[ An explicable urge to just reject that thought that Jesse's had, that thought that Alan can't know about because he can't read minds, wells up inside him even though it's insane and shouldn't be possible. Where did that urge come from? How did it happen? Alan doesn't understand it, so he puts it to the side.

Of course, if he could know what she'd just thought, he'd insist that she- both versions of her have a place in the story. But then again, what happened to make it so that she wasn't in his other self's story? Why did he do that? From where Alan's standing, he wouldn't push her out of the story, so did something force him to remove her?

He shakes his head, because all he's doing by thinking about this is making more questions come up to the surface. ]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that you just being there is helping. You could've left, could've ran off when it got to be too much. But it sounds like you stuck with him to the end, and you're still sticking with him now.

[ He smiles as he slides his fingers in between hers. It's a warm smile even if it's a smaller one. Somehow, this feels right. What is it about Jesse in any version that feels right to him? He really can't figure out the answer to that. ]

I never was good at being someone's friend, but- with you... with her... I want to try.

[ He pauses for a moment to consider what she's just theorized. ] Maybe it did. Maybe it's just me looking at all angles and settling on the worst sounding one. That makes me sound totally bleak. [ But it's not entirely wrong either. Alan isn't a sunshine and daisies type of person. ]

You did? You actually did research? I mean- not that there's anything wrong with research, I'm just surprised.

[ He notes that vulnerability in her expression and he takes a slow step forward. He wants to touch her cheek, but maybe that's way too forward. Holding hands can be seen as innocent enough. That gesture might not be viewed so innocently or received well, so he holds back. ]

I will. I'll tell her.