He's too surprised to hold on. Even if he had tried, though, he couldn't have. She was always much stronger than she looked. He's left standing there, hands sort of hovering where Shepard had been a moment before. What... is happening. This is different than the other episodes.

"Shepard...?"

His hand extends, in offer. To help peel her off the wall, to help do something. Just like before -

Just like before

Held her hand. Touched her face. And to start all this off, her hand had brushed his cheek plating.

Touch.

His hand jerks back, as if he's going to be burned. Or, more accurately, as if he's going to burn her. Instead, he yanks down part of a sleeve. Wraps his hand in it. Enough to make sure when he reaches back out to steady her, the contact is cloth-on-cloth.

"Hang in there. Come back - I - I have a theory."