Eric
Drinking was becoming more normal for Abel, which was not something that he liked. He knew it was gluttounous and sinful, but when he had seen what that Wolf had done to Dimitra, he couldn't help it. After taking her to the doctor with the other's, he had returned home to find himself deep into a bottle that his brother had. 

He understood it more now, drowning the horrors of life. Nothing had quite effected him like these wolves, and nothing more than now. How was he to pretend that everything was okay now? How was he to make himself go on with his day to day life when the people he loved were being attacked. 

He heard one of them was killed, and thank God they were. He heard it had turned into the Sheriff Noah Rowe, and that everyone had been in horror when it had done so. The idea that these wolves were not just brought upon by sin, but were the sinners made his stomach churn. He had never wshed death upon a human being, it was something he thought was wrong to the core, despite the sins of the person but now he wasn't so sure. 

What if Dimitra died? Struggling for her life now, what if she didn't make it? Would he wish them dead then? He figured he would because even now he found himself wondering if he cared if the beasts were people at all, if they were capable of hurting her like this. 

As soon as he was allowed, he made his way to the doctor's, moving quickly through the space, bible in hand to make his way through the doctor's until he came across her room. He paused for a moment and knocked, though he doubted she was awake, and sat beside her bed. He put the bible to the side, to give his own prayers, head bowed as he waited for some sign that she was going to be okay though he was unsure he would get one. 

He prayed silently, he prayed out loud, he mumbled to himself, he chewed his nails, he watched her, he looked around anywhere but at her, and waited, and waited, and waited, as long as it took to know she was still here, he would wait.
Joan
She laid there in bed for what felt like days. In reality, it must've only been a day or so, but everything hurt. Everything felt... Achey. Sore. She could barely breathe without an ache in her chest and her cheek felt painful every time she spoke. The scar stretched and distorted with each movement when she tried, so for once in her life, she kept quiet. 

Sleeping was hard but she tried to do it often. So when she slowly woke, she caught sight of Abel's bowed head, clutching that book and looking like he might come out of his skin at any moment. She watched him through her lashes a moment before Dimitra's shaky hand reached out and touched the crown of his head. 

"Don't look so sad," She said, chuckling and wincing. "I'm not dead yet, after all." She opened her eyes more and managed a small smile despite the pain. "You know, despite all that talk about sin, I'd say God was pretty happy to see me knocking on Heaven's gate before he sent me back down here," She managed a laugh and played with the end of his hair. 

"Did they get that son of a bitch?"
Eric
Abel could hear his own heart beat in his ears as he kept his head bowed, mumbling a prayer pretty constantly. He figured, he had enough communication with God that if he just asked hard enough, if he prayed hard enough he would listen. 

When he felt a hand on his head, and a voice speak up, he was quick to look up. He visibly relaxed a bit, the bible almost dropping from his hands, before he set it to the side and quickly leaned forward to grab the hand that toyed with the end of his hair. "Dimitra.." Was all he got out at first, his mouth feeling dry as he swallowed in an attempt to speak again. 

"Well.." He said trying to muster up any ability to joke, though he barely had any. "You're a sight for sore eyes, so may have been that." He said with a swallow. He took in a deep breath and shook his head. 

"No.. They got another one though. They're human. It was Sherriff Rowe." He said taking in a shakey breath. "It's.. How are you feeling?"
Joan
It took her a moment to process exactly what Abel had said; the werewolf was Sheriff Noah Rowe? 

"I knew to never trust a cop," She said softly, shaking her head and squeezing his hand. "It's really embarrassing, after I told you I could slip away from those beasts like it was nothing," She laughed weakly and brushed her thumb across his fingers idly as she thought. Dimitra wasn't one to get emotional in front of others when it came to sadness, but she also couldn't help it that she was easily readable. She was in pain, the sadness flowing freely as she laid there. 

"In pain," She admitted. "I really thought I was dead there. If it wasn't for Mitica, I'd probably be dead," She said, looking down at all the bandages that were wrapped tightly around her wounds. "Abel, I..." 

