Collaboration between Guardian Angel Haruki and Ghost Shadow
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Faye stood outside, waiting for Henry to finish speaking with Mr. Gold. She could see Mr. Gold suffer from the effects of lung cancer outside of the window, but she didn't rush in, seeing that Henry had it under control. She shook her head, knowing that Mr. Gold was just hurting himself even more by continuing his addictions. She reminded herself that she couldn't help him as a doctor since he didn't want help and was stubborn about it.

Soon enough Henry came out of the shop and she asked him, the grave look still on her face, "Got what you needed from Mr. Gold?"

"Yes....I did." Henry answered, though it was quite obvious there was more to it. "We need to go find Mark...there's an errand I need him to run for me." Henry told her next, trying to smile gently to reassure her it wouldn't take long. But his smile faltered. 

"Believe me, Faye, I want to get home just as much as you do. But things keep getting in the way." He said with a heavy sigh, wishing to share this burden that weighed him down so. 

Faye answered him, "How long it takes for you to finish your business is the least of my worries," She asked him, "What kind of errand did you want Mark to do for you?"

"Oh, I just need him to talk to David Nolan for me - the two of them are close, well...close by Mark's standard from what I saw. I feel that Mark could speak to him better than I. Nothing you need worry about." He said, now smiling genuinely, placing a single hand on her cheek reassuringly. 

Dr. Stevenson wasn't persuaded by his smile and his hand on her cheek. She said seriously, "Henry. At least answer my questions. Why do you need Mark to talk to David Nolan?" [i]Prove that I can trust you![/i] Faye didn't say this out loud, but she didn't like having no answers, or having to assume what's going on in his mind. Having no information or knowledge of a situation or topic means being left in powerless state. 

Henry sighed once again before speaking, "I need David to read to the Jane Doe patient..and I need Mark's influence to persuade him." He confessed, dreading the fact that the inquisitive doctor would most likely ask why. 

Faye was glad that he answered her, and she continued, true to Henry's dread, "I see. But why David Nolan out of everyone in Storybrooke?" She can understand why he would send someone to read to Jane Doe. But why he chose David, she didn't understand.

"Because..." Henry began, a hint of a smile on his face again, "My gut tells me to." He finished, placing both hands in his coat pockets. "I've got a hunch...besides, what's the worst thing that [i]David[/i] will do?" Henry asked her with a chuckle.

Faye had a gut wrenching feeling that he was lying to her, but she didn't comment on it as she answered, "Good point, I guess," She then started walking and said "Well, let's go and find Mr. Dufresne then. He may still be with the nuns,"

"Very good, let's be off!" Henry proclaimed excitedly as he, on his own impulse, took Faye's hand in his own; beginning the short walk that led from the pawnshop to the nunnery. 

Though it was growing later, a moderate amount of people still filled the town square - chatting and catching up with one another. A strangely jovial Mark was making conversation with Marco, separate from the main crowd. 

Henry led Faye through the people until he caught up to Mark, who was in a [i]riveting[/i] discussion with Marco about how to fix a power drill. 

Mark seemed to notice Henry and Faye approach, and wished Marco a good night before turning to look at the duo. 

"Well, there you are - the nuns have been looking all over for you, Mr. Carlyle." Mark greeted with a small smile. "I didn't think you'd have it in you, Newcomer...but you pulled through." Mark complimented with a firm clasp on his shoulder. "If you ever need anything from me: just ask." Mark offered seriously, seeming to look at Henry with newfound respect. 

"And don't think I've forgotten you either, Dr. Stevenson. You accounted for thirty-six candles alone: that's impressive. Good on you." Mark complimented her with a firm nod of his head, looking like a proud father overseeing the accomplishments of his children. 

Faye smiled at Mark and she said to him politely, "Thank you, Mr. Dufresne. Really, I'm just happy that I was able to help," 

Henry had a wide grin on his face as he spoke next, "You're most kind, Mark...I think I'll want to cash that favor in now, actually." 

Mark raised a single eyebrow but didn't say a word, allowing Henry to continue. 

Henry cleared his throat for a moment, absentmindedly squeezing Faye's hand in his to show he hadn't forgotten her. "I need you to ask David Nolan to read to the Jane Doe patient in the hospital..."

Mark looked somewhat perplexed at Henry's request, his hands finding their way into his jacket pockets. "Bit of a strange request, Mr. Carlyle." He observed, reaching out of his pocket to scratch the back of his head. 

"Yes, yes, I know. But it's very important to me...there's a storybook I keep in my car. I need you to ensure that David reads her the story of Snow White [i]from[/i] that book." Henry detailed, his voice entirely serious. 

"I won't question your reasons, Mr. Carlyle, but I can't promise that David will do it..." Mark replied, sounding somewhat skeptical. 

"All I need you to do is ask." Henry reiterated with a sincere smile. 

Mark remained silent for a few moments before exhaling deeply. "To hell with it, fine, I'll talk to David about it." Mark finally agreed, holding out his right hand for Henry to shake. 

Henry was about to do so as well, but a sharp stinging sensation stopped him, and he winced painfully. So much to do, he had forgotten to let Faye get a good look at his injury.

Faye noticed Henry's wince and she shook her head at him and she said to him sternly "Henry. Your hand," Her tone clearly stated that she wanted to treat his wound now. She was worried that his wound may be infected by now. 

