John was about to snap at that blasted hand--again--when what was transpiring before him began to register. It was a frightening sight, seeing Frodo go pale and clutch at his shoulder. He would thought the old boy was having a heart attack, if there wasn't something eerie about it all; something that was decidedly not heart attack-y about it.
"Should I check to make sure he's alright?" John asked. Was he really asking permission now?