Disclaimer: I do not own any character of (The Last of Us) TLOU is owned by Naughty Dog, Sony, and their creators.

A/N: Nothing to say this time than enjoy the story and thank you for reading it.

Chapter 10: Aftermath

The boy came a few minutes later to tell his grandpa that his sister was sleeping now. He cleans her up as best as he can, but she will need a good bath as soon she wakes up. His grandfather told him to let her sleep as long as she can and guide Joel and Ellie to one of the empty rooms and help them with what they need. The boy instructs them to follow him up the stairs and take them to one of the extra rooms they have in the house.

Soon they get there, the boy opens the door and shows them the inside of the room. "You can sleep in here," he said looking at Joel. "And Ellie, you can sleep in my room if you want. I will be sleeping with my sister tonight, so my room is going to be empty."

"Thanks, but we prefer to sleep in the same room if you don't mind," said Ellie while looking at Joel. The last thing she needs is to be alone right now after what happens with the hunters.

"Sure… whatever you decide... I will be back with some clothes for both of you." The boy looks at Joel. "Some of my grandpa's clothes can fit you, and I will try to find something for Ellie…"

"Thank you… and give my thanks to you grandpa too," answer Ellie.

The boy smiled at her. "No, thank you… if nowhere for both of you we'd all be dead by now." The boy turns around and walks toward the room door. He turned around as soon as he was out and looked at both of them. "The bathroom is the next door to the left. It has clean towels and all you need to take is a bath... if you need something else just let us know okay…"

"Thanks…" after the boy walked away, Joel closed the door and walked toward Ellie. "Are you sure you feel fine?" he asked as soon he get closer to her.

"Yes, Joel… I'm fine. (she lied) She was not really fine. Physically she is okay even if she inhales too much smoke, but the worst part is mental. That hunter leader has woken up something she thought was buried deep inside.

"Well… let's get some rest and get out of here as soon as we can… I don't trust the old man too much."

Ellie walked to the bed and sat on it. "I think we can trust him… He just does what any parent will to help his children." Ellie looks at the bed and passes her hand on it. The bed was big and soft, so she thinks that both of them can sleep well there. After a minute she looks at Joel and smiles. "I really need a bath…"

Joel walked toward the bed and sat beside her. "You may trust these people, but I prefer to leave as soon as we can. I don't want to stay here longer than we need to." Joel was not exactly talking about the family. He knows that if the hunters go away they will be back with more people and it was better for them to not be there when that happens.

Ellie looked at him and was not surprised by his words. She knows that he does not trust anybody, not even Jackson. But she can't blame him, they almost died today and that is something she does not want for them. "I don't think you should not be worried too much, they're just an old man and his kids … I don't think they will-"

Joel moves out of the bed and kneels in front of her. "Isn't that what I worry about… I saw two hunters walk out of that building and get away in their truck." he shook his head, then looked back at her. "I do not want to be here if those hunters come back looking for them or us…"

She can see the worry in his eyes, maybe not for himself or for these people, but for her. "Do you really think that those men are going to come looking for us?" she asked with a worried tone.

"I don't know what those hunters will do after today… but I don't want to be here to find out… so after we get a bath and some rest… we get the hell out of here..." he stands up and walks toward the window and looks outside. It was getting dark so they probably had to stay until morning.

Ellie thinks for a moment, then looks at Joel. "What about those people? If those men came back looking for them and found this house they would probably…" she stops at the thought of what will happen to the little family.

Joel turns his head and looks at her. "I know that you have some concern about these people, but this is not our problem anymore. We can't stay here… and they need to decide what to do next." he walked toward the bed and sat beside her again. Joel grabs one in her hand and looks into her eyes. "I know that you're worried for these people, but I almost lost you today and I can't live if something happens to you."

Ellie looks at him holding the urging to kiss him right there. "I know things don't go the way we wanted today. But we're alive… and we did something good by helping these people… I can imagine what those men will do to that girl if we do not get there in time…" she knows how scared Joel gets when her life is being treated. But Ellie worries sometimes about Joel only thinking about her and not other people. She loves him for being so caring, but that makes him heartless about other people. Some of them are like them… only wanted to live a peaceful life in this all fucked world. Even so, Ellie has watched how much he changed over the years and she loves him for that. After a few minutes, she saw how sad he became. She just wanted to tell him how much she loves him and how happy she is for them to be alive. "Joel… I want to tell you… something…" she said in a lower voice, almost afraid of what she wanted to tell him. Not for what she feels about him, but for what his reaction is going to be.

