"Hey." It's incredible how quickly it comes back to him. He recognizes the thready, panicked pace of Jay's tone, and in a moment it's like they were never - like it hasn't been years. Automatically, he remembers how you're supposed to handle this. Have to head this off, derail him before he gets going.

"Jay. You're fine, okay? You're fine."

Don't patronize, don't talk down at him, don't treat him like he's fragile. Talk plain and direct.

"I know this is...complicated. But we don't have to do this here."