Andrew, I hope your first day is fantastic! Interesting that the underhanded co-worker will be working with you. Good thing you didn't "burn any bridges." The guy probably acted thinking it was the right thing to do for him, anyway. No one acts out of evil, but out of ignorance, and they're driven by their egos.
Good to hear you and your W continue piecing. It'll be a slow process, so remain patient. It's normal to be cautious after what happened. Try to stay away from the fear, though. Just be aware of what's going on around you and be cautious, but only visualize positive scenarios.
