Disclaimer: I do not own any character of (The Last of Us) TLOU is owned by Naughty Dog, Sony, and their creators.
A/N: I want to thank the ones that are reading this new story and I hope you like it. I know that the fandom is slow now, so thank you for reading this. Anyway, lest continuing with the story.
Chapter 2: The Motorcycle Part-2
The Bloater lunch toward Joel with all his might and he knew that only a miracle was going to save him. He was alone fighting that thing since Bob was pinging between two cars and he didn't know where that Charlie man went. He thought of Ellie and how this went so wrong. It was just a simple mistake of judgment to come here to find some parts to repair the bike. He was furious with himself because he was about to die for a stupid bike and never going to see Ellie again. Joel was ready to face his fate because he knew there was nothing he could do to stop that thing. But his death never came as he saw a flame bottle pass over him and hit the Bloater on the chest.
Joel looked at Bloater watching how it was getting on fire. That gives him the time to move away from it. He was going to thank Charlie for finally doing something helpful, but the voice he hears behind him wasn't him.
"Stay away from him… you ugly motherfucker."
Joel turned his head around and saw who was the one that threw the Molotov at the Bloater. "Ellie!" he said, not believing that she was his miracle. "What the hell are you doing here?" he asked while trying to think how she found him.
"Saving you ass… as always. Now get your gun and help me shoot down that thing…" she said without hesitation.
Joel looked around looking for his gun. Soon he saw it a few feet away, so he went for it. Ellie prepares another cocktail and throws it at the Bloater. This time it hit him in the head, making the thing scream more in pain. Ellie quickly moved in front of Joel to give him time to grab his shotgun and point her rifle to the beat and shoot him. Joel takes the chance she gives him and crawled to the side until he gets to the gun. Soon he got it, he stood up and started shooting at the thing too.
"Let's kill this fucker…" he said while standing beside Ellie and continuing shooting the thing. After a few rounds, the Bloater fell down to the ground dead. Joel moved closer to the monster and shot his last bullet on his head and blew it up in pieces.
"He was already dead… you know!" Ellie said sarcastically while moving close to him.
Joel removed his mask and looked at the thing. "I just want to make sure of that…" Then he turned around and looked at her. "What the hell are you doing here? And where are the others?"
Ellie put her rifle on her shoulder and looked at him with a mad expression now. "I came alone… and you're lucky that I arrived just in time to save you ass… what the hell you're thinking?" Ellie looked at the side not wanting to look at his face. She was mad at him for putting his life in danger but also glad that she came in time to save him. "Oh... you're welcome by the way."
Joel moves close to her and grabs her arm. "What? You came here by yourself?" he asked with a mad tone.
"Yep…I did. And you should be grateful for that…" said Ellie a little furious. She is mad not only because he lied to her, but to come all the way here unprepared. Ellie started to walk toward where Bob was without saying anything else. He was still pinned between the cars.
"Hey… where are you going? I have not finished talking to you," he said while walking after her. He is mad too because she put herself in danger by coming here, even if she just saved his life. "You are not supposed to be out of Jackson without me… and especially alone…" he started to say, making Ellie stop and turn around.
"Oh… really? What about you? You lied to me… you said that you will be working all day in the dam… do you think that that was right?" she said with some tears forming in her eyes.
Joel now noticed how scared she really was. "I'm so sorry about that… I didn't mean to lie to you, but… this was supposed to be a quick trip and that I will be back before you notice."
"Exactly… you think that it would be easy for you to come out here without me. And lie to me about... do you know how scared I got when I saw you on the ground with that thing almost on top of you?" now Joel sees the tears coming down now her check.
"I'm so sorry baby girl for scaring you like that…" he moved forward and hugged her tight.
Ellie bares her face on his chest trying to hold her tears. "We are supposed to be together forever and protect each other… remember? I am not a child anymore Joel… you need to trust me more…" she said while subbing on his chest.
