[ He expels a short huff of relieved breath on the edge of laughter as her fingers curl under his jaw. It's more than he dared hope for: after the days and nights of not knowing where she was, to see the certainty of her smiling right there in front of him, so honest and clear. The warmth of her hand, accepting his gesture, even encouraging it, stokes a matching heat in his cheeks. Overbright with emotion his eyes remain fixed on hers, so his expression is opened up like her can see she's requesting. Even in the stark, medicinal confines of the hospital and her bandages she can still smile like they're at home together or walking arm in arm. The relief of it is almost surreal.

Almost on autopilot he replies and the bandages shift slightly against his throat. ] You got it. I was sitting here all morning. [ His head turns slightly into her hand without breaking their gaze; his look has a solemn edge to it now. ] They didn't let me overnight, but I was in the hall the whole time. As soon as I found out they brought you here I came over. [ He wouldn't have let anything happen to her; she was protected here. His look says that he needs her to understand that. ]