It would get easier, it had to. Mohinder knew that Gabriel could return to him within minutes…or it could take awhile if there was a malfunction. To have a malfunction on the first day, though? That had been a hard blow and Jack had been reluctant to give the angry scientist any answers. Jack hadn’t been worried. Jim Kirk was his best agent at the moment. He had just enough need to succeed and just enough lack of self-preservation to see him safely home every time. Gabriel had been in good hands.

Even with the punching.

That didn’t stop Mohinder from hating every moment of it, no matter how many interesting things Jack assigned him to. He pressed his face against Gabriel’s shoulder and fisted his hands in the back of his shirt.

“I’m not sure I could bear it if you were less resilient,” he complained. “It was my one comfort.” Gabriel couldn’t die. He’d make it back eventually.

No one paid them much attention down by the wharf. There was no one there to bother them. Mohinder could have his relieved cry and Gabriel could have his guilt.