AN: Thank you again everyone for the reviews and great feedback! It means a lot to me and I am glad people are enjoying this.
It had been a full month since Ellie fell from the ladder, hurting her ankle. She was relatively immobile for the first few weeks following her accident and required Joel's assistance to get around. He wanted her to stay home and rest while he catered to the construction duties, but she insisted on coming along. Her desire to be strong, and feel useful, remained an ever constant. Moreover, the darkest depths of her mind knew that Michelle was responsible for her injury, and she wasn't going to let that woman pull her and Joel apart.
Joel would give her piggy back rides around Jackson, to wherever they needed to go, and twice a week they would venture back to the lake and go for a swim at the end of the day. Eventually, Ellie's ankle fully healed and she was able to walk, but the piggy back rides didn't cease. Despite her regained mobility, Joel would still prop her up on his back and carry her to the lake, like he did the very first time they went there. Neither of them ever questioned the action, or mentioned anything about it later. At this point, him giving her a familial and affectionate ride to the lake was customary and it would feel strange if he suddenly stopped.
Tommy and Maria saw them frequently, and the pair of them would alternate when it came to hosting dinner. Ellie, still very guarded, was finally allowing Tommy and Maria to get close, accepting them as allies. Eventually, she barely began considering them family, which, in the end, is what they were. During the weeks of Ellie's recovery, Michelle started to make more appearances at their home. Joel finally gave in and brought her inside, giving her the tour of the place and the three of them even spent a few evenings together, although Ellie was always quiet and reserved during those moments. Joel sensed Michelle continuing her aggressive play for him, but always kept her at a distance, something he knew bothered her. She was persistent though, and eventually he started to view her as an acquaintance, but nothing more. However, the woman still had no interest in Ellie and was always coldly dismissive. When Joel would get up to use the bathroom, leaving the two of them alone, she wouldn't even acknowledge Ellie's presence. It was as if Michelle was trying to convince herself that Ellie wasn't real, and that she would eventually just disappear.
Sean also came by more often. It took a few days, though, after his run-in with Joel until he came back, something Joel was quietly pleased with himself over. Sean and Ellie would talk and hang out in the backyard, on the porch, or in the living room, always within eyesight of him. There were multiple times when Sean suggested going somewhere else, with just Ellie, but she wasn't interested in leaving her home without her father. Occasionally, he would catch Sean ogling Ellie in ways that clearly exposed the thoughts that lurked in the boy's head, and each time he fell witness to Sean's lustful stare, he would feel an intense sense of protection rise from within. However, he was always satisfied to find that Ellie never once looked at Sean in the same way. As far as he was concerned, his little girl had zero interest, and each time he watched her keep Sean at a distance he smirked with relief. Still, there was something that irritated Joel about the boy. At times he would get the feeling Sean was trying to pull Ellie away from him, something that only perpetuated his distrust. He was becoming Ellie's friend though, and Joel didn't want to impede their budding relationship.
Ellie had, for the most part, accepted the fact that Joel lied to her. If he hadn't brought it up by now, she thought he never would. She locked it away deep in the back of her mind, but didn't necessarily throw away the key. She still had it, but she buried it in a dark, dark place. A place, that if she mentally ventured to, scared her off and thus guarded the scab that covered those deep, emotional wounds that were carved into her from the past year. The frequency of the moments in which she would dwell on the topic became less and less, and eventually she stopped thinking about it altogether. She merely tried to accept that bump in their relationship as exactly that, a bump in the road and nothing more. After all, he became, and was, everything she wanted. Which was a loving father and one that would never abandon her.
It was early in the evening, and the two of them were eating dinner with Tommy and Maria as they prepped themselves for their guard tower shift for the night. Maria cooked them a satiating meal to keep their bellies full for the duration of their shift. Joel and Tommy were just finishing their food while Maria and Ellie were clearing the table.
