Cullen's steady logic undoes a few more knots along Alistair's shoulders. He starts to relax -- until Cullen says the last thing.

Then he cringes, shoulders hunching, and mutters, "I hope it doesn't come to that."

Cullen has a job to do in the Basin. If Alistair can't hold it together -- if Cullen ever has to say sorry, I know we're trying to save the world here, but Alistair's having trouble sleeping, gotta go -- he wouldn't be able to look him in the eye for a week.