"You seem intimately familiar with the experience. I'm sorry if this conversation brings up old hurts." As if he isn't wearing a frown of his own to match. Takes one to know one, as they say.

"As a matter of fact, Dr. Watson told me he did try to fire a weapon directly at the Captain. It did not work. The bullet went impossibly, dangerously, wide of the mark. Thankfully, he told me no one got hurt but the message was clear. It will take more than good marksmanship to harm our dear Captain, and the consequences for trying could be painful."