And for a moment, he lets her. Not because he feels any particular affinity with her - he wouldn't have had to learn that if it weren't for her, for one thing. But she's awake, and here, and feels real enough for the moment. It's better than nothing, and he's not going to wake Alex to tell her about it.

Just a moment, though. Then he lets out a breath, and runs both hands through his hair, locking the fingers behind his head when he's done.

'What was the point, then?' he asks, though he might have done so already.

'Why show me stuff I can't change?'