Abby has to pause a moment just to digest this (and to keep herself from snapping at him, cuz it'll do them no good to start fighting hours out from the FOB).

"That's not a bad thing," she says eventually. There's trace amounts of sarcasm in there. She knows what he's getting at, but part of her objects so strongly to being told she doesn't need her friends that she can't help pushing back, "And everybody needs somebody."

It's nice, being needed.