Nick

Ellie rubs her face to remove the traces of sleep. 

Damn it. She meant to stay awake with Sam, she really tried, but at some point in the night, her eyelids became too heavy with sleep and she couldn’t resist anymore. 

After getting used to the light she spots Sam sitting on the edge of the bed, his back turned to her. Her first instinct is to call his name or to make some sort of noise to draw his attention. Because deep down she’s afraid to go next to him. What if the transfusion didn’t work? What if the infection got worse and she’s still losing him?

But if that’s happening she needs to tell Henry so they can say their last goodbyes, so with shaky steps she approaches her new friend and places a hand on her shoulder, her movements slow as to not spook him. But as soon as her hand makes contact with his shoulder Sam’s head snaps in her direction and Ellie is about to back away when she sees that he’s smiling. He excitedly picks up the writing board from next to him, there’s something written in there with capital letters and multiple exclamation signs on the end of those two words.

IT WORKED!!!!!!!

Ellie doesn’t allow herself to believe it at first, not until she has seen it with her own eyes. She kneels in front of him, pulling the leg of his pants up to his knees she carefully unwraps yesterday’s bandages as she holds her breath. The wound is still there, angry red staring back at her, but the infection lines have stopped, it has not moved an inch.

Sam taps her shoulder getting her attention. 

Thank you. He signs.

Ellie replies by launching herself into a hug so fast and forcefully that they both stumble back to the bed with giggles so loud that they alert Joel and Henry who are in the other room to come check on them. Both men have confusion written all over their faces, but once they realize the kids are okay, relief washes upon their features and small smiles appear on their faces. 

As Sam and Ellie untangle themselves from each other, Henry tells his little brother that he needs to tell him something. A couple of signs later, Sam is launching himself into his brother’s arms. 

Joel offers Ellie a hand to help her stand up, she takes it but purposefully puts all her weight into it just to annoy the man and make it a little more difficult for him to pull her up. 

“What do you think he told him?” Ellie wonders in a whisper once she’s standing next to Joel.

“That they are coming to Wyoming with us.”

“I knew you’d change your mind!” Ellie jokingly punches him on the shoulder, prompting a shake of the man’s head but also a smile. 

Once they have picked the few possessions they have, and as they make their way out of the motel, Sam turns to Ellie.

Endure. He signs.