"You're here." No louder. He smooths Cullen's hair with his free hand. "That's good."

A moment's pause.

Hopeful -- and more hesitant than he realizes -- "If we could make up for some of the time we didn't get in the Basin...I'd like that. If you could -- "

(The color in his cheeks is higher than he realizes, too. It's not like he's asking for anything scandalous; rather the opposite. It's the asking that's more difficult than he anticipated.)

"Take care of me?"