"Well, if I faulted you for that, it would be pretty hypocritical of me," says Bruce, smiling to ease some of her concern and then finding he can't be disingenuous about it. The curve of his lips is small and tempered with resignation, but he does reach to shake her hand, his own warm and sincere in its firm grip over her fingers.

"Very nice to meet you, Jemma," he says, and then pulls his hand away perhaps a second too soon. It's become odd, he realizes, to physically touch another person. "But I do have to say that I'm a little worried now myself. What exactly are you waiting for the all clear on?"