A/N After taking a moment to rest and hash things out, the survivors continue on. Meanwhile, Ellie has an uneasy discussion with the Stranger. Be sure to let me know what you think of this crossover. I do not own The Walking Dead or The Last of Us.

(Updated 08-16-20)

Chapter 4: A Chance

One by one, the small group of survivors crawl through the hole they created that leads to a bedroom of the mansion next door to the one they took shelter in. The first thing Kenny does is try to open the door that leads to the hallway, but was able to stop himself upon hearing the sound of walkers on the other side.

Kenny: "Shit. This one's full of em too. Everyone keep quiet."

Joel nods at him and then directed his attention to the desk on the side. Lee was the last one to crawl through and step inside. He notices Carley standing in front of a bed with what looked like some people on it and steps up to stand beside her.

Lee: "Carley? Are you-"

His eyes widen at what she was looking at. Lying on the bed were two corpses holding hands with their blood splattered on the pillows. They could spot the wedding rings on their fingers. A husband and wife. The gun was in the husband's hand, making it clear that he shot his wife before shooting himself. As the crew gathered around this tragic moment in front of them, Omid brought his hand around Christa's waist as they lean on one another while Carley reached to place her hand on Lee's shoulder. With all the walkers right outside this room and the vicious people in the city that would've surely killed them, they wanted to go their own way. Kenny sighs heavily and turns to look out the window. Yet another reminder of his own diseased wife and son.

Lee: "How could they do this?"

Joel: "Might've thought it would've better than to have a Walker or Hunter do it for em."

Christa: "Yeah... We've seen so many people on the road... I don't know why these ones break my heart."

Kenny: "What's heartbreaking is not giving yourself a chance. It's what Henry tried to do. It's what Katjaa did."

Lee: "Ken. You did everything you could."

Kenny: "No, Lee. She left me... my son... the people who cared about us... I forgive her, but it don't make it any less wrong. You don't just end it cause it's hard. You stick it out, and you help the folks you care about."

They all find themselves agreeing with his statement. But, they had to keep moving now. Clementine and Ellie were waiting for them. As carefully as she could, the reporter reached for the gun in the dead husband's hand and extracts the clip for extra ammo. She was disappointed to not find as much as she was hoping for when she held it in her hand.

Carley: "Just one bullet. Well, better than nothing, I guess."

She takes out her own gun and loads the bullet into the current magazine.

Joel: "Let's take a look around, see if they left behind anything useful before we move on."

Following his suggestion, the crew begin to search the room while Joel went back to that desk he was looking at. Plenty of papers were littered around it. He moves them around until he finds a used roll of tape. Not much left, but he can still make some use of it. After picking it up from the desk, he starts walk through the room passing by Carley and Christa checking through the dresser drawers while Kenny and Lee checked the bedside tables, trying their best not to look at the dead couple. He comes to a stop in front of a small trash can next to a fireplace and finds a dirty pair of scissors in it. Seeing them and the tape still in his hands gave him an idea of how he can use them. Just needed to figure out what to use them on. Checking the people around him, he eventually sets his sights on Omid, who was searching through another dresser in front of him.

Joel: "Hey, Omid. You still got that pipe of yours?"

Omid: "Sure. Why?"

Joel: "Lemme borrow that for a sec."

Omid: "Okay..."

After being given his weapon, Joel kneels down in front of the trash bin to collect the scissors, pulls them apart and begins crafting the two items together. Omid tried to take a peek at what he was doing, but couldn't really get a good look. By the time he was finished, he rose back up with both halves of the scissors taped to the end of the pipe, making it much more effective and then returns it to its owner, who admires his work with a whistle.

Joel: "Here you go."

Omid: "Sweet upgrade. Much more badass now."

Joel: "Yeah, just try not to hurt yourself with it."

Omid: "Very funny."

Not much else to do in this room now. As Omid finishes his search, Joel approaches a balcony door, opens it and steps outside. No signs of any Walkers or Hunters yet. Judging by the light outside, it was already the afternoon. The sun will be going down soon. There were some dark clouds in the distance, too. A storm was on the way. There was also another rooftop pretty close to the balcony. Close enough to jump across. Just then, the people meet up behind him to report.

Joel: "Any of y'all find anything?"

Christa: "Nothing other than personal items in here."

Carley: "Did you find a way out?"

Joel: "Yeah, look here. This can work. We stick to the rooftops, we can keep clear from all that mess on the streets straight to the hotel."

Kenny: "Okay then. Let's get a move on."

Lee: "After you."

