Ben might be full of worry and sympathy and care for Cole right now, but that only extends so far; he is not Compassion and doesn't feel the same kind of all-encompassing and magnanimous care for the other ghosts that have tormented his brother his whole life. There were times when Ben wished Klaus would listen to them, work with them, use them to help himself, but that doesn't change the fact that they're partly responsible for why Klaus has always been so sad, so hounded, so unable to endure the real world.

That's the unfortunate thing about Cole's power; no hiding that skepticism, that lack of sadness over all those other ghosts. But he keeps rubbing Cole's back, even as he curls up tighter, and says, "But it's okay for you to need help, too, now and then. It doesn't change who or what you are."

And when Cole insists he isn't a demon, there's no hesitation before Ben says, "No, you're not." He might not know exactly what counts as a demon in Cole's world, but according to his definition of the word? No way. Not a chance.