AJ didn't know much about preternaturals. He didn't buy they were monsters, not with how long they'd been around minding their own business. He had no idea how many Spooks worked at the House of Pain, nor would it have mattered to him if he did. Hell, it might make him feel even more inadequate than he did already. Since he didn't have any special powers to help people with. He sure as hell didn't assume people were werewolves.
It was also natural to assume a sweet, beautiful woman with an adorable baby girl and a ring on her hand was married to some lucky bastard. But, yeah, assuming and that an whole 'ass of u and me' thing was applying here. Plus he'd upset her by reminding Cate of her loss. Which just made him feel worse.
"I wish it was less common than it is," AJ admitted, then winced. "I meant- having it happen once is enough. The family that's left behind is always hurting so badly." How many times had he lost someone or been called to a scene just a little too late and had to watch their loved ones suffer. It always made him feel like more of a failure than losing a patient.
He retreated to a chair to do just that, smiling wryly. "I don't mind," he told her honestly. "It's nice to have a conversation that doesn't involve work or my problems." Pretty much the only people AJ saw outside of work were the people at his AA meetings. He was almost afraid to try to go out. Going out meant trusting another woman and possibly being around alcohol. Both had turned out so bad for him, he wasn't quite ready to deal with them again.
His smile brightened a little when she said she still wanted to see the pictures. "When your brother finishes my truck," he said. "Or my next day off. Whichever comes first."