A pin could have dropped and they would have heard it, but Archer wouldn't have cared. Right now, the only thing that mattered was that he stay there, like this, holding Isobel and pretending that he could be a friend the way she deserved. Humans were social creatures. Comforting and love were things that they were hardwired to do, and though Archer was just as capable as any other Homo sapien, he wasn't sure if his capability stretched as far as it should. But for now, it didn't matter.
He felt her fingers tighten a bit in his shirt, and he tensed slightly. He relaxed when she did, smoothing a palm lightly over her upper back. At her thanks, he felt his cheeks burn. He wanted to say something smooth. He wanted to say something that would make her feel better. But then he remembered who he was, and that that made doing so impossible. So instead, he just shifted his head so that he could speak without hitting her crown with his jaw.
"You're welcome," he whispered, giving her a gentle pat on the back.