Thank you so much!! I'm pretty sure this was my first real N/S story, and it makes me so happy to hear that it makes sense to you :D

I feel like Sara, as much as she hides most things, is very honest with her eyes (unlike Neal, who can forge almost every nuance of expression). And after something as terrifying as this, something that leaves her feeling cold, I can't imagine how difficult it might be to look her in the eye.