"You don't need to ask me," John offered, and there was a tired, sad smile that went with it. "I've probably caused enough trouble between you and your folks as it is." Not that he knew exactly what he'd done that day, in a past that only existed in people's minds.

"...Well," John thought, rousing himself from some of his pity party, "maybe after your folks leave, mine can move in for a week. Share the trauma," he suggested, and reached across to place his hand on top of Bobby's, thumb rubbing across his knuckles, a simple affirmation that they were in this together.