Utter discomfort was the very first thing that Grady felt when the girl in his arms started to cry, though really what else he'd expected for her to do when he'd pulled her against him he wasn't really sure. And now that she was really using his shoulder to cry on - nothing proverbial here - he had no choice but to remain just as he was, his hand idly rubbing her back as he murmured words that meant nothing and everything all at the same time.

The moments passed, the crackle of the fire the only other sound in the room outside of her soft puling and his barely heard whispers.

He wished he had words. Wished he knew what to say to make it better. He didn't and he felt, all at once, inept. He wanted to fix things but there wasn't a way to fix this. He didn't hold sway over life and death, but if he could figure out a way to do so, he would. Just to make her smile and laugh again.

"I'm sorry, Emme. I'm so, so sorry," he murmured against her hair.