Nobody is going to joke about this, friend. Um - nobody decent. So forgive me if I keep hoping it is just a cold.

[ Having a doctor pronounce the situation not good is beyond worrying, though. Still, she isn't going to say that out loud. Beckett isn't stupid. ]

It will all be okay. Your, um - your friends must be very important to you. You're more of a softie than you let on, huh?