Slowly, all signs of humor fade.

"I know."

A pause. Gabriel takes a slow breath, then says,

"I don't want to die, Simon. I'm going to try very hard not to."

He holds his son's gaze as he adds, very quietly,

"But I will never, ever again fail someone who depends on me by turning away when it's in my power to do otherwise, no matter what the risk to myself may be."