Joel put his other hand on top of hers. "You know that you can tell me anything right?… so if they hurt in any way or something it bothers you… just tell me...okay?"

She was looking at his face, then she lowered her head and looked where their hands were holding together. "I…. I… I don't know how to say this…" she thought for a moment about what she wanted to tell him. But the thought of the hunter's words gets into her mind and she doesn't know how to tell him about her feelings. So she decided to say something else. They didn't hurt me… much." she started in a lower voice. "But the things the hunter leader told me… remind me of… David…"

Joel moves his hand away from hers and uses them to pull her closer. He hugs her from the side and kisses the top of her head. "Oh… Ellie… I'm so sorry. I should not let you go with that old man alone… this is my fault and-"

Ellie moves away from a little and looks at his face. "No!... is not. I was the one that I wanted to help them… but that is not exactly what I wanted to tell you-" she was going to tell him but she was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Can I come in?" It was the boy on the other side. "I brought you some clothes and my grandpa said that dinner will be ready in one hour." They hear the boy moving outside but don't answer him. "Is everything okay?" he asked.

"Yes… we're fine… Thank you for the clothes. And tell you, grandpa, that we will take a shower first… is that okay." answer Ellie after a few minutes.

"Okay… I will leave clothes on the floor. Is that fine with you?"

"Yes… thank you," said Joel while looking at the door. Then they hear the boy walking away.

"Well, I guess I will take that shower now," said Ellie, changing the subject. She was going to tell him, but it was better if she talked to him when they're back on the road. Ellie gets off the bed and walks toward the door. She opened it and saw the clothes on the floor, so she bent down and picked them up. She walks back to the bed and passes Joel the one the boy leaves for him. "I will take a shower and see if this fits me up… if not I can still use my spare ones." then she walked out of the room.

Joel watched her go still wondering what she wanted to tell him that doesn't have to be about the hunters. Even so, he knows that something happens in the factory that she is not telling him, but he is not going to pressure her and wait until she is ready to talk.

Ellie enters the bathroom and closes the door. She looks at herself in the mirror. It was good that these people have electricity and water, even if she doesn't know-how. After a few minutes, Ellie opens the water from the sink and splashes some on her face. When she opened her eyes and looked at herself in the mirror, she panicked when she saw David behind her. "No!... you're dead!" said Ellie with a panicked voice.

"Do you really think that? I told you that I will find you…" David said with a smile on his face.

Ellie quickly grabbed a toothbrush and turned around. But soon she was ready to strike him, no one was there. She closes her eyes again and hears his voice in her head.

"You should accept my offer… we could have so much fun together…" it was David's voice at first, but then she hears the hunter's voice telling her the same.

No!... this is not real… is just in my mind… she put her hand on her face and shook her head trying to forget all that. After a few minutes, she moved her hands and opened her eyes. She looked around, but the bathroom was all quiet again. So she moves to the shower and opens the water. I need to get all that out of my head.

One hour later, Joel and Ellie were sitting at the kitchen table with The old man and his grandson. "I hope you like the food, I'm not a great cook… but I think I'm doing okay." said the old man while eating.

Joel takes a bite of his food and looks at him. "How do you have electricity and fresh water?" he asked curiously.

"Oh… glad that you ask. The water comes from a well that this house has on the back. It seems that the latest owner had it before we found it. So getting it to work was easy work… the electricity was another different thing. I found a small solar panel plant close to here. I think it was an experimental facility deeper in the forest. The place was still working conduction, so as I worked in an electric plant before, I worked a little on it, then I found the way to bring that power here."

"Yeah… My grandpa is a genius… it takes some time, but with our help, we make it work," Said the boy while eating his food.

Joel looks at them… this was a nice place to be and well-hidden too, but if those hunters go away, they probably will be back looking for them. The house was close enough to that wood factory, so if they use that as a guide it is possible that they will find this place with time. "That was interesting and I see you built a good place to live… but you're not afraid that the light at night and the smoke from the fireplace give this location up?"

"We're careful about all that… we use minimal light and we have black curtains on all the windows in the house. The smoke is not a problem. We do not use that much and we're too deep into the forest and away from any road to notice that."

