[He almost can't do it, not when Gabriel is sniffing so pitifully like that. Unless it's Major Armstrong who cries all the time, he's not seen or heard a lot of grown men crying and it gets to him.
But in the end, his desire to protect Gabriel from what's coming is greater, and after a moment of hesitation the line goes dead.]
private;
But in the end, his desire to protect Gabriel from what's coming is greater, and after a moment of hesitation the line goes dead.]