"You should've told me before," he said, but there was no admonishment in his tone. It was foolish of Jim to push himself to do something like this after what he'd been put through, but there was no point in calling him out on it now.

"And stop apologizing. You didn't do anything wrong. Whoever touched you--" he said, voice nearly a snarl just before he cut himself off, teeth gritted, lips pressed tightly. When he found out who they were...

He held Jim tighter, kissed his cheek, brushed his fingers through Jim's hair. "You're safe with me. You'll always be safe with me," he promised.