His mouth opened, taking a purposeful breath... but only silence followed as he thought better it and bit back what he'd wanted to say.

Instead, after a long moment, he apologized.

"I'm sorry, Max."

He could explain why he'd done it, or try to at least, but it didn't make much difference. Not now.

"I'm the one that pulled ya out, an' I was too late. An' too soon."

Too late to save his leg, too soon for him to just slip away.