Her fear affects him, however much he would prefer that it didn't. He leans over to put a hand on her knee, an attempt at consolation. He's never done much to console his Whalers; they had each other for that. He has never had the softness required for caring, he feels.
"I want you to calm down. You're safe here, even though you can't leave."
He sits back, hands on his legs again, still uncertain as to what he should say.