Nothing in Jim's expression or bearing hold any blame against her, nor even disappointment at her needing to leave. It's a daunting task, and both of them are only human. There's only so long that either of them can endure a lengthy search without result, emotionally as well as physically.
No, he does not think any less of her for calling it a day. And while he nods a little in agreement, his own time to spend here becoming more limited by the minute, there's a small spark in his eye that wasn't there before today, a smoldering ember waiting to be rekindled. Something he'd lost sight of after the Nightmare that had damn near swallowed him whole, slowly rising from the darkness and uncertainty that has weighed him down ever since.
Determination.
There comes a time when you have to fall back and regroup, to take a rest and resupply before setting out again. It's not surrender and it's not a retreat. It's taking a step back to breathe, before you start again. There is no such thing as a no-win scenario. Never has been. This is no different. It doesn't matter how long the search takes. It doesn't matter if it's all for nothing, if they find out that the other captain didn't make it, if they're too late to make a difference. At least they'll know. At least they tried.
He can't turn his back on this. He won't.
"It's getting late for me too. I'll come back tomorrow, pick up where we left off." He doesn't ask if she can return too, reading that guilt on her face, hardly wanting to add to that weight. He'll understand if she can't. But he'll gladly welcome any help she can give, another person to help shoulder the task, leaving the offer unspoken, open-ended, a silent question. Even if not tomorrow, even if her own responsibilities keep her from devoting so much time to such a massive search. Jim may not be able to either. But he'll keep trying when he can. As long as it takes to get an answer.
no subject
No, he does not think any less of her for calling it a day. And while he nods a little in agreement, his own time to spend here becoming more limited by the minute, there's a small spark in his eye that wasn't there before today, a smoldering ember waiting to be rekindled. Something he'd lost sight of after the Nightmare that had damn near swallowed him whole, slowly rising from the darkness and uncertainty that has weighed him down ever since.
Determination.
There comes a time when you have to fall back and regroup, to take a rest and resupply before setting out again. It's not surrender and it's not a retreat. It's taking a step back to breathe, before you start again. There is no such thing as a no-win scenario. Never has been. This is no different. It doesn't matter how long the search takes. It doesn't matter if it's all for nothing, if they find out that the other captain didn't make it, if they're too late to make a difference. At least they'll know. At least they tried.
He can't turn his back on this. He won't.
"It's getting late for me too. I'll come back tomorrow, pick up where we left off." He doesn't ask if she can return too, reading that guilt on her face, hardly wanting to add to that weight. He'll understand if she can't. But he'll gladly welcome any help she can give, another person to help shoulder the task, leaving the offer unspoken, open-ended, a silent question. Even if not tomorrow, even if her own responsibilities keep her from devoting so much time to such a massive search. Jim may not be able to either. But he'll keep trying when he can. As long as it takes to get an answer.