Goodnight made a face, and maybe he warmed slightly at Henry's comment. A week. Well, it had been worth it. "Successful enough to make you think I might be dead," he drawled, smiling none the less.

Mercy Beau decided at that moment to appear and sit against Henry's leg. Goodnight shook his head a bit. At least once during the week the dog had woken him from an unpleasant, anxiety-ridden dream, almost exactly at the same time Billy had rolled over to do the same.

"If I had thought it through more, I ought to have called you to take Beau out. Wouldn't have had to leave at all." He smirked behind his next sip of coffee.