She was never so sure of herself as to whether she trusted him, or simply wanted to believe that things had changed. That she had changed them.

Routine had been altered in Morganville; dire need for reconstruction was called forth by Amelie herself, with Oliver standing close by her judgment. New things had set spark in the damaged town, and the measures that had been taken to save it seemed to be long forgotten.

Claire entered to the lab for the first time in what seemed to be an eternity. Little was she able to believe that over the small period of time, she had nearly witnessed the downfall of Morganville. It seemed that life had come to an end even as they rebuilt; a society ruled by vampires had indeed, in the end, contradicted itself.

But Myrnin… Myrnin hadn't really changed. He had suffered the risks of death to fight, but come out silently and only slightly disheveled. Claire felt blind now, despite having had connected herself in so many ways to the Morganville way of life. Things had not only slowed down; they seemed to have stopped, and vanished altogether. She had no idea what response Morganville would give back to change, after all that had happened.

She jumped suddenly as one of the lab table across the room collided with the tattered wall, and Myrnin was suddenly in front of her, a feverish shine visible in his eyes.

" Claire. I trust you're well." He was distant, not entirely focused on her. He eyed the stairs warily, as if he expected something to suddenly fall down and explode.

" Yes, I am. We all are. I just…. I guess I just came to check on you."

He suddenly rounded away from her, backing up against another table, throwing off books and sample and slides, a crazed expression all the while on him face. Something had snapped so suddenly in his eyes that Claire's first instinct had been to run, get away from him. But she stepped forward, eyes wide, searching for… what? A way to help him?

But she knew. He was breaking down again, slowly but surely. Morganville needed structure, a guideline, and it was up to them both to fix it. If he was losing himself again, what was there to ensure the future of the town?

"Claire, don't help me. Go home. Go home, and don't come back again."

She saw how desperate he was, in that instant. How badly he needed her to walk away from him before he lost it entirely.

But in the end, she would stay, just as she always had. And she would help her friend as long as she saw he needed it.