I'm Not a Cynic

Whatever he had broken between them wasn't fixed. Something still felt wrong and Ellery's smile wasn't the one he knew. His eyes continued to burn and it took a lot of focus to hold back the tears that would come. He might've taken her up on the offer to catch a meal but, Clouse couldn't help the overwhelming need to be alone right now. He had a bit of a trip back to his cousins, it would give him plenty of solitude, but his overflowing emotions would not wait.

"I um, I-I should go," and cry, "I need to g-get started back to Scully and Avella. I'll uh, I'll try to get 'em to come back with me. Here? Give me a week."

He didn't want to play games anymore if it meant hurting his sister.