She was trying to follow what Valerie was saying, to make it compute, but it was too disjointed. Apparently she and Brian had had some sort of fight, or at least she presumed it was Brian since Valerie had indicated that dating was new to her, and now they were no longer a fledgling couple. That made Julianna's compassion roll over and wake up. First love could be so difficult. And Valerie had mentioned that the lad was a bit sensitive. It seemed as if things had really gotten away from them.

But the next part, when the Slayer's voice changed in timbre, caused Julianna to stop fussing with the dressing she'd put on the wound. She looked at Valerie's expression, the way it seemed about to crumple at any moment, and she recognized the onset of tears. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.

What should she do, if she should do anything? She lacked sentimentality most of the time, the romantic notions that other people seemed to handle with ease. Practicality was always something she tried to use as a watchword. With age, she'd become set in her ways. But when something hurt...when it truly hurt...

"If you want to tell me, I'm listening," Julianna told Valerie quietly. Around them, the silent neighborhood was a bizarre setting for this conversation. The Watcher's left hand crept out, touched the younger woman's shoulder. "Who wasn't herself?"