Steve watched as the barren land that he had gotten used to turned into streets and homes as they made their way into town, the man keeping his promise and taking them into town. Steve wasn't sure where they were going to be dropped off, but he wasn't too worried. They would make it work. Anything was better than the lab at this point.

Robin, who still seemed affected by the heat stroke she experienced, had fallen asleep on his shoulder a couple of hours ago, softly snoring, and he didn't mind. It was a nice comfort. He didn't know if he nodded off at one point, yet he felt exhausted. The first goal that he had was to get a safe place where they could sleep in a proper bed, which could be challenging. Who would be willing to offer beds to people that looked like them?

He could see the man cast concerned glances at them as he drove. Steve didn't really know why, though this whole situation must've been strange for him. It was understandable.

"Do you trust me, kid?" The man asked suddenly, kicking Steve out of his thoughts.

"I would like to, I guess." He replied, confused at the question.

"Your friend seems to."

"I guess so." Steve glanced back down to his best friend, a soft smile on his lips. Robin continued to sleep, unaware of the conversation around her.

"She'll be okay. As long as she keeps hydrated she'll make a full recovery."

"Thank you."

The man shrugged, his eyes still on the road. "I wanted to ask, what's the plan now?"

"Plan?"

"Where am I dropping you off? The hotel?"

Steve knew that that wouldn't work. They didn't have money. But what else was he supposed to say as another idea? To drop them off on the streets?

Apparently the man understood him through his silence. "You can stay at my place, if you would like."

Steve raised his eyebrows, shocked at the words that he just heard. "What?"

"I want to help you two. I got a nice house outside of town, with food, clothes, and running water. I don't mind the company, and I wouldn't charge you a penny."

"I…" Steve didn't know what to say to that. Robin said that they could trust him, but to go into his home? Eat his food? Was this a smart idea? Steve hated getting help from people, he never felt like anyone should waste food on him, yet Robin needed food. Maybe he could accept this offer for her, and if things went wrong he could protect her. And Robin would know the instant something was fishy.

"I couldn't ask you to do that." Steve replied, and the man laughed a friendly laugh.

"You didn't ask. I'm asking."

"Okay. That would be great."

The man smiled. "I'm glad to hear it. My name's Thomas Brown, but you can call me Tom."

Steve let himself smile, feeling a bit more at peace. "Nice to meet you."

"And you're….Steve?"

His fear came back instantly. "How did you know that?"

"Relax, kid. Your friend said it earlier."

"Oh." How could Steve be so silly? Of course that was what happened. Yet, a part in his mind that suspiciously sounded like Nancy told him that he had a right to be afraid, especially because of what he had been through.

She is always so smart, and Steve knew that that was something she would say to him, if she were here. Dustin would probably call him stupid for thinking that, but in a freindly way, like an annoying little brother.

"My name's Robin." Robin said, and Steve jumped, causing her to chuckle.

"How long have you been awake?"

"Just a couple of minutes." She lifted her head from his shoulder and yawned, rubbing her eyes. "Are you sure you're okay with us staying with you, Tom?"

Thomas nodded. "Of course. It's the least I can do."

"Butー"

"No buts, Steve. It's decided. You're someone who doesn't take orders, aren't you?"

Robin smiled knowingly. "You'd be surprised."

Outside the line of houses soon became a straight line of nothingness, much like what they had been walking through hours before, and a house could be seen in the distance. Tom turned down a fork in the road, bringing them closer to the building. When the truck was parked, Steve hopped out of the vehicle, grabbing Robin's hand to help her, as she still seemed a bit shaky on her feet. Tom led them to the door, banging his dirty feet outside of the door, and Steve went to copy him, until he realized that he still wasn't wearing any shoes.

The inside of the house was warm, being lit by a fireplace in the corner, and it had a large kitchen, with a hallway branching out. The living room surrounded the fireplace, and it had a homey feel, a feeling that Steve hadn't felt in so long.

"Now, there's only one shower, so you both will have to take turns." Tom explained, grabbing some containers from the fridge. "The other one can have some food, and then you can switch. Or, you can eat together, I don't care."

Steve glanced at Robin, who wrapped her arms around herself, as if she was cold. She might have been, but he wouldn't know, he didn't really feel cold anymore.

"Rob? Do you want to go shower first? I'll be fine for a while."

She nodded gratefully. "Sure, Dingus. You can't handle my smell?"

He rolled his eyes. "Very funny."

Tom watched the interaction fondly, showing the bathroom to Robin as soon as it was over. Steve awkwardly glanced around the room, choosing to walk slowly into the kitchen, observing the dirt dishes on the counter and the notes on the table. He didn't bother reading them, he was already intruding on this man's privacy more than he wanted.

He still felt nervous, like this wasn't right. This house wasn't safe, Tom wasn't safe. They weren't safe. But, Robin seemed to think that it was okay. So was it? He didn't know how to answer that.

"Are you hungry?"

Steve jumped at the voice, backing right into a cabinet and banging his head. He let out a yelp, raising his hands in defense, and Tom frowned.

"Relax, kid, it's just me."

Steve took into a shaky breath, letting his hands fall back down. "Sorry."

"Don't be." Tom said, holding up a bundle of clothes to him. "What do you want to eat?"

"I…" He felt confused. He had a choice now? It wouldn't be a tuna sandwich and rice?

He closed his eyes, reminding himself that he wasn't there. He was free. This wasn't Brenner.

"Kid?"

