This time, when Bart references nightmarish events to place himself on the timeline, Tim doesn't hesitate to put his hand on Bart's shoulder. He can't say it was okay, because it wasn't, but there are other ways to show that it's all right. "You weren't... gone right after that. Maybe there's some time travel involved, or maybe you're just from a world that's close enough."

Tim pokes his other hand at one of the netting panels of the chick enclosure. "I can't tell which, and close enough is good enough for me. As long as you don't plan on bringing in an entire army of evil multiverse Barts, I can deal with whatever you throw at me."

A pause. "Except for the whole farm thing. That's new."