It was like with that one step all at once the room was far too small. Nathan took a deep breath, noticing, vaguely, how it shuddered. Every piece of him wanted to reach out, because even a night away felt like far too long, even with Griffen, even with that whole mess of what was and what might be. But he didn't. Couldn't.
"I don't know you as well as I thought I did," he said, half in answer to Jim's question, half reminding himself. "You could be anywhere. I supposed I just..." Another breath, this one sharp with yearning. "I guess I couldn't picture you here alone."