He leaned against his knees more and let out a loud breath. He rubbed his face again as if trying to get his head on straight.

"I don't think I need back up,' he said. "I think I'm dead."

He stared at the carpet for a long minute. When he looked back up, his voice had soften and so had the features in his face.

"I'm sorry, okay?" He said softly. "You are real. If I didn't think you were I wouldn't have wanted to keep you from being hurt."

He sat up.

"I'm an idiot. We both know that." He said. "Maybe I was trying to protect myself a little too."