Stone Circle you can't go home again

Murdock's expression grew somewhat slack at Valette's directions. How close was he? Had Valette been there? Would it take long? Would Stephie miss him? "Do you know... about how long it would take?" he asked, his voice cracking a tiny bit near the end. He glanced at Shale, begging him to wait a moment. There were many paths suddenly laid out before him, and it'd been a long time since Murdock had felt the weight of such decisions.

"I think - I need to see him. But I don't want to be gone too long..." He wondered if he needed to say Steph's name, or if Valette would simply know. He supposed it didn't matter either way.