They had lost a lot of men during the attack and dinner was deadly quiet, save for the sobbing of the women who had lost husbands, brothers, sons and fathers tonight. Melanie stood quietly by the door with her arm bandaged and watched the grieving, eyes softening, she turned away and ran a hand through her hair.

A lot of people were questioning if Joel and Ellie's arrival as the cause for the attack.

She didn't think that was the case, the power plant would be a tempting destination to anyone walking by – the thought of having electricity again was what made Maria and Tommy want to settle here after all. The only question buzzing around in Melanie's mind was why Joel was risking everything for a little girl. She had seen how protective he was over her.

Several thoughts had crossed her mind and she disliked each and every one of them.

Feeling the need for a drink, she walked out of the dining area and headed to Tommy's office, knowing he had a bottle of whiskey in there, opening the door, she was surprised to see him in there. Frowning as he thought and a glass in his hand.

"Looks like we were thinkin' the same thing," he said, grabbing the bottle and pouring her a glass, "we lost a lot of good men today…we'll need to bury them tomorrow – give them a good send-off."

Melanie nodded and sipped the whiskey, relishing in the burning feeling down her throat that reminded her she was alive. "I'm guessing that isn't the only reason that you're in here," she said slowly, sitting down opposite him, "what's going on, Tommy?"

"How long we known each other?"

"Gotta be…oh…about twenty-two or twenty-three years," she made a face as she took a bigger drink "damn, that makes me feel old."

A flicker of a smile crossed his face but he then grew serious again, "And in that time…do you think I made good decisions?"

"What is this about?"

"Just…please answer the question."

Melanie considered him for a moment before looking down and swirling her drink in the glass, "All I know is that if it wasn't you making the decisions…I wouldn't be here right now," she glanced up and seen him looking conflicted "so I trust your judgement, Tommy. Always have and probably always will.."

"Thanks...it's good to know that," he leaned back in his chair and raised an eyebrow, "how you feelin' about Joel being here? With that girl?"

Shifting in her seat, Melanie hoped her expression was neutral, "It's good to know he's alive…I'll say that much."

"No lingering feelings?"

Frowning at him, Melanie finished her drink "Don't start this shit, Tommy…I do not need this right now."

"Still got it bad, huh?" Tommy shook his head slowly, "I was afraid of that."

"Shut. Up!"

Tommy's eyes were serious, "He was asking about you…asking if you've…been with anyone, I think Esther told him about you and Toby…"

"And…and what did you say?" Melanie cringed a little.

"Said it was a onetime thing and you didn't see him like that," he hesitated before sighing, "But I did tell him about that night that you and me…"

Melanie averted her eyes from Tommy, they hadn't spoken about that night since it happened, "You didn't have to do that…it was a long time ago, we were both angry and upset…it didn't mean nothin'-"

"At the time it meant somethin'…" Tommy said honestly, then chuckled at her expression, "don't worry, I ain't in love with you Mel..." he poured himself another drink, "I only told him to hurt him…I ain't proud of it."

Crossing her legs, she looked at Tommy confused, "You two arguing or something?"

"We were…he wants me to take the girl off of his hands."

"And that's what's got you thinking so hard?" Melanie shook her head, "Jesus, Tommy. It's not like we don't have the room. We could take Ellie in no problem."

Sighing, Tommy rubbed his face "Joel wants me to take her to the Fireflies…" he looked at her seriously "she's the cure."

"W-what?" Melanie's eyes widened at his words "She's…she's the cure?"

"According to Joel, she's got a bite mark that's months old and has breathed in plenty of spores without changing," Tommy said slowly, "and I don't think he's lying."

Melanie was quiet as she tried to come to terms that the cure to mankind was sitting in a room eating porridge and telling bad puns. "So…so what are you going to do?" she asked him, "Have you told Maria?"

"Not yet."

Shaking her head, Melanie looked at him sadly, "You have to talk this over with her Tommy…she deserves to know."

"I know, I know…it's just the thought of leaving her…you…and everyone," he downed the rest of his drink and sat up straight in the chair "it's a hell of a long way to the base. You know that, we barely got back alive and that was without a little girl to look after."

Melanie tried not to think about that dark time, "Get some sleep," she said giving him a weak smile, "you aren't gonna come to a decision tonight and it's been a hell of a day."

"You're right…as always," Tommy stood up and walked behind her out of the office, "if I decide to go…I need you to help Maria run this place," he said seriously "and…and look out for her."

A thought crossed her mind and she looked up at him, "I'll see you in the morning," she said and smiled "you'll make the right choice, I know you will."

"Here's hoping," Tommy squeezed her arm before passing her, "better hit the hay, be morning before I know it."

