That makes Ellie smile a little. Always good to hear him say things he wants, his own thoughts, even if Ellie's really fucking conflicted about the whole thing and likely will be for the rest of her life.

"The good news is that I'm pretty good at staying alive, and with the surgeon dead, it's not happening, so."

And her deal is for Joel, not a cure, and not the hands that might be able to make one after cutting into her brain.