College Induced Ether Dreams

OMG I just got through David in the game (No, I haven't finished and please don't spoil it). From what I gathered on animals they can be a carrier (based on the monkeys). I won't get too bogged down in the university (we saw it) so I skip to parts we didn't see. I don't know the horse's gender, but I'm going with male (if I'm wrong. I am so sorry). My favorite comment was "Age is just a number during the Goddamn apocalypse" Amen, Brother. Lol, look back at history for age gaps.

My thanks to: MoonGolem (cool comments, that is the beauty of the game that it is how you see it), fakeasmile90, talath rana, Galenmoon, and 30 nights

But just wait for David. That was too good... this is a mixed chapter starting with Ellie

"Wait right here," Joel ordered.

"But," protested Ellie.

"I don't want him to run off," he yelled from the other side of the fence.

But. But. But. He was gone. Callus shook his mane out and pulled on the reins. "It's okay." She pet the horse's mane. She turned to look around at the campus and tried to imagine it full of people sitting, talking, eating, and just living. She heard about parties, but that just seemed like something old people made up. College might have been fun.

Eek, eek! She whipped around, scanning everything: bushes, trees, and buildings. Another monkey ran up the tree. Thank God, it's just a dumb monkey. It sat in the tree rubbing its face with small, yellow paws. They are kind of cute. She slid over to get a better look at it. "Hey, little guy," she sang. The monkey was mostly yellow and had little black paws. Oh, and that tail! So cute!

It looked up and swung down, hanging. It was watching her watching it. "Just hanging around?" She laughed at her own joke. I'll just have to tell Joel about this. It swung, making little clicking and cooing noises. "You are just too cute," she cooed back.

It hopped down and came towards her. Wait, now. With each step it took, she became a little more scared. This was not a QZ doggie. She tugged on Callus and he stepped back. The monkey sat down on the brick path. Sweet, okay. We're cool now. You stay there, and I will stay here. Yeah. See? Cool. "There we go," she whispered.

"Ellie!" Joel called. The sound of the generator humming startled her, but the monkey just tilted its head. Then, the gate creaked and the monkey hissed, flashing its pointed teeth. Shit. Ellie nudged Callus toward the gate. Hurry. Hurry Hurry.

Then, they were through. Joel looked tired as he climbed back up. Ellie hugged his back. Monkeys aren't so cool.

He took control and they trotted on over the barriers. She couldn't help but watch out for more of those fuckers while she scanned the campus for Fireflies. Why do they keep monkeys around?

---.-.-

They continued to make their way across the campus, heading toward the labs. She just had to ask Joel about school.

A singer. She was smiling like an idiot. She could see him now, with a guitar and cowboy hat, singing country music, though Joel as a punk rocker was a sweet thought. The mental image of him singing and shaking his hips was just too good. Oh, man.

"Come on, I won't laugh." She was giggling already. Oh god, you would've been so hot.

He cut off her idea. "Yeah, I don't think so." He didn't buy it at all, but she pushed on. "Come on. So, you didn't go to college?"

"No, I had Sarah pretty young," he said as he rounded another gate, clearing the way with a trash bin. There was something heavy in his tone. Sadness over Sarah. Sadness over not going to college or getting a job he wanted; just a life of broken dreams.

"Too much?"

"Too much," he agreed, and their happy moment died. The scenery nailed the coffin shut. Ellie glanced at the brick building. No guards, no noise, nothing left. She didn't really need to think about it; she knew things weren't right at the science labs– not right at all. The Fireflies aren't here. She knew, but they didn't come all this way just way to stand outside, and they didn't know where to go next. She didn't want Joel to know that she knew the Fireflies were long gone. If she didn't have hope, they didn't have much.

Her heart sank as they made their way down the hall. I got a bad feeling. Please, don't be more monkeys.

