Walter could have denied it outright, said it was fine - but it wasn't, and Sadie was right. Even though he'd rather bite back his anger (and no small amount of his horror), he had a right to it in the first place.

But Sadie wasn't going to push for more context. Somehow, that itself made a difference.

Instead of going for a hug, Walter moves over to sink into the sofa, hugging knees-to-chest like he hadn't done regularly in... years, really.

(Regularly, that is; the last time he's done this is more on the timeline of months than years.)

"I'm sorry, too. But it's not the first thing being Numbered has taken from any of us, let alone me.

"And..." he continues, pausing deliberately, seeking eye contact with Sadie for this next part, "It bothers you more how you learned it, than what you learned about me?"

Insecurity comes through most clearly now.