When she looked at him, he could see the hurt in her eyes, and that made him ache. Sad as it made him, however, he knew there was no simple phrase, or word, that he could say to make her feel better.
"Stacey, I - I don't -- I didn't -" he trailed off, helpless to say what he really felt. He could feel the bond between them slowly unravelling, and Sam was powerless to stop it.