[Hopefully she missed the protectiveness, too, because she's about to get that in spades. All it takes is the word 'louses' to get him to bristle slightly, stepping in closer as if to shield her from them. Never mind they're not there at the moment. It's the principle of the thing.]

They didn't hurt you, did they? If they so much as laid a finger on you, I'll...

[He makes himself break the words off there, because some things are best left unsaid. They'd better watch out if they ever turn up here, however.]

Aye, well, nevermind that. Hey, wait, did you say someone was asking you to wake up before you came here?