He knows why Carver hesitates. The truth is Pope hesitates, too.

He fucked his soldier here. The forbidden, shameful, hateful thing he did here, because they would have killed one of them if he didn't. Somehow doing it to save their lives doesn't make it feel any better.

He failed Carver here on this mattress.

He makes himself sit down, back against the headboard. "Count those sheep, son, "he says. "I need you rested."