There was a tiny smile on Gabriel's face as Paddy spoke. It wasn't that the Archangel genuinely believed the priest would take him up on that offer; on the contrary, he'd known before asking what the answer would be. The name the man had just taken said that loud and clear. But there was a difference between something being known and something being established.

This proved to the others that Paddy could be trusted. It solidified to Paddy himself what his intent was. This was his choice, and now it truly was; in contrast, Gabriel's assumption of his aid would forever, in everyone's minds, have held the connotation of a 'what if'. Even more, it proved to Paddy that he could speak his mind and not be censured for it--something Paddy had always believed, but in his awe might have forgotten without it being established from the off. Now he would not forget.

"Solomon isn't the only one of whom to be proud today," he said softly, so only Paddy could hear him. Then, with another smile, Gabe released Paddy's hands to turn toward Solomon's bed. The sorcerer was already upright--mostly; he'd just realised what he was wearing and was plucking at the hospital gown with abject distaste.

Solomon sighed and threw a look at Skulduggery. "All I ask is no pictures. And for someone to help me get my coat on."

At least it would be long enough to maintain the bounds of decency.

"We weren't expecting you to have a visitor, either," Gabe admitted, putting an arm around Solomon's back to help him up more easily. With the creases around his eyes and the paleness of his face, his knee was hurting. A lot. "I don't think we can just disappear you out of the room anymore if we don't want to get Paddy in trouble--but I'll leave those details up to the experts."

At his last words he glanced with amusement at Skulduggery and the others.