"I know you can protect yourself… is only that… is always going to be my job to make sure you're okay and safe… I love you and I don't want anything to happen to you okay?" He moved his hands on her back to calm her down.
"I love you too Joel (more than you think) and I just want the same," said Ellie holding him tight. Feeling his body close makes her feel things inside, but all that can wait for later. Right now she was happy that he was alive.
"Hey!... if you two finish over there… I need a little help here." said Bob while looking at them
Joel and Ellie separated from each other and Joel looked at him. "Yeah… we will be right there in a minute." Ellie wiped her tears with her arm before turning around and looked at him too.
"Yeah take your time… it's not like I feel uncomfortable right here…" he said sarcastically.
Ellie and Joel start walking toward him and start to push the car that was pining him. "Does that hurt?" said Ellie sarcastically too.
"Ha, ha… a very funny girl… of course, it hurt… I'm just lucky that I didn't get anything broken… well I hope because it hurts like hell."
"Shit... this thing is too heavy… we need another pair of hands…" Joel said while stopping pushing the car away from Bob. "Speaking of that, where the hell is Charlie?" Joel asked while looking around.
"Charlie? I thought that it was only the two of you…" said Ellie while moving close to Joel.
Joel turns his head and looks at her. "What do you mean? Did you don't see him between the cars? He was trying to fill a bottle with gasoline to help us with the Bloater."
"Well, I only saw two horses when I arrived here… so that is why I thought it was only the two of you."
"That son of a bitch… I can't believe that he bail on us?" said Bob from between the cars where he was pinned up.
"That motherfucker let us fight that thing alone… I thought you said that he was a good fighter?" said Joel looking at Bob now.
"That's what he told me… I know he was a good shooter, but not that he was such a coward… anyway I need help to get out of here."
"That asshole is going to hear me when we get back… that is for sure," said Joel with a furious tone.
"Well, we need to talk about all this too you know…" said Ellie while looking at Joel. "But in the meantime maybe we can use the horse to help us with cars."
"Yeah… that is a good idea," said Joel looking in Ellie's direction. "Go and bring the horses here, I will look for some rope inside the barn."
"You got it…" Ellie ran toward where the horse was, while Joel went back into the barn and looked for some rope. After 10 minutes Ellie came back with the three horses and Joel and her started to tie the rope on them and the car that was pinned, Bob. After some effort, they manage to move it enough so Bob can move and get out of there.
"Are you okay?" asked Joel while helping him out.
"Yeah… maybe a few rips busted, but nothing serious… man, that thing scares the shit out of me… I hear tales of them, but never saw one in person."
"Yeah, then pray to don't see it again. Those things are hard to kill," said Ellie while moving the horse and tying them to a car far away from the burning Bloater.
"I think it is better to move out if we want to get back to Jackson before the nightfall," said Bob while moving away from the car. He lay on another one holding his side with one hand.
"Not yet… I need to go back inside… I think I saw the part I need for the bike in the back room…" said Joel while grabbing his mask from the ground and starting walking toward the barm. "You two stay here… this will not take long."
Ellie rolled her eyes and went after him. Soon she gets close to him, she grabs his arm to stop him. "Are you serious? What if there is another of those things inside? Or more infected?"
Joel turns his head and looks at her. "I don't think they're any more bloaters inside or infected… The room where he was was small and we didn't see any infected inside besides the dead ones," he answered her quickly.
"Do you need those parts so desperate that you're risking your life for it?"
Joel lowered his head and thought for a moment. "I already said that I'm sorry for scaring you like that… I didn't think something like this would happen."
"Exactly… you didn't think… you not even came well prepared to fight infected… and you thought that the three of you can handle all that… well that does not work very well either." Ellie moves in front of him and looks him in the eyes. "Do you have any idea how scared I was when Tommy told me the thru about where you go?"
Joel looked at her face. "He is not supposed to tell you that…" he said while thinking about his brother and what he is going to say to him when they go back.
"Yeah… and if he doesn't tell me you and Bob will be dead by now…" she said sadly. "Joel You and I have a life together now… and… and I don't want to lose that," she said sadly.
