[ sam watches her during that moment of quiet, wondering if he's either struck a nerve or perhaps stumbled across something she hadn't planned on bringing up. or, what turns out to be more true, brought up something that had been on her mind. when she speaks, sam nods in that way that says he does understand, probably a little too well. ]

No, I know what you mean. It's hopeful thinking to believe this could be over, especially when you're talking about something like a cult. Ideas, whether good or bad, tend to spread the more attention they get - and they got our attention. [ there's a beat there before sam shifts, sitting up and looking at her with a little more of a furrowed brow and a little less of that easy smile. ]

You were one of the ones in her house? If it's alright, can I ask what kind of things you found? [ he knows it's a complicated situation, and there is a feeling to his request that if she said no, he would absolutely respect that too. but...god, he's so curious. and if there's something there that might help them clue into if it does happen again...

and then there's that, that almost quiet i feel lost some days, here, and sam's expression softens. ] It's hard, really hard. I've been here for...two years now? And I've had stretches where it's hard to remember why to get up and keep trying each day. Especially when this sort of thing happens.