An immediate danger removed, for which she is indescribably grateful. It's a lose-lose situation, but over means it can be put far from their minds once the initial shock subsides. No one was ever supposed to see that, especially, particularly him. It isn't beyond her imagining that it might rouse unpleasant experiences from his own life, and she doesn't ever want to be an accessory to that. And it hurts, the whole of it, this ugliest most haunting affair dragged to the forefront when so much of her time is carefully calibrated to keep it at bay.

Nor is it beyond her imagining that he is making a concession on her part, right now. She does what little she can in return - what would undoubtedly be a set of arms coiled around him for god only knows how long is tamped viciously down. One hand pressed into his chest, adjacent to the face she buries into his shoulder.

It's the first anyone's done this that was about That, and nothing else. Perhaps it's that fact, or normal reactions to being reassured in general, but after one great shuddering breath sobs. Once, twice, and then that too is tamped down. The whimpering might be more pathetic. Lose-lose situations. She sets about muffling herself as much as she can against him, to mitigate this all around.

"'m sorry."