Author's Note: This is based loosely upon an idea a friend and I formed whilst watching the scene between Eunice and the Monsignor when she's packing away Sister Jude's belongings to be donated to charity, and she tells the Monsignor she'd help him get to Rome, via any means possible/necessary.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, everything belongs to Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and the FX network.
He had finally decided to pay Sister Mary Eunice a visit. It was in fact, due to Dr. Arden guilting him into seeing her. The young nun had awoken from the slumber that had taken her in for over two weeks, and all she had spoken about was of the Monsignor. And now, here he was. Timothy lingered in the doorway of the Infirmary, weary about stepping inside and greeting the blonde whom he had finally rid of the demon residing within her. He had saved her.
The Monsignor watched as nurses bustled about, seeing to the other patients in the Infirmary, but he had yet to step over the threshold to see the young sister. Timothy sighed, glancing along the hall to the end bed, seeing the crucifix hanging up on the bland wall, its presence hanging there, somewhat ominously given the recent events at Briarcliff Manor. He took a step forwards before shaking his head and turning away from the doorway. He couldn't do it, not just yet.
He stepped back out into the corridor, standing in the midst of the late afternoon gloom and the cries from the patients being locked back in their cells. He was standing in that exact spot. He could see the scene unraveling before him, it was like an outer-body experience for him. His mind's eye was replaying what had happened those weeks ago in that very place.
Timothy could see her form pressed back against the wooden railing, the only barrier blocking her from life and death, from tumbling to her demise. They had finished their discussion of how he was planning on killing her, the Devil that hosted upon that sweet nun's soul had encouraged him, wanted him to do it, to prove his character. Timothy had not wanted to do it, even when she had run him up against the pillar, jamming him between the wooden carving and her body, she was not the simple and weak Sister Mary Eunice he had first made an impression upon. This being was strong, powerful, and he saw his chance to quash that when she had backed up. The Devil had retreated, as Mary Eunice's character had shone through, beating the Devil down for one final time.
"Then let go of me, Sister..." he had told her, seeing her peeling her hands off of his nightrobe and stepping away from him, holding her hands up in surrender.
Instead of pushing her over the balcony and allowing that sweet nun to fall to her death, the Monsignor had made a rash decision. He had whipped the crucifix from his pocket and grabbed at Sister Mary Eunice, turning her before pressing the cross against the delicate skin on her forehead as he began to mutter the words of the Rites of Exorcism, muttering them into her ear.
"Let your mighty hand cast him out of your servant..." he continued, "I command you, unclean spirit, whoever you are, along with all your minions now attacking this servant of God..." his tone was getting stronger, more stern as he continued to perform the exorcism single-handedly upon Sister Mary Eunice. She was getting weaker, he could feel it. The exorcism was working, "...nor shall you be emboldened to harm in any way this creature of God..."
It was at that moment, when Dr. Arden had stepped out from his office on the ground level that Sister Mary Eunice passed out, her body fell limp before the Monsignor, but he continued. He watched as in seemingly slow motion, her body fell to the ground, Timothy's arm wrapped around her before he continued with the exorcism. Arthur rushed up the stairs, taking two, even three in his stride, to get to his sweet nun.
Timothy had to step back, allowing his eyes to close. His visions were haunting him now, and he had to support himself against the wall, tearing his eyes from the spot in which she had gone down. The same spot in which he had contemplated in releasing her soul, allowing her to fall those three storeys to her death. It would have left her with a broken spine, a cracked skull perhaps, she had been right, it would have been bloody.
"Sister, little Sister, can you hear me?" Arden was at her side, she was not responsive. Checking her vitals, Arden then turned up at Timothy, "What have you done to her...?" he frowned, almost allowing a sob to escape.
"I released her from the grasp of Satan, Doctor." Monsignor replied, "It was for the greater good..." he nodded curtly.
"You believe this was the greater good, Father?!" Arden was in a state of utter disbelief, "Her pulse is almost non-existant! She needs urgent medical attention." shaking his head, he turned back to Sister Mary Eunice and scooped her up carefully. Even in his elder years, he was still as strong as his S.S days, the adrenaline rush urged him onwards with her body hanging limply from his arms. He watched as Arden carried her back, into the Infirmary with such urgency.
Turning back, he glanced to the doorway of the Infirmary, sighing. It was time. He had to visit Sister Mary Eunice, it was the very least he could do. Bracing himself, fixing his cassock, he brought himself to step over the threshold now, and enter the Infirmary. There, he exhaled shakily. The images were running through his mind still as he approached her bedside.
Arriving there, he saw that the blonde was asleep, a deep slumber. Timothy did not want to wake her, as he leaned over her to check she was sleeping, she awoke. Sister Mary Eunice had sensed some presence was there, and had hoped it would be Dr. Arden, alas, she awoke face to face with the Monsignor.
"Sister..." he leaned back, straightening, "It's wonderful you are back with us." he nodded awkwardly, somewhat fearing of what she may say. He did need any further guilt upon his soul.
"Father..." she choked out, her eyes stung already with the tears that were forming, "Forgive me, Monsignor..." she gazed up at him, wide eyed.
Timothy nodded, yet as Mary Eunice propped herself up and her blonde tresses tumbled over her shoulders, he stumbled backwards. The images of that evening unfolding clear as day in his mind. She had removed her wimple, allowing those blonde locks free from their confines after she had proceeded to straddle him. It was still too close for him. Timothy had to leave.
"You are...forgiven, my daughter." he nodded swiftly, "But, I must leave Briarcliff for a while, I have to complete God's work elsewhere. I will inform Sister Jude, upon my return..." he trailed off, not abe to complete his sentence before he left. It had been just a fleeting visit, but he just could not handle seeing her again, and so soon after.
