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No. He didn't even want to tell me about it. I had to pretty much pry it out of him when I was asking where he got his money from.

[Making drugs.]

I don't really get what exactly he does. You gonna let me in the loop, Joel?

[Well, alright then. Joel can deal with that. Good. Means Jesse was definitely telling the truth, then.]

I asked him that myself, 'bout what exactly it is he does. He said it was none of my business.

[Or, well, he asked where the hell Jesse was getting fifty pounds of meth from a week and Jesse had said it was none of his business, but Joel has had some time to think about it since that conversation, and he's pretty sure he's figured it out.

He pulls up at another red light and he glances over at Ellie.]

Listen, if he - or anyone - ever tries to slip you stuff or tries to talk you into takin' anything, you let me know. Got it?

[Ellie meets his gaze.]

You think he would?

[Drugs = bad, she's got that much. Doesn't matter what it is, she supposes, but it's not like she accepts much for anyone.]

[The light turns green and Joel looks away from Ellie and shifts the car into gear to pull off. No, he doesn't think Jesse would even dare, not after their last encounter. Still.]

He'd be mighty stupid to try.

... is this where I ask how the whole "hey, wanna work for me?" conversation went?

[Joel got money, obviously, but his curiosity about Jesse says a lot.]

Yeah, about that.

[He's looking over at Ellie again. He's got that stern fatherly look to him as he does so.]

In future, no inquiring on my behalf or tellin' anyone about our business.

[She figured that's about what he would say. Ellie nods. She gets it.]

... but you're glad I did just this once, right?

[He throws Ellie a sidelong glance.]

...Maybe.

[Okay, yeah. He's glad she did. Just this once, though.]

Don't do it again, though. We clear?

Crystal clear.

[Yeah, she knows she did good. Ellie tries to not look too smug.]

So what exactly are you going to be doing for him? Smuggling?

Yeah, somethin' like that.

[Slowing down, he indicates and pulls onto a ramp that leads onto a highway. Shifting the car into gear, he picks up speed to merge into the faster moving traffic. For an old car, it drives pretty damn well.]

Now, I know I don't gotta tell you but I'm gonna tell you, anyways: not one single word, to anyone, about this. It stays strictly between you and me. Alright?

I know, I know. Look, I only spilled to Jesse because I knew he'd help. He's got a soft spot for kids. No one else needs to know anything.

I mean, strictly between you and me. [He glances across at Ellie to make sure she knows just how serious he's being.] It's a risky job, and if I get caught...

[He turns his eyes back on the road. If he gets caught smuggling fifty pounds of meth, it won't end well for him. Just like back in the zone. It would have been the death penalty or near enough to it if he'd ever been caught smuggling contraband.]

If you get caught? [Ellie shifts in her seat. The seatbelt suddenly bothers her.] Jesse said what he did was illegal, but how illegal, exactly? What would happen to you if you got caught doing whatever it is he's having you do? And what is he having you do? Smuggling, yeah, but to where?

[Joel shifts his hands on the steering wheel. Damn it, he probably shouldn't have said anything. On the other hand, he wants Ellie to understand that it's damn important no one knows. He also doesn't want to worry her and so after a moment's thought, he decides to skim on the details.]

...It's very illegal. That's all you need to know.

But, uh, just to let you know, when I start, there're gonna be a few days every week where I won't be around.

[Again, he glances at her. This is the one thing he's not looking forward to: leaving Ellie on her own for a few days at a time.]

[She immediately begins to think that maybe she shouldn't have said anything to Jesse.]

That far, huh?

[Just thinking about leaving Ellie... It makes him nervous.]

...Yeah. Pennsylvania and back. By car. A lotta driving.

[Ellie at least sorta knows east coast geography. Pennsylvania and Florida. Not very close.]

Pretty sure I know the answer to the question I wanna ask.

[Which is whether she can tag along. The way Joel is talking about this, she's sure he'll say no.]

[Yeah, Joel knows what Ellie is going to ask. It pains him to think Ellie can't come with him. He wouldn't want to put Ellie at risk like that, however, even though he knows she can more than hold her own.

Hell, the job doesn't seem to him in any way near dangerous to the kind of work he did back in the zone, but it still comes with a high risk. He had to take her with him in order to get her to the Fireflies. This is something completely different.]

The answer's no, kiddo. Sorry.

[That sucks. Actually, it hurts more than it sucks, but Ellie just lets out a sigh. Just as she figured. There's no point in arguing, though. She knows what he'd say.]

No smuggling any more kids, okay? That's my one condition.

[Being alone again is going to really suck. She'll have to see if moving to their own place is worth it if she's stuck on her own every now and then.

Anyway, the kid comment is a joke.

Mostly.]

Don't worry. My kid smuggling days are long over.

[They're coming up to an exit that leads where Joel is driving them, and so he indicates and pulls over into the far lane to head for the exit ramp. He glances over at Ellie again, though, and then reaches a hand over and gives her leg an affectionate pat as he turns his attention back onto the road.]

Good. 'cause I think the limit is one.

[He doesn't seem too worried, so she won't freak out about this. She smiles at the pat and then remembers something. Technology, duh.]

It won't be that bad. We can call each other now. That's pretty cool.

[Joel just gives her leg a quick reassuring squeeze before bringing his hand back to the steering wheel. His way of silently agreeing that the limit is definitely one.]

You got it. When I'm out on the road, you can call me whenever you want. I'll give you a crash course on how to send text messages, too.

Think it'll be worth it?

[Might as well get his opinion. He probably wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't, but she wants to hear his thoughts.]

[Will it be worth it? Well, that remains to be seen. But at the very least, Ellie and himself will be able to live very comfortably. Looking after her, that's his main concern. He can set her up for life with the money he'll be earning. Maybe that will chase away some of the guilt: proving to her that he can give her a far better life than what she had back at home.]

Well. Guess we'll see. If I ever decide I want out, all I gotta do is say the word.

[As far as Ellie is concerned, he has nothing to prove.]

And how badly did you scare the shit out of Jesse?

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