It was good to see that Alex was in his right mind enough to at least recognize friend from foe. Andreas wrapped an arm gingerly around the sender, bruised boy and held him close. He looked into those blue eyes and nodded. Yes, Andreas had shot Richard. He wasn't going to defend that action; Alex knew what he'd come to do, it had just never been in the plan for Alex himself to be around for it.<br/><br/>Then that pretty thing uttered something unexpected. He wanted to shoot his father? Andreas had the wisdom to hesitate. His snap reaction was to say no. He didn't want to put a firearm in the hands of a weak, trembling, untrained kid who was already on an emotional roller coaster. Part of the reason he was doing this was to spare Alex what he'd gone through at the end.  But then he looked over the almost frail body covered in all colours of the rainbow, fresh welts forming. Even his pretty face hadn't escaped the evil man's idea of punishment. Andreas hadn't really spared him anything.<br/><br/>And perhaps because he'd lived a similar hell once, Andreas relented and placed his gun in Alex's shaking hand. He kept his own around it, just in case. He needed to keep it steady.<br/><br/>"Are you sure?" he asked in a whisper. "Those images might never fade. I know how important it might feel now, but think hard on of you can handle it later. I doubt you've ever hurt a soul..."