-...-...-

"Come on!" Ellie kept yelling at Joel like he could run. Yeah, I know. Move my ass. He limped closer to the doors. Thank God that girl is a sharpshooter. He pushed on through the pain; he couldn't let her down. Not now. As he reached the overturned desk, he stumbled. This was bad.

I'm dying, he thought. Even if he wasn't dying, he found himself wishing he was. He couldn't breathe, couldn't walk, couldn't see straight, and, God, just kill me. Yet, he shuffled along after her. No! He couldn't lie down; not because he wanted to keep going, God knows I would love to just stop, but for her.

"Here lean on me," she said, but he went on without her help. The stupid stairs.

Pop. Pop. Pop. Ellie took care of the enemies and went back to his side. She slid under his arm, leading him to Callus, Still a stupid name, and kept pushing onward.

He can't give up. Ellie could defend herself; she proved that time and time again. That wasn't the reason she kept breathing when it hurt. She just wanted him. Ellie didn't want to be alone, and he couldn't leave her yet. Their story wasn't over.

He climbed onto the horse, his shirt wet and turning cold. They weren't kidding about feeling cold in the movies. Movies, like that stupid werewolf movie. God, Sarah wanted to see that dumb thing. The horse rocked underneath him and he moved with the sway as his leg went numb. His mind wandered. Twenty years and I'm still here?How is it possible? Why would Ellie want a man like me to stay? No worse than the hunters and others, but no better. He lurched and hit the ground.

He was back on the horse, coming in and out, in and out of consciousness. Does being good matter when the world stops caring? God, I'm cold.

"Here, Joel." Her voice brought him back. "This seems like a good place. It has a basement. That will be easy to defend, and it should be warmer than out here. Oh! We can put Callus in the garage. Hey, come on! Stay with me," she rambled as she dragged him. "No, no, no, no, just keep moving your feet. I can't carry you." Her voice got soft. "I'm so sorry. Please, don't leave me, Joel." Keep moving. Keep… He gripped at the rail leading down the stairs and somehow touched the basement floor without slamming into it.

His stomach lurched as the pain got worse. He could taste metal, vile in his mouth. Oh shit.

"Sit here." Ellie hadn't stopped talking the whole time. The ground was cold. His stomach churned and it came up, fire running up and down his sides as he heaved.

"Oh, shit!" Ellie danced out of view and came back, throwing towels down. "Here! Lie down here." She put a blanket and a pillow on the ground. "I'm going to see what I can find upstairs."

He laid down and the world spun as she laid a blanket on him and appeared in his vision. Her lips moved, but he couldn't hear what she said. She looked so scared. "I'll be fine," he gasped as loudly as he could. Her forehead crinkled. Her lips moved, and then she disappeared again.

His teeth chattered as a jolt of pain and coldness ran up his side. He felt so heavy.

-...-...-

"Baby, that was one hell of a hit."

Nicole* wakened him from his dream. She was shaking his shoulder. As he finally got to look at her, he had to admit she was so pretty, still in her band uniform. She was the only girl he knew who could make those stupid overalls look cute. Her blond hair was swept up in a ponytail; she never liked for it to be in her face. Nicole smiled, but looked so worried. God, I got a hot girlfriend, he mused.

"Hey," he breathed the word, still breathless, with a stupid grin on his face.

"Your dad just took you home. He said you had a thick skull." She shook her head. Both men had thick skulls, in her opinion.

"Did we win?"

Nicole rolled her eyes. "What do you think? Another loss." They never exactly won state championships.

"Fuck." He rolled over to curl around her. The whole room was fuzzy, but she shined. She took his hand and kissed his knuckles.

"Don't worry about it, honey. It's just a game. It's supposed to be just for fun." She was petting his arm. That was easy for the marching band nerd to say. A sexy marching band nerd.

"I know." It was best to agree with her. After a moment he admitted, "My head hurts. Hell," he took a breath, "everything hurts." I must've got clotheslined.

