"Honestly, I'm almost used to it when it goes off," he said - mostly to try and make her feel a little better about thinking it wasn't pleasant to sense things.

"But I know what you mean. For about four months, I had no idea what was going on with me: I just had that awful feeling, and this terrible ringing sound in my head like an out of tune bass guitar. I went from clinic to clinic trying to get diagnosed, but everyone - even a shaman! - sent me packin'. I didn't realize what it was 'til I got to L.A. and finally started seein' things. Once that happened, it kinda died down for the most part, and it only really hits me hard when there's something big around."

That, however, made him realize something, and he tilted his head, still holding the salve pie. "Those protections ... they're really powerful for me to have not picked up on him the minute we were in the same building. I know I don't have to tell you this, but ... you're lucky to have 'em. Whoever made them for you is really good."