"Yes, yes, I know." Henry replied, looking back at Faye for a moment as he spoke. 

Mark took this as his turn to leave. "I'll see if the pet shelter's still open..if so, I'll talk to David about this book of yours. Have a good night." He bid farewell before turning in the direction of the shelter. 

Henry released his own hand from Faye's to rub at his injured one, trying to dull the throbbing that seemed to rhythmically pulse from it. "We should...we should probably get home now, eh?" He asked her, trying to be lighthearted. 

Faye bid farewell to Mark as well, before she looked Henry while he rubbed at his injured hand. She nodded and answered "Yes. We should. I can treat the wound there," 

"Yes, of course...but I should get the book from my car first - so I can be ready to hand it over." Henry said in an even-mannered tone, beginning the (very) short trek to his vehicle. 

He sifted through his belongings before procuring the large, ornate-looking storybook. "Ah, here we are..." Henry announced with a smile, holding up the book for Faye to see. 

"Just need to hand this over to Mr. Nolan and we're all set!" Henry finished excitedly, but winced once again as his hand throbbed sorely. 

Faye followed him to the car and she watched him bring out the storybook. After he made his comments, she responded with a "Great,". She then asked out of curiosity as she looked at the book, "Which fairy tales are included in that book, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Almost all of them. It's quite the extensive collection." Henry replied with a smile, tucking the book under his arm. "Maybe you can look through it once David's read to the Jane Doe." Henry offered. "But anyways, I'm due in to relax a bit...it's been a [i]long[/i] day." He said, sounding slightly tired. But there was a bit of resolve to his tone, something that hinted that his promise of more romantic gestures was to still be honored. 

As the two made their way down the street, leaving the heart of town where the lit candles those who stayed out this late were still holding no longer lit their path, a pair of shoes slapping against the pavement below them in a fast jog sounded behind them.

"Henry! Hey Henry!" David called out.

Henry stopped in his tracks as he heard a familiar voice call out to him. Turning around, he noticed David Nolan rushing up to him. "Yes, David? Can I help you?" Henry asked, masking his impatience with polite inquisitiveness. 

David stopped as soon as he reached the two of them, resting his hands on his knees as he cought his breath. He then gestured with his thumb behind him, even twisting his torso to look back a bit before looking back to Henry.

"I...Mark...Mark said you needed me to do something?" He asked panting just a bit, and his voice now confused since Henry seemed to not have any clue as to why he was there.

"Ah, yes! The fireman moves fast - I didn't expect to see you so soon. There's a certain comotose patient in the hospital that I'd like you to read to...I was given this book by an anonymous doner. I only read to the Jane Doe twice, but I could feel just a [i]little[/i] more activity when I read Snow White." Henry detailed, lying quite well as he explained the purpose. 

He grabbed the book from under his arm and handed it to David. "If you'll do this for me, I'd be much obliged." Henry added with a friendly smile. 

David stood up tall once more as the book was handed over to him, though his confusion never really left his face.

"Read?" He repeated, looking over the title of the leather-bound book. "You mean like, volunteer?" David then looked from the book to Faye, as if she would better answer his questions. "What, is this some sort of new treatment?" He asked. He wasn't at all being sarcastic, just a bit lost as to what was going on.

Faye answered David, actually putting in effort to not use medical jargon that she is used to using when it came to talking about patients, 

"Oh no, it's nothing new. You see, even if Jane Doe is in a coma, she can still hear. As long as communication is maintained, Jane Doe comes closer and closer to getting out of the coma. If someone isn't reading to her, we play some nice, comforting music for her, but it's not quite like having someone talking to her," 

David nodded slowly, like an ADHD child [i]really[/i] making an effort to understand something that was really beyond their mental fortitude. He got the gist of it though, nodding more confidentally once she had finished talking.

"You know, my mother used to read to me when I was sick as a kid..." He said, attempting to relate the situation somehow, even if he was miles off. "You said she likes Snow White?" He then asked looking back to Henry.

Henry nodded sharply, "I noticed the most responses from that story...that and I find it quite similar to her current situation. You should be an absolutely wonderful volunteer." Henry added with a warm smile, wincing yet again as his wounded hand was making it [i]quite[/i] apparant that it wanted attention. 

David nodded again and pointed a finger at Henry.

"Right, because you can't voulenteer anymore..." He said, not in a way of offending Henry, only by vocalizing outloud that he was beginning to put the pieces together. "Sure, I can do that, I'll go tonight, provided the hospital is still open?" He asked, once again turning his attention back to Dr. Stevenson.

Faye answered "Of course. It should still be open for doctors and volunteers. You count as a volunteer,"

David's neck was getting sore from all the nodding, but he did it once more and tucked the book underneath his arm.

"Great, I'll uh...just head on down there then. You two have a...nice evening..." He couldn't help but to quirk a brow as he realized, for the first time since showing up there that the two of them seemed to be heading back to Dr. Stevenson's home. He then just shrugged, as if to say 'not any of my business' and then turned back around to head to the hospital. Reading outloud to Jane Doe during the middle of the night seemed less...embarassing somehow.

Henry sighed as the rather ditzy young man wandered off towards the hospital. "Now...I believe it's time we get a look at this hand." Henry said, looking at his wounded hand, the wounds not looking well at all. 

"Lead the way, doctor." Henry motioned with his good hand, smiling.