He leaves him to it. Walks out the door like it's nothing, like it's just another day, and around the corner and down the hall, Alex gasps, hand to his chest, and leans hard against the wall. His head tilts back to press against the wall, and he squeezes his eyes shut, keeps any tears that were threatening deep inside. "Goddamnit," he whispers. Just. Goddamnit.

ED-E is watching over Neil, and Dogmeat has been staring at Neil since he started talking, and Alex is breathing in an abandoned hallway and remembering what it means to be calm.