Being at the head of the group, Joel steps up onto the railing of the balcony, placing a hand on the wall to balance himself, and then jumps to the adjacent roof. After pulling himself up, he does a quick look around to make sure it was safe before calling the others over.

Joel: "It's clear. Come on over."

Omids grins at his girlfriend before stepping up to leap across next, and then Christa follows suit with a little help up from the ledge by her boyfriend. Lee allowed Carley to go next and made it easily. But, unbeknownst to the others when Kenny leaps off the railing next, the balcony gets loosen by the man's weight. Finally, it was Lee's turn to jump across as he steps up the railing. But then, the balcony suddenly shifts forward, throwing the man on it off balance.

Lee: "OH SHIT!"

Before he could even attempt to leap off properly, Lee winds up slipping off the balcony. He couldn't get a grip of the ledge as he hits the wall and falls to the alleyway below screaming.

Carley: "LEE!"

Omid: "Holy fuck!"

The group was quick to stand by the ledge while Carley kneel down and grasps it with her hands. The sound of Lee hitting ground could be heard, but it was too dark to see the alley down below. They couldn't tell where he had landed. Or more importantly, if he had survived the fall.

Carley: "Oh God, no! No!"

Frantically looking around her, she spots a ladder that leads to the alley on the side of the building and hurries over to climb down.

Kenny: "Me and my fucking mouth..."

The mustached man shook his head before descending down the ladder as well. Omid and Christa were about to join in, but were stopped by Joel stepping in front of them and raising his hand up.

Christa: "Joel, what the hell?"

Joel: "Ain't no point in putting all of lives at risk down there."

Omid: "Dude, come on. We can help-"

Joel: "By staying up here. Someone's gotta keep a lookout. If for some reason everything ends up going to shit down there, then you two will be the only chance they got left."

He also had Christa's pregnancy in mind, but he wouldn't mention it out loud. Neither of them liked it, but they knew he had a point. So, they reluctantly listen to him and remain where they're standing.

Christa: "Fine. Just... hurry back. We'll keep watch from here."

He nods and follows after Kenny and Carley to get Lee while Omid and Christa resume looking down from above by the ledge.

Still tied to the leg of the bed, Ellie hears the door to the adjoining hotel room unlocked and opened by the Stranger, then was quickly closed and locked again as he stepped inside. Both keeping eye contact with each other while he approaches the teen girl, walking around the bed at a slow pace, unintimidated by the glares in her eyes. Once he was in front of her, he takes a seat on the bed and begins to talk with her.

Stranger: "Are you going to behave yourself from now on?"

Ellie: "Depends. Are you gonna let us go?"

Stranger: "Even if I wanted to, the streets are too full of the dead outside. We won't be able to go anywhere for a while."

Ellie: "I'd rather take my chances with them than be your prisoner, you creepy fuckface."

Stranger: "Mind your tongue, young lady. And you're not my prisoner. Neither of you are."

Ellie: "Whatever. You keep telling yourself that."

All he could think about was how ungrateful she was being right now. If only she truly understood his intentions for them. He knew she'd have a hard time understanding, but not to the point where she'd jump him from behind and then stab him in the shoulder, leading him to have to spend some time in the bathroom to stop the bleeding and bandage the wound. In an effort to make her understand, he starts off with asking the all important question.

Stranger: "Do you know who I am?"

Ellie: "No. Why would I? We never even met."

Stranger: "Maybe not directly. But, in a way, we have met before."

Ellie: "What are you talking about?"

Stranger: "I'm sure you remember. There might have been a station wagon in the forest a little over a week ago? Full of all sorts of food, water, things you need to survive?"

Hearing his words caused her to widen her eyes. This was him. He was the owner of the station wagon they found after their whole ordeal with the St. Johns. This was all starting to make sense now, why he was stalking them the whole time and followed them all the way to Savannah. Ordinarily, she would feel guilty for their people robbing him. But he had taken her and Clementine against their will and was feeling too pissed at him for it. She remembered Joel's words about that situation. How he had doubted anyone was alive, and that if they were, then they'd learn what happens when you leave your supplies unguarded and unattended.

Ellie: "First of all, I didn't even agree with taking any of it. Second, you left everything out there for the taking. Even if we hadn't, someone else would've-"

Stranger: "For the taking?! You have any idea what they took from me?"

Ellie: "Don't you start on who took what from who."

Stranger: "I didn't take you two from them. I rescued you from them. Don't you get that?"

Ellie: "Then why the hell am I being tied up in here like an animal then, huh?"

