Ryker just looked at Eke with warm, caring eyes, and nodded in response.

"Sure thing, Eke." he replied.

With that, the two of them made their way to the bed, and he laid down on one side of it, making sure there was enough room for Eke... but that wasn't hard, given the size of the bed.

"In the end, I only know of one thing that I can do to help." he said.

"And that's be there for you." he told him.

"No matter what happens to you, Eke, I'll be here for you. Until the very end. And nothing will ever change that." he said further.

"I promise."

Ryker smiled as well, as he saw the smile on Eke's face.

'....I really can't do much...' he thought.

'But I can at least be a source of comfort to you.' he sighed.

He then stared at the ceiling, and placed an arm on Eke's back.

"...sleep well." he whispered.

"Have the most pleasant of dreams." he finished, before closing his own eyes to try and fall asleep, himself.

Ryker stirred for a moment, his eyes slowly opening.

"Ngh... eh?" he mumbled.

"Eke?" he asked.

"Eke, are you okay?" he then asked him.

"You look like hell." he commented.

"And either my hearing was buggered and foggy, but you didn't SOUND great, either."

Ryker shook his head.

"Naw." he said.

"I got a day off." he told Eke.

"So I can stay home and help with the interviews if you like." he said further with a small smile, though there was a hint of sadness lying underneath it.

"I assume you're pretty much up now?" he then asked with a sigh.

"Want me to make you anything specific for breakfast?"

"Hmmmm." Ryker muttered.

"Easy on the throat..." he said.

"Ah!" he exclaimed.

"Some maple porridge should do the trick." he told himself as he got out of bed.

"Want me to make up some more of that tea?" he asked Eke.

Ryker started out by making a large mug of tea for Eke, and giving it to him.

"Here." he said.

"I'll make up actual breakfast." he told him.

"So... about today..." he then said, trailing off a bit.

"How many interviews do you have scheduled?" he asked.

"Aly?" Ryker asked.

"Huh. Cool." he said.

"Yeah, getting up really early can suck." he then agreed.

"Hopefully someone will be able to help you." he suggested.

"I don't know how, but maybe."

"Ah, right." Ryker muttered as Eke went on.

When Eke sat down on the couch, Ryker presented him with a large bowl of smooth porridge. It smelled sweet, and had a nice brown swirl in it.

"Maple." he told him.

"It should be all right." he said further.

"...you're not doing all right, are you?" he then asked with a sigh.

Ryker just smiled.

"First time making it. I'm glad." he said.

"One second." he then told Eke, before disappearing to the kitchen. He then returned with a bowl of yogurt for him.

"Here." he said.

"This should help as well." he told him.

"Dairy's generally good for a raw throat."

Ryker just smiled as Eke lay down on the couch.

"Sleep whenever you can, Eke." he told him quietly.

"You need it." he said.

He then turned on the TV and switched it to a station that did nothing but air soothing ambient music, as well as natural and calming sounds.

He hoped it would help.

With that, he just sat down in one of the chairs, and started to read.