The fact the first thing she says to him is a joke makes him honestly want to cry, because it's how she is and she's here and alive. Honestly, none of them could fully fathom how bad it was down there, and they still can't. But he didn't think anyone was truly ready to see how bad they looked. It was horrifying. He could see it on the faces of everyone around, even the doctors, since this was new. He doesn't think he'll ever forget the way she looked when she came in.

But they didn't break her spirit. Her unshakeable spirit. Jayce's hands move out as if to help her sit, but he hovers instead because he doesn't want her to think he is treating her too carefully. Stiff upper lip is her default. He doesn't expect her arms to request a hug like that.

Now he is definitely starting to cry and he is as gentle as he can be as he sits on the bed next to her and puts his arms around her. Jayce hadn't been able to think clearly for weeks, she was in his mind at all times. He dreamed about her, haunted with memories of when she was young, when they first met. How she became his shadow until life without her was part of what made everything intolerable on that bad day.

He holds her and runs his fingers through her hair, setting his cheek down on top of her head. He isn't ashamed of the tears. He could sob his heart out right here and she'd only tease him about it when they both were ready to laugh. "You are not leaving my sight any time soon. I'm about to get really, really obnoxiously clingy."