[His first thought is to deflect, as always. But that's been the problem, hasn't it? They keep doing that and if neither of them actually says anything, then that's how every single meeting going forward will be. If he's perfectly honest with himself, Yeager isn't even sure what it is he's looking for out of meetings with Alexei at this point, but it isn't... this. Whatever "this" has become, anyway. Maybe he would've been perfectly fine with it back at that place, where they saw each other every damn day, but here? He's likely not going to see Alexei again for several months, if not longer.

So what does he want, exactly?]

I wanted to check in on you. I've sure things haven't been easy lately, especially since you were called back so suddenly.

[He doesn't expect Alexei to tell him anything about the situation, and he's not going to pry. But that is an honest answer, even if it's not... exactly right. I wanted to see you again would be more accurate, or even the dreaded I missed you, but there's only so much Yeager can get himself to admit, and so it's just going to have to be this for now.]