Something in him seizes and twists, maybe contrasts and maybe just blind terror, but he sets Dexter down again and pulls Tom closer and ignores the staring eyes of the bum a few yards away, reaching up to cup Tom's cheek. There's fierceness saturating every touch, though he's keeping himself gentle. For now.

"You just stay with me," he whispers. "Okay? You stay with me and it'll be all right."