"It's alright, Charlie." He slides onto his knees to stand up - pausing with his hands on his knees for a moment as his broken fucking legs lock up, from how long he's been just sitting there like an idiot - and tosses his book onto the couch. "You don't have to try and prove anything."

He finally looks back at Charlie, and he just looks tired. "You don't trust me, and quite frankly I haven't done anything to earn it, either. That's fine. So let's just..." He swallows, another tight little thing, and fails to hold Charlie's gaze. "Let's make sure John doesn't have to get caught in the middle like that again. Alright?"