[He allows the hand to rest on his shoulder without his usual flinching or jerking away.]

I... [He doesn't want to say it outright, not to Billy, one of the few individuals whose opinion truly matters to him. Okay, actually, he wouldn't say it to anybody but, perhaps, Morgan, and only because she already knows]

To keep order and give them hope, I... [He tries to choose his words carefully now] I made a promise that I never thought I had to fulfill. [What he neglects to mention is the fact that, when the opportunity arose, he quite detachedly followed through on his promise-- not only that, but he went through brutal lengths to do so. Anything to protect them, to keep them sane]

I just wanted to get us all through it.

[He seems oblivious to Billy for a moment, then something seems to click in his brain and he drops the professional demeanor, frowns, then seems to shrug that off as well]

But enough about that. It's hardly the most stimulating topic.