[ Whatever Alan was expecting from Jesse, it wasn't that. Clearly, she's taken him by surprise, and it's enough to pull him out of the fit of moping he's fallen into because of the impending divorce and the feeling that everything is spiraling out of his control.

He stares at Jesse, confusion plain in his eyes, but behind the confusion, there's a kind of longing too: longing he's reasonably sure he shouldn't be feeling, but he can't just shut it off. Still, whatever's going on with him isn't nearly as important as whatever's going on with Jesse. The way she's standing isn't the posture of someone who's completely fine. It's the posture of someone who's upset and very much not okay. He should have known that before he asked, but he wanted to hear it from her.

She presses her forehead into his shoulder, and immediately, his arms wrap around her, pulling her in. He's not much of a shield, and he never imagined he'd be holding someone like this, but he finds he wants to do it. He wants to be whatever protection he can be, even if it's not much. He's still not entirely sure why she would choose to stick with him, because he's really not a good guy. His life is this side of messed up, and it looks like it's about to get a lot more complicated; why would anyone choose him? But as long as she wants to stay, he'll take it. ]

I won't. I'm staying right here. [ Screw this story and screw whatever it's trying to make happen. ] If I have to run off anywhere, you're going with me. But if you want to get off this train anytime, no hard feelings.

[ I still don't know why she'd choose to stay, but I'm for it as long as she is. ]