"If she'll come with me," he told him. "She may put me on the couch and barricade herself in the room." It was a real possibility. "I want her to be and I don't. It concerns both of us. But if they react badly and she feels threatened, I'll be keeping her from hurting someone. Which won't help our cause any. Mae's as overprotective of me as I am of her. And she's rightfully frightened, of what people will do, as well as of what's happening on the ship."
He knew this. Behind her rough, brave front, Mae was a frightened little girl, clinging to what she knew. If either of them were going to take this risk, it would be him initiating it. Mae would sit back forever and prepare for the worst. It was her way.