"Oh - Ellie you don't have to do that," Maria kindly said, insisting Ellie sit back down and relax.
"No - it's fine. Let me help - thanks for the food - it was awesome," Ellie replied with a smile.
Joel paused before taking his last bite and looked back at Ellie, pleased with her improved manners. In only a few short months, she had stopped cussing at the table, something which he was proudly fond of. He was trying so hard to raise his little girl right, and moments that revealed he just might be succeeding made him happy. He took his last bite then looked at Tommy.
"Alright - keep your radio on ya. Maria and I always sleep with ours on the nightstand... anything happens - you turn that thing to channel four and holler ya hear?" Tommy said.
"You got it," Joel responded.
Ellie walked up behind him and rested her chin on his shoulder. He smiled from the contact, reached his hand back and messed with her hair.
"I reckon I'll be fine - got this little bugger here to protect me," he said with a wink.
Ellie smiled and beamed with pride at Joel's response. He turned his head to speak to her.
"You bring a couple of your comics? Could get borin' out there."
"Yep - sure did."
"Good - well let's get goin' then."
The two of them grabbed their things and headed for the door, again thanking Tommy and Maria for the kind hospitality. Just before closing it behind them, Tommy spoke once more.
"Remember - anything happens at all, you call us alright?"
"Sure thing - I promise."
A half-moon moon vibrantly glowed in the midnight sky. A few, thin clouds would occasionally gust over it, causing the moonlight to fade in and out. It was oddly cold for a late June night and Ellie regretted not bringing her sweater, as she only wore a t-shirt over a thermal. Joel could tell she was cold, and gave her his flannel to keep her warm. Underneath it, he also only wore a t-shirt, but he didn't mind the lower temperature as much as she did. She still hated it.
She sat against the wall of the guard tower with her knees to her chest, reading her comic book while wrapped in Joel's flannel. It was much too big on her, but she didn't care. It kept her warm, and its scent reminded her of him. Joel, with his rifle slung over his shoulder, leaned against one of the poles that reached to the roof of the tower and gazed beyond the fence of the compound. At first, he diligently kept his eyes peeled, darting his attention to anything that made the slightest sound. But as the hours went by, he could feel himself getting tired and lazy, and at this point he simply watched for anything blatantly out of the ordinary. He sighed, then looked down at Ellie.
"Bored yet?"
"Heh - yeah pretty much," she said, looking up at him.
"Hey - c'mere - wanna show ya somethin'," Joel said, waving his hand to beckon her over.
"Umm - okay," She set her book down, rose to her feet then readjusted the flannel so it tightly wrapped around her. She shuffled her way over to him and leaned onto the railing.
"See where I'm pointin' - you see those stars?" he asked.
"Yeah I guess."
"You ever learn about stars and the constellations an' all that?"
"Tssht - nope."
"Yeah... I didn't think so. Well anyway, this one here - it's called the Little Dipper. Cause it's supposed to look like a uhh... damn... can't think of the word for it..." he said, scratching his beard.
"A ladle?" she said, peering at what Joel was pointing to.
"Yes - that's it. Exactly. See - don't it kinda look like that?"
Ellie squinted her eyes, blurred her vision and tried to make out the shape he was referring to.
"Oh yeah - I can kinda see it now." She let out a small laugh. "That's cool actually. Show me another," she demanded as her curiosity perked up.
"Hmm... ah-hah - this one here is called Taurus."
"Okay - I see it but... what the hell is a Taurus?"
Joel snickered. "It's like a uhh... ya know - a bull."
"As in bull shit? Like the animal?" she responded.
A boisterous laugh escaped Joel's lungs in reaction to Ellie's blunt response. "That's - that's exactly right, yes... like bull shit - from the animal."
"Alright - lemme see here," she squinted her eyes once again, trying to make out the shape of a bull from the constellation.
"I don't see it - I dunno, I'd say you're reaching on that one," she said with an airy laugh.
