'Outside' sounded absolutely great. Outside, where the air was clear, there was space, and the ghosts of former combatants didn't lurk quite so near. Jake gave a soft nod, then began to edge for the nearest exit with the practiced ease of one well-used to doing so.

Once there, he took a surreptitious breath, feeling just like a jittery pony--all nerves and frettings. But the bright sunshine was warm, the breeze cool, already doing wonders to clear his head and bring things back into a better sort of focus.

Jake turned back to Eileen, the beginnings of one of his half-smiles already starting to appear. "...better?"