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WHEN IT BEGAN TO GET COLDER, Ellie was the first to get into her sleeping bag. While she flipped through her Will Livingston book, Josie silently watched Joel check that his rifle was loaded.

She looked away before he was finished, but when Joel looked at her, he thought she looked like he needed to say something. They both glanced at Ellie, only to find that she'd fallen asleep with the joke book in her hands.

"Everything okay?" He was cautious, not sure if she'd answer.

Josie nodded, not wanting to tell him the truth. That she was trying to work out where to go next, after they found Tommy and got Ellie wherever she needed to go.

"You sure?" She sat up and saw Joel looking at her. From his facial expression, Josie could tell he was concerned.

"I don't know where to go, after this is all done." She didn't know why she decided to tell him the truth.

"Josie, I—"

"I know you don't have feelings for me, this isn't about that. I'm going to see this through, make sure you find Tommy and that Ellie gets to wherever Marlene wanted her to go. I just don't know where I want to go after."

If Joel didn't know he fucked up before, he definitely knew now. In all the years Josie had been with him and Tess, never once had she spoken of going off on her own.

In fact she even joked multiple times that she'd never survive without them, and that's what was going through Joel's mind as she spoke. That, and the heartbroken expression on her face.

"The journey would suck, but my safest option is to try to sneak back in to the Boston QZ. If I'm not caught and I can get back there, that'll be the easiest place. I know the layout, what jobs to take and what to avoid, and I haven't spoken to them in a while but I know other people there."

"Please, Josie..."

She managed a small smile as she shook her head at Joel. "It's okay. I'm not upset about what happened at Bill and Frank's. You were just being honest.

Before he could try to talk to her again, Josie motioned towards Joel's rifle.

"Do you think we'll be okay to all sleep? If not, I can take first watch. You need more rest than me if you're driving first tomorrow."

"We'll be okay. You can go to sleep."

"Joel, Josie," they both startled a few minutes later as they turned and saw Ellie now laying on her side, looking at them. "Guys! I have a serious question."

"What?" Joel had just laid down in his sleeping bag and was clearly agitated.

"Why did the scarecrow get an award?"

"Oh Ellie—" Josie was relieved, having had no idea what she was about to ask.

Joel let out a loud sigh, "because he was outstanding in his field."

"You dick! Did you read this?"

"No. Go to sleep."

Josie waited a few minutes and hoped that Ellie was asleep when she spoke again. "Joel?"

When he immediately opened his eyes, Josie was relieved she hadn't woken him up.

"You don't think anyone will find us here, right?"

Without saying it, Joel knew them being ambushed was what brought that question on.

"No, no one will find us." He hoped he sounded more confident than he felt.

Josie nodded, satisfied with his answer. Despite whatever she now felt for him, and what he didn't feel for her, she still trusted him.

A couple of hours later, Josie and Ellie were still deep in their slumber. Joel, however, was wide awake. He didn't sleep well when they were out in the open.

He glanced at Josie, allowing himself just a moment to watch her. He hated that the only time she looked at peace was when she was sleeping. She deserved better than this.

Grabbing his rifle, Joel stood and walked to the edge of the little clearing they'd settled in. Every once in a while he'd turn in a slow circle to make sure no one was coming.

He wondered if Josie was secretly terrified they'd be attacked again. Involuntarily, his mind replays her screaming.

That was too close a call, he should've heard them coming. He has lived with that regret every day since, and he's determined to make sure it doesn't happen again, even if it means getting very little sleep.

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When Joel wakes up after managing another couple of hours asleep, he's surprised to see Josie already awake. She'd just made coffee, and had her back turned to him as she was quietly loading things back into the trunk.

This was it, thought Joel. Another opportunity to talk to Josie without Ellie listening.

If he gets up right now, tells the truth about his feelings and explains everything, Josie might not leave him.

Self doubt, mixed with anxiety, prevents Joel from getting up. He reminds himself that he's 56 and she's only 36, so what kind of life can he give her that would be better than being with someone her own age?

What if they did end up together and down the road, Josie grew to hate being with him? He didn't know if he'd be able to take that.

But he also knew he wouldn't be able to handle it if she left him.

Joel didn't get a chance to decide if now was a good time to talk to Josie or not, because when he turned again, he saw Ellie just waking up.

It took some convincing but Joel begrudgingly agreed that Josie could drive in the beginning.

"I could sit up front with Josie if you want to sleep in the back," Ellie offered.

Josie looked at Joel before looking back at Ellie.

"He won't sleep."

"I won't sleep."

Ellie burst out laughing. "Man I love it when you guys do that. Alright fine I'll get in the back."

Joel wasn't stupid. He knew that Josie speaking to him last night didn't mean they were anywhere near okay, even if she said she wasn't mad.

