"She's fine," Erik replies. "She lives with me. You did too," he adds offhandedly, as he sends a text to his boss that more imPort business came up and he'll have to take the rest of the day, but he'll be back early in the morning to do the work he's left off. That's how he's able to take off with such short notice; he works in an auto body shop and usually comes in at midnight to distract himself from other goings-on. He hasn't done that in awhile, but he thinks he might have to soon.

"Come with me," he says. "I'll show you." Even though Charles will only believe his own notes, which are all tied up at the Foundation, Erik thinks that might be a little overwhelming. He'll start first with the house, which does have some photographic evidence that he'd been here, or at least photos that Charles won't have remembered taking.

It might be easier to coax him into a nap and then wait for him to wake up and realize this isn't just some very realistic dream that, for whatever reason, he can't control. Erik stands up and places a hand reassuringly and steadily on Charles's shoulder. This probably can't wait.