He found her in nearby hallway, one that was quieter and didn't smell as strongly of antiseptic and blood. He stood awkwardly in front of her, hands in his pockets, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. I should be better at this, he thinks.
He finds his voice. "Are you alright?"
JJ hugged herself tightly, leaning against the wall. "No. You?"
He thought about lying, but then it was gone, and he was shaking his head. "Not really."
She slid down the wall until she found the floor, hugging her knees to her chest. There was nothing else he could say, nothing that wouldn't sound like small talk meant to fill the painful void. And she deserved better than that.
So he came to sit beside her, letting their shoulders touch. Time passed slowly, and then her hand reached out, hovering over his.
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable," she whispered.
He swallowed hard, taking a deep breath before turning his palm upward in offering. "I want to comfort you," he murmured.
Their fingers tangled.