"In the grand scheme of things, I would be inclined to consider that a plus, yes," he murmurs, not even sure why he's speaking or what he's really saying. If she wants to tell him what happened, he knows she will, and if she doesn't, then he'll accept that as well. But something happened, he thinks, someone or something did this to her and that makes Joel furious. It's not the same and yet it's very similar to the sort of rage he felt that night in the lighthouse, only now there's nowhere to direct his anger, so he turns it inward, pushes it down, lets it settle, a glowing ember deep inside. He'll have it when and if he needs it, but Emily doesn't need any of that part of him right now. Maybe not ever.

"How much pain are you in?" he asks softly and what he's thinking right now is a risk, he knows that. It's a risk much larger than the ones he usually takes, but he hates seeing her in pain, especially knowing there are things he can do for her. As with the others, as with Cosette and Lara and Spencer, there's something inside telling him it's okay. So far he's made excellent decisions when it comes to who he tells and who he doesn't and he trusts Emily. He trusts her not to use his secret against him.

And he wants to help. More than anything, he hates seeing her in pain and wants to help.