Mabel was trying to apologize and he was apologizing to her. And the only thing he’d done in this was try to keep her safe and make her see reason. She was, as he’d put it, too stubborn for her own good and she’d gone and proved it. She not only thanked Dory for providing her with somewhere to go but Rowan for ultimately being the one to help her see how unreasonable she was being.

“I’m the one who should be apologizing,” Mabel returned with a soft laugh as she walked into the flat. “You’ve just tried to protect me and I was being selfish.” She had wanted to go to work because she would have had something to do all day other than worry. But what she had ended up doing was potentially put all the hospital staff in danger. Rowan’s words echoed in her head. They won’t hesitate to hurt innocent people to get what they want. 

Frankly Mabel was lucky nothing had happened earlier today, that she’d made it through. And now, it struck her that Dory was likely on edge all day waiting for news of some sort of catastrophe at the hospital. She heaved a sigh. She was such a selfish idiot.

“I’m sorry Dory.” She walked over to where he was setting out dinner and reached out to him, placing a hand on top of his. She peered up at him. Lord, he looked so tired. So stressed. And up close, though maybe it was a trick of the light, Mabel thought she could even spot a few grey hairs at his temples. “I’m sorry I’ve caused you so much stress.”