"Hmm, alright... how about..." Joel mumbled as he searched the sky for one with a more recognizable shape. Then, all of a sudden, he could faintly hear noises coming from the forest, pulling his attention away from the night sky.
"Oh! What about this one over - " Ellie started to speak, but was interrupted by a shush from Joel, "shh! Quiet."
Ellie pulled herself off the railing, and perked her ears up, straining to hear what he was referring to.
"What - what is it?"
"You hear that?"
"No - I don't hear... oh wait. Yeah - what is that?"
"I ain't sure but it sounds like an engine - lots of 'em actually."
Suddenly, a blinding array of headlights appeared over the crest of the hill beyond the fence. Multiple trucks rolled and crunched their way through the shrubbery as they quickly approached the perimeter of the compound.
"Shit! Ellie get down - get down!" Joel yelled through a whisper.
She knelt behind the wall and felt Joel put his hand against it above her head. His protective instincts kicked in and he leaned in close to her, in an attempt to keep her safe. It was a familiar position they were in, Ellie kneeling to the ground, in between Joel and an object. Feeling the touch of her father's breath against her neck and the close, protective comfort caused a flurry of memories from their horrifying journey to shoot through her mind. Her adrenaline level spiked, as she knew the trucks meant danger. Neither of them had to fight for survival in months, and feeling this way again was odd. Yet, it felt entirely too normal, and they both immediately reverted to survivalist mode, a mode that in the past kept them alive through the harshest of conditions.
"The radio - give it here," Joel whispered.
Ellie quickly reached over, grabbed the radio and turned it to channel four.
"Tommy!" Joel yelled into it.
There was no answer.
"Goddammit - Tommy pick up."
The radio crackled from the other end, and Tommy's voice echoed through the speaker.
"Joel - I'm here. What is it?"
"We got problems - can't tell what yet - just... just get you and your boys out here!"
"Shit - alright, on our way - tell me what ya see."
They could hear Maria speaking in the background.
"Tommy - Tommy! What is it!? What's going on!?"
"I dunno... somethin' - somethin's happenin'. Grab your shit and lets go."
Joel and Ellie looked each other in the eyes, realizing the situation was no dream. It was real, and another all too familiar struggle for life was about to take place. Tommy's voice pulled them out of their gaze.
"Joel! Whadd'ya see - talk to me."
They could hear the sound of car doors slamming shut and the voices of men. However, one truck revved its engine, dispersing a roar through the woods and the brisk, nighttime air. Joel slightly lifted his head above the edge to investigate the scene.
"Trucks - lots of trucks. I'm countin' maybe - ten, fifteen - maybe twenty men - I dunno too god damn many - oh shit!"
The level of panic in Tommy's voice increased on the other end. "What!? The hell's goin' over there?"
"Their gonna - ahhh shit! Their gonna run a truck through the damn wall! Just get here!" Joel exclaimed through the radio. He moved it to his offhand, grabbed his rifle then pulled the lever back, readying the weapon for fire. He looked to Ellie and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You remember how to do this?"
She already wielded her pistol, loaded and ready, and simply nodded as a nervous look engulfed her face. Killing to survive was something she did many times before, but the act still made her nervous and she never really got used to it. She was, after all, still just a kid.
"Okay - you stay close to me alright?" Joel said, as a paternal look washed over his eyes.
"Yeah - I'm right here."
Suddenly, they heard the engine roar as the truck slammed into the wall. The force of the impact caused the guard tower to sway in one direction, knocking them on their backs in the process.
"Oh fuck! What the - what the hell are they doing!?" Ellie shouted.
"Their tryin' to break' in - c'mon we gotta move! Move, move!" Joel yelled, motioning her to run down the steps.
They descended from the tower as fast as they could, then scanned their surroundings for a place to take cover.
"Joel! Look - there!" Ellie shouted, pointing to a large dumpster.
"Go! Go!" he yelled.
