Ellie fights not to pull a face. Yeah, that's pretty much what Flint would say, wouldn't he? There's a reason Ellie hasn't exactly gone to the higher-ups with anything. Barring Tony, but. That was more of a friend to friend than a security thing.

Exactly, Abby says, like it's something they can measure.

"... she's probably gonna ask about my fingers," Ellie mutters. "At some point. And she knows who Joel is, just not."

Ellie pauses, looking away and slowly running her tongue over her bottom lip.

"What happened."

Deep breaths. "And she probably deserves to know what I did. To your people."

And to you, she wants to stay, but stops short of it.