Stranger: "I told you. You are on time out. Outbursts like that are not appropriate. When you calm down and realize that I am doing all this to keep you both safe and alive, you can be with Clementine again."

The teen girl lets out a scoff and looks away from him. This conversation was not going as well as he hoped it would. Still so confrontational and stubborn. She really preferred to be with those instead of being safe and sound with him.

Stranger: "Ellie. Let me ask you something. Why is it that you are so fixated on being with them?"

Joel had reached the bottom of the ladder and steps through a gate into the alley. He spots Lee laying on his left side on the ground with Carley and Kenny kneel in front of him. After stepping closer to see for himself, he notices that Lee had fallen on some debris that did little to cushion the landing. It seemed like he was unconscious.

Carley: "Lee! Lee, are you okay?! Say something!"

At first, he didn't answer, which was very worrisome. But then he let out a cough and moans in pain before opening his eyes and lifts his head. When he attempted to push himself up, he lets out another painful groan and drops back down.

Joel: "What's the matter?"

Lee: "My arm...!"

Carley: "Is it broken?"

Lee: "I don't know. But, agh, it definitely got the worst of it. Ow. Fuck. Of all the times I could fall on my face again."

Kenny: "C'mon, pal. Just walk it off. You're gonna be-"

But then, as he was being helped sitting upright, the three of them immediately let out a gasp. Even Carley placed a hand over her mouth. When Lee looked for himself, his eyes widen upon realizing that he was bleeding due to a shard of glass punctured into his left upper arm. It was then that they noticed the broken remains of a glass bottle.

Lee: "Ah shit. Shit!"

Carley: "Jesus, Lee."

Joel: "Alright, look, don't freak out. We can fix that. Just keep still and I'll-"

He was interrupted mid-sentence by the couple still waiting up on the rooftop.

Omid: "Guys, heads up! It's gonna fall!"

Christa: "Watch out!"

Heeding their warning, they look up to see the balcony coming loose and was about to come down right on top of them.

Joel: "Get back!"

Carley and Kenny were quick to get to a safe enough distance, but Lee struggled to get back on his feet. He wouldn't be fast enough to avoid it.

Joel: "Come on, move!"

He grabs hold of his injured friend and drags him away just as the balcony started to collapse and lands with a loud thud. The impact caused some dirt and dust to fill the air for a bit, causing them to wave their hands and cough. The noise will bring the walkers right to them soon. But that was the least of their worries right now when a lone Hunter wearing a hoodie and a beanie came around the corner wondering what was making all that racket. When he saw the tourists, he quickly reaches for his revolver and takes aim.

Kenny: "Fuck! Get down!"

They use a dumpster in the alley as cover from the gunfire. Joel quickly withdraws the molotov Chuck gave him from the hospital rooftop, lights it, and with one great throw, he smashes it at the end of the alley, setting a fire in front of the Hunter and scaring him off. Problem now was that they could hear him calling out for his buddies as he took off.

Joel: "Dammit, more of em are gonna be on us soon. We gotta get back up!"

While he rushes over back to the gate, the shorter woman brought Lee's uninjured arm around her to help him get to the ladder.

Carley: "I got you, Lee. Hurry."

He could only groan in response. His legs weren't hurting as bad as his arm, but he was still feeling disoriented from the fall. Watching his friend struggle to escape, Kenny then stared off at the end of the alleyway with a glare. He didn't know how many more of them were coming, but he knew deep in his gut what was bound to happen next... and he would be damned if he stood by and allowed it to happen. Just as Carley helped Lee through and were about to climb the ladder, the gate was slammed shut behind them with an iron bar jammed in between the handles immediately afterwards. They were completely caught off guard from the fact that Kenny just locked them in with his rifle in hand. It took Joel a second before attempting to open the gate, but it wouldn't budge.

Carley: "Kenny? What the fuck?!"

Lee: "What are you doing?"

Kenny: "Giving you guys a chance."

Carley: "What the hell does that mean?"

Kenny: "It means I'm gonna lure those sons of bitches away from here."

Lee: "What?!"

Joel: "Kenny, there's no way that-"

Kenny: "If they catch y'all trying to get back up there, you ain't gonna make it. Then no one will be able to save them, and all this would've been for nothing."

Lee: "Ken, no. You don't have to do this."

Kenny: "Yeah, I do, pal. I can't just go saying all that shit and not do something about it now."

None of them could believe what they were hearing. Kenny was prepared to sacrifice himself by making the Hunters focus on him so they could get away. Taking another glance, Kