"That's where I'm hoping you'll help me--and him," Derek continued. "You know my needs and wants better than anyone." He smiled then, encouragingly, and grateful. "I thought...maybe, it would come better coming from you, instead of me. Sometimes...I lose my temper with him."
And that was the real purpose he had in asking. The boy had a way of pushing Derek's patience, and Derek was afraid that one day he would push too far, and he wasn't sure he could live with himself.