[ Buffy stares at him for the longest time. She can tell he's not joking from the look on his face. ] You--What? [ The tone of her voice is not accusatory. She doesn't know whether she knew that already or not. Mostly? She's just kinda curious. ] How could you be without a soul?

[ She wipes her hands on her jeans (the smell, she remembers, will linger for weeks no matter how many laundromats they visit) and when she glances at Sam she doesn't miss the look on his face. Her brow wrinkles in concern. ] This wasn't your fault either, Sam. [ Deep down, she knows it wasn't her fault either. That doesn't make it any easier though because she can still see the face of every friggin' hunter she offed and it makes her skin crawl. ] When was the last time you even slept?