That's another thing. [ He huffs out a laugh. ] I'm sure a lot's changed in thirteen years. It's still been thirteen years, right? I'm not any closer to being caught up on advances that have been made over the last however many years. I guess the Oldest House won't have to worry about me bringing anything too new in.

[ Truthfully, he doesn't want to go back to the Dark Place. It feels as though there isn't a reason to now. But maybe that's just him not wanting there to be a reason. Maybe he won't have a choice. But maybe something will be different this time and maybe he really will get to come home. He just isn't allowing himself to be too confident in that possibility. ]

I guess I'm just resigned to it not being that easy. You know how I get, how I am. Asshole, you know. But yeah, you're right. First things first: figuring out how to solve whatever the hell this is and find a way out. [ I just might not be able to make use of that way out. But that's just the way things go.

Maybe he's wrong, and maybe he's not so good at reading her anymore, but he thinks he knows what's on her mind. Or maybe he just feels like trying to reassure her. At least he has the confidence to back up his words. ]

Look, you found me, didn't you? Or I found my way here and found you in the process. Either way, we're together. You're going to find Dylan again, and he's going to wake up. Maybe he is still with the rest of the Bureau, or maybe he'll turn up here. A part of me hopes he does turn up here so that at least you'll be able to see him and have that peace of mind.

[ He's quick to squeeze her hands again, hoping his words do what he intended and reassure her. ]