There's a light, and footsteps, and Ted shrinks back a little, expecting another bucket, for the cold water to crash into him, and he's not entirely convinced he's going to make it through the next beating.

It doesn't come, though. He takes a moment to focus, and thinks he might be hallucinating.

Except it's not going away, not changing.

"Joan?"

His voice is raspy and weak, and he's confused to see her here, but somehow not that surprised.