The Shade nodded as he approached the bed, straightening his duster so he could sit down beside Dawn's feet.

"Small mercy to the living, so I can grant some souls a peaceful death in sleep." he explained. "Simple charm, he'll wake when I leave."

For a moment, he just sat there, watching her watch him and felt a stirring of something like hope in his chest, a grim sort of satisfaction that made him smile just a little.

"Seems you two've gotten a mite cozier since I left y'all." he observed knowingly. "What's your feelin' on the boy, Gingersnap?"