"Besides we have some traps around the house to make sure no one gets close without us noticing." add the boy to the conversation.

Joel looks at Ellie and notices that she is not talking at all and that is strange to her. "Ellie are you okay? You don't say much since you get out of the shower."

Ellie looks at him and tries to smile. "I'm okay… I'm just a little tired…" then she looks at the old man. "How is Molly? Why is she not here eating? Is she still sleeping?" Ellie starts to worry about the girl.

"Yeah… she woke up when you two were upstairs. We tried to give her something to eat but she said that she was not hungry and went back to sleep."

"That is not a normal thing… don't you think?" said Ellie with a worried tone.

"Ellie?" said Joel, looking at her with worried eyes.

"Sorry… I don't mean to sound rude… I just worry for her health… that's all."

"Yeah… me too… but there is not much we can do for now… I try to talk to her, but she is not talking to me. I know that what happens there affects her… but she insists to be fine."

"Can I go and talk to her? Maybe I can help a little with that… Talking between two girls is a better way to get something out." said Ellie while looking at the old man.

"Sure… it will be great if she talks to someone and let out her feelings about what happened there and since you're with her at that moment, that will help more." said the old man while looking at her.

Ellie looks at Joel and asks him for permission. Soon Joel gives her the go, she stands up and grabs the plate with half the food. "I will finish my food there if you don't mind."

"Of course not," he said while looking at her.

Ellie walks toward the girl's room that was on the first floor of the house. Soon she gets there, she knocks at the door. "Molly, are you awake? Is me Ellie…" she said in a lower voice. Ellie waits for a few minutes before the girl answers her back.

"Come in…" The girl answers in a lower voice too.

"Okay, thanks…" Ellie opened the door and got into the room. The room was almost all dark, only a small wall light illuminated the place. "I brog you something to eat…" Ellie said while walking closer to the bed. The girl was facing the other way so she couldn't see her face. Ellie moves to the side of the bed and puts the plate on a small table there. "I know that what happens there was hard for you… but you can't let that put you down… okay?" said Ellie while looking at the girl.

"I… still see that man's face… in my mind… the one I burn up..." said the girl in a lower voice.

Ellie sat on the bed beside her. She knows how she feels because in a way she passes for that too. "I know how that makes you feel… But you don't need to worry about that. if you kill the infected… before, is like the same thing," said Ellie trying to soften things up for her.

"No, it is not… The infected people are already dead… and that… man… was-" the girl covered her face with her hand and started to cry. Ellie moves one hand and passes it on her back. She remembers the conversation she has with Sam when he asks her if somehow the mind of the original person is still intact somewhere inside the infected. She knows that their mind is gone as soon as the infection takes total control of the brain, so yeah is not the same as killing a conscious person. But killing a hunter is almost the same for here because they're dead inside. They are just bastards that have no conscience or morals, they just kill for pleasure and that is why she does not have any problem killing them.

"I know it is not the same, but in a way they are. Those men only live to take what they want and hurt or kill innocent people just for pleasure." Ellie moved her hand and put it on the girl's shoulder. "I know it is hard for someone your age to take a life like that, but you don't need to feel guilty about it. They were going to kill us or worse… so it's just a survival instinct."

The girl turns around on the bed and looks at her. Molly wiped her tears before speaking. "I know… grandpa always said that it is them or us… he teaches us how to shoot a gun and defend ourselves… but he and my brother always do that. I never kill a man that wasn't infected… before," said the girl with some sobs in her voice.

Ellie looked at her with sad eyes. "Yeah… they were trying to protect you, so you don't have to feel this way. But sometimes we don't have a choice and need to do it to protect the one we love. The first time I killed a man, I did it to protect Joel and I feel really bad about it, but I know I have to do it to save his life." said Ellie remembering the trip to the fireflies.

"Really!"

"Yep… I feel something in my stomach that makes me sick… but after that, it becomes easier. I don't say that it is good to kill someone, but sometimes we do not have a choice." Ellie looks at the girl with hopping eyes. "But I can see that you're a strong girl and all this will pass with time… I promise you," The girl moved up and hugged her.

"Thank you… Thank you for making me feel a little better now."

"I'm the one that needs to thank you, if not for you I would probably be dead by now… so thank you," said Ellie while hugging her back.

Back in the kitchen, the others were finished eating their dinner. So after they do, the boy stands up and grabs their plate and walks to the sink, and starts washing them.

