--"I know," he murmured soothingly, reaching up to her forehead to brush away a strand of hair. "And you probably did him more good back then than I did. I just didn't understand." He squeezed back, and in that moment his mind was plenty open enough for her to see everything that gesture has meant to him over the years. Her kiss burned like Rose's.--

He opened his eyes. Thanks. And you too. And then he turned and left the room, with a nothing more than a look to John and an encouraging touch to the man's shoulder, like the passing of a baton.