"Sorry… I just… want to take you on that trip for your birthday and for that, I need to finish fixing the bike."
"We can do that trip in another time… you don't need to risk your life for that.'' They were silent for a moment. "You should tell me and bring me with you… we can handle things like this better than anyone."
"I know… I just don't want you out here… after all, that happened before. I prefer you to be in Jackson where it is safe." he said trying to not look at her. Keeping her safe is his one priority.
"I understand that, but my life means nothing if you're not in it." Joel looked at her with surprised eyes. After a few minutes, she gave him a smile while her face was getting red. So it was time to change the conversation. "Okay… let's find those parts you need so badly and go back home."
"They're spores inside, so you can go in… remember," he whispers the last part to let her know that Bob was there and he can't see her go inside without a mask.
Ellie looks in Bob's direction and understands what he means. "Oh yeah, don't worry I can fix that…" she moved to the side and looked at Bob again. "Hey, can I borrow your mask?" she asked quickly.
"Sure… I stay here and watch the horses… I don't think I can walk very well anyway…" he said while sitting in the front part of one of the cars.
After that Ellie grabbed the mask and put it on. Joel and Ellie go inside the barn and walk toward the room where Joel finds the old bike parts. After Joel finds what he needs they walk out of the barn.
After that Ellie helps Bob by putting a bandage around his chest to help him with his injury. Then the three of them go to the horses and start the journey back to Jackson. After a few hours of riding, they spot a horse pasting between some trees.
"Hey, isn't that one of ours?" said Ellie pointing to the horse.
"It looks like one… do you think Tommy sent someone after you?" asked Joel while looking in Ellie's direction.
"I don't know… but it has a seat, so maybe he did…" said Ellie while moving forward to get a closer look.
The three of them ride toward the horse to make sure it is one of them. And soon they got closer. Bob speaks. "Hey, is Charlie's horse," said Bob while moving closer to the horse, who did not seem to be scared of them.
"It looks like it… but where is that asshole," said Joel while dismounted his horse and walked toward the lone one.
Ellie looks around trying to see if she can spot the man. "I don't see anyone around… do you think something happened to him?"
"I don't know… but he sure is going to hear me when I find him," said Joel with a mad tone.
Ellie dismounts her hours too and walks toward Joel. "You're not going to kill him… are you?" She whispers as soon as she gets close to him.
Joel looked at her surprised. "What makes you think that?" He whispers back.
Ellie grabs Joel's arm and pulls him far away from Bob's ears. "I know that look on you… and I know that that means you want to beat the shit out of him as soon as you find him."
"He lets us fight that thing alone… we could be killed if it is not for you," he said without answer her question.
"Yeah… I know… You can punch him in the face if you want to and give him a lecture too, that will be like torture for him… believe me." she said sarcastically. "But kill him? Is out of-"
"Wait… do you two hear something?" said Bob while trying to hold his horse that seemed to get scared by something. "Wow… wow… easy boy… easy…" said Bod while grabbing the rain of his horse.
Joel and Ellie look at some trees and bushes a little far from them. "I think the sound is coming from over there," said Joel while pointing to the direction of the sound. Slowly Joel goes back to his horse and grabs his shotgun. It only has a few shells left but that will be enough to kill whatever is behind the bushes.
Ellie quickly takes out her gun from her side holster and follows Joel. Bob moves his horse closer to the others and grabs the rain to keep them calm. Slowly Joel moves closer to the bushes with his gun ready to shoot whatever is on the other side.
"Be careful with your gun, we don't want to kill the man by mistake," whisper Ellie while walking behind him. Soon after Joel got to the bushes he saw the man a few feet away just moving around in a strange way.
"Hey… are you okay man?" said Joel while moving around the bushes and walking slowly closer to the man. "HEY!" Joel said louder. A few moments later the man turned around and looked at him. Joel was surprised by his face and the discoloration on it.
"Joel watch out… he is infected!" yells Ellie as soon the man starts moving slowly toward Joel.
