[AN] If you completely broke down after reading the prologue, cheer up. This chapter isn't going to be nearly as emotional. Still, I would recommend having a bottle of whiskey and / or a basket of puppies this time [ you know who you are ;) ]

Shout out to authors Luciferine and CrimsonButterfly for helping me out with my writing. They have some of the best stories in this fandom, you're doing yourself a disservice by not checking out their work.

Also, thanks for giving me over 500 views in about 24 hours. It means a lot to me.

Just to be clear, Im starting this off moments before Joel meets Ellie.

"It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone." -Rose Kennedy

[Summer, 2033]

"Joel, gimme a hand with this." Marline said, leaning next to the door. That gunshot wound had really done a number on her.

Joel opened the door and Marline fell through. She was on her knees and one hand, with the other holding on to her bleeding side.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Joel said calmly as he reached down to help Marlene, "Come on now, get on up."

"Get the fuck away from her!" Joel turned around to see a young, red haired, green eyed, teenage girl walk towards him with a switchblade pointed at him.

"Hey, hey, hey -" Tess grabbed the girl's arm preventing her from moving any closer to Joel. She tried getting free, but Tess was much stronger then her.

"Let her go." Tess pushed the girl's arm away, and she backed off. Joel closed the door.

They must be in worse shape then I thought. Joel thought to himself. "You're recruitin' kind of young, aren't ya?" He said to Marlene, who was getting up at this point.

"She's not one of mine." That left Joel a bit confused, but he honestly didn't care very much.

"Oh shit." Joel saw the girl walk past him and reach for Marlene's arm, helping her towards the nearby counter. Marlene leaned against it.

"What happened?" The girl asked. Joel could sense the concern in her voice.

"Don't worry. This is fixable." She paused trying to position herself comfortably. "I got us help. But I can't come with you."

The girl paused slightly shook her head as she said, "We'll then I'm staying."

"Ellie, we won't get another shot at this." Marlene was breathing heavily.

So her name's Ellie... Then he realized what they where smuggling. "Hey-" he walked towards Marlene and pointed at Ellie, "We're smuggling her?"

"There's a crew of Fireflies that'll meet you at the capital building."

"That's not exactly close." Tess remarked.

"You're capable. You hand her off, come back, the weapons are yours. Double what Robert sold me."

"Speaking of which- where are they?"

"Back at our camp."

Tess looked back at Joel. The look on her face read I can't believe this. She looked back at Marlene and said, "We're not smuggling shit until I see them."

"You'll follow me. You can verify the weapons, I can get patched up." She pointed at Ellie, "But she's not crossing to that part of town."

"I want Joel to watch over her."

"I don't think that's the best idea." Joel responded pointing to the girl.

"Bullshit! I'm not going with him." Ellie pointed at Joel.

"Ellie..." Marlene wasn't giving her an option.

Ellie let out a breath and looked back at Marlene.

"How do you know them?" She asked.

"I was close with his brother Tommy. Said if I was ever in a jam, I could rely on him."

Joel turned to face Marlene. "Was that before or after he left your little militia group?"

"He left you too. He was a good man."

Tess walked up to him, "Look, just take her to the north tunnel and wait for me there."

"Jesus Christ." He couldn't believe that they were doing this.

"She's just cargo, Joel."

Joel gave up. He heard Ellie say, "Marlene..." Marlene cut her off. "No more talking. You'll be fine. Now go with him."

Joel looked over at Tess and said, "Don't take long." He couldn't believe they were agreeing to this.

He looked over the girl. Hopefully I only need to deal with her for a few hours. Then we get our weapons and go on with our lives. He said, "And you - stay close."

He walked out the door, and heard the girl follow him.

It had taken them a minute to get to the entrance to the north tunnel. When they were inside, she started asking questions.

"This tunnel. You use it to smuggle things?"

"Yep."

"Like illegal things?"

"Sometimes."

"You ever smuggle a kid before?"

"No. That's a first."

He couldn't help but be somewhat curious. How did this kid know the leader of a rebellion? "So what's the deal with you and Marlene, anyways?"

"I don't know. She's my friend, I guess."

"Your friend, huh? You're friends with the leaders of the fireflies. What're you, like twelve?"

"She knew my mom, and she's been looking after me." Her voice picked up as she added, "And I'm fourteen, not that that has anything to do with anything."

"So where are your parents?"

"Where are anyone's parents? They've been gone a long, long time."

"Hm. So instead of staying in school, you just decide to run off and join the Fireflies, is that it?"

"Look, I'm not supposed to tell you why you're smuggling me if that's what you're getting at."

Joel decided he wasn't going to bother with conversation this anymore, "You wanna know the best thing about my job? I don't gotta know why. Be honest, I could give two shits about what you're up to."

"Well great."

"Good."

They walked into the room that contained the passage to the north tunnel.

"This is it." Joel said as they walked in.

Joel closed the door behind them, and walked right up to the couch in the room. He fluffed one of the cushions, and lied down.

"What are you doing."

Joel's eyes were already closed. "Killing time."

"Well, what am I supposed to do?"

"I am sure you will figure that out."

He heard Ellie slowly walk past him, but she stopped.

"Your watch is broken."

A few seconds later, darkness enveloped Joel.

Joel saw his daughter yawn and sit up on the couch.

"Hey."

"Scoot."

"Fun day at work, huh?"

"What are you still doing up? It's late."

"Oh crud, what time is it?"

"It's way past your bedtime."

"But its still today."

"Honey, please not right now, I do not have the energy for this."

"Here." Joel saw the light of his life hand him a small white box.

"What's this?"

"Your birthday."

He opened up the box. There was a brand new watch inside.

"You kept complaining about your broken watch... So I figured, you know." She stopped and smiled as she watched Joel put on the watch. "You like it?" She asked him smiling.

"Honey, this is .. It's nice but I think its stuck, its not moving."

"Oh." Said Sarah, who started crying. "I'm broken too, aren't I?" Joel quickly turned to his daughter, and was horrified.

She had a bullet wound, just above her left hip. She was bleeding heavily.

"Sarah!" He reached over to Sarah, who had fallen off the couch, and was lying on the floor, crying and holding on to her wound.

"I'm going to pick you up, ok?" Sarah was still weeping.

"I know I hurts baby, common. Stay with me!" She let out a cry of pain.

"Sarah?" Joel looked and saw the light fade from Sarah's innocent blue eyes.

"No no no no please." Joel was in tears. She couldn't leave him. She kept him going. "Please don't do this to me, please God. Please."

"No."

Darkness surrounded Joel again.

[AN] I feel like an evil bastard for putting Joel through this. I hope you enjoy.