Greg opens his mouth, pauses, and shrinks back a little. He feels, suddenly... intrusive. After so long without seeing any gems, it's flooding back to him; all the awe, all the fear. He's imagining unfathomable depths of scorn behind those eyes of hers, accusing him of meddling in things beyond his understanding, beyond his right, all these years.

"I'm sorry. I didn't... I should've figured it out sooner, I didn't realize you were... you in there. I should've..." She was right in front of his face. She was trying to tell him, and he had been too stupid to realize it.

He swallows hard. He doesn't have the right to ask anything of her, but... he has to.

"Please... can... can you really help me find Steven...?"