Joel quickly raised his shotgun and shot the man in the chest. That sent the man flying backward and landing on the ground death a few feet away. "Fuck!" said Joel while walking toward the body to make sure he was dead.
Ellie walks closer to Joel and looks at the dead man on the ground. "How did he get infected? I don't see any dead infected around here or any sign of a fight," she said with a curious tone.
Joel moves closer to examining more closely the body. "I don't see any bite either… so I assume that he got hit by one of the Bloater spore sacks and inhaled the sphere since he wasn't wearing a mask."
"Do you think that that was the reason he ran away?" said Ellie while standing beside Joel.
Joel looked at the man with a disgusting sight. "I don't think so… he was just a coward with bad luck."
"Hey, I hear a shot… did you find what it was? Did you find Char-... shit is that… him?" Bob started while walking closer to them. Soon he got closer and saw the body, he confirmed who it was. "Shit… I just thought that he fell from his horse or something like that… shit!… how did he get infected?" he finally asked while looking at the body.
"Probably by getting hit with one of the Bloater sacks…" said Joel while lowering his gun. The poor man just inhales the spore before he runs away from the fight and starts to turn on his way back. He was in the first phase of transformation, so maybe part of him was still there. The infected in that phase are easier to kill because they're slower and confused.
"Poor bastard… I think he ran away too late from the fight," said Bob while looking at him.
Joel stands up and gives him a look. "Yeah… karma's a bish…" said Joel, not happy for the men's final fate, but in a way glad that he got what he deserved for leaving them.
"I think we should bury him," said Ellie.
"We should let his fucking body right here to rot," answer Joel quickly.
"JOEL!"
"What!... the man was an asshole… besides we don't have time for this if we are going to get back to Jackson before nightfall."
"We're just halfway… and even if he was an asshole he was a citizen of Jackson and he deserves to be buried."
"She's right Joel… it will be a better way to explain things to Tommy… if we give a little peace to the man."
Joel waits for a minute before answering them. "Fine… but let's do this quickly… I don't want to spend more time on the necessary," said Joel while turning around and starting walking toward the horses. After they finish buried the man, they get on the horses and grab Charlie too to take it back to Jackson. It was already dark when one of the guards spotted them riding out of the forest and getting close to the main gate. After he let them in, the guard called for Tommy and let him know that his brother and the other had arrived. Soon they go in and a few men walk toward them and help them to dismount.
A few minutes later Tommy arrived with a few people by his side. "Hey… are you all alright? I was preparing a search party to go out and look for you," said Tommy while suggesting his people take care of the horses.
But Joel walked toward him with a mad expression. "Are you out of your mind?" he said while walking closer to him. "Why do you tell Ellie where I was? And worst of all, you let her go outside alone?"
"Sorry about that bro… but she found out that you were not working in the dam and came to ask me where you were."
"And you just told her!" he said in a more rude tone.
Ellie quickly goes between the brothers. "Don't get mad at him… okay? I didn't give him much of a choice…"
Joel looked at her. "What the hell does that mean? Did you put a gun on him or do something when you asked him?" said Joel trying to get why his brother ratted him out.
Ellie only opened her mouth but didn't say anything quickly. "Well…"
"Can we talk about all this in your house… I don't like to have all these discussions outside…" said Tommy, a little embarrassed. Some of his men start laughing as they try to imagine what the girl does to him to make him talk.
"Hey Tommy did the girl try to cut your balls or something?" one of the men said and made the other laugh again.
"Hey… we lost a man out there… why not all of you get back to work and respect that," said Bob while pushing one of the men to the side.
Soon he said that Tommy realized that there are supposed to be more people with them. "What happened to the others that go with you? So what happened to them" he asks quickly and with a serious tone.
"I only convinced Charlie to come with us, but he got infected… We can give you the whole story, but I really need to go to the clinic…" he said while holding his side in pain.
"Yeah… he got injured and needs some medical attention," said Ellie quickly.
