Cole doesn't know if it would have seen them, but he couldn't take that risk with Ben's safety. He knows They could protect Ben if need be, but Ben doesn't like calling on them, so if Cole can help to avoid a situation where They're necessary...

Is he in pain? He's not sure. There's a sharp stab when he starts bleeding, but there's so much pain and suffering here that everything aches.

"No."

That seems closest to being truthful. Using his powers like that didn't cause pain. The pain was already there.

Cole opens his mouth, then shuts it, because the clarification changes his answer.

"... this is where I was born. As Cole. Up there." He points in what seems to be an arbitrary direction, but he can sense the exact cell where Cole lay dying and called him through for comfort.