Oh, so this is what they were doing. He stood there awkwardly for a moment, unable to remember the last time he had been hugged, but then he tentatively, hesitantly, returned it. It was over quickly and he politely looked away as she wiped her eyes. "I guess I should find mine," he responded reluctantly. He wasn't quite sure what would happen if he did. He wasn't quite sure he could bear Jude or Jeremiah ignoring him. But if her friends were out there, somehow affected by all of this, maybe his were too. That thought gave him little comfort.
"Follow someone out. I doubt the doors will somehow magically work for us this time." He felt like he should tell her to be safe, to feel better, but it seemed forced. Things weren't okay. He didn't know how to make them okay. "I'll talk to you later, then."