Galen sighs, relieved, when Jesse appears to accept the explanation and curls close. Galen wraps his arms around him, presses his nose against Jesse's hair, rests a hand on the side of Jesse's warm neck protectively, and listens.

He's not expecting any good news, and he doesn't get any. Galen mutters a curse and keeps holding on, just -- wishing he could do something to make them go away. Something not fucked up, something that won't scare Jesse away, just something that could help.

"Did they do anything, or were they just watching?" He asks quietly.