He lets his breath out slowly, and tips his head to allow her to touch the forming bruise on the side of his face. He had only just gotten rid of the bruises from the car wreck, now he had new ones. But, small price to pay, he supposes. Meredith is okay and doesn't seem too horribly traumatized, and that's what matters.

It's amazing how fast all the menace can go out of a person, when the guilt hits. He's still stunned by the whole thing, by that momentary but oh-do-dangerous lapse of reason, and he nods slowly, wincing at the motion.

"That's the last thing I remember clearly. I was looking for a little boy, so I went in. When I came out, I felt like I was looking for something else, and I saw you." He's piecing it together, slowly, in spite of his desire not to dwell on it.

"I'll get checked out, but I think I'm fine. I apparently have a very hard head." He manages a tight smile. "Are you okay?"