They were at a full sprint for the dumpster that sat no more than seventy feet from the tower. Every few seconds they would hear the crunching and grinding of metal as the truck slammed into the wall again and again. They knelt behind their cover and frantically looked down the road, desperate to see Tommy and his militia approaching in order to provide support.
"Ahhh god dammit! Tommy where are you c'mon," Joel said, gritting his teeth.
The wall was about to come down, time was of the essence and he had to think fast. The next slam of the truck would pummel it to the ground and if he and Ellie gave no resistance, the small army of hunters or bandits, he wasn't sure which, would come pouring into the compound. He looked at her, rapidly sifting through his thoughts trying to determine the best course of action.
"Shit ahh - you got a piece of cloth with ya? An old shirt?" he asked in a panic.
"No - nothing... oh wait - use this!" Ellie lifted up and stretched a wide piece of his flannel, imploring him to rip off a large chunk.
"Good thinkin'," Joel said as he reached over and tore an entire side of the shirt in two.
Then it happened, the last crunch of the truck ramming into the wall. They could hear the screeching of metal as it twisted and came crashing to the ground.
Joel pulled out a bottle of whiskey that he placed in his pack the week before, stuck the torn shirt inside and pulled out his lighter. He set the tip of the shirt aflame, then hurled the Molotov towards the gaping hole in the wall. Just as five men ran through the opening, the bomb exploded upon impact, causing their bodies to burst into flames. Joel and Ellie could hear their horrifying screams as their skin and hair sizzled away into the air. The smell was awful, and the two of them couldn't believe they actually became immune to its pungent scent during their travels. Burning human flesh had one of the most distinct, recognizable smells, and its horrid stench immediately brought back a plethora of terrifying memories.
Ellie looked back and saw Tommy with Maria and a small group of men storming their way down the road towards them.
"It's Tommy!" she said, tapping him on the shoulder.
Once they saw the toppled piece of wall and the burning bodies along with the array of headlights, Tommy and Maria immediately knew what was happening. They hastily ran to the side of a house for cover, while the rest of the militia spread out, finding cover of their own.
"Joel! How many!" Tommy yelled from across the street.
"I can't tell - gotta be more than twenty! Like I said, too god damn many!"
Tommy leaned over to Maria. "He's got that right," he said, muttering the words under his breath.
More bandits and hunters rushed into the compound. Bullets began flying back and forth between the two forces and Joel could hear multiple pings against the side of the steel dumpster while he and Ellie took cover. One of Tommy's men ran up and knelt beside them. His hands were shaking and he could barely hold his rifle steady.
A lapse occurred in the continuous sound of bullets slamming into the dumpster, causing Joel to rise to his feet. He peered down his scope and quickly brought a bandit in sight. He pulled the trigger, and within moments the content's of the man's head exploded onto the bumper of the truck. Ellie leaned around the corner and fired two rounds from her pistol into the chest of the closest bandit she could see. The two of them then immediately retreated back down for cover, but the nervous solider next to them tried to follow suit. However, he was too late, he missed his opportunity, and the familiar sound of bullets which always vehemently reminded Joel and Ellie to stay hidden resumed once again. The man stood up and before he could pull the trigger, multiple rounds pierced into his chest, sending him to the ground right at Ellie's feet.
"Oh shit! Oh shit!" Ellie clamored in reaction.
"Ellie! Take his rifle!" Joel shouted.
She obeyed and quickly reached for his gun then loaded a bullet into the chamber. Joel looked over at Tommy and Maria, the two of them taking turns firing around the corner then hiding behind their cover. Suddenly, Joel could see the tip of a rifle appear behind the far wall opposite of his brother.
"Tommy! On you're left!" Joel shouted.
Maria, without thinking, immediately reacted to his warning. She turned to her left and fired her rifle at a bandit that had just stepped around the corner, saving their lives in the process.