It's silent for the first 10 minutes or so, before Ellie leans forward in her seat. She doesn't like silence.

"Smells like burnt shit," she pointed to Joel's coffee.

Josie laughed, quickly covering it up with a cough as Joel looked at her.

"Just keep your eyes on the map," he muttered at the young girl.

Ellie tried to work out how far they had to go.

"Where in Wyoming did you say your brother was?"

"I didn't. Last contact I had with him, radio call came through close to Cody."

It took Ellie a minute to find it on the map. "Cody, ah that's deep up in there. But... what if he's not there?"

"Then... he'll be near a settlement. Probably close to another city, ain't too many out in Wyoming."

After correcting Ellie's pronunciation of Cheyenne, Joel said he felt rested enough to drive.

Although Josie knew that couldn't have been possible since she knew he barely slept and probably kept watch, and didn't actually rest while she drove, she simply nodded and pulled over.

Feeling tired but not wanting to sit in the back incase Joel needed directions faster than Ellie could give, Josie told her to stay in the back while she and Joel just switched places.

Ellie ended up asking a lot of questions about Tommy, and Josie leaned her head against the window as she listened to the stories she heard Joel tell a long time ago.

As she listened to him speak of Tommy joining Marlene's cause, Josie felt sad for Joel. She had been close with Pietro from the day they were born up until the day they got separated.

Josie thought her brother hung the moon, and she would've followed him anywhere. All those years ago, she wondered out loud how different things might've been if Pietro were there and part of their operation.

Joel's response had been that even if he wanted to join Marlene, he bet Josie would've been able to talk him into staying, which is what he wished happened with Tommy.

She agreed, although that wasn't the truth. In reality if Pietro were there and he wanted to go, Josie would've followed him. He had a way of convincing her if it was something he was passionate about.

"If you don't think there's hope for the world, why bother going on? You gotta try, right?"

"You haven't seen the world, so you don't know. You keep going for family. That's about it."

Ellie leaned forward again. "I'm not family."

"Nope. You're cargo but I made a promise to Tess, and she was like family."

"But Josie isn't family either."

Joel looked over at the woman next to him, and realized she'd fallen asleep at some point while he was talking about Tommy. Its only because she's asleep that he feels comfortable enough to answer.

"She's with me."

"That's it? That's all I get?"

Ellie was met with silence, but didn't let that stop her. "She's not family, but she's someone special to you. Different from Tess."

It wasn't a surprise when Joel kept quiet again, but Ellie noticed the way he gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.

When Josie wakes up again, they're driving on an abandoned highway. Seeing all the cars and trucks, even an ambulance piled up, it's scary.

"Stay put," Joel tells Ellie. He grabs his rifle from the back and walks around to inspect the area. He isn't at all surprised to hear a door open, and sees Josie getting out to walk around when he looks back.

It's another scenario that they're in sync without even speaking. Joel checks for stray infected or anyone waiting to attack them. Josie checks in and around the vehicles for any spare supplies or even if any tanks have gas.

Josie returns to the truck first, sadly empty handed. Joel follows less than a minute later.

"Wait, where are we?" Ellie hands the map to Joel.

"Kansas City."

"How far back do we have to go to get around this?"

Joel sighs, and Josie knows the answer isn't good even before she looks at the map.

"Screw it," Joel does a 3-point turn and begins going back the way they came. "We'll go around, take the next ramp and we're back on the road in a minute tops."

5 minutes later, they're still driving around.

"Where the fuck is the highway?"

Ellie tries her best, but gets confused. Josie understands since its only her second day in a car and they're going pretty fast, but she can see Joel getting frustrated.

Joel slams on the breaks and he and Ellie stare in silence at the QZ, or what's left of it. No FEDRA in sight.

"Joel," Josie speaks softly, but immediately catches his attention. "Something's not right. We need to leave now." Her breathing quickens as she looks around. She was looking in the opposite direction, but her gut still told her to get out of there.

"Help! Please help me!"

All 3 heads turn and stare as a man limps towards them.

"Joel—"

"I know. Ellie put your seatbelt back on NOW."

"Aren't we gonna help him?"

Josie shakes her head as Joel says "no".

At the last moment, the man realizes they aren't falling for the trap as he dives out of the way, but not before alerting the people he's with.

It feel like it happens in slow motion, but also goes by in a blur at the same time.

First, a brick dropped onto the front of the truck. Shattering the window but thankfully not cracking it all the way. Josie quickly loses hope when they drive over spikes, and start getting shot at.

Joel makes a sharp turn, and Josie realizes they're about to crash into an abandoned store.

She doesn't even have time to scream before everything goes dark.

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