[--crap. He almost echoes the word. The second she doesn't answer him right away, he knows he's said something stupid and flinches for it.]

Come on, don't take it that way.

[He jams one hand in his pocket, the other running through his hair as he half turns away from that look he's giving her.]

I'm working on it, ok? I promise. Just...looking for alternatives in the mean time, you know? As opposed to spoonfeeding the asshole who tried to kill us.