Once he starts counting she undoes the chain across the door, then quickly retreats down the hallway and into her room. She can faintly hear his clear voice counting even within, and laughs slightly to herself when he gets to 'one thousand and eleven'.

And that small laugh felt really nice, after all this time. She still felt burdened by what had happened, but it seemed that something had loosened within.

Changing into the green dress Sophie had given her, she then silently crossed the hall to the washroom, where she brushed out her hair and washed her face. It was... better. A bit better.

There was nothing she could do about her wan, tired look or the purple nail polish at the moment.
But then, did she really have to pretend or hide anything from Mister McCrimmon?

Softly she came down the hall and came into the living room, her eyes downcast for a moment, but then finding his face.

"I'm very sorry to have made you wait like that."