Neal sits down next to Malcolm, taking the other man's hand. He's such a terrible liar when he's upset and trying not to be. Neal can't help thinking of every conversation they've had over the last few months where Malcolm begged him not to leave, or told him how afraid he was that Neal would disappear.

But god, what about Tim? Neal isn't sure what happened, yet--no one has told him--but if Tim took one step in Wolf Pen and then the next in Gloucester, only to find himself with months of lost time and a lost home... There's hurt there, too, that can't be ignored.

So much for certain planned surprises.

"I wasn't going to bring this up yet, but..." He purses his lips a moment, not sure how to say it, so he just dives in. "I bought a place. It's got three bedrooms and we're only going to use one."

A pause, and he gives Malcolm's hand a little squeeze. "If we all moved in, no one else would get to decide what to do with the rooms, regardless of the bullshit that happens here."