"Okay, guys take the horses back to the stable and take Bob to the clinic… I think the doctor is still there." It was early in the night so there were still some people doing jobs around the place or just only walking around. After the main gate starts to get clear Tommy looks back to Joel and Ellie. "Okay… I need to know what happened out there, so let's walk to your house and talk there."
Two of the men help Bob walking toward the clinic while some others take the horses and take them back to the stable. Joel Tommy and Ellie start to walk toward Joel and Ellie's house.
After a few minutes of working. "Are you two are alright?" asked Tommy with a worried tone.
"Yeah… we're okay… I just have a few bruises and cuts… but I will survive," answered Joel.
"Thanks to me… if Tommy didn't tell me where you go… you and Bob would be dead too."
"What the hell happened out there? You told me that was only a small trip with a few people to find a few parts you need for the motorcycle."
"And it was… but Bob can't find anyone else to go with us and only that guy Charlie showed up. Bob said that it was okay, that the man was a good fighter… but we found out that he wasn't and that cost his death," says Joel while walking up the stairs of his porch and opening the door. Joel enters first and turns on the light, then he is followed by Ellie and Tommy that close the door behind him.
"So… what happened? How did Charlie get infected?" asked Tommy.
"Did you know the man?" asked Ellie while Joel walked toward the kitchen without saying anything. She watches him putting the bag with the part he found on the table and moves to the sink and takes some water.
"I didn't know him well. He arrived here with some people a few months before you two came here. And I knew he lives alone and serves as a guard and goes with Morrison on hunting missions… but I don't know him on a personal level… but I know he always does his job."
Joel walks out of the kitchen with a glass of water in his hand. "Well, that asshole bailed on us when we found a Bloater in that junkyard Bob found. That fucker fleet as soon as that thing starts to-" Joel was explaining, while Tommy interrupted him.
"Wait!... Did you two fight a Bloater? And get away with no harm?"
Well… not exactly unharmed… I get a few cuts and Bob gets-" he was quickly interrupted by Ellie.
"Yeah… those two assholes were fighting a Bloater when I found them… they're lucky that I arrived in time or the two of them will be dead."
"Okay let's get this right. You said… that Charlie fleet away from you two when… the Bloater attacked you right?"
"Right…" Joel answered.
"So how did he get infected and die?" asked Tommy again.
"I think he got hit by one of the Bloater sacks and got infected that way… because we find him a few hours later starting to turn… so-"
"So we have to put it out of his misery… but we bury him after that," answer Ellie quickly. "Look, Joel and Bob can tell you everything that happens there tomorrow… but it was a long day and we're tired as hell…" said Ellie while extending her arm up and yawning.
"Okay… fine I will let you two rest… but I need a full report tomorrow. I have to tell Maria and a few others what happened…" Tommy turns around and walks toward the door and stops. "It's bad that a man died today, but that happens sometimes when people go outside… but I'm just glad that the two of you came back alive and I hope that this trip of yours, is worth all this." After that, he walked out of the house and closed the door behind him.
After his brother went out, Joel turned back to Ellie. "Why did you send Tommy out… yeah we're tired, but I still wanted to know why he let you go out there alone…"
"I know that you want to know all about that, but I'm just glad that I found you in time." Ellie moves closer to Joel and hugs him. She put her head on his chest and closed her eyes. "I know you're mad at me, but as soon as I found out that you were on a far trip… I just got scared that something would happen to you… so... so… I just need to go there and find you." she said with some tears following down from her eyes.
"I am not mad at you… well maybe a little… bit more at Tommy, he should not let you go outside alone," said Joel while putting his arm around her back and holding her tight.
"Don't blame him… it wasn't his fault…" she said while moving her head up to look at his face. "He wanted me to wait here until he can organize a few men to go out there… but I can't wait for that… and I'm glad I didn't… if I do not arrive when I do, you will be dead…"
Joel moves one hand to care for her face. He uses his tomb to wipe the tears from it. "I have that Bloater right where I wanted… so even if you don't-" he started, trying to make things less scary.
