Cooper leans into her touch like a drowning man reaching out for a life preserver. He hasn't been touched like this for a long time. The simple act of comfort is doing as much for his recovery as sobering up has done in the past few days. His eyes cast downwards, unable to meet Nancy's gaze.

"You don't know what I've done. The way I was before--" He's already told her so much already. Telling her anymore would feel more like burdening her with his past instead of sharing more of himself, so he falls silent. There's enough skeletons in his closet to let them rest. He'll bring them out another time when he's feeling emotionally vulnerable.

His eyes dart back up to Nancy's. One hand comes up and covers her own. "I'm not going t'run this time. There's too much I care about here in this city." The ghost of a smile flickers over his lips, barely there before it's gone again. "'Sides, I'm not likely t'find friends like the ones I have here anywhere else."