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He doesn't panic when she enters his room, recognizing those footsteps. Instead, Joel stares up at her with bleary eyes, and pulls back the blankets, patting the sheets beside him. If he notices the tears shining on her face, he doesn't mention it—something Ellie is grateful for (not that she would tell him that). His normally chatty girl stays silent except for her shaky breathing, crawling into his bed without a word.
Tomorrow, she'll awkwardly apologize for bothering him in the night, complaining that a fifteen-year-old shouldn't be climbing into her dad's bed because of a nightmare (and she'll go red when she calls him her father, which will make Joel's chest flutter with happiness as he teases her for flushing), but right now, she doesn't voice any of this. Right now, she just needs his comfort. And Joel is always happy to help his babygirl, even at three AM when he would rather be asleep.
Ellie curls up under the blankets with her back to Joel, facing the doorway. She shivers despite the clammy warmth of summer in Jackson, wrapping the blankets around herself—pulling them completely off Joel in the process as she envelops herself in the blankets. Tomorrow, Joel will make a comment as he gets her breakfast, calling her a blanket thief and then faking pain when she elbows him. But he doesn't really mind. He would sleep outside in the freezing cold if it helped Ellie feel better.
Despite his overwhelming fatigue, Joel stays awake until Ellie drifts back off to sleep, unbothered by nightmares with Joel beside her. And even though he starts to feel a little chilly without a blanket, Joel doesn't wrestle them away from Ellie, letting her sleep.