[It's very difficult for Eddie to be the one who is vulnerable or hurt, and usually he'd push it down, bury it under smiles and activity. But Cisco can read him too well for that now, is too attentive, and it both hurts and feels good that Cisco is seeing this ugly weak part of himself and is somehow, impossibly, still here. Eddie is so used to people liking him because he smiles, because he is strong and capable of providing support, and even still, whenever he shows this part of himself, he expects it to be a turn-off. That he won't be appealing or sexy anymore, because of his weakness. An object of pity instead of admiration.

So when Cisco wraps an arm around his back and asks to be allowed to take care of him, walks to the bed with him and sits close, it makes his throat tight all over again. He settles and nods and can't reply because he can't talk past the lump in his throat until Cisco changes the subject.]

So am I. Most of what he said went totally over my head, but I thought you'd probably understand it. And he seemed pretty willing to help. It kind of surprised me, since he seemed kinda harsh at first. I thought he might be mad that I messed up the timeline, but...

[Rip had also said it was beyond his control, that he couldn't help it. Its just hard to accept or believe.]