Neil didn't remember falling asleep, but he blinked blearily awake and stared at the florescent lights overhead. Cold glass rattled against his shoulders and hair where he sat propped against a window. He heard the muted roar of a jet engine as it hurtled down the runway. The glass stilled before the noise faded. He rubbed his eyes with gloved hands and regretted it immediately. The gloves hid his bandages but did nothing for the pain. He made his hands into fists, hissing through his teeth at how much it hurt. Satisfied his fingers were all accounted for, he dropped his gloved hands to his lap.

"Passengers for flight 1522 to Atlanta, please be advised: there has been a gate change. We will now board this flight from Gate A16. I repeat: flight 1522 to Atlanta, Georgia will now board from Gate A16. Please report to your new gate immediately for an expeditious departure."

The announcement came on again a couple seconds later, this time in Spanish. For a moment Neil was baffled that it wasn't in French. He'd spent so much time with Jean he'd forgotten any other language existed. Jean was technically forbidden to use French, since Riko couldn't understand it, but he'd whispered it to Neil when Riko wasn't close enough to hear. Jean would mock him for his current confusion, except Jean wasn't here. Neil looked at the seat beside his and saw only his duffel. Jean was nowhere in sight.

He was at an airport, so Jean must be on the other side of the security checkpoint. Neil would have to go back and tell him he'd slept through his flight. When he looked around for a sign to Departures, though, he recognized the tacky furnishings of Upstate Regional Airport.

Upstate was in South Carolina, but Neil didn't remember leaving West Virginia. He didn't even remember leaving Castle Evermore. Neil gripped the armrests of his chair to ease himself upright and looked over his shoulder. It was dark out; night had fallen and he hadn't even noticed. He pawed at his uncooperative memory, then let it slide. It didn't matter how he'd gotten here so long as he was here.

Getting here was only half the battle. The other half was getting to his feet. Neil held his breath as he painstakingly hoisted himself out of the chair. For a moment he was sure his legs would give out from under him. Somehow they held. It hurt to clench his hand around his duffel bag's strap but he held on anyway. He couldn't feel the weight of it against his hip. He needed to know it was there with him.