"Oh, I've got plenty of ego," Caesar said, a faint smile touching his lips. "I just don't let it control me." A huge part of him was relieved beyond words; it was the most Albert-like thing his brother had said since he'd come back. Finally, Caesar had found something that showed him that maybe Albert hadn't been quite as damaged as he'd first feared. "I see they didn't damage your mouth."

He grunted as he maneuvered himself and Albert through the short hallway, through the spacious kitchen area, and past the first few closed doors. He paused in front of his own open door instead of continuing on to Albert's room -- partially because he felt more secure there (and assumed Albert might feel a bit more comfortable away from the "scene of the crime", so to speak), and partially because of the childhood habit of staying out of Albert's personal space.

"You want the chair or the bed?" Caesar asked, turning his head to glance at Albert, both relieved to be back and exhausted from their journey.