[Fern is going to go ahead and disagree on that point. He should've been better for Varian, for the other Sleepers who deserved it. But he wasn't, and the guilt hasn't stopped hanging over him. This isn't the time to argue about that, though. Not when Varian is so obviously still sick.

He starts a little when Ruddiger starts clambering up his leg, but hey, grass is a lot easier to climb than flesh, and he gives him a little pat on the head for support. Thanks, bro. Good to have someone else on his side.]

Ruddiger's right. All you're gonna do is kick the bucket if you stay out here. That won't be helping anyone.

[He's frank about this. He has to be, because even the tiniest sliver of a possibility of Varian dying again threatens to send him into an agitated mess. He won't allow it to happen again, he can't.]

I'm taking you home.