"Nonsense," he brushed her meekness off. This was not the time for that, and she knew it. Self-pity and regret was not going to be the order of the day, and setting his own glass on the low table, Meiers approached her.

"We're here now, and that's enough."

There, there was the start of her smile. It was bare and ghostly, but he saw the corner of her lips turn up ever-so-slightly. And without ceremony he wrapped her up in a strong embrace, making sure to dispel whatever demons of self-doubt she might be carrying with her. She was the oldest of friends, right alongside Kes. He would never think less of her for anything.