CLAIRE FISHER'S APARTMENT

Claire offers a friendly -- but very uncertain -- smile as she opens the door. "Hey."

"Hi." Andy returns the smile.

A wave of relief, at least the beginnings of it, washes over Claire. She wasn't sure what state she would find him in when he came to visit, after his phone call several days ago to tell her that he had decided to leave King's Bay. He had explained his confrontation with Katherine and his sudden urge to get away, and all of it had worried Claire. She's spent the last few days wondering whether he has finally been pushed too far, whether he's gone over the edge. But seeing him here, in front of her, is sweeping those concerns away. Andy looks like himself, a man very in control of his mindset and his decisions.

"So this is it, huh?" she says, stepping out of the doorway to invite him inside.

He comes into the apartment and takes a deep breath as he turns around to face her. "I guess so."

"You're sure you want to do this? That leaving is the best decision?"

"Absolutely," he replies with hardly a pinch of hesitation. "I need to go. I need to be away from my mother and from everything that's happened -- I need a chance to be my own man, Claire. Do you realize that my entire life up to this point has revolved around my mother?"

"You're right," she agrees, and then finds that she has to pause before what she wants to say next, because she is suddenly choked up. "I'll miss you. A lot. We've been through so much in the last year--"

"That's why I have to go," Andy cuts in, his tone more somber now.

She recognizes the glazed look that wipes over his face. "Don't keep doing this to yourself, Andy."

His eyes jerk up from his hands to her, trying their best to look confused. But what shines through is surprise -- surprise that she is able to read him so well. "What?" he asks, not sounding convincing at all.

"Stop blaming yourself." She sees his mouth moving with the seeds of protest and adds, "Tim--what happened to him was not your fault. You have to let go of that. I'm not blaming you, the Fishers aren't blaming you, no one is. You can't keep treating yourself like some killer."

"I'm not--" But he cuts himself off as he turns his back to her, jamming his hands into the pockets of his khakis. He barely hesitates before shifting gears completely. "I can't let go of it, Claire."

"It wasn't your fault, Andy. Please, you have to believe that. Tim isn't gone because you had to leave the pier early." She stares at his back, reliving yet again the horror of New Year's Day and suddenly able to feel Andy's anguish.

He says nothing. Claire takes a step toward him and her arms dangle awkwardly at her sides. "You have to let go of this ... I can't let you leave here tonight knowing that you're still blaming yourself."

"You're right," he says finally. "I know you are. My brain does, anyway ... But another part of me keeps insisting that I should feel responsible for this because I am, because if I'd just stayed put ..." This time, Claire doesn't need to interrupt. Andy tapers off, knowing that he isn't getting himself anywhere.

"Just please, Andy, don't go through life blaming yourself for this. You're going to Seattle for a fresh start, right? You have to leave all these ghosts behind."

He agrees with a weak nod, clearly fighting an internal battle. As she observes him, it occurs to Claire that she has done all that she can right now. It isn't possible for her to change his mind completely tonight -- but hopefully, she'll give him the ability to do it himself.

Silence envelopes them briefly, but Andy breaks the seal. "I should get going. I have to get the last of my things from the apartment." Claire nods as he adds, "Are the kids still awake? I'd love to say goodbye to them."

"They've been out for a while," she says. "Big day. We went to the mall and the park."

"Ahh," he answers with a broad smile. It fades and he swallows hard. "Thank you so much -- for everything."

"And thank you for being such a terrific friend. I wish we'd gotten to get to know each other under less, uh, stressful circumstances--"

"But the friends who are by your side through the tough times are the ones who really count, right?"

"Mm-hmm," Claire answers as she reaches up to wrap him in a hug. "I'm really going to miss you."

"I'll miss you too." Andy allows the embrace to linger. Finally he steps back and keeps his gaze focused on Claire as he says, "I should get going."

"Yeah." She finds herself fighting misty eyes. "Keep in touch, okay?"

"I will. I promise." He moves for the door and pulls it open quickly. "Take care."

"You, too." She watches as he leaves the apartment, glacing back just briefly before he shuts the door behind him.

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