[ he can tell that she's trying, that whatever it is that is important that she needs to talk to him about not only takes effort and focus, but it doesn't come easy to her. which isn't to say that julie has ever made it out to be easy, but she's always had a seamless kind of connection. something that sam hasn't understood, entirely, but he knows is her's.

now it feels like she has to fight it, like she has to somehow keep from being overwhelmed, and he feels himself frown - worried, as he always is, about what it is she's able to do and how there isn't much he can do to help with it.

so he listens, because that's all he can do. and what he hears...well, at first sam thinks good, because if this isn't something to do with the singularity (because truthfully, when julie tells him anything about the singularity, he believes it. trusts it implicitly. there's nothing she needs to prove) then it's something to do with people, and people he can handle. people are something that can be handled.

but then she mentions a new loneliness and breaking their connection and his stomach drops. he comes to the conclusion the same moment she says it aloud. ]

We won't let that happen. [ the assurance comes quick, but there is honest belief behind the words. ] If whatever happened isn't magical, then it's just people, and that's fightable. We'll find them, and we'll get them back before any of that happens. [ because he has to focus on what he can do, on what is doable. actions are the only thing that will help any of them, now, and sam's going to take that and run with it.

he squeezes her hands again before pulling her close and kissing her forehead. ] And thank you. It might not feel like it, but this is good. You did good, because this we can work with.