There came another squeeze of the pinkie as Tim spoke. "Ain't none of this got a deadline or hard expectation," he offered. Trying to express the understanding that just because it could be an idea for both of them, it wasn't one either of them was ready to go home and immediately implement. They both had some rough edges to work on. They both still used the job to exercise the internal anger, the anger that had to be addressed before they gave up the release.

"It's some good thinking," he continued as they made their shared, slow way along. "Lot of good things to imagine, in among the frightening prospect of change." Thoughts like getting through the shit. Of giving up the release of the mad minute and taking more steps towards living a proper civilian life.

A life where he came home to someone, showed up at school musicals and found ways to make encouraging noises at eight year olds who couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. That last thought made him smile. Not quite full teeth, but the smile that made slits out of his eyes, especially at the corners.