As the two brothers emerged from the dam, it seemed like the end was already at hand. Despite suffering heavy casualties, the bandits had managed to set fire to the bunkhouse and the supply room, and countless settlers were dead. Tommy managed to find a survivor who informed him that Maria and the others were still unaccounted for.
"They're still in the bunkhouse! We have to get inside!"
Fighting with a fury neither man knew he possessed, they slaughtered a handful of bandits who hadn't been able to escape and broke into the still-burning bunkhouse, where they found survivors desperately trying to put out the flames.
Maria and Tess were chopping up a captured bandit with an axe, with blood on their faces and clothes to indicate that they had fought a long, pitched battle. Ellie was busy helping the damage control teams by filling up buckets with water.
Joel and Tommy helped her, and before long, the fires were out. Tommy and Maria left to round up their workers and begin making repairs to the settlement.
That left Joel, Tess, and Ellie alone. And Joel decided that it was time for him to confront the issue that had been bugging him for quite some time.
"Tess, you know how much I appreciate you, and what you've done for me."
"Cowboy, if you're trying to say you love me, then just spit it out already."
"Yeah, I love you. Ever since you pulled my ass out of that mess in Boston."
"Well, I couldn't just stand there and let a handsome fella like you just slip through my fingers, now could I?"
"Ugh, just get a room already!"
Ellie crawled out from her hiding place. Just then, Tommy returned.
"Seems I need to get you folks out of here. Follow me."
On horseback, the group took a long trek that ended over at sunset, at the edge of a cliff.
Ahead of them was a large, sprawling college campus, with wire and barricades over the front gates and walls.
"Welcome, parents and kids, to the University of Eastern Colorado.", Tommy did in his best promoter drawl. "If you're looking for Fireflies, you'll find them in the science center. Course, it's been years, but maybe you'll get lucky."
Joel helped Tess and Ellie down. "Thanks, Tommy. Maybe one day you two will patch things up?"
"Maybe, Ellie. I've got to think things over. See if there's any love left in my heart for this man. For now, try not to die."