Poitr could feel the anxiety radiating off of Ella. "Thank you, Sister, for taking the time to help us." "It was my pleasure Poitr. It's good to see you helping others. I'm sure God will reward you, and punish those foul shapeshifters. And Ella, it's good to see you so strong. You're such a brave girl." Poitr noticed a chair at the edge of the room. and brought it close to Ella's bed.

"I had some words with the detective-" [i]So that's why Sister Lazenby entered later. How long was I hugging Ella?[/i]. He had seen the detective leaving on the way in. "-he says you don't have any family. The foster system is all church-run. I can make sure you have a good, churchgoing mommy and daddy."

Poitr highly doubted Ella wanted that. She kept moving closer to him as the Sister talked. Poitr moved his chair so he was barely touching the bed, hoping that would be enough to comfort the child.

"Poitr, could I talk to you alone?" Poitr was slightly confused. He got up to follow the Sister out of the room. He looked back at Ella, trying to say 'sorry for leaving' with his eyes.

"I know it's none of my business, but you and your wife have been trying to have a child for a while now, yes?" Poitr nodded. He thought he knew where the sister was going with this. "Well, maybe this is God's way of giving you one?"

Poitr was conflicted. He knew that it would be best for the girl. Anywhere else she went, she would be worried about being discovered. Didn't she have a home? Maybe she lied about her family to the detective.

"This is really sudden. Let me talk to her? " "Sure. I'll do my rounds and check back here. Do you want my number?" They exchanged numbers and Poitr returned to the room. He sat down in the chair. It had been a few hours since he left the bar. The wait for Ella to get out of surgery and the detective to question allowed him to catch up on his work texts and emails, but it hadn't done much to sober him up. He did not want to be drunk right now, but there was nothing he could do about that. He allowed himself to rest his head in his hands and take a few deep breaths before turning to Ella.

"Do you need anything? Water, food?" He planned to just talk with Ella, and at some point ask her where she lived.