Harper looked between the two men and Marcus gave her a reassuring smile and a nod.
"We were planning to stick around for a few more days, to make sure you're doing okay. Of course we'll go with you. I hear the home is on a beautiful island nearby. My old bones could use some change of scenery."
Harper smiled, then shook her head.
"You're not so old," she said and patted Marcus on the shoulder placatingly, eliciting a chuckle from Tomas.
"Oh well, thank you, young lady. I feel so much better now," Marcus said and, with an exaggerated huff that didn't hide the creaking of bones, he deposited Harper back on her bed. Just in time too as the nurse peeked into the room, her eyes pointedly looking at the clock.
"Don't want to rush you gentleman, but Harper will need her rest before the tests," she reminded them and both men nodded. Harper frowned unhappily, then clutched at her plush cat.
"Can't you stay a bit longer?" she asked and gave Marcus such a pleading look he almost acquiesced. But then he looked over at Tomas and saw the man waver a bit, eyes squinting in badly hidden discomfort.
"Sorry, sweetheart. We'll have to go. Tomas needs his beauty rest too," Marcus said with a look and Tomas opened his mouth to protest, but closed it shut at the raised eyebrow. "Not to mention, that nurse scares me a bit," Marcus added in a hushed tone and Harper snickered.
"She wouldn't hurt a fly," she protested half heartedly. "Though she might give you a really bad breakfast."
"I'll have to take your word for it," Marcus said with a smirk and gently ruffled Harper's hair. "We have to go, sunshine. But we'll see you soon, right?"
Harper nodded, putting on a brave face, even though she was squeezing the plush cat pretty hard. Marcus and Tomas said their farewells and stepped out of the room before her eyes could convince them otherwise. The nurse at the desk gave them a smile and headed towards the room to check on her. They walked from the hospital in silence, though as soon as they reached the car, Tomas flopped down heavily in the seat, one hand rubbing at his aching temple.
Marcus looked at him, wondering if it was just a headache or if it was something else bothering the young priest.
"How did your talk go?" he asked finally and Tomas let out a heavy sigh, then turned to Marcus. The look of anguish on his face almost undid the older man.
"Tomas?"
"She forgave me," Tomas said, then shook his head. "She forgave me for almost killing her." There was disbelief in his voice and Marcus instinctively reached out, squeezing his shoulder.
"Maybe you should try and do the same?"
"How can I?" Tomas shook his head and turned away, shame and guilt battling on his face. Marcus didn't have the answer, so instead he turned on the engine and drove them back towards the motel. Some things just couldn't be solved with a simple word.