Tess was startled. That, if anything, spoke to the state of her nerves right now: the movement at the door prompted her to pivot and train her gun on Joel. A heartbeat later at the doctor just in case she needed to emphasize that she was fucking busy here with a hostage. And then, because it was goddamn Joel, she lowered the damn gun entirely.

Not away, though.

"God damnit, Joel," she hissed, "I am handling this."

If he could be angry, she could too.