He was starting to wonder why he'd even bothered showing up at Andy's party- they never seemed to end well. Something stirred in the back of his mind then, a feeling like trying to place deja-vu or remember a dream that was just out of reach, then the strangest feeling of letting himself down.

Deanna: "You weren't kidding about how interesting it is around here, were you?"

Deanna's voice startled him back to the present- he'd nearly forgotten she was there at all.

Tristan: "Never a dull moment."
Deanna: "I have to admit- kidnapper-vampires wasn't exactly what I pictured when you warned me about this place."
Tristan: "I'm not sure if that's better or worse than the zombies."

Deanna: "Zombies I can handle- at least they have a clear objective."
Tristan: "Braaaaaains…"
Deanna: "Yeah, exactly. Kidnapper-vampires- too many hidden motives for my tastes."

Deanna: "I'm going to take my stuff upstairs- you coming?"
Tristan: "Yeah, I'll be up in a minute."

He was finding it difficult to shake the feeling of uneasiness that had been settling around him since the first signs for Deception Pass had starting showing up on the drive back. There was a strange pressure to the place, as if something big were about to happen- a storm brewing out at sea still beyond sight yet close enough that its effects were already being felt.

He thought he'd be ok, thought he'd been away long enough that seeing her again wouldn't affect him. Instead, it was like having a knife driven into his chest. He knew something wasn't right, that there was something she wasn't telling him. There'd been obvious strain between her and Mary, not to mention a general feeling of distraction he'd gotten from her.

He made his way slowly up the stairs, marveling at the familiarity mixed with newness- the peculiar way that the place you call home can seem so strange when you've been away for long enough.

Deanna: "These photographs are amazing- where'd you get them?"
Tristan: "Photographs?"

He joined Deanna at her side, marveling at the four photographs hung neatly on the wall of his study.

Deanna: "They're signed 'Emily Laine'- Is that Emily from the party tonight? Did she take these?"
Tristan: "She must have done."
Deanna: "She does amazing work! I love the play of light in these."

Tristan could only stare at the pictures, at a loss for words. Finally, he let out a sigh.

Deanna: "You seem really tired- why don't we just call it a night and get some sleep."
Tristan: "I think all that driving over the past two nights has finally caught up with me, sorry. I think I'm going to take a bath before I come to bed, though."
Deanna: "Can't say that I blame you. See you in a bit then."

Tristan stood in the middle of his bathroom and stared at the shower. The last time he'd been in here, water had been spraying everywhere and shattered tiles had littered the floor. Now he wondered if he'd imagined the whole thing- the shower was fixed, the tiles replaced.

He made his way over to the counter where a note had been left- 'Called for repairs to be done 11/1. Work on leak completed 11/2, tiles replaced 11/3. LovexJames'

With a half-smile he let the note fall back onto the counter and turned to the tub, more than ready to wash away the exhaustion of travel and the dull ache of the evening.

Within minutes a high foam had filled the bath and he sank languidly into the steaming water. He soon realized that, no matter how hot the water was, the ache wasn't going to wash away.