"I believe that is the point." He reaches out to cup her chin in his palm as he peers down at her. "That it does make sense, that the leap is not great. It would wound both of us less if were difficult to fathom, and you have already made my other self out to be needlessly cruel as it is. Him bein' what he is only completes that nasty package."

Doc would be lying if he said any of this sat well with him. It doesn't, and he'll likely go find something strong to drink in response to it later, but he's better at dealing with his demons than she is. More importantly, he's better at pushing them to the back burner to wait their goddamn turn.