"It probably will," Ed admits, moving to sit down next to him and wrap an arm over Al's shoulders. "But as time passes he won't need quite as much nannying, and be able to deal with other people better. And everyone on the grounds is going to make sure nothing can get at him to drag him back to the mental place he was before."
"I know it's not the sort of thing you want to hear right now, how long a road you two will be on, but you will be able to lean on him for support again like you used to. And we're all here to take up the slack in the meantime."