The old man looked at Joel while the boy did his job. "Look… I am really sorry about all this and I will always be grateful for your help. I know that I lie about having more gas here, but I will compensate you for your help… I promise you."

Joel gave him a look, he was still mad at him for putting Ellie at risk, but he knew why he did it. Because what those hunters were going to do to the girl when they found her… He will be crazy mad if they do the same to Ellie, so he did not want that to happen to the girl either. "I'm still mad for putting Ellie at risk, but I can understand why you did it…" Joel looked at the boy and shook his head. "I know this is not my business. But you and your family are still in danger. The leader of the hunter gets away and normally they come back for revenge. So it is better if you and your children get away from here… at least for a time." said Joel looking at the man now.

The old man looked at the boy. "Alex, can you go out and check the traps and make sure all are set before we go to sleep… okay?" said the old man.

"Sure grandpa… I will be back in a bit," said the boy while walking away.

Soon the boy was out, the old man looked at Joel. "I'm grateful for all you and your girl did for us, but this is our home now and we work hard to keep it safe. We're well hiding in this forest and I don't think those men will be back looking for us." The man stood up and walked toward the window. It was dark now, but he could see the trees around the house. "Things are hard out there, and every day it gets worse, so I think that we will be safer here. Anyway, I told them that we're passing through when they stop us… so when he finds out we take our car back they will think that we're long gone from here." said the old man with a convincing tone.

Joel looked at him and shook his head. "Well, that is a possibility, but I don't think they are that dumb. They probably thought that you live closer to the wood factory and tried to check this whole area looking for you. So are you willing to risk the life of your kids for just a possibility? You boy was almost killed and your granddaughter… could get something worse, do you want that for them?" said Joel standing up from the chair.

The old man turned his head and looked at him. "Yeah, today was a bad day… and I know that we're alive thanks to you and Ellie… but this is our home and we will stay here no matter what."

At that moment Ellie walks into the kitchen with her plate empty. "I make her eat… before she falls asleep again," said Ellie looking at the old man. "She was feeling bad about what happened there, but I think she will be okay."

He looks at her and gives her a small smile. "Thank you… Thank you for helping her… I know things go bad out there and you get hurt too because of that," he said looking at the bruise on her face. "But I'm really glad that you two show up and helped us out. You two saved our lives and I am really thankful for that," said the man while walking close to her, taking the plate from her hands.

"She saves me back there too, so I think we're even… she is still in shock about what happened there, but I can see that she is a strong girl, so she will be fine with time."

Joel listens to her and admires how mature Ellie is sometimes. Yeah, she will be 18 in a week, but even when they meet she behaves like a grown-up person with a strong spirit… he knows that their trip to the fireflies changes some of that, but the time in Jackson is helping her to heal, even if she is not already there yet.

"Well, it is better if we go to the room and try to get some sleep. It has been a long day," said Joel, walking close to Ellie.

"Yeah, it was… I better go out and check on Alex…" he said while looking at them. "And again thank you for helping us and saving our lives… if you need anything just let me know okay?"

"Sure…" Joel puts one arm around Ellie's shoulder and starts walking out of the kitchen. He doesn't know how much Ellie hears their conversation, but they really need to get some sleep and get out of there as soon as possible.

As they walked toward the second floor Ellie got closer to his ears and whispered. "Did you tell him about the hunters that escaped? And that they're not safe here if they decide to come back for them?" she said with a worried tone.

Joel continues walking up the stairs and doesn't say anything until they get to the second floor. "Yes, I did, but he said that they do not want to leave this place… so there is nothing more we can do about that," said Joel while walking to their room faster.

But Ellie grabs his arm and stops him before they get to the room. "That is not good Joel… we can't let them stay here… that… that man will come back for her… I mean… He will kill them all," she said with a worried tone.

"We don't know that… kiddo, but even if they do, we can't force him to leave… that is his choice… not ours."

"I know… but it is not only his… he had kids… he should think about them too." Ellie looks down, thinking about the girl. She can't imagine that man coming back and finding her. She knows what he will do to the girl if he gets his hand on her. "Maybe I can talk to him… and explain the risk he is taking by staying here," said Ellie while looking at his face.

