Stark nodded, a little, and offered a very hesitant smile. That was better than what he had worried she would say. What she could still say.

"I'm not..."

He frowned, searching for the right way to say what he wanted to. If there was a right way. If he even knew what really wanted to say.

"You're my friend," he said finally. "The best one I have. And that... that's more important than anything else."