Ellie moved her head away from his chest. She moved one hand and put one finger on his lips. "Don't even try to make a joke about this…" she said in a serious tone. "When I saw you laying there with that thing almost on top of you… my world just came down in a second… and you don't know how scary that was for me."
Joel pulled her to his chest again. "I'm so sorry baby… I just… wanted to finish the bike and take you on that trip… I just thought it was going to be a simple trip up there." he said while holding her tight.
Ellie feels good in his warm arms and she was happy that all ended well for them, even if that poor guy died on the trip, but that is not their fault. After a few minutes, she moved out of his embrace and looked at his face again. "Well, it will be good for us if we take a hot shower and get some sleep. I bet Tommy and Maria will want a report of what happened there. And I hope Maria doesn't get too mad when she finds out that a man died looking for some motorcycle parts."
"Yeah… it's been a long day… and I really want to take all this off, take a good shower, and hit the bed." Joel put one arm around her shoulder and started walking toward the second floor.
"Can I sleep in you... room tonight? I do not want to sleep alone… after all this." she said out of nowhere. But she loves the idea of spending the night close to him. That will scare her nightmare out of her mind. Even if that will bring others to her head… others that she doesn't know why are getting stronger every day.
"I think it is better if you sleep in your own bed…" he said as soon as they arrived on the second floor.
"Pleaseeeee…. I just don't want to be alone tonight," he said with a childish tone.
After a few minutes, Joel answered her. "I will think about it… okay?"
The next Day Joel and Bob go to Tommy and Maria's house to explain what happened. Joel didn't want Ellie to go there, but she insisted on going since she also went there in the end. The day after that Bob feels better and goes with Joel to the stable where he keeps his motorcycle and continues working with it. He only helps Joel while telling him what to do, since he can move too much because of his busted use of the part Joel finds in the barn and work on the bike for the rest of the week.
Tommy and Maria inform the town about the death of Charlie and tell them that he died on a scavenger trip. It was a half-lie, but it was the best for the town. As Bob gives them the location of the place and since the Bloater was killed, they let them know that they will do another trip to the place with more people to recover part and other things they can find there and bring them back to Jackson. As Ellie's birthday was coming in 2 weeks, Joel worked hard on the motorcycle to get it ready for their trip to California.
A few days later, Joel was cleaning the bike after he and Bob finished it. "Sooo… you finally finished it… hmmm!" said Tommy as soon as he entered the stable.
Yeah… we finished yesterday… I was just cleaning it up a little… Too bad we can't do a paint job too, but I think it is great the way it is." answer Joel while cleaning his hand.
"And do you think it is going to work?"
Joel moved close to him and put one arm around his shoulder. "Oh, little brother… I'm not a good mechanic but I can tell you that this baby will work just fine."
"If you say so… Are you sure about going there just the two of you? I know that is a long trip even in that…" he said while pointing to the bike.
"We will be fine bro… it will be a good gift for Ellie… and a little break for us from here." he let go of his brother and walked to the bike and sat on it. "You have a great place here and I'm happy that you accept us here after all that has happened between us. But I know that some people don't like me here and I don't blame them."
"People will accept you if you accept them, Joel." Tommy walked close to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "You've been doing an excellent job here and people know that, but if you keep on being by yourself around town, the rest of the people won't be afraid of you."
"You know that I'm not a people person… I just…"
"I know brother… but you have to think about Ellie and let the past go."
Joel gets off the bike and looks at his brother. "I did a lot of bad things in my past and I don't think I can forget all that. I can say that Ellie is helping me with that… but in the end, the past always catches you."
"Well, then just enjoy the present then… you did a wonderful job with Ellie and I think that that will count for something… now go and spend some time with her… I know this trip is a little dangerous, but maybe it will help you to understand a few things."
"Thanks, bro… I really appreciate all that you have done for me and Ellie…"
"You should thank Maria… she is the one behind all this and I am not just talking about Jackson."
"I know… thanks anyway…"