But you don't have to go. He knows better than to say it. Jim has been pushing himself to the limit of his own resources - physical and otherwise. He's cut back on meals, on sleep, on rest, always trying to do that little bit more for the others. Always trying to stay ahead of the demons that haunt his thoughts. To even suggest that he should stay back this time, that he should let the others take the risks or that he's not up to it...

Felix holds his tongue. Nods slowly. His mind is racing. This is it. He's tried so hard to find a way out. Tried to preserve their escape route until it failed, and then searched for some way, any way to save them both before Jim could do something like this. And now it's too late. He's watched his beloved sink deeper and deeper into nightmare-haunted exhaustion, the calm mask cracking a little more each day, and now Jim's going to get himself killed trying to drive out the shadow of Tarsus.

Because Felix has failed him.

Unless...

"How long until... how long do we have to prepare?" He's distant again, biting his lip.