[For a minute Alex doesn't know what's happening. It's like the world's thrown off-kilter, and everything's calm too quickly.]
[And then he recognizes the tone and the words - and he relaxes.]
[He watches Ben like a child watching another child, not wary and not afraid anymore but tired from being both. There's a brief nod and the flicker of a smile.]
[This is talking. Just a different kind. He wants to hear the story.]
[ Spam ]
[And then he recognizes the tone and the words - and he relaxes.]
[He watches Ben like a child watching another child, not wary and not afraid anymore but tired from being both. There's a brief nod and the flicker of a smile.]
[This is talking. Just a different kind. He wants to hear the story.]