She watches him, the quiet taper where words fail him or he changes his mind about what he was going to say. About what needs to be said.

She already loved him. She lets herself feel it, lets it bleed into her expression, something tender and visceral and achingly loyal.

"We're badasses, J. We're the best our communities have to offer. But we're both used to being the front line, and making snap decisions for ourselves because people are depending on us." And that was necessary. That was what it took to survive back home: the willingness to trust a group of strangers without anyone's permission, or to pick their way alone amongst walkers to get to a building that might have nothing or might have everything they need for the next month.

"We all need to reassess."