The comment about the implant gets an awkwardly dismissive chuckle. There's a lot of story around it, but not a lot of conclusions. That's the way his life seems to go.

Wincing only a little as the wounds - still draining a little in places and not all fully healed - get bandaged again. Whatever else about this doctor, he tries his best. Spike would be hurting a heck of a lot more under his own inexpert touch. If he even bothered.

Which, clearly, he hasn't.

"A woman," he says plainly, not meeting Dr. Chase's eyes. It's not the whole answer. It mostly doesn't even sound like an answer. Yet it's the most pertinent one Spike's gut offers him to give.