He glances at Monty over his shoulder, and then he walks over to him from across the room, taking the damp cloth - a gift from a patient's daughter, out of gratitude - he'd been using to wipe his hands dry, and setting it aside without looking, before reaching for Monty's still very slightly wet hands with his own. He raises them both up to his mouth and kisses their backs gently, one after the other, before letting them drop between them, but not yet letting go.

"Thank you," he repeats, gazing into Monty's eyes, lending additional weight to the simple words, the rote phrase. "This is all -" he grimaces slightly, the faintest flicker of a shadow passing over his face, "almost new again for me. I can't imagine how it must feel for you. If there's... anything else you want..."

He takes a deep breath. "I hope you will be comfortable letting me know."