Joel peaked his head up and saw a nail bomb get flung into the air by one of the bandits. He watched it land and roll until it was about fifteen feet away from the dumpster. In the corner of his eye, he noticed Ellie lean around the corner at the same time to take her next shot.
"No! No!" he screamed out, dropping his rifle to the ground.
He dove forward, wrapped his arms around Ellie and yanked her backwards just as the bomb exploded, sending shrapnel in every direction. The two of them could hear the shards of metal piercing into the side of the dumpster as Joel clutched her close to his chest. She quickly stared up at him with a look of shock across her face, tightly gripping his sleeves as she sat in his embrace. Even now, during this life or death situation, she felt safe in his arms. But she couldn't stay there, they both had to keep fighting.
"Oh shit - oh fuck - oh fuck," she said in a panic.
"Honey! You okay!?" Joel shouted.
"Yeah - yeah I'm alright!" she replied with a nod.
Joel heaved a sigh of relief then loosened his engulfing grasp around his daughter. He gave her a nod, acknowledging the fact that they needed to keep fighting, then reached for his rifle.
The epic firefight continued for fifteen minutes, each side taking casualties of their own as the last wave of men emerged through the break in the wall. The sound of gunfire raged through the mountainous region of Jackson. Ellie and Joel took turns carefully firing over the dumpster, picking off their enemies one at a time. The loud crackle of their rifles sliced through the air with each shot, causing their ear drums to rattle in discomfort. Even though both of them had yet to miss, the invaders were slowly winning. Inch by inch, foot by foot, they crept their way further up the road with each life they claimed from Tommy's men. Joel knew they were fighting a losing battle. Something had to change.
"Motherfucker! There's too many of them!" Ellie yelled to him, just after taking another shot.
"Ahhh! Goddammit I know!" he bellowed out.
He scanned his surroundings, searching for an answer that would once again pull them away from the brink of death. A three story house not far in the distance caught his attention. On the top floor, he spotted a window that provided the perfect lookout point over the entire road, which had become a gory battlefield riddled with bodies. He took a deep breath, and closed his eyes as he realized what he was about to say. He was going to separate from Ellie. Not a single part of him liked the thought, but he knew they had no choice. It was their best bet.
"Ellie! Look at me," he said, as he placed his hand on her back.
Her youthful, innocent, emerald eyes immediately shot to his face as she gave him her undivided attention. She looked terrified, but he could tell she was giving it her all when it came to staying strong.
"See that house over there - the really big one - three stories!?" he yelled, trying to lift his voice above the roaring gunfire.
"Yeah - I see it!" she responded through an exhale as she wiped the sweat off her brow.
He leaned in close to her, his lips merely inches from her ear.
"Look I - " Even in this life or death situation, this intense moment, he hesitated to speak his mind. He couldn't bare the thought of separating from his little girl at a time like this. But he had to, they had no choice. Again, this was their best chance for survival, which in the end, meant further guaranteeing her longevity. "I need you to get up there - go to the third story - to that window - you see it?"
"Uh-huh," she said with a nod through panted breaths.
"You gotta get up there - pick off the ones closest to us and work your way back. You gotta be fast with each shot - quick as hell, ya hear me?"
She couldn't believe he was willingly letting her split from him, but she knew she had to. They desperately needed an advantage.
"Okay - you got it," she said, as she started to pull away.
"Wait! One more thing - " Joel shouted, causing her to stop in her tracks.
"Trade me rifles!" Joel commanded.
"What? Why!?"
"You're more familiar with it and it holds three rounds instead of just one! Take it!"
Just as she went to pull away once more, Joel reached his hand out and gently grabbed her small arm. He turned her so she was facing him and gazed into her eyes.
"Ellie - baby... promise me you'll be careful."
She could see his eyes barely begin to well up, and knew he wanted to say one more thing, but the words still didn't leave his lips. However, the loving, parental stare said more than any words could. She knew he loved her, and she knew she couldn't let him down.
"I will - I got this. I promise," she reassured.
