You hadn't wanted Tom to return to Valentines Bluffs. The town held horrible memories for the both of you. Returning hadn't been pleasant, not in the slightest. Tom was reminded of all of the horrible things that had happened ten years ago, and so were you. You were worried about this visit worsening Tom's already fragile mental state. You had already hated this place, nothing would change that. This visit wasn't pleasant. And, it only seemed to be getting even worse.

Whenever you had received the phone call from Tom, while he was in the goddamn hospital after having been attacked in the mines, it was safe to say that you lost your fucking mind. The drive there should have taken you twenty minutes. You managed to get there in ten. Thank God the cops were too busy looking for whoever had murdered that man in the mines to notice a reckless driver.

Convincing the receptionist to let you see Tom had taken longer than you had hoped. Whenever you finally made it to the back to see him, he was almost ready to go home. A nurse was finishing up her job, bandaging up his arm after having given him stitches. The sight made your heart ache. You didn't like any part of this. The sooner you and Tom got out of town the better.

He looked rather upset as he spoke with a man. He spotted you, his expression brightening. Whatever shadow on his face that had formed from talking to Ben Foley had disappeared. The older men left, looking displeased.

"Didn't think you'd be here this soon," Tom said, his voice gravely. He slid on his shirt now that his arm was finally bandaged. "Barely a scratch." He was trying to make you feel better. He could see the anxiety etched onto your face. He didn't like it. If he could help ease some of that anxiety, he would.