I'm loving the reactions to last chapter and I want the guesses to keep coimn'. Some of them genuinely make my day. I hadn't even considered the idea of Cassie being Infected but to whoever suggested it, it is a very interesting idea.
So keep enjoying the fic and I'll keep writing it. I would love to see if it can beat out it's predecessor *Cough* *Cough*
Enjoy!
Ellie was sobbing in a chair outside the room Jesse had been given. As soon as we got to, what was once a video store, the hospital the doctors had taken Jesse away and told us to wait. Ellie hasn't stopped crying. I tried comforting her but all she kept saying was how this was all her fault.
I was just staring at the wall, trying and failing to think of anything to say. I normally let the silences be and don't try and complicate things, but Ellie's mood wasn't going to change unless we got some news soon.
"Uh..." Ellie looked up at my voice. "I-I know this is tough but...but you know people get Infected Ellie, it's just how the world works."
Her head lowered and I prepared myself for whatever was to come. "I know," she mumbled sadly. "But...Jesse isn't just people Joel. He's important to me."
"I know, baby girl. But remember, you keep finding a reason to survive. You've been without Jesse before so remember that you can do it."
Ellie didn't say anything for a few moments, just stared at me. "Isn't Jesse important to you?"
"Well course he is. I'm just sayin'-"
"He's Tess's nephew. He's been in your life longer than I have so he must be just as important to you as I am, right?"
"I never said he wasn't Ellie," I said darkly.
I may not show it but I still feel something when people mention Tess. Tommy's learned not to, and Ellie never says a word around Jesse unless he instigates it. They don't think about how I feel about it, but I guess that's teens for ya.
"But you never treat us the same." Her eyes narrowed a little as she tried to get inside my head. "Is it cause you already know how to have a daughter but not a son? Cause I'm sure-"
"Ellie." She stopped nattering on, thankfully sensing my tone. "You're treading on-"
"Some mighty thin ice?" she finished with a raised eyebrow. I glared at her. "Sorry. I'm just on edge considering..." she trailed off and looked down at her hands.
"I know." I let out a sigh. "Look. Let's just keep this to ourselves until we're sure Jesse's gonna be okay. Then, and I mean only then, we will talk about this."
Thankfully the doc chose then to exit Jesse's room. He had a chart in his hands and was finishing reading it as he approached us. His troubled expression didn't sit right with me. "I'm afraid tha-"
Ellie was on her feet in an instant. "How is he? Is he okay? Is it Infec-"
"Ellie, stop. Let the man talk." She listened to me but kept wringing her fingers nervously. "Sorry. You were sayin'?"
The doc gave us a sorry smile. "I'm afraid that the reason for Jesse's current state is unknown."
"What?" Ellie asked.
"You're not makin' sense doc," I said, fighting to keep my voice calm.
"Well you have to understand, Joel." The doc said. "We're not a proper hospital yet. We have limited equipment while we wait for the foragers to bring in more. We can't get a proper look at his blood work without the proper equipment. But with the results we've got we're a little concerned."
Ellie gripped my arm. "What's that mean?" she asked desperately.
"Well the sample we collected is darker than blood should be and is clearly holding some kind of virus. His symptoms that we can determine include a high fever, chills, cold and clammy skin, nausea and vomiting and an elevated heart rate. Unfortunately we're unable to determine what kind of virus is causing them due to our lacking in equipment."
"Well that could just be a stomach bug," I snapped. How dare he think I was gonna lose one of the kids.
"Unfortunately not," the doc said, flipping some pages on the chart before showing it to me. "See, we were able to check for that but his temperature is too sever for it to be a simple bug."
I read and re-read the chart, hoping to whatever god that was listening that they had made a mistake.
Ellie's grip tightened on my arm to the point where she was cutting off the circulation. "Does...does that mean he's Infected?"
The doc gave her a sympathetic look. "We won't know until he turns."
Ellie let out a choked sob, burying her face into my arm. I lifted it and she collapsed into my side. I wrapped her up in my arm and let her cry her heart out against my shirt. She would let out little incoherencies of how it was her fault every few moments.
"What does this mean?" I asked as I rubbed her arm.
The doc sighed. "At this time, I suggest you prepare for the worst."
Ellie let out another hiccup and sobbed harder. I was finding it harder and harder to keep a straight face and keep her calm at the same time. "Ellie maybe you should go home while I talk to the doc," I suggested.
"I'm not leaving until I know Jesse's gonna be okay," she got out, standing up straighter. She was being brave. Braver than she needed to be.
"How long till we find out?" I asked, ready for the worst.
The doc didn't look very hopeful. "Two days at the most."
That was the final straw for Ellie. She turned tail and ran right out the doors. I tried calling out to her but it fell on death ears. Once the doors stopped swinging I turned back to the doc. He looked just as sorry but I knew he was just doin' his job.
"Thanks for all you've done," I mumbled tiredly. The reality was setting in and I could feel my hands starting to shake. "Keep me informed about any changes to his condition." I turned to follow Ellie. As I was about to push open the door I paused. I looked back at the doc. He was turning to go, but stopped once he noticed me.
"Is there anything else?"
I felt uncomfortable asking him for a favour, so I phrased it the only way I knew how before getting the hell out of that damn hospital. "Make sure you take care of my boy."
Little bit of a spin huh, Joel's POV. Let me know if you think I captured his surely essence enough.
So they still don't know what's wrong with Jesse. Keep your guesses coming and maybe I'll update by tomorrow...
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