She catches that flinch, and inwardly curses herself for not being able to deal with this. It had been so easy to fall back into habit with Six and Jorge, that ingrained, instinctual Spartan training helping her cope with everything else.

This, though, dealing with Washington, the emotional and civilian nature of it ... It had been difficult beforehand, and now it seemed insurmountable. She wanted to know what to say, to reassure him, but the words came out all wrong. "I'm still trying to remember how to be that."