Pepper squeezes Gene a little tighter for a few moments, trying to return the comfort he had offered her. Her determination to make him feel better offers a balm of its own. She didn't pick the name Rescue for nothing.

"It's a good thing we've both got someone to awkwardly hug at times like this, huh?" She lets go of him and stands at arms length, wiping her eyes. The tea kettle had started to whistle, so Pepper turns off the heat and pours the boiling water into the mugs, trying to keep her hands from shaking. "Here."

She hands Gene one of the mugs, giving him a watery smile.