Dogmeat gets the leftovers, and as he looks again at the dog, Neil wonders if the creature will eat. He has been silent throughout this reunion--no surprise, of course, but the fact remains. The boy and his dog have not remained apart for more than a couple of days at the most. A month and a week must have been torture for Dogmeat.

Neil watches his child for a long minute, despite his attention never leaving Alex. "Right," he murmurs. He reaches out for the second bottle.