If you can would be self-aggrandizing, wouldn't it? Whatever he may mean by it. Of course she would turn to thoughts of her brother. They're what get her through. He'll have no choice but to think about her, but he'll have the data to keep him cold company and assist him in cutting her vexatious whole into neat little pieces.

Hap nods.

"I'll be coming in a little later than usual," he says, like she has any idea of the time beyond morning, afternoon, evening and night, "so you can get the full five cycles."

He carries on, riding the familiarity of the exchange. "You remember what we talked about?" An effort to render the unspoken before... as quiet as possible.