Oh. That reaction is no good. The subsequent tension is worse. Neil would slap a palm to his face if he was in the condition to do so.

It is, however, what it is. Neil might as well expand, regardless of the outcome. He watches Alex quietly, observing the emotion clouding the man's eyes. "After something like 'that,' most lose their brain functions," he starts. "Motor skills, cognitive reasoning, coherency-- The list goes on. A lot of them have to be babysat because they won't eat and sleep on their own. Others can't remember who they are, where they're from, or even their names. Hell, they can't even string two words together."

So yes. Neil and Nadine were the damn lucky ones.