"Well, it helps that we're never really alone here." He indicates the entirety of the hypothetical dreamspace with flap of a hand. "I mean, you're here and that, well. That helps, assertions of alleged personality similarities to barn equus notwithstanding. And I've always got Aliyah."

He drops the hand to stroke at her. The repetition in the motion is soothing, if only mildly, and she makes a low rumbling in her chest in response. The chance of anyone he knows coming through the Rift, much less the versions specific to his universe, are astronomical in their unlikelihood, but Daniel's always been a subscriber to the more idealistic schools of thought, so he'll take it. God knows he needs it.