Joel knows that something is bothering Ellie, she never is this upset about something and he needs to know what it is. He knows how she gets concerned about Him sometimes and about some people at Jackson, but not with some strangers. But maybe they can talk about what it is when they get back to the road. "Ellie, you got hurt… and it's been a long day… let's get some sleep and try to talk to him the next morning okay?"

Ellie looks down knowing that the girl's room is down there. She needs to do something about that mad man and make sure he doesn't find Molly or any other girl. But Joel is right… her head hurts and is better if they get some rest before they get out of there. "Okay… let's talk to him in the morning again." Ellie grabbed his arm and got closer to him and without thinking she kissed his cheek. She hides her face from his view as soon as she feels the redness on it.

Soon they enter the room, Joel closes the door behind them. Ellie walked toward the bed and sat on the edge of it. Joel walked after her and sat beside her on the bed. He moved one hand and touched the side of her head where she got hit by the hunter. He can see the black bruise on her and feel bad because he wasn't there to stop this from happening. "Does this still hurt?" he asked with some concern.

Ellie was looking at the floor, but his hand felt good on her skin, even if he was only touching her in a concerned way. "A little… but not as bad as before," she said after a minute. Slowly Ellie moved her hand and put it on top of his and smiled a little while getting a strange feeling inside her. She doesn't know what to do with all the confusing feelings in her head. She wanted to tell him, but what Joel will do as soon as she confesses her love for him?

After a minute of silence, Joel spoke again. "That bastard… I'm so sorry Ellie… I should arrive there before that happens… if only I didn't let you with- '' Ellie grabbed his hand to stop him. She hates when he blames himself for something that is not his fault. She moved their hands away from her face and held them tight while moving them to her lap.

Ellie looks at him with sad eyes, because he always does that. "What happens there isn't your fault Joel… so don't blame yourself for that." She looked at his face and saw the helpless look on them. He always thinks of her as if she is still a kid that needs protection all the time and is not capable of defending herself. It is cute that he always wants to protect her and sometimes it is good that he is there for her. But she hates when he feels down because he is not there when she gets hurt somehow.

"It is my fault because I'm the one that is supposed to keep you safe… we're supposed to be having fun on this trip, not fighting infected or hunters or risking our lives for people we don't know." he moved his head and looked at the floor. "I don't know what I will do if I lose you…" he whispered without looking at her.

Ellie looked at him with a melting heart. "I know you want me to be safe and I want the same for you… but we know the risk of being out here and we can control that." Joel was right, we were supposed to be having fun on the way to that beach and we will as soon we get there. Ellie looked at his face and wanted to kiss him right there and take the sadness away from him. One of the reasons she has for this trip, was for her to express her feelings for him. And it was better to do it away from all the eyes in Jackson that were not going to understand that they can be together that way. She loves him and she needs to let him know that. But this is not the place for her to do that.

After a few minutes, Joel looked back at her. "We better get some sleep… you can take the bed… I will sleep on the floor," he said while standing up.

"Oh… no… no… no way I will let you do that." Ellie takes off her shoes and moves more into the bed. "This bed is big enough for both of us… so I do not want to hear any complaints about it." Ellie waits until Joel takes off his shoes to grab his arm and pull him into the bed with her. Ellie lay on one side of the bed while Joel lay on the other side.

Joel put his hand behind his head and looked at the ceiling. "Good night… kiddo," he said in a lower voice.

Ellie turns to her side and looks at him. "Joel?"

"Yes!" Joel turned his head to look at her face. "Did you need something…?"

She was going to protest about him calling her that, but decide not to. Even if he has been calling her that when she was 14, she still likes it. Even if it makes her feel like a child, it is something she can associate with the love he feels for her, even if she doesn't want him to love her like a daughter, at least not anymore. "Can we cuddle? I need to feel you close…" She doesn't know how Joel will take that, but she really needs to feel him close to her to scare the nightmare she knows will be coming tonight.

Joel knows that something is bothering her, but doesn't want to pressure her, so will find out later. "Sure… if that makes you feel better," he said while looking at her face trying to know why she is acting like this.

"Thanks… Joel," she moved to the side and put half of her body on his chest. Joel moves one arm and embraces her. "Yes, this will make me feel better…" She closed her eyes and slowly moved one hand on his chest. After a few minutes, she starts to feel the heat from his body and the comfort of being in his arms. She doesn't know if Joel feels sleepy after a few minutes, but slowly the words on her head escape her mouth. "I love you… Joel… with all my heart…"