"If I'm here 'cos of--reasons--then it was my own choice, not 'cos I was forced," Gabriel pointed out, still with that American accent, but he favoured Skulduggery with a smile. "Besides, pretty sure my Daddy would be approvin'."

Carefully he folded his wings in close, wincing, but after that moment he was able to straighten--though he kept his hand on Skulduggery's arm. Then he nodded, albeit once and equally carefully. "Yep. I'm good. Sorry 'bout that, Ghastly. We had to have a li'l tiff before we got here. I think I won."

The Archangel grinned unrepentantly up at Skul.

"Hello, Skulduggery," Davina said coolly. She had risen from her chair and moved around the table, behind Ghastly. Her gaze took in the detective and the man he supported, and lingered on the latter. "As rescue attempts go, this has to be one of the most ... unique ... I've seen."

She laid a pointed hand on Ghastly's shoulder.

Gabriel's gaze was drawn to it, and then to her, and the mirth faded. Though the woman very obviously held up a convincing front of law and righteousness, there was more in her that only Gabriel could see. Like the fact that her soul was the soul of someone who was damned and didn't know it. He lifted his gaze to hers, and this time there was only stern pity in his eyes.

Davina stiffened and her face went blank. After a moment of warring with Gabe she looked away, pretending that she was voluntarily shifting her attention to Skulduggery. "I was hired, by the way."