"Your kids," Barney repeated dully. Like Gabe. Gabe's friends - Skull Pleasant and that teenage boy. The man who was stabbed, and the girl who was with him. Barney had met a bunch of strange people today, and Dad - Grandad, Santa Claus, resident mindreader, whatever - was the strangest of them all.
Still, it was hard not to believe him. The same knowing certainty he'd had in his eyes while he surveyed the ward was now being turned upon Barney, and in the face of that startling weight, Barney almost believed that this was just a temporary problem. That the man really was Santa Claus, and that he really could grant Christmas wishes half a year early.
But he'd had hope before, Barney reminded himself. He'd had hope several times, before every single operation. And it had never worked. The most he could do, right now, was pretend for Allie's sake that he did have that same strength.
Barney blinked. In that moment, he could almost fancy he did.
Ghastly had to take a moment before replying. People automatically assuming he looked like a king in full glory... wasn't exactly something he was used to. It was a startlingly nice feeling.
He wasn't going to lie, though. "Not exactly. And I'm... definitely not royalty." He paused, debating, and then inwardly shrugged. "But I can guarantee you there would be a few stares if I dropped it now. Best to leave it up. We're trying to be subtle, after all."
Failing miserably, but at least no one had suspected the truth yet. Not that anyone would, even if they were completely honest with everyone they met.
"But you know," Ghastly added thoughtfully, "I do have a friend who - when he isn't disguised - is completely white. If you saw him in the sunlight, he would almost glow. And...." Oh, why not? "I also have another friend who has wings."
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Still, it was hard not to believe him. The same knowing certainty he'd had in his eyes while he surveyed the ward was now being turned upon Barney, and in the face of that startling weight, Barney almost believed that this was just a temporary problem. That the man really was Santa Claus, and that he really could grant Christmas wishes half a year early.
But he'd had hope before, Barney reminded himself. He'd had hope several times, before every single operation. And it had never worked. The most he could do, right now, was pretend for Allie's sake that he did have that same strength.
Barney blinked. In that moment, he could almost fancy he did.
Ghastly had to take a moment before replying. People automatically assuming he looked like a king in full glory... wasn't exactly something he was used to. It was a startlingly nice feeling.
He wasn't going to lie, though. "Not exactly. And I'm... definitely not royalty." He paused, debating, and then inwardly shrugged. "But I can guarantee you there would be a few stares if I dropped it now. Best to leave it up. We're trying to be subtle, after all."
Failing miserably, but at least no one had suspected the truth yet. Not that anyone would, even if they were completely honest with everyone they met.
"But you know," Ghastly added thoughtfully, "I do have a friend who - when he isn't disguised - is completely white. If you saw him in the sunlight, he would almost glow. And...." Oh, why not? "I also have another friend who has wings."