[ He doesn't stop brushing her hair and curling his fingers into the strands, but he doesn't say anything when he notes hwo she seems to be lost in thought herself. He's become decent at reading her and deciphering what's going on beneath the surface, but this time, he doesn't like it, because he doesn't know what to do. Even his reassurances don't seem to be doing much of anything, and so he's left wondering what exactly he should do here.

Is this the consequence of going with what the story said and being my own hero? At least, as far as saving myself is concerned? Are Jesse and I just going to have this elephant in the room with no idea how to get rid of it?

His free hand clenches in frustration. He's not as action oriented as Jesse is, but he hates this feeling. He hates feeling boxed in, and boxed in is exactly how he feels right now.

I'm sure we can figure this out, but I don't know how yet, or what we can do to get us there. Running isn't the answer, not that I would anyway. Maybe the me from thirteen years ago would have, but I'm not doing that now. I just don't know what I'm doing.

His inner dialogue ceases the moment she starts speaking again, but that boxed in feeling doesn't go away. ]

So what do you want us to do now? What do you want me to do? You know I'll do anything you want, I just- I don't know what that is.

[ Well, he knows he wants to move past this and actually start to live but it seems that they need to address that elephant before anything else can happen. ]

You let me go then, but I'm right here now. [ Does that count for anything?

He moves his hand from her hair to brush her tears away too, brushing against her hand in the process, perhaps intentionally. ]

I want to help, but I don't know how. What can I do? [ This can't be fixed with just kisses and hugs. She needs more. ]