Some days, we're just looking for a soft place to land. - Dr. SunWolf
"I'm sorry, Colonel Decker, but I'm afraid I will have to ask you to leave now."
"I'm sorry, too, Sister, but I have it on good authority that -"
"I'm really not interested in your 'good authority', Colonel. I simply cannot allow a gaggle of soldiers to run rampant through here. And I definitely cannot allow any weapons within these doors. Now, if you'll excuse me..."
She began closing the heavy door, but Decker shoved his foot in the way.
"Ma'am, I'm not going to argue with you. My men and I are coming in."
"Oh? Are you quite sure your superiors would agree with that? Especially when they read about it in the newspapers?" She smiled sweetly. "I can't imagine they would appreciate the headlines, do you? 'Armed soldiers invade Catholic orphanage'. Sounds rather dreadful, don't you think?"
"Look, Sister -"
"I've really spent more time than necessary with you, Colonel. I don't want to be rude, but I am going to insist that you and your men leave, and I mean leave the property. If I see any more soldiers on Church property, I'm afraid I will have to contact the Archbishop. We can't have such displays around the children, you know. They've faced enough trauma already in their young lives."
She was laying it on thick, but she had no intention of letting this man intimidate her. She dealt with ten-year-olds on a daily basis. No pumped up - She stopped herself there, mentally making a note for next confession.
"I can get a warrant."
This man never gave up. Neither did she.
"Then I suggest you do so. Bear in mind you'll have to get it from a civilian judge, via civilian law enforcement. And considering where you want to search..."
Sister Matilda watched as he stormed away, wondering idly if he had really wanted to hit her.
*****
There was a soft knock at the door. Face didn't hesitate to open it, knowing no one would be coming here that he didn't want to see.
"Sister? Problem?"
"No, not at all." She smiled softly. "Don't worry, Templeton. Marie will let you know if there is, if I don't get here first."
"I really shouldn't stay anyway. It's not fair to you, and the kids - "
"The kids will be fine. They love it when you come to visit." She sobered as she sat down in the only chair in the small bedroom. "Now, why don't you tell me the real reason you came."
Face plopped down on the bed and looked at her. All the years he'd known her, and she always knew when he wasn't telling her the exact truth.
"Would you believe me if I said I really don't know why?"
She tilted her head, looking at her former charge carefully. "Yes, I think I would. Something's bothering you, I can tell that much. But no, even you don't know what it is."
He abruptly stood, stepping over to the single window. It looked out over the back garden, peaceful at the moment.
"You're right. I woke up this morning and looked around the apartment, and it just... it didn't feel right." He blushed a bit. "I was just house-sitting, and the guy is due back in a couple days anyway, so I... I just left." He was glad when she didn't call him on that. "I thought about getting hold of one of the guys, or visiting Murdock, but... I didn't really want to do that, either. Which is strange in itself. Nothing like hanging out with crazy people when you need cheering up."
They both chuckled at that. Sister Matilda knew all about the guys and their 'eccentricities'.
"So, do you need cheering up? Or is it something else?"
"I guess it's something else." He looked at her, giving her the same scrutiny she had given him. "Tell me, Sister. Did you ever consider leaving the Church? Or at least, not being a nun anymore?"
He was glad when she didn't answer immediately. She was going to be truthful.
"I did have my doubts, when I first became a postulant. But that's just natural, no matter what anyone else tells you. But over the years since... a couple of times, yes. I just found myself wondering if I'd made the right choice. Wondering what it would be like if I tried it, out in the "real" world. But I always ended up believing that I had, indeed, made the right choice. That I only wanted to be where I was, doing what I was doing. So is that what's been bothering you? Wondering if you've made the right choices? Or if you need to make one now?"
"I'm always wondering about choices made. Especially the ones that were made for me." He looked stricken at her frown. "Oh, not the ones here, Sister! You and the others always did what you thought best, and it was, really! No, I just... I really want to stay with the guys, Sister, but sometimes I get so tired of running and getting shot at and beaten up and then I see our clients and how grateful they are and it just... it just doesn't matter to me. I don't care if they're grateful or happy or... Because once the problem's solved and we leave, we don't matter any more. They go on with their lives and we go on to the next client and it's the same story all over again and - "
"Templeton."
The voice was so soft but so firm, it brought him up short.
"I think you should just stay here for a few days. And not think about what's out there for a while. Be part of our family again, just for a while. And at some point, you'll not only figure out what the question is, but what the answer is as well. Alright? Will you do that?"
He could only nod. She left quietly, and he sat and looked out the window.
He'd been right to come home for a while.