It’s the hopeful expression on Barrow’s face, that flicker of a smile, which hurts the most.

Strange doesn’t have experience in this part: the failure. He’d never really had to stand there and wring his hands and dole out the bad news to patients or grieving family members in the hospital. A perfect track record. But he’ll muddle through, because he has to.

So he meets the other man’s gaze with a steady, flat expression, neutral rather than celebratory.

“You almost died,” he says.