Then at least I will have known I did all I could.

[His smile was fleeting, and when it had gone, he entwined their fingers, slipped off the other boy, and pulled him into a sitting position with him. It was much more difficult a thing to accomplish than he was willing to admit. But doing the right thing usually was.]

Are you tired? You didn't get to sleep for very long before I came back with the food.

[And perhaps if he slept more whatever this was would be a long forgotten episode and they could move on when they woke up next as if nothing had ever happened. Or nearly happened, as it were.]