"You're not going to try going back to work, are you?" Ned asks, with a trace of worry creeping into his voice. He wouldn't put it past Ginsberg to try: his job is so stressful, so competitive. But there's no question in the piemaker's mind that the best thing for Ginsberg would be to just get away from this place for a little while.

"Can you tell them you'll be ready for the meeting tomorrow and come back with me?" He doesn't want to just leave, can't bear the thought of heading out on his own with Ginsberg staying here, to deal with the rest of them, giving him sidelong glances, making remarks. Ned knows he can't keep him away from that forever, can't hold onto him forever, but he's not ready to be parted from him just yet. For his own sake, as well as Ginsberg's.