Almost tripping over Alice, Spence reached up to touch the wall as he followed her. He was quiet, for a moment, not exactly trying to draw attention to her difficulty. It was understandable, and he kept glancing back behind him. He kept checking the hallway.
"What's the worst that can be down there," he cracked with false bravado, "Mutant cockroaches?" Okay, maybe he should just shot up. His lips pressed together, into a fine line and he swallowed. And then, belatedly, murmured, "I got your back, okay?"
Even if, coming from Spence, that wasn't all that comforting.