[Joel is in the midst of discussing Tommy's group's run to Boston, pondering handing Ellie off to the group.]
She's immune.
What?
Ellie. She got infected, but she didn't get sick. [off Tommy's incredulity] Tommy. Tommy, I saw her get bit myself. That was months ago. Months. She's immune.
[Tommy pulls up a chair and slowly sits next to his brother.]
From the beginning.
It was Marlene. She hired us to smuggle her to some Fireflies. It went bad. Tess got bit. She made me swear to take the kid. It was her dying wish, what the hell was I supposed to do? We made it as far as KC, and then... y'know, she saved my life there, from another kid. Five years ago, I would've destroyed him, but she had to shoot him to save me. Fourteen years old. Because I was too slow, and too fucking deaf to hear him coming. I saw... I saw a man kill his own brother to save her, while I just watched. And today, I thought that dog was gonna tear her apart because it smelled something on her. And all I did was stand there. I couldn't... move. I couldn't think of anything to say, I just... I was so afraid. You think I can still handle things, but... But I'm not who I was. I'm weak. Lately, there are these moments where the fear comes up out of nowhere and my heart feels like it's stopped. And I have dreams, every night.
What kinda dreams?
I don't know. I can't remember. I just know that, when I wake up... I've lost something. I'm failing in my sleep! It's all I do. It's all I've ever done, is fail her! Again and again and again...
You want me to take her.
I'm just gonna get her killed, I know it. I know it. I have to leave her.
Joel...
I mean, it's why you took off on me, right? To make up for the things we did. Well, here's your chance to bring your kid into a better world. You're younger than me, you're still strong, you said yourself -- you'll come back. You have to take her! You can't tell anyone, not even Maria. Tommy, you're the only one I trust. If anyone else sees those bites on her, what's under her skin, they'll... they'll shoot her! It's the last thing I'll ever ask of you. I swear.
[A long beat as Tommy weighs it over.]
I'll take her out at dawn.
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