"It will be okay. You're fine, honey." She shifted, forcing him to move over and spoon with her. "Just keep talking to me."

"Yes, ma'am." He nuzzled the short, soft hair on the back of her neck.

"Joel, stay with me, honey. I'm right here." She squeezed his hand.

-...-...-

"I'm sorry! Sorry, sorry, sorry," Ellie cried as he gasped back to life. He felt like he surfaced only to be plunged back under cold water. "Joel." His side burned as she stitched it closed. Ellie.

She gingerly continued her work and never stopped talking, but he couldn't keep up. Their eyes would meet and she would glance back down at her work, only to check on him once again. She looked so scared, so pale. "Joel."

"Hm?" he managed to mumble, and she rewarded him with a weak smile. She almost looked like herself when she smiled.

"I'm almost done." She pulled down his shirt and layered another blanket on him. "Just hold on." She smoothed the blanket. Don't go. Joel wanted her to stay; he didn't want to be alone. Die alone. She left, and vision swam back to darkness.

-...-

"Daddy!" Sarah yelled from far away. "The phone!"

Joel groaned and rolled out of his bed. "Answer it!" he yelled back. He tried to shake off the heavy feeling still settled in his chest.

"Hey, Tommy." He could hear Sarah walking up the stairs with the phone. "He was taking a nap. Yep. I know, lazy ass." She knew he could hear her. She laughed at what Tommy said as she stepped into Joel's doorway. "What do you want, anyway?" She walked toward him, stopped, then backed up a step. "No. Nope, no can do." She backed up more. Joel reached for her and she danced out of his reach. "He has plans tonight."

"Sarah." He held out his hand.

She held up an index finger and mouthed, 'one minute.' "We are going to the movies, so, nope. He can't help you out. Sorry." Joel got closer, getting ready to capture her and find out what Tommy wanted. She dodged him at every turn and had the gall to stick out her tongue. "Well– Shit!" He made a swipe that grazed her. "Another phone call. Gotta go, bye!" Sarah hung up as Joel swooped her up. He swung her around.

"What did he want?" He kissed her forehead.

"A double date. You, him and two dumb bimbos." Tommy's bimbos weren't the best kind.

"So, what was that about a movie?"

"I was going to tell you about that– Dad!" she laughed as he playfully almost dropped her.

"How do you know I wouldn't have wanted to go on the date with the bimbo?" he teased. "Or that I want to go to the movies?" He gently put her back on her feet.

"Please, can we go? The sequel just came out!" Sequel? Oh, that dumb werewolf thing.

"I don't know if I want to be in a room full of screaming girls."

"Pleeeeeeease?" She was grinning at him.

-...-..-

"Please, Joel. Just drink. Just a little bit." Ellie forced a cup into his vision. He did what she wanted him to do, and a look of relief washed over her. Is that snow in her hair?

He brought his hand up to her cheek. Damn. She was cold. Couldn't she find a better coat?

They both worried about each other as she checked him over. Her frown and the wrinkle in her forehead said it all. Things were going badly.

After a moment, she spoke. "I got another bunny. Do you want some of the soup? It's good." At least she can take care of herself.

She didn't give him much of a choice because she was feeding him. The soup was little more than hot water, some canned vegetables, and chunks of bunny, but it wasn't bad compared to some of the other things they ate. She gave him another spoonful. How long have I been out? he wondered, but didn't have the energy to do anything other than eat.

"Ellie." He wanted to say something, but couldn't place it. She put the spoon in the bowl.

"You'll be fine," she said, biting her bottom lip.

Her face was all he saw; he drifted.

-...-..-

He drifted back in.

"Son of bitch, get your ass in gear!" Tess dragged him to his feet as a bullet flew overhead. This was supposed to be just a job, but the next thing he knew, he was between two gangs and this woman showed up.

He stumbled. "We've got to move." She shoved him toward a building.

