That one syllable, a whole sentence, unties the knots that Caleb's insides had worked their way into. He lets out a shuddering breath and clings to him a little tighter.He wants to tell Michael to keep his gratitude, because of course they'd helped him. Of course they'd gotten him back. He wants to point out that Michael would've done the same for him, if it'd been Caleb on that fucked up table. He wants to tell him that he'll never let anything like this happen again, even if he has to learn how to shoot a gun, even if he has to ask Rowan to teach him how to kill. He'd do it, to keep Michael safe.

But he doesn't say any of that. He just holds him, not trusting himself to speak, and if tears prick at his eyes and slide down over the bridge of his nose, then maybe Michael won't notice them.