"Thanks," Poppy said to Aria and Ruby and Jess.
"Aria," Angus said, "I am the last person to give you advice about what to do with a problem with your dad since I didn't have one, not really. You handle it the way you see fit." Then he looked at Jess. "Now, do me a favor and don't have a bloody meltdown, will you? I'm going to go all of four steps, out to the other lounge on the deck and lay for a bit in the sun with Poppy."
"If you're going to do that, you let me help you because that's going to hurt," Marcus said. "Here. Pain potion first." He handed the dose of pain potion that Andrew had poured before daylight that Angus had just honestly forgotten about. "Four hours late is probably better than never, I suppose," Marcus teased. Angus pushed back the covers, sat on the edge of the bed, hurting. Marcus noticed that most of Angus' back was bruised coal black. And there were bruises on his chest and just about everywhere else. When Angus tried to stand, Marcus did most of the lifting, knowing Angus just couldn't do it.
"You sure you want to do this?" Marcus asked.
"Its four steps. I can certainly do that," Angus said.
"Four steps and not half an inch more," Marcus said firmly, not liking it. He helped Angus out to the lounge beside Poppy and helped him sit down there and lean back against the cushion. It wasn't as comfortable as his bed, Angus realized immediately. He didn't complain, though. "You want your blanket or your pillow?" Marcus asked him.
"No. I'm not staying forever. Just a little bit. Then I'll go back," Angus said.
"Okay. I'm sure I'll be back in just a few minutes to take you back, then."
"That's fine. Now, go away," Angus said. That made Marcus laugh. Marcus took a couple steps inside.
"Perhaps we should put some clean sheets on that bed while he's outside supervising Poppy's artwork," Marcus said. "You know that's what this is all about, right?" He asked Jess. "He'll want back in, in probably 15 or 20 minutes, if I know him."
"Let me see your sketch," Angus told her. "Ginger tells me it's great."
"Its average at best," Poppy looked at him. "The nose isn't right. I can never do noses. I haven't chalked it in yet because I know its wrong."
"Maybe I can help. Let me see," Angus said. Poppy handed him the sketch. "This is good, Poppy. Really good. I see where you can fix the nose. Let me show you how, and then you can start to add color to it." He started to show her how to do a properly shaped nose and how to refine the one in her sketch.