He grimaces when she starts to come towards him then gets stopped by her own limitations painfully. He's all too familiar with that feeling and it has him carving out a slot for himself next to her, somehow occupying much less space than his hulking frame would suggest he needs. That ugly expression twists into a downright scowl as she goes on apologizing. Frank doesn't interrupt despite his guts knotting up inside just as surely.

"This is my fault, Clara. Not yours." He waits for that to sink in before reaching up to brush some hair off her forehead, needing to find a point of contact but knowing she can't sustain his clinging right now. "You never have to apologize to me anyway."

Frank drops his hand to her knee, gently squeezing as he prepares himself for leaving her side again even if it'll only be for a moment. Best to keep lengthy conversations for once she's better, he reminds himself.

"I'll get you something for the pain. And some tea?"