As she breaks up the meat, again into much smaller bits than she would like, they fall into that silence again. She can tell that Archer is looking for words, a way to express everything that's happened and his new role. She waits, lets him work it out. His words when they come are no less than what she expected, but they make her proud of him nonetheless. She might put a hand on his arm, if not for the chicken, so instead she meets his gaze, nudges his arm just barely with her elbow.
"It's real heavy," she says, a different kind of sadness in her eyes now for the things that he will undoubtedly have to see and do. "And maybe you don't want to hear it, but I know there's nobody who'll do it better and I'm grateful that Charlie'll grow up while you're the one on watch. It'll never be taken for granted, at least not by us." She carries on with the chicken while she speaks, letting the rhythm of things wash away any unnecessary discomfort with the frank words. Then she frowns a little and adds, "I hope Thomas wasn't too... abrasive. He doesn't always have the lightest touch."