[He's already pissed at himself for the way that wording came out. For distancing himself from the responsibility with a vague statement, for separating the situation from Tess like the two weren't intractably linked. Just so he can keep hold of some stupid notion of his own humanity and pretend that he wasn't going to have to kill Tess. He takes a deep breath. It shudders in and shudders out. Everything hurts.
Don't use 'it', you fucking asshole. She's your partner. You take care of your partner. Don't you dare let yourself off the hook.
He thinks of Henry, all of a sudden. The memory flits in and out while he grasps in the dark for stability. The grip he has on Tess' wrist is so tight it's going to leave marks, he thinks. Any minute now she might make a run for it. He has to keep it together and convince her that this was the right way. He's grateful to Ellie for the support, as always.]
The kid's right, Tess. Look, I don't know everything about this place but there's something, something really weird going on here. [It almost sounds like someone else is speaking, not him. Everything is so far away. There was no cure for a bite and he'd made sure there never would be.] And I can take care of myself, you and this little girl if I have to. You know I can.
I can handle the worst outcome, so it can't hurt to wait. It can't hurt to at least wait.
[He shoots Ellie a look that has a hint of helplessness in it, but he's keeping it together. He's trying to think: she's been here the longest. Maybe she knew what their best option was.]
no subject
Don't use 'it', you fucking asshole. She's your partner. You take care of your partner. Don't you dare let yourself off the hook.
He thinks of Henry, all of a sudden. The memory flits in and out while he grasps in the dark for stability. The grip he has on Tess' wrist is so tight it's going to leave marks, he thinks. Any minute now she might make a run for it. He has to keep it together and convince her that this was the right way. He's grateful to Ellie for the support, as always.]
The kid's right, Tess. Look, I don't know everything about this place but there's something, something really weird going on here. [It almost sounds like someone else is speaking, not him. Everything is so far away. There was no cure for a bite and he'd made sure there never would be.] And I can take care of myself, you and this little girl if I have to. You know I can.
I can handle the worst outcome, so it can't hurt to wait. It can't hurt to at least wait.
[He shoots Ellie a look that has a hint of helplessness in it, but he's keeping it together. He's trying to think: she's been here the longest. Maybe she knew what their best option was.]