They dodged through a room full of broken furniture. The lights above flashed as they picked up speed. "In here." She pulled him into a room, then out the window. They ran harder.

"There!" Tess climbed in through a hole in the wall and slid on the floor. She struggled to lift a sheet of plywood. Joel dove in and lifted it, letting her slide underneath. They dropped into a hallway as the voices became distant.

"Thanks for that earlier," Joel breathed. Tess leaned on the wall breathing hard. She was a transporter, judging by the bag she carried with her the whole way. She was thin with black hair and thin, pale lips. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Despite looking so abused and tired, she had a fire in her eyes. "Tess." She gulped more air.

"Joel, we're even." He didn't offer his hand to shake. It was so strange to see a woman running alone. She has to have friends. "Cool. This tunnel goes to zone five. Where are you going?" She shifted the bag to her other hand and turned on her flashlight.

He didn't have many options. "Five," he answered.

"Let's get moving." She took another breath and led him down a passage that someone else had dug out.

"Yes, Ma'am."

She leaned back "Oh, a southern boy."

"Texas."

"Well, Tex, what do you run for?"

"What everyone else runs for."

She laughed. It was like bell. "A true transporter." Something about this woman intrigued him. She took pride in her work, and she was a survivor. He had to admit it: he liked her.

-...-...-

"I'm back. I got medicine. Just hold on," Ellie panted. She pulled the blanket back and hissed, gingerly touching Joel's inflamed skin. She fiddled with a bottle and an injection needle. The needle stuck into his flesh and he gasped.

"There," she soothed, covering him again. His teeth rattled. She froze, listening, but he couldn't tell what put her on edge. Ellie cursed and disappeared. She returned to his side, but before he could protest she was leaving. The room felt cold without her.

"Ellie?" Darkness took control.

-...-

Ellie smiled at him. "Two fish swim into a concrete wall. What did one say to the other?"

"What?"

"'Dam!'"

Joke found himself laughing at her dumb joke. "We gotta save that one for Tommy."

She grinned. "Want another?" Ellie casually flipped through the joke book casually as she sat on the floor next to him. She looked clean and happy, like they didn't have anywhere to go today. No plans. No problems. It was like mornings at Tommy's house.

"No, no. I'm good."

"Aw, not feeling good?" She leaned over to touch his arm, dropping the book by her side.

"Naw. Got a headache." Everything felt fuzzy and shitty.

"I'm sorry." She leaned over and kissed his forehead. "I wish I had more medicine to give you."

"I'll be fine. Don't waste medicine on me."

"It's not a waste. I need you here with me." She dropped a kiss on his cheek. It felt nice. She was warm. She leaned over again and kissed his mouth. Her mouth was soft and warm: everything any man could imagine when he kissed an amazing woman. She was funny, smart, and tough as hell. She was long past being a girl, and in that moment, she was beautiful.

His hands found hers and they continued to kiss until he was breathless.

They broke the kiss. She didn't look healthy. Her face and lips were pale, and her expression was worried. "What's wrong?" he asked as his head rang with pain.

"I need you to get up."

"But,"

"Joel, wake up."

"What?"

"Wake up!" she screamed.

-..-

He jolted awake, pain running up his side. Holy shit. He checked the wound. It was still red and inflamed, but clean. He looked around the basement, trying to orient his mind. He heard nothing. "Ellie?"

He threw the cover off and pulled himself to his feet, only to stumble. Fuck. The wound burned, but it had healed enough that he could power through it. "Ellie?" There was no way in hell he was going to lose her. No fucking way.

A/N: I had fun with the chapter. We will get more Ellie tomorrow. I just can't figure out how Joel lived. I do love that you can see these characters anyway you want. I am glad so many people liked the horse's reaction and enjoy my version of the game. This has been a great ride so far. I really can't wait to write tomorrows post.

*I did give his ex-wife a name (I haven't seen yet and I will correct it if I get that.)