He lets her go when she starts to pull away. Pidge isn't as effusive with physical affection as Hunk for instance is and Shiro both treasures the rare times she is - and is careful to never overstep what she's comfortable with.

He's glad when she doesn't apologize.

Let him be useful for something. Please.

But his smile is only soft and warm for her when she gives the rest. He appreciates it, he really does. And it feels good to know that his team is watching out for him, trying to take care of him too. But - he can't. Right now.... right now there's too much inside of him. If he doesn't bottle it up - he's not sure he could handle dealing with it. He's not sure he could pull himself back from it. So many of the things he anchors himself with have come undone in the past few years, past few weeks. The very few things left to him, he's clinging to with a death grip, afraid to let go because there's nothing left to catch him if he does. He can't face all he's been through right now. Its too much, too big, too soon. He needs to bottle and to shield because -

because he doesn't dare do otherwise.

Because he's afraid he might not be able to come back if he lets go.

So he gives her shoulder a gentle squeeze - and he seals over all the raw open wounds inside himself again. He's hardly anything anymore. But if he can still be team leader - even if he's not leading - then its one thing he can hold onto against the swallowing darkness.

"Thank you, Katie. I know. I'll be fine though. Just a lot to take in and adjust to." To bury so it doesn't drag him under. "We've all been through a lot." His smile is a little wry. "Not exactly the kind of life we expected to find searching ice samples, is it?"