She watched him go down the dimly lit hallway and Melanie sighed, rubbing her eyes tiredly. She couldn't go back into the dining room, not with all the tension and mourning, it was too fucking depressing and she had had enough of that for a lifetime.

Walking up the stairs, she headed for the roof and seen a bandaged up Earl keeping watch, "How long you been up here?" she asked him as he turned to wave at her.

"Too fuckin' long," the older man said wincing as he moved his leg, "but someone had to do it."

Rolling her eyes, she held her hand out for the gun, "Come on, you're in worse shape than me. I'll take over."

"Really?"

"Truly."

Earl grinned before he handed her the gun and slowly got to his feet, "You're an angel, Melanie," he said heading down the stairs, "I hope you know that."

"Yeah…so I've been told," she whispered and sat down on the chair and watched the woods like a hawk.

She had been concentrating so hard on keeping watch that she didn't hear someone come up behind her and jumped violently when there was a hand suddenly on her shoulder, "Shit, sorry…I thought you heard me."

"Joel…what are you doing still up," Melanie glanced behind him, "Where's Ellie?"

"Maria found her somewhere to bunk," Joel said sitting down in the other chair "I couldn't sleep so she asked me to keep watch with Earl."

Feeling slightly uncomfortable at being so near to him, Melanie kept her eyes on the woods "I've got it covered…you don't have to stay."

"It's fine…I wanna help."

The silence was tense between them and Melanie desperately thought of something to say, "So…how've you been?" Joel finally asked, "Been a long time since I've seen you…we didn't exactly say goodbye in the best way."

"You're a fucking monster now Joel! I don't even know who you are anymore!"

"I'm the one fucking keeping us alive! If Tess and I didn't do these shitty jobs then-"

"Do not mention her fucking name to me!"

Melanie tried to block out the bad memories "I'm…I'm okay," she said softly "it's a good thing Maria and Tommy have going here."

"I'm glad…you both deserve to be happy," Joel's tone was dry and Melanie glanced over and seen his jaw tighten.

"We're not together, Joel…" she said quietly "it was one night and that's all. He's with Maria and I'm…well, I'm just happy to be alive."

His eyes flickered to her before looking down at his hands, "I can't say it didn't…hurt hearing about you two," he said then snorted "but who the hell am I to judge…it's not like we were together when it happened. I have no right to say anything."

A few more minutes of silence passed before Melanie turned to him, "I'm surprised that Tess isn't here with you," she said, then noticed him looking away, "you two were practically joined at the hip."

"Still jealous of her, I see."

Melanie felt herself bristle at his words, "It wasn't jealousy, I hated how she changed you," she tried to bite her tongue but the words still came "and how happily you went along with it."

"Well, you'll be happy to know she's dead then," Joel snapped bitterly, "does that make you feel better?"

Stunned, she sighed and felt like a massive bitch "…I'm-I'm sorry Joel-"

"She got bit…and got gunned down by the military while Ellie and I got out," Joel exhaled heavily "I'm sorry I snapped…I just don't like talking about it."

Biting her lip, Melanie put her hand on top of his and squeezed it gently "I'm sorry…I know you two were close."

"Thanks."

She removed her hand quickly and gripped the gun hard with both hands, "So, what's with the girl?" she asked curiously, "Must be a good reason for you to leave the city…" You never left for me she mentally added.

Joel seemed to guess what she was thinking and gave her a serious look, "Ellie's the cure…don't ask me how but…but she is," he ran a hand through his greying hair, "I made a promise to Tess I'd get her to the Fireflies and I don't plan on breaking that promise."

"Was she born with it?" Joel frowned at her words, "Or did you notice this when she got a bit older?"

"How the hell would I know, I only met her a few months ago."

Melanie's eyes widened "So you're not…" she didn't finish her sentence but it didn't matter, Joel's expression softened.

"Ellie ain't my daughter, Melanie."

Feeling like a total fool, Melanie avoided his gaze "You can understand why I thought that," she said defensively "she's fourteen, I haven't seen you in nearly twenty years…how was I to know you didn't move on."

"Be kinda hard to move on," he said softly "after Sarah…and you…I wasn't planning on getting close to anyone anytime soon."

Melanie slowly lifted her gaze and met his eyes, "I guess it would be," she said quietly "for what it's worth Joel…I may have been with other men," she paused before sighing "but it was out of loneliness…it didn't mean anything to me."

Joel's eyes softened as he leaned towards her slightly "…Mel…" he whispered but a look crossed his face and he stood up suddenly, the moment was gone "I'm gonna turn in…got a long journey tomorrow, either way…"

Feeling a lump in her throat, Melanie nodded "Night Joel…"

"Night."