He's startled by the touch; his instinct is to flinch from it, but he can't, and it's just as well. He meets her eyes, and he's so taken aback by the intensity of her look, the matter-of-fact air, like she knows best and he ought to listen. It's such a straightforward, simple question, there's no way to give a wrong answer.

"Yes," he whispers, tears welling up again, goddammit. "I really, really do."

That hasn't anywhere near solved the issue, but it's as clear as he's been since it happened. He misses Gabriel like crazy, and it's going to hurt like hell to face him again, but it doesn't matter. He has to go back, see him again, before it's too late.

"Thank you," he says gingerly, feeling at once awkward and genuinely grateful.