You give a friend in pain what they need. Not what you want, not what they want. That doesn't matter. What matters is they are in pain and they need help. You give them the help they need. Usually it goes like this, you talk about the pain. It turns into talk about other things. You kept them walking, and you were there walking with them.

But sometimes you have a terrible path to take.  
Sometimes you have to do something which makes you seem like a monster to them. So be it. You help your friend, you do what you need to do. Afterwards your friend is safe, alive, and well. You can both live in peace so long as you work safely with your new title, and gauge it well, however much you don't want it. You saved your friend, and that's what matters, even if they don't know it

I don't care what ANYBODY thinks of me. I love EVERYTHING, and I will be whatever I have to be. The rest is up to everybody else.