The MLE was a bustle and Gwen had seen each and every one of her players being escorted here and there as statements were taken and memories were drawn, but in the midst of the bustle her eyes were on Regan and Rose sitting together as she approached the man she called all but brother.

"Bishop, I know you're not on the case, but I'm glad you were there today," she said, voice low enough that her words just carried to the tall, burly man. Her eyes ticked over the few days worth of stubble on his cheeks and she was reminded that he was a father now, that the purple tinge below his eyes was not just from overworking himself anymore.

Looking down at Gwen, Bishop was struck by how petite she really was. It was easy to forget in the face of her personality, but just that moment, with the worries he'd had over her safety, she seemed very breakable to him. Relieved as he was that she was unharmed, it killed him that he hadn't been the one to come to her aid. He'd let her down.

Heedless of the people milling about, powerful arms gathered her close, nearly lifting her from her feet. "I'm sorry I couldn't keep him from you, Gwenny," he returned softly. Bishop knew Gwen wasn't one for public displays, but he couldn't bring himself to care. His sister had been in danger, it was important that she know how thankful he was that she was safe.

It wasn't a surprise, exactly, as she knew Bishop and his propensity to public physical touch - just as much as her brother - but Gwen's thoughts still ticked to who might see this display of affection, who might think to use it for ill. It was her first reaction most all the time, but she pushed it away.

Just now, she didn't really care who saw, a thought she'd had much of late. Winding her arms around his waist, she squeezed him back. "You were there, and that's what matters," she assured him. She knew he felt as if he'd failed her, but that was one thing Bishop had never done. They'd had their fights and their arguments, their disagreements on most everything, but he'd always been there.

Pulling back enough to catch his eye, she added, "If you think about it, you were there; without all the practice I had on your person, I doubt I could have incapacitated Jennings as well as I did without a wand." Her lips twitched.

Bishop chuckled, bending to press a kiss to Gwen's hair before releasing her. There was some merit to her claim. The times when she'd used him as her personal punching bag were too numerous to count. Much like the number of times she'd aimed a hex at him or called him an ass. Gwenny's method of showing affection was unconventional, to say the least. "That's true enough. It's good to know all my pain and suffering was for a good cause."

Looking around the department, there were still young women waiting to give their statements, or waiting for their friends and teammates to finish so they didn't have to leave alone. "I suppose you'll be here watching over your flock for awhile yet. Shall I wait and escort you home after?"

Gwen was shaking her head even as she spoke. "No, that's not necessary. I imagine I'll be here a very long while yet, and you've got a wife and little one at home waiting for you," she replied, thoughts ticking to the very tiny child she'd only gotten a glimpse of when Dora had first given birth. Jude.

Dark gaze ticking up to his, a question was on her tongue a beat later, however. "Could you see Regan home, though? They've already gotten what little they needed from her, and I don't want her here while the MLE is in all but disarray." Gwen's eyes flicked past Bishop to Regan again, noting the slight tensing in her young friend's shoulders, the way her moss green eyes darted about despite the fact that Rose kept up her incessant chatter.

Looking back to Bishop, she added, "it's too much here, I believe. Too many people, too much noise. See mine home, and then go make sure yours are safe for me, yes?"

His eyes went to the tiny blonde seated beside another sprite of a girl with riotous orange hair who, from the looks of it, could talk the legs off an acromantula. Regan was obviously on edge and though he didn't know the whole of her story, the bits he'd heard indicated the young woman had had more than her share of stress and upheaval in recent months. "Of course I will, if you think she'll be comfortable going with me."

"She knows you, and knows you're family. It's more than I can say for anyone else here, and I can not yet leave," Gwen said, eyes flicking back Regan. There were few she trusted, but Bishop was one such and she turned her gaze back up to him imploringly. "Tell your wife I say hello and give a kiss to Jude?"

"I'll make sure he knows Aunt Gwenny sends her love," Bishop assured her, chuckling at the nose crinkle the moniker earned. He hugged her again, less fiercely than before. "You should send your brother a note and let him know what's going on. Unless you enjoy making him snoop around your bushes?"

"I might leave him there for a few days yet," Gwen replied, lips twitching. "Would serve him right for all the times he's tried to pull something on me."

Tip toeing up to to brush a kiss to his cheek, Gwen took a step back then. "I'll owl him. It'd be cruel to make him worry further, though it's quite tempting."

"You're a good sister." With a dip of his head and a wink, Bishop turned to collect his charge. Once he'd deposited her at White Chapel, he'd head straight home. He had a wife and son to dote on, after all.


Summary: Bishop and Gwen catch up after an exciting day.