The palor on Melinda's face and the coolness of her skin was concerning for Dalindme, but the fact that sweetness and light in her eyes gave him comfort. He hated the fact that she could do nothing for herself but just endure the pain, but was happy his presence helped ease her suffering. She was the soul of patience and he resolved to speed up his exploration of the systems of the human body so that he could end her agony as soon as possible. "It will not be long," he promised, evidencing a bit more of a facility with her language then he had when she fell asleep.<br/><br/>Dalindme was heartened by the way Melinda caressed his head as he played his cheek along her arm. He could hear her smile in her tone when she softly spoke of her happiness. He nodded when she  gave him her little order and slipped up along her body until she was nestled up against him perfectly. As he wrapped himself around her, he dove into the experiences she shared.<br/><br/>At first, the setting and mood was utterly alien to him as nothing in his life was like this. The close, loving air of family time was nothing he had a reference for until it clicked for him that the way her father held her was something like how he was holding her now. The tenderness and unwavering devotion were his guide through her memories and many things started to fall into place for him. Unlike himself, humans were all about relationships, positive or negative, they weren't completely self centered as he'd been, up until he appeared by Melinda's side.<br/><br/>When Dalindme realized this, he pulled Melinda a little closer careful not to hurt her ribs any more. "I need you," he said softly in a gentle and amazed tone. He was stating a fact, tasting the words and letting the truth of it well up from the core of his being. He meant those three words in every way they could be heard. For him, she was now like Oxygen; without her there was no reason to breath. She was also the only source of love in his life, which made her tremendously precious and special. In his loins a pure kind of lust stirred, there was nothing he didn't want to share with her, no way he didn't want to bring her joy. This pain and deprivation she suffered he would end, not just to make her well, but as the first step in giving her everything she's ever needed and making all her dreams come true.<br/><br/>At the same time, for the first time, Dalindme understood loss and he shared something close to sympathy as he came to realize Melinde's parents were no longer among the living. "They were beautiful, like you," he murmurs as he stroked her cheek tenderly. He craned his neck and brushed his lips along her cheek, like he'd seen in her memories her father do her forehead, wanting to let her feel how he cared for her in a way that would be familiar. Then he just held her, smiling and savoring the nearness of her and the way their hearts beat as one.