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Okay. Well... [Her mind goes blank. How the hell does she even begin to explain?]

When I got bit, back in Boston... I wasn't alone. My best friend was with me. Riley. She got bit too, and--now she's here. Just like Tess.

[It's the same guilt.]

[Well that's... unexpected, on a number of levels. He heard her story, back in Boston when she'd told it to Tess. Sneaking out, the old mall, getting bitten. All these months, he's assumed she was alone when it happened, but - well, it makes sense. Kids do shit like that together - egg each other on, dare each other, whatever.

So she was with a friend - a friend who presumably died, when she didn't. And now that friend is here? And - wait, Riley?]

Ah. Well... Shit. I think I met her. Didn't even realize she was from our world.

You okay?

[She's very much not okay, but she shrugs. And then remembers he can't see that.]

I guess. It's just... we were going to wait it out. Lose our minds together, she said. It never happened for me, and I--[She sighs. It's not something she needs to talk about at length.]

Looks like I don't need to introduce you two, at least.

[There's a rather long pause, while Joel thinks about that - takes it in, considers how to respond to it.

He remembers Boston, remembers offering to stay with Tess - to go down with her, and Tess refusing, pushing him away. Not exactly the same thing, but he can understand the feeling. He understands the feeling all too well - the why not me too feeling. The what makes me so special. The cold, cruel unfairness of the world.]

No, guess not. [Another brief pause.] Look, ah. That's rough. It's - a mixed blessing. [He would know.] She seems... like a good kid.

She's the best. [Riley was always the fearless one. The adventurous one. She knew how to take care of herself, how to fight, how to have fun, how to get what she wanted. The only person Ellie really cared about.

She lost all that three weeks before meeting Joel.]

I just wanted you to know. Since we've talked about Sarah and all.

[The person Joel lost, and the person Ellie lost.]

Yeah, uh. [He remembers suddenly what he told her in his anger back in Wyoming, and winces at it. It had been assholish at the time, but it suddenly seems worse with hindsight.

A low point, even for him.]

Guess there won't be any avoiding her, anyway. Thanks - for tellin' me. I guess I'll be seein' her around a lot.

Probably not, no. [She sounds a little amused, saying that.

It sounds like Ellie might end it there, but after a beat, she continues. Each day has her more and more talkative, it seems.]

It's weird, isn't it? Having them back. [Sarah, Tess, Riley.]

[He huffs out a breath. It's a bit of a relief - he knows she's resilient, that she can bounce back. But it's good to see it starting to happen, even incrementally.]

Yeah, it's. It's like steppin' into a time machine, sometimes. [Especially with Sarah.] Not sure how to act around 'em.

Yeah. No clue what I'm doing.

Me neither.

[A pause. God, though, if he can't trust Ellie, who can he trust?]

I try to be the man she remembers - [Sarah, of course, he's talking about Sarah, but it probably applies to Tess too] - But a lot's happened.

[She's guessed at much, given their past conversations, but hearing it makes it so much more real.]

I don't think it'll make that much of a difference to her now. I mean, she can see you've changed, and obviously still loves you.

Maybe not.

[He takes a breath.]

But maybe it makes a difference to me. She never - she never saw me kill anyone. I know it's ridiculous, but...

[Once upon a time, the thought of killing someone had been unthinkable. Sarah reminds him of that, a lot.]

I'm... I'm sure she'll get it. You did what you had to do to stay alive.

I don't think Riley would believe half the shit I've done.

I'm not sure I believe half the shit you've done.

[A JOKE. He's trying to make a joke.]

[... it kind of hurts. No, she's pretty sure Joel wouldn't believe she'd be capable of hacking a man's head to mush if he hadn't seen it himself.]

Yeah.

Halfway across the country, kiddo. I've lost track of how many times you've pulled my ass outta the fire.

[His voice goes softer, gentler. That's what he meant. That she's strong, that he would never have done it without her, would never have made it on his own. It was her.]

No shit. You owe me forever.

[Her turn to joke, dry as it is.]

That so?

[His voice is fond.]

You're probably right.

[A beat.]

I know you'll help look out for Sarah. You'll look out for each other.

[Ellie would always look after Sarah. Awkward as it is with her, she knows how important that girl is to Joel--and what losing her would do to him. So, she'll do whatever she can.]

Yeah. Sure thing. I'll keep her out of trouble.

[Probably no adventures with her and Riley.]

[He nods, then remembers she can't see it.]

Good. And, uh, it'll be okay, with your friend. We'll all look after each other. [Meaning: He'll keep an eye on Riley, too, as he can.]

All of us. We'll all be fine. No big.

[Maybe she'll believe that one day.]

[He knows exactly how shitty this is, and how much shittier it's likely going to get. They all do, on some level, he thinks.

But even if Joel doesn't think things will get much better, he still always feels like he has to act optimistic - for Ellie, for Sarah. At least a little bit.]

It's not just us, either. A lot of the folks here try to look out for each other. Try to work together. Some of 'em are real smart. [Hiss way of saying yeah, things are bleak, but there is some hope.]

You talk about the people here a lot. [It's sort of nice.]

Mm. Well, it was just me for a while. A month, maybe, before Sarah showed up.

They kinda force us into workin' together, regardless. The way they keep us all packed in like sardines.

[The thought of Joel alone isn't a nice one.]

Well... I'll follow your lead.

[Meaning she'll trust who he trusts.]