"Well," says Johnny, "good."

Now what? They're just staring at each other in mutual discomfort, Johnny's said all he can probably get away with saying for this encounter. He starts to inch back slowly.

"If it starts to get real bad," he says, "there's... I know people who might be able to help you."

Not gonna offer that up freely, not unless it's an actual emergency.

"I'm sorry," he says again, feeling increasingly pathetic. He should just turn. Turn and go. Can't quite do it, not just yet.