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⊹₊⋆ "LADIES FIRST," SAID JOEL AS HE PLACED down the ladder against the wall. His words made Tess scoff. "Ladies, you must be thinking of someone else."
Joel chuckled, waiting for Finley to reach the top before following after them. "This way," said Tess, guiding them through the abandoned building. Joel wandered into one of the bedrooms, looking around for any resources they might need when something in the corner caught his eye.
"Finn," Joel yelled for his daugher, he waited a moment until she walked into the room, her eyes widening in excitement at what her father held. "Oh my God! You found another one!"
"They're harder to come by that you'd think," Joel replied, passing Finely the cassete tape. "We won't know who it is until you listen to it though, the name's been scratched off."
Finely's smile grew as she wrapped her arms around her dad before rushing to her mother to show her the new tape she had. Tess smiled, shaking her head at her antics. "Come on you two, down through here." Finley and Joel both followed Tess down a set of stairs which only led them into even more filth. "You think Roberts still got our guns?"
"For his sake, he better," replied Joel.
"Look, once we get our merchandise back, it should be easy to unload," added Tess.
"Speaking of," said Finely. "When's the next shipment due?" Joel looked at her strangely, not sure why she was asking such a question. "Mom said I could come along next time, she agrees that I should get more first hand experience if I want to come on jobs with you permanently."
The Texan turned to face the older women, disbelief covering hia face. "Seriously? She's not even fourteen yet," he spoke in a low tone so Finely didn't hear.
"Exactly our point, you can't keep her protected in a little bubble forever, Joel. We unfortunately won't be around forever, she needs to be able to protect herself properly, the best way to learn is first hand experience," whispered back Tess, glancing back and Finely who was slightly ahead. "Look, she blames herself for what happened to Caitlyn, she couldn't protect her so she thinks it's her fault. And really. Is it that bad for her to learn how to hold her own?"
Just as Joel was about to reply, Finely looked over her shoulder. "Hey! Come on slow pokes."
"Hold up," Tess spoke up, speeding up a little. "Spores."
Finely reached her arm back a little, grabbing her mask from her bag strap and placing it on her face, making sure it was tight enough so if she had to run or fight, it wouldn't fall off. She remembered speaking to an older women back at the QZ who was a marine before the outbreak happened, she told her stories about boot camp, the things she had to do as training.
