One day, he can have it clarified for him for the sake of easing his sister-crushing guilt, that getting taken by aliens doesn't mean he left her.

That day is not today.

Minutes pass, and at this point River's mumblings can probably be counted as her just saying words even for the common themes. Ants, fire, destruction, empty, fakefakefake... But she clings and the minutes pass and eventually it all dries up and Simon has a pile of River in his lap. Not exactly calm, but she's still and that's something.