He watched Ellie cautiously run her way back towards the three story home. She mindfully ran behind cover each chance she could, keeping herself out of harm's way. She kicked the front door open and stepped into the empty, vacant house. She sprinted as fast as she could up the stairs. Her mind was in a trance, she wasn't even thinking about how tired or sore she felt, she simply refused to let her father down. She burst into the bedroom on the third story and frantically opened the window. She rested the barrel of her rifle on the sill and took a deep breath as she prepared herself for what was coming next. The entire spectacle lay before her, the view of the battlefield in plain sight as each bandit was now clearly visible. She darted her eyes to where Joel was still kneeling, behind the dumpster, ensuring he was still safe.
She peered down the scope of her rifle and brought the head of a bandit into focus.
Bang!
The weapon's distinguished crackle rippled through the air and within milliseconds the bullet collided with the man's skull. She quickly, yet calmly, shifted the barrel to the left and fired again.
Bang!
Another bandit fell to the ground as the large bullet reamed into his chest.
Bang!
She fired again, taking her next victim. She was trained well. She had yet to miss, and she was reminded of her and Joel's daunting fight against the horde of infected in that large, sprawling parking lot months ago. She was a killing machine. And like a machine, she quickly loaded three more rounds into the chamber without thinking or hesitation, then pulled the lever back. Within seconds, she rained down her fury once again in the form of three more bullets, each one perfectly placed.
Joel could hear each of her shots, the length of time in between them getting shorter and shorter.
"Just like that girl - good job kiddo," he whispered to himself.
Tommy, surprised and unaware of where the rapidly occurring rifle shots were coming from, glanced towards the large building only to see Ellie peering through the third story window. He noticed her muzzle flash then immediately heard a cry of pain off in the distance as another bandit fell victim to her deadly aim. Even though his adrenaline was pumping through his heart, and he was in the fight for his life, he thought to himself and realized Joel really wasn't lying. Ellie was one hell of a shot, the best he'd ever seen. Right now, she was the grim reaper. She was the angel of death elegantly creeping along the battlefield, tearing the soul from her victims one pull of the trigger at a time.
"Goddamn - keep it up Ellie!" he yelled to her.
Joel stood up and took a shot of his own, hitting another bandit in the head, then ducked behind the dumpster for cover. The tide was turning, they were pushing the invaders back. The sound of Ellie's shots rang through the air and became music to their ears. Each set of three lurched them closer and closer to the finish line. The end was in sight, and Joel could only see one more left.
"One more! Just in front of the wall - to the right!" he barked out to Tommy.
Ellie, hearing Joel's directions, swayed the barrel of her rifle in that direction. She saw the bandit in question, and went to place her last bullet in the chamber. As she brought it to the rifle, it slipped from her fingers and dropped to the floor. She frantically bent down to pick it up, but her hands were shaking from the adrenaline and the knowledge that they were so close to safety. Rising to her feet, she saw the man heave a large nail bomb far into the air, causing her breathing to intensify. She loaded her last bullet into the chamber, immediately gazed through the scope and within a second brought her enemy's head into her sight. She pulled the trigger and watched as the bullet cored its way into the man's skull, sending his dying, twitching body to the ground.
Within a second of witnessing her final victim breathe his last breath, she heard the bomb go off. The loud bang pulled her attention to it's origin, far to her left and to the one location she dreaded.
A mere twenty feet behind the dumpster.
Her eyes widened and her heartbeat suddenly quadrupled in frequency. It felt like it was going to burst from her chest as the amount of adrenaline which coursed through her veins caused her insides to churn. She felt like she was going to vomit.
Her worst nightmare suddenly was rapidly becoming a reality. She saw her father's body lying on the ground. He slowly lifted his head and looked to her, then collapsed his face back into the dirt.
She opened her mouth to scream but was so petrified at the sight, only the sound of her lungs relinquishing a massive breath escaped her lips.
