He feels like he's falling suddenly, windmilling out of control if he doesn't find something to steady him, because he feels like he's losing something in this moment, and there's something about that that's too familiar to touch, because it's something unable to be thought of, focused on, and--

There's a single beep from the doorway, emotionless, questionless, only a call for attention. And Alex's eyes rivet for a moment on the eyebot floating there.

The moment is broken by the dog wandering into the room, by the man next to Alex moving to stand. Alex stands instantly, puts a hand under Neil's arm to support him upward. After a moment, ED-E follows Dogmeat into the room.

"It's different," Alex says quietly. "Not needing to carry you."