He was surprised by her following after him, figuring she was done with him, but made no move to shoo her away or tell her off, stopping all together to hear her out. And then realization dawned on him as he did.

She wasn't avoiding trust here on Atlantis, she was avoiding connections.

If she settled in here, and the unthinkable happened, she'd have to suffer not only the consequences, but also have to live with that person inside her head for the rest of her life. Sheppard. Ronon. McKay. Teyla...Torren. Another dead or comatose person in her mind.

He regretted his foolishness in rushing the gene therapy resulting in the death of his whole crew. But he had the fortune in that while they'd been inside his head, they didn't remain there in the same way that those she touched did.

"I understand. And, I apologize" he nodded to her.