Alex gaped up at her, then winced, and sighed. "Ah, sure, okay. Sorry. ma'am." His shoulders slumped and he looked away, and didn't try to bother her or pursue her. He's had enough brush offs to know one when he saw one. And remembering everything... well, now he really felt the need to have a drink.

And so he just reached for his PADD and ordered one from the bar, and tried not to stare after her when she inevitably moved away. And his mind's eye was full of explosions, and of imaginary screams, and his face, eventually, full of tears.