[ It shouldn’t be much of a surprise that Barnaby has always been a man who has let logic rule him, not his heart. In fact, it’s gotten to the point where he has been called an emotionless robot more than once. Like someone who read the dictionary and thesaurus as their first goal in life. Barnaby knows that his approach can give that impression to people, but on the whole he doesn’t let it bother him. He would rather take a calculated risk, than jump into something headfirst and think about the consequences later on.

Thus far, you have been a strength to him. Not long ago Barnaby had referred to Kotetsu in those words to Gliese, and she hadn’t believed him. She had challenged him on the concept, and he still believed it to be as true as when he’d uttered those words to her. It always had been. Together, they were much stronger than if they were apart. ]

You are right, in that I don’t think these feelings all of a sudden make me a liability. He and I have had an unbreakable bond far before this; that isn’t to say that I am not at risk for those feelings eventually compromising me, but I have yet to meet someone who can completely discard every emotion.

[ Perhaps those kinds of people did exist. But even within the CDC, he had yet to find anyone who specifically fitted that description. ]

He and I have died together already, once. [ It’s said quietly, because the reminder is not an easy one. But Barnaby does not regret what occurred that day. ] I have no doubt that it would happen a second time, if it became necessary. I am not afraid of falling. However, I do not think now that he would seek it out intentionally.

[ Once upon a time, he might have. Now it is different. ]

But I can still lose him in other ways.