He didn't expect to see her again so soon. It's only been a month. He should have known. Hell's Kitchen really wasn't that big. He could've left New York after he literally burned his old life to the ground, but he didn't. He doesn't want to examine his reasons for staying too closely. The Kitchen was grim and dark like him. There was plenty of scum to track down and take care of. But unlike him, many of the people of the Kitchen still had hope for a brighter future. In that way, they were more like her. She has a dark past, that's obvious, but she's still kind, compassionate, and hopeful. It's just who she is.
Now as he watches her walking down the street, unaware of his presence, he notices that she looks tired and a little sad. She works for the newspaper now. He's seen her byline on several stories. She's just walking down the street, deep in thought. As he watches, he battles the urge within himself, that part that just wants to go talk to her. It was nice for a bit, to have a friendly conversation with another human being. He doesn't do that much. He speaks when he has to but she brought him a little ways out of his self-imposed solitary confinement. But that's just who she is.
She's not afraid of him and he respects that. She's been disappointed in him, like in the woods, and she's been horrified at what he does, like in the diner. But not afraid, not since they first spoke in his hospital room. He remembers her ignoring their pitiful red line on the floor and confronting him with his family photo. She broke into his damned house… even after he shot up half the hospital and her car. She's a little reckless and very ballsy. But that's just who she is.
She seemed to take it personally that someone was covering up the truth. It shouldn't have mattered to her, but it did. She didn't seem to see the Punisher lying in that bed. She saw the man he used to be. But that's just who she is.
He doesn't feel bad about what had happened in the woods with Schoonover. The man had to die. He wishes she hadn't have been there. And hadn't he told her to stay away from him? Sure, she didn't have a choice about being kidnapped by the Colonel but she didn't have to follow them into the woods. He wished she hadn't. He wished she hadn't overheard. He couldn't talk about Kandahar… not with her. He wished she didn't want to help. But that's just who she is.
Now as he finds himself crossing the street, moving toward her, he wonders what the hell he's doing. He closes the distance to her and walks behind her. She stops, as if sensing him. She turns around.
"Ma'am."
The look on her face is unreadable… concern, relief and something else. She pauses for a second, then wraps her arms around him.
"Frank. I'm so glad you're okay."
He doesn't return the hug. He can't bring himself to do it. She steps back and looks him in the eye. He wishes that she didn't care so damned much. But that's just who she is… and he's glad, so very glad.