Steeled Resolve

"Dad!" Rebecca shouted in astonishment and sprinted to Mark.

"Hey, potato chip…" Mark said as he stood up and walked out from the pew then knelt on one leg and spread his arms wide, awaiting a hug from his daughter.

Tap! Tap! Tap! She ran with her light footsteps and greeted Mark with a hug.

She held Mark tight and slowly her smile turned upside down and tears trickled down her cheeks.

"Daad…" She sobbed.

Mark gently patted her head and said, "It's okay… Daddy's here now…"

"Daaad… I'm scared…" She said as she continued sobbing.

Mark didn't say anything in response and calmed her down.

Damian was still sitting down on the pew and as he watched Mark reunite with his daughter all he could think about was,

...Potato chip? He nicknamed his daughter 'Potato chip?' Damn, what kind of crap am I thinking about...

Mark carried his daughter up and his ex-wife gently walked up to him.

"I'm glad to see that you're not dead yet… My Husband Detective."

…Damn. I only said those things so they'll listen to what I had to say, now it's being told as a joke by my ex-wife…

Mark cleared his throat before saying, "I'm happy to see you too, Karin…"

"Why are you here?" Karin asked as she folded her hands.

"What? Haven't you seen what's happening outside?" Mark retorted.

"Yes, I have. That's why I'm asking why you're here…" Karin looked dead serious.

She quickly glanced at Damian before focusing back on Mark.

...What a cold look he has. Have I seen him somewhere before? She thought.

Mark understood what she meant and "Uhh… to protect---"

"Protect who?! Becca? You decided to come back when the world is ending to protect who?!

"Look at yourself," Karin swept Mark from up to down without hiding her displeasure and continued, "You can't even protect YOU!"

"I-It was just a minor injury… I-I hit my head a little that's all…" Mark stuttered as his ego was constantly being shattered by her cold stare.

…Do I have time for this? Damian was considering taking control of the matter but quickly dismissed the thought since it was Mark's 'family issue', not his.

Mark was speechless. She shut him up completely. He couldn't fully protect himself so how could he protect her and his daughter?

Mark gently dropped his daughter and stood straight, looking at his ex-wife with the sadness written all over his face.

Karin walked closer and caressed his face as she said, "Look at you, you look like you got run over by a car…"

Mark's mood warmed up and he gave a cold smirk.

...Weren't they arguing? Married life looks very complex… Damian switched from them to Sister Deloris with her cold gaze, then to Father Vincent, who was standing beside her, wearing his warm, calm smile.

"I didn't only come for Rebecca." Mark said frankly.

Karin's serious expression crumbled as her eyes became teary.

"Something got in my eye…" Karin said as she wiped the tears away before they fell.

Slap!

"Mo---" Rebecca tried to scream but quickly shut her mouth as Karin's cold gaze met her eyes before she could finish.

…Damn. Was she always this aggressive? Damian calmly touched his cheeks like he was stroking an invisible beard and was glad he wasn't the one that got slapped.

"Hehe, I think I deserve that…" Mark said as he held his left cheek.

"You even brought your police friend…" Karin turned her gaze back to Damian and so did Mark.

…He looks familiar. There's only one person I know with that type of cold---

"Director Cross!" Karin said in shock.

"What? Director Cross? Damian's hospital is where you work?" Mark said in shock.

…A director when he looks so young? It should be his parents' company. A spoiled rich kid. No wonder he was full of himself and didn't pay any respect to Father… Sister Deloris pouted.

…So she finally recognised me… Damian smirked and stood up from the pew.

Slap!

Karin slapped Mark on the same cheek, "How dare you call him by his first name?!"

Mark was annoyed and quickly retorted, "What's the big deal anyway? It's not like he can fire you now the world's turning into ruin!"

"What do you know?" Karin didn't mind Mark and bowed in front of Damian.

"Please forgive my rude behaviour and my husband's ignorance. I'm so sorry you had to see that…"

…Is it possible that he's a bigger shot than I thought he was? Mark wondered because he knew Karin, and she wouldn't act like that to almost anyone.

"Get up, Nurse Karin. Family issues need to be resolved. I understand, so you don't need to apologize. And your husband is right, I can't fire you." Damian calmly walked out of the pew to meet with Rebecca.

"I thought as much. So this is your daughter…" He said.

"Yes," She wore a fake warm smile as she turned her head to Rebecca and added, "Introduce yourself."

Karin's gaze frightened Rebecca as she nervously stepped forward, and Damian's cold look didn't do anything to help.

She closed her eyes shut and said at the tip of her voice, "My name is Rebecca Jordan! I'm a 10-year-old 4th grader! I was born in the year 2011, on August 20th! My father goes by the name Mark Jordan and is a police officer! My mother is a beautiful nurse that cares for her patients! Nice to meet you, Dr. Cross!"

"Nice to meet you too, Rebecca." Damian smiled as he removed his right hand from the pocket of his black overcoat and extended it to her.

Rebecca nervously turned to Mark, avoiding Karin's gaze and he gently nodded.

She reverted her gaze to Damian and nervously extended her hand out, in which Damian took initiative and shook.

"Ok. We should start moving." Damian turned to Father Vincent and Sister Deloris.

"Karin, we found a safe place, like a sanctuary. I came here to get you and Becca after stopping by the house." Mark explained.

"Oh my goodness, were you attacked by those things?" Karin asked worriedly.

…Her personality is like climate change… Damian thought.

"Hehe… Sorta…" Mark was too embarrassed to say he almost bashed his brain out.

Sister Deloris spoke up, "I, Father Vincent and other figures of this church tried our best to rescue the people around us before 'They' arrived."

"I appreciate it. Thank you very much." Mark said.

…This dumbass doesn't realize she's looking for something in return, not his stupid appreciation… Damian looked at Father Vincent, only to see the middle-aged man still wearing his smile. He couldn't read what Father Vincent was thinking.

Sister Deloris shifted her gaze to Karin, who noticed it and knew what to do.

Karin held Mark's hands in front of her and faked a smile.

"I think it'll be better if I and Rebecca stay here," She let go of his hands and took a step back as she steeled her resolve and continued, "I'm sorry but we can't come with you."