Hoo-ray! Next chapter for you lovely people :D Thanks again for everything, it's awesome just seeing a bunch of writers and readers taking interest in my work! Never thought it'd be that good, I just do it for fun. Sorry if the last chapter seemed kinda random, just trying yo get back in the mood of things. Thank you, Doomstra27 for being a loyal reviewer, I'm glad to be back ^-^ Remember to cast votes for what should happen between Joel and Ellie next; Stay on the slow pace, make it hotter, or complicate things. I want to involve you people in the story! ENJOY!

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Ellie rolled her eyes. How could someone so strong and seemingly so immune to pain be whining about a little pinch? "C'mon, Joel," Ellie laughed, flicking at the syringe, making the tiny bubbles rise to the top. "It's just a tiny little needle."

"I'm fine, Ellie," He groaned in discomfort as she turned him on his side, lifting up the side of his shirt. "I don't need anymore damn medicine!"

"Nonsense!" She laughed again, sticking him in the side with the needle. "You've only been awake for a few days now, and one syringe of antibiotics is not going to keep you healthy for long. Now stop crying and let me changed your dressing."

Ellie unraveled the clothe from around his lower abdomen and cringed at the sight. It's still pretty red, She thought to herself. I hope it's not infected. If it is, we'll have to use all of the meds we've got. She re-wrapped his filed dressing and laid him on his back. "How's it feel?" She asked, pressing lightly around the wound.

"Ugh!" He grabbed her wrist and pushed it away.

"Sorry! Sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you!"

He nodded and let his head fall on the pillow behind it, wincing in pain. "S'alright. Jus' be more careful, alright? It feels like someone drove a knife through me."

She gave him a weak smile. "Wouldn't be a far stretch from the truth, Joel. I won't do that again, 'kay?" Ellie leaned over him, her breathe on his lips, her ponytail off to one side of her face, placing a hand on the side of his pale face. "I'm going out to find more supplies, okay?"

With that Joel made to get up, propping himself on his elbow, grunting as he did so. "I'll go with you," He started, but Ellie put her hand on his chest and gently pushed him back down.

"Oh, no you don't!" She said matter-of-factly. "You're fucking staying here and you're going to finish the soup I prepared for you, understand? I can handle myself."

He tried to get up again, but Ellie kept just enough pressure on his chest to keep him on his back. "But what if you get in trouble again?" He asked, genuinely worried for her sake. She pursed her lips.

"They won't live to get me in any trouble." And with that she kissed him, said her goodbye, and walked to the front door. "Chaya," She said, as if she was a general giving a command to a private. "You Keep the doors locked, don't go outside, and stay away from the windows, okay?"

Chaya nodded, holding a small doll to her chest. "Okay, Ellie."

"And I'm leaving you in charge, so I need you to be a big girl and watch over Joel." She threw her backpack over her shoulder and slung her rifle over her shoulder, pistol already tucked away securely in the back of her jeans. "And make sure he doesn't get up too often. He needs his rest."

"Yes, ma'am." The young girl smiled.

Ellie opened the door and headed out, a blast of icy wind stung her face like a thousand bees. "Fuck," She whispered, pulling her hat over her ears. Fuck, it's freezing out here! At least this might mean that no one else will be out looking for food or supplies. No guarantee though...

The winter wind was relentless. The snow was almost impossible to see through, but what other choice did she have? They needed more food and medicine, but it was risky going out in this. Ellie walked up a set of porch steps and pulled out her little Beretta. She touched the door nob and heard footsteps from inside the house, probably from the room over from where she could see through the cracked window. She decided to knock first.

Opening the door, she said, "Anybody home? If you're not infected, I'd advise you show yourself! I'm armed and dangerous!" The quote made her giggle quietly. It was something Winston would always say when he took her throughout the mall, while he searched each room. He said that it was from a lot of action movies from his day and even before that.

"I still say you're lucky," She mumbled to herself, thinking of the old soldier. "You got to die of natural causes. While everyone else is getting infected or shot in the head, you get to have your heart fail on you. I hope it was painless. God knows you deserved to go out that way."

She made her way trough the house and heard the thumping above her. Clickers? She wondered. There wasn't any screeches or moans of pain, which was the sound of runners, or weepers, as she liked to refer to them. The name seemed to fit them better then runner, because when they weren't trying to feast off your dying body, they sounded like they were crying like they were in great amounts of pain. Joel had explained to her that the reason they made their cries of pain was because they was because Cordyceps fungi would attack the brain at tremendous speed and grow almost as soon as the the victim was bitten, putting pressure in their eyes and skull. It was an awful way to go. A terrifying way to go. Ellie had watched it happen to Riley. Just before she turned, she started getting unbearable headaches and blood started coming out her eye ducts. She missed her friend, but that was the past now, and she wouldn't change it for what she had now.

Ellie crouched and made her way slowly up the stairs, careful on the parts that creaked in the old house. Searching the first room, she heard the thumping go back down the stairs. Stalkers? It sounded small. Maybe an infected child? That did not sit well in her stomach. Having to shoot a little clicker was not how she wanted to start her day, but if it happened, what else could she do?

She made her way back down and heard scratching at the front door. Peeking around the corner, Ellie couldn't believe her eyes! Looking back at her was a little German Shepherd puppy! It couldn't have been older then a couple months. She put her sidearm away and made her way slowly to the cute little fuzz ball, her arms raised to her waist, saying, "Hey, buddy, I'm not gonna hurt you."

He was heavy as she brought him up in her arms, but he was so adorable! He was in perfect health as far as she could tell, and he didn't seem to be aggressive. "Where's your parents?" Ellie wondered. She set the animal back on it's feet and headed back up the stairs, the puppy right on her heels. Looking in the last room, she found the mother, laying on her side, blood pooling around it. "Oh, fuck..."

The old dog whined as Ellie dropped to her knees and looked over her. A bullet hole was at it's right shoulder, rendering the leg useless. It was definitely infected, the area around the wound turning white with puss. It wouldn't be long before it would die.

Ellie took the puppy to another room and closed it the door. Flicking the safety off of pistol, she took aim, closed her eyes, and pulled the trigger. She let out a breathe she hadn't know she was holding and walked quickly out of the room, locking the door behind her. Grabbing whatever supplies she could find, she then picked up the puppy, wrapped it in a blanket and headed to the safehouse. Both Joel and Chaya would be very surprised with her new friend.

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So Ellie's finding more things to surprise Joel with, but how will he take this? Will he let her keep it? And if so, what will she name it? Help her come up with one! Give me ideas, you might just get your name chosen ;) Hope it was as enjoyed as I enjoyed writing it for you :D Thanks, and I will see you in the next chapter!