Ben feels a little jolt of alarm when Cole mentions Kieran's name, says he had helped him. Swallowing, he listens, and - well, learns something he hadn't known before, about his new friend. Maybe something he isn't sure he had wanted to know. But that isn't on Cole. What he really doesn't want is for death to have touched all these people he is coming to care about - Peter, Cole, Pratt, and now apparently Kieran, too. It must mean something, that they all have this in common?

He also isn't sure the context for it, but he thinks Cole's advice to Peter is sound - knowing is better than not knowing, etc. But what interests him more than these examples is that Cole is only speaking about his own life in terms of his interactions with others: specifically, helping them. Ben knows how important that is to him. But it also twists the worry in his gut over Cole a little tighter. Cole is right after all - he can't keep up a nonstop pace of helping people here.

Without a word, he holds out the wrapped package for Cole. The brown paper is plain, but folded and taped very neatly. Inside is a small, empty journal and a nice fountain pen.

"I thought- well. Just open it and then I'll tell you what I was thinking."