"I know," he answered softly in response. "Your past makes you who you are - still. It always will. But it doesn't consume every nuance of your life, it isn't all that you are anymore. It's a very big part of you, yes. And that's the part I fell in love with, that's the part I adore so much. You're determined to the point of being stubborn, you're stuck in your ways, an incredible traditionalist... and yet you still love me enough to make room for us in all that. All I'm saying is... this isn't everything anymore. They'll never forget you were here, Johnny. As long as I'm standing, I'll make sure of that. Because I want you with me always. But the memories of death, pain, disease and misery aren't the only memories there are - they're just the most powerful ones, the easiest to fan the flames of. I know that better than anyone."
He laced his fingers with Johnny's, feeling a tingle slowly work its way up his fingertips and wrist, slithering through his veins like a drug, warming his icy flesh just a degree or two. Misery was also the easiest for him tap into - and depression, pain, likewise. He closed his eyes for a moment and tugged on that feeling, inhaling sharply and feeling it wash over him. No one watching would notice the subtle change of light and dark contrasting just a little more or the bright tones in his myriad tattoos growing just a faint bit brighter. He squeezed Johnny's hand and followed him to the car.
"We only have to stay as long as it takes for you to see whatever you need to see," he answered, unlocking the car from the remote on his keyring and watching Beau and Jackson as they stuck their heads up from the back seat. "If you need to come back here," he said, "or go anywhere else to dig up demons and see them safely buried again, I will put everything else on hold to be by your side while you do it. I love you and I want you to know that no matter what I'll always love you and I'll always support anything you need to do." With that he pulled Johnny's door open and leaned against it, waiting for Johnny to make his final peace and get in.