"You talk about your niece," Cougar reminds him. "Lots." He could guess that it was Jake from the talk of code, from his manner of speech, but he'd known it was him when the details had started to come in about his family and his past and the man he is today. He digs his hands into the edge of the bed, knowing that he's a coward for having held out for so long, but they couldn't have done anything before, not really.

"Couldn't be with you. DADT," he says quietly. "And I told you. I'm broken. I still am broken, worse than ever." His gaze never slips away from Jake, not for a single second. He does eye the paper, though, and the way it's crumpled so easily.