A couple tears dappled the corners of her eyes. "I lost of the earrings you got me," She gestured to her ear, where only one hung now and the other was gone. It had ripped through her earlobe, which was now sutured up. "I'm sorry," She gave a weak sniff. "I know it's stupid but those meant a lot to me and now..." She shrugged her shoulders. 

"One of 'em is gone."
Eric
He shook his head, "It's not.. It's not embarassing.." He said taking in a deep breath. "You were much braver than I would have been. I'm still impressed with you if that matters.." He said as he looked over at her, and then away. It was hard to see her like this, and he imagined it was much harder for her to be like this. He knew she was wild, she was not the type to take kindly to resting, but he hoped she would take her time to heal. 

He nodded, "I'm sure." He said as he sighed, "I was worried you were too, I.. I came as soon as I was allowed to be here, I was so worried you would.." He took in a deep breath. "I was worried.. I'm glad for him, and I'm glad you're okay.." He said running a hand through his hair and moving his chair closer to him. 

He arched a brow as she spoke, before he shook his head. "I will look for it, I'm sure we can find it. If not.. We can turn that one.." He said giving it a little touch. "Into a necklace." He said with a nod. "I think that would be nice.. The earring is the last of your worries now."

He cleared his throat, "Where are you planning on staying when you leave the hospital?"
Joan
She seemed placated by his words, her eyes fluttering halfway shut as she looked at him. "At... Home, I guess?" She shrugged a shoulder and winced. "I didn't give it much thought," Dimitra admitted. As much as she collected friends like pretty stones, she wasn't sure she had any particular *Close* Friends she could rely on. Alma was a good business friend, but her plate was full. Carina wasn't the caretaker type by any means... 

"Are you offering?" She asked him, halfway joking as she let her head rest back on the pillow. She'd never felt so pathetic, laying there in that bed. He felt sorry for her, and she hated that. 

"Are you going to change my bandages and make me soup like a good friend?" She teased.
Eric
He hated the idea of her staying alone, of her tired and in pain, powering through to do what she needed to do, to take care of herself, alone as she usually was. When she asked if he was offering, he shifted a bit in his seat and glanced over at her, and then to the wall. 

He smiled a bit at the teasing and took a deep breath in, and shook his head. "If you would let me.." He said running a hand through his hair and glancing back at her again. "I mean.. I would like to.. I worry about you.." He said arching a brow. 

"You could stay in my home, I have an extra room, I can bring my bed from the church and.." He took in a deep breath, "You could sleep there, my brother won't bother you.. He mostly just sleeps or drinks. I could take care of you, help you."
Joan
"You don't need to worry about little old me, Abel Hughes," She mumbled so softly, head tilting to the side as she watched him. "I couldn't ask that of you," Dimitra managed after a second. 

"You have a church and a congregation, you don't have the time..." She reminded him. "To be my nurse, at my side, all the days it'll take me to heal..." It would take months; she couldn't possibly ask him to do that. 

"Besides," She said, managing a laugh before she winced again. "What would they think, an unmarried woman residing in your home?" She joked, eyes closing slowly as she tried not to wince in pain again.
Eric
He shook his head with a small frown, "That's enough, I have time. I have help, my assistant has been itching to preach. He would be happy to do it. And I'd be happy to take care of you.." He said crossing his arms over his chest. "It's my duty, not only as a spiritual leader, but.. As your friend." 

He took in a deep breath, and looked her over, noting how much pain she must have felt. "Honestly? I don't care what they would think. I know that sounds odd coming from me, but I mean it. I don't. I'm not saying you need help constantly, I'm not saying I'll do everything for you, but you shouldn't be on your own." 

He arched a brow. "I insist. It's happening, I'm moving the stuff in tomorrow, and that's that." He said shaking his head, "This isn't something you should have to face alone." He ran a hand through his hair, before taking her hand in his. 

"I want to help you. Please."