"Anything's fine." Steve finally said, opening his eyes. Tom nodded, his own kind eyes filling with sympathy, sympathy that Steve didn't understand, and he went to the fridge, taking out what appeared to be some leftover chicken and adding it to the pile of containers already on the counter. Thomas gestured for Steve to sit down, and he did so hesitantly. He could hear the shower begin to run, no doubt Robin finally getting something normal in her life after so much pain.

He blinked, and a plate of food was placed in front of him, steaming hot, along with a cup of water.

"Eat up while it's hot."

A fork was handed to him, and as if on instinct he took it, glancing up and giving Tom a small smile. Tom sat across from him with his own plate, gigging into it without a second thought. Steve took that as permission to begin eating his own food. He half expected Brenner's cold voice to remind him what tests he would go through that day, yet nothing came. Not one word was spoken. It was strange. The silence, silence that scared him when he was younger, paired with empty rooms and barren walls, was welcomed now, even though he wasn't used to it. It was odd, but it was nice. It felt as close to normal as it could've been, minus his short hair and his medical gown.

He continued to eat, half expecting Thomas to ask him questions, questions he most certainly had. No questions came, and soon his plate was empty, his stomach full, and Robin walked up to them, wearing what looked like soft pajamas that were much too big for her, but fit. She was still damp from the shower, but she looked better than she had been in a while. Not only was the light back in her eyes, a light that bothered Steve and first but now didn't want to live without, she also seemed stronger, more confident in herself and the future. It was a welcome sight, at least one of them had confidence.

Steve was pretty sure it wasn't going to be him, at least not for a long time. Maybe not even until they got home. Maybe not for years, or even until Brenner was dead.

The thought scared him.

Thomas took Steve's plate and his own, giving Robin a smile as she stood beside Steve, her hand resting on his shoulder, as if she was trying to comfort him. He didn't know if it was working, or should've been working if his powers weren't there, yet he didn't push it away.

"Did you have enough hot water?" Tom asked, and Robin nodded.

"Yes, thank you."

"No worries. Hungry?"

"If there's some food left?"

Thomas gestured to the chair he was just sitting in. "Yup, have a seat. I'll just warm it up."

She smiled, turning to Steve and taking his hand, gripping it gently.

"You look better." He said, and she laughed, clearly more happy than she was before.

"I feel better, so much better. It's amazing what a good shower will do for you."

She seemed so free of worry as she spoke, and Steve had a hard time believing that this was good. Steve wished that he could accept this help easily, take that shower and finally relax, but how could he trust a stranger so soon? Was this house even safe? Was the food he ate poisoned? Drugged?

Then the questions faded away, like water receding from a shoreline, and he breathed, shocked at how clear his mind had become in an instant. He could feel his worry fade, and he met Robin's eyes, wondering if she was the one doing this to him. She never said, choosing to glance at him in a confused way.

"Are you okay?"

Steve nodded, leaning over the table to give them a little privacy, Tom didn't need to hear what he was about to say.

"I just…are we safe? I was really worried but now I'm not, so I don't really know what to think right now. I feel like something's up with my head, and maybe up with this whole situation. I don't know, Rob, I really don't know."

"I'm not affecting you." She whispered back, knowing exactly what he was implying. "At least, I don't think so. And, I've read Tom's mind. He's completely safe, he's done stuff like this before."

"What do you mean?"

"Ready to eat?" Thomas asked from beside them, interrupting their chat, and Robin jumped, eyes wide. Steve watched him hesitantly, forcing himself to relax, but the man's presence didn't phase him this time. Was this his adaptive abilities, or did Robin's words already make him calm about everything?

"Umm…yes, please." She said, and he put the plate in front of her, much like he did with Steve's.

"So, what do you think, kid?" He said, turning to Steve, "Do you want to use the shower and get clean?"

Steve got up, shakily getting to his feet. "A shower would be great, thank you."

"Like I said to your friend, no worries. You both are quite polite, aren't you two?"

Steve ignored the fact that he was anything but polite not three years ago. "I guess we are."

Thomas led him through the house, letting him pick out some clothes from drawers and even a pair of socks, something that Steve barely even realized he never had in all his time in the lab. The older man gently inspected his injured arm, which was still covered in blood, and sighed.

"Is there a bullet still inside your arm?" He asked, and Steve nodded.

"Yeah."

He was glad that Tom didn't ask anymore questions, he didn't feel like explaining it. He didn't even think that Tom should know about what happened to them, but did Robin seem to think that he already knew something? He wasn't ready to make that decision without talking to her again.

"We'll figure it out after you get clean." Tom finally said. "I'm sure I can do something."

Steve didn't know what to say to that, so he didn't say anything at all.

It wasn't long until he was in the bathroom, staring at himself in the mirror. Other than his short hair, which had thankfully been growing back but still looked too short, he looked fine. He wasn't pale, like Robin, or even seemed like he was tired.

His powers were strange. He knew that he should've collapsed with Robin back in the desert, but he didn't. He wasn't even hurt after all that happened. He felt a sick feeling build in his gut, and he lowered himself to the ground, wishing that it would go away. He knew what this feeling was, it was guilt. But why did he feel so guilty about not getting hurt? Was it because Robin gets hurt when he can't?

The only thing that saved her was this healing power that showed up every so often and Tom. What could happen if those two things weren't there?

Steve sighed, running his hand through his short hair on instinct, and chose to finally get into the shower. He couldn't let his thoughts consume him. His body may adapt to tough situations, and his mind, too, yet there were still things that bothered him, that would hurt himself and Robin. Nonetheless, he wouldn't let anything stop him from continuing to move forward. Because what else could he do, other than survive?

At that moment, he made three goals: move forward, survive, and get home safely, all without putting anyone else in danger. He knew it would be hard. He just hoped that it would all work out.