[That's the sound of him hitting or kicking something, and his tone turns swiftly agitated]

I said I didn't realize it until then, Newton. Do pay attention, because that's not something you need to misinterpret.

I know very well what I felt at that moment, and little of it had anything to do with your own emotional state at the time. If you'd like me to pinpoint the moment I fell in love with you, you're going to have to remain disappointed because I don't know the answer to that.

Newton I can't-

[His voice loses its edge here, and he pauses, then continues gentler than before] ..Newton. You know we're disconnected now. I can't feel anything from you. My brain is sending out pings like it's returning a constant steam of failed server requests and it won't stop. I was able to push it aside for awhile today while I worked; it's the only thing I can do to relieve it.

But I never stop wanting to bring you home, Newton. I want to hold you, I want to yell at you from across the lab, I want to kiss you and lecture you for how much of an idiot you are on a daily basis. I want to wake up and realize this was all some sort of elaborate nightmare, and find you're in the kitchen..

[Another pause as his voice begins to waver. Hermann clears his throat and takes a deep, steadying breath] So don't you dare doubt my sincerity, Newton Geiszler. Or I will port myself to Germany and let you rot in a pit on anxiety once you've returned.