[Lucky, sensing his human's distress, crawls across Matt's lap to where he can rest his large, furry head on Kate's lap. Matt smiles a little at the dog's gesture. Sometimes it was so simple for a pet and so hard for a human. A lesson to take away when he's feeling less tired.

He's quiet for a moment, letting Kate's words carry the weight they deserve. He won't discount what she's saying or feeling. He gets it, as much as he wants to make it easier for her to bear as a burden.]

I know you can take anything. As you friend though, I don't want you to just survive. I want to make something go right for you if I can. And I want you to know you're not alone when things do go wrong.

[He sucks in a small breath of empathy when she talks about her mother. He can only imagine how traumatic an experience it was, and he understands what it's like to have conflicting feelings towards a parental figure.]

It wasn't, you know. It wasn't your fault, and that was terrible of her to imply otherwise.

Having our parents fall short of what we expect them to be, what they should be, is never easy. That you had to be the one to stand against her isn't something that most people would have been able to do. I'm sorry that you had to.

You can hate someone and love them at the same time. Or hate someone and miss the love you used to have.

[He thinks of Stick more than his real father. Jack had certainly made mistakes, had engaged in criminal activity. Yet he'd never killed anyone, he'd never made Matt doubt his love. Stick on the other hand had loved Matt and Elektra in his way, but it had held a much more toxic edge to it. They'd been tools for a cause that Stick would always put first. Matt's feelings towards the dead man were complicated, so he can understand some of what Kate's feeling towards her mother. Hadn't he tried to help Stick at the end, despite it all?

He doesn't want Kate to have to grieve like he did in failing to manage it.]

Is she being held at Riker's? If you didn't want to talk to her, I could arrange a meeting. See how she's holding up. Or Kirsten could do it, if you don't want my name near hers right now. Hell, even Cherry might have some contacts at the prison who could keep an eye out.

[Matt gives a look in her general direction at the mention of money before shaking his head.]

I think he probably has some contacts so he can pull in a favor to keep an eye out, yeah. Only stipulation is that you're not paying for it. You're a friend, so I got this. He's on my payroll already, so it's not an extra charge. I'll call him as soon as I put on some pants. Getting a little breezy here.

[Matt smiles, giving her hand a warm squeeze in return.]

You're welcome. And don't get up, you and Lucky seem comfortable. I got it.

[He wriggles out from under part of the dog and stands up, slowly heading for where the washing machine had been.]

[Matt manages to find the washing machine, the sound and the heat signature guiding him. He risks it by changing right then and there in the laundry room rather than going back to the bathroom. The clothing is dry and warm, smelling a whole lot better. He rests her bathrobe on top of the washer and heads back to the living area after.]

I left your bathrobe in the washroom in case you wanted to clean it. And it seems like someone took my place. [He smiles a little, sensing the dog.] You snooze you lose, huh?

Not freezing. Even my feet are warm now. Socks out of the dryer are one of life's great pleasures.

[He sits down once room is made, lightly patting Lucky's rump as that's the end that's near him now.]

I know. These clothes were too clean. Gotta get some dog hair on them.

My regular socks don't feel like sandpaper. But I buy nice socks these days. They're just usually not warm.

It's not like having crumbs in the bed.

[He's not gonna let her live that down in turn.]

The suit isn't that bad. It's tight but flexible, so I can move pretty well in it. The worst part about it is that it can get really hot in the summer.

I can judge the crumbs if ants and bedbugs suddenly find a new buffet feast while you're sleeping.

[He playfully banters back, nudging her shoulder in return.]

Is this a problem you encounter and are looking for advice on how to handle? Because I don't know if there is a cool way to make that adjustment in public.

[Matt pauses, head tilted, his brow furrowed in the usual expression he gets when he's listening very intently to something. Finally he gives a little nod.]

Got a nice little colony growing in your bed. They're saying the space is nice but they want more crumb variety than pizza.

[Matt's expression twinkles with amusement and smugness, taking the pillow slap as fair retaliation and still deciding it was worth his while. Kate is always teasing and trolling him, it's nice to be able to turn it around on her sometimes.]

What? You could be their leader. They seem to share your bed eating philosophies.

[Matt swiftly shifts away, because another aspect of his powers is that with his heightened sense of touch, he's extremely ticklish. He moves so that Lucky is positioned in front of him like a puppy barrier.]

My bed isn't where all the good leftovers are. They know they have a good thing going in yours.