Popping Benjamin on Joel's lap he smiled at his favorite nephew. His only nephew, but still, his favorite. Joel tickled his side, the boy giggling and kicking his feet as he showed him thr map of Jackson.

"See this? That’s the wall. And what’s past it?" Joel asked, his southern drawl slipping in like a familiar tune. Five years in Jackson had softened him in ways he hadn’t expected—brought the accent back, loosened the weight in his chest.

"Monsters!" Ben declared, wide-eyed. Joel chuckled, pulling him in for a tight hug before the little whirlwind darted off to join Tommy and Maria outside.

Leaning back in his chair Joel looked down at the work he had laid out, houses to fix, plumbing to dig up. And God damn Maria was right, that damn window was draftier by the second, the winter chill seeping under the 'sill and chilling Joel to the bone. 'Need more caulking for bloody sure.' Joel scribbled down on his mounting to-do list. He prioritized things for the folks coming in, first. Even if he grumbled, he saw the scared families rolling into Jackson, the children's eyes wide, like they had seen things no child should ever have to see.

Pulling his glasses off, Joel groaned and rubbed his tired eyes. It had been such a long day and it would be even longer when he got home and felt the colder chill off Ellie, her perpetual 'Yeah whatever' attitude seemed to make Joel's soul ache. It was just a phase. She was 19, his whatever, and she just.. needed space or somethin'.

He was about to stand when the door creaked open.

A woman stood there, face drawn and scratched, her coat barely hanging on her. Wide, tired eyes blinked against the soft flicker of his desk lamp.

"Hi… I’m looking for someone called Joe?"

Joel stilled. That voice—soft, thin as paper—broke something in him.

"Joel. You found him, sweetheart. You okay?"

He didn’t wait. The old denim jacket slung over his chair was around her shoulders in seconds. Her body shivered like she hadn’t felt warmth in years.