It wasn't so much that he didn't know what to say. He had perfected his story back when he was sitting at the bottom of the cage, with nothing better to do. And with Damien, who knew all about his true rank and abilities, it wasn't even necessary - he could just explain everything that had happened and the thought process that had led him to abandon Brian and let him drown.
Would that make Damien command him for his actions? Probably not. If it were Damien, he likely wouldn't give up on another person so quickly. However, at the very least, he would understand Lane's side, and that his intentions were not malicious. He just chose whatever was the most logical, that's all.
He knew that they were (probably) going to be fine…
And yet, somehow, he found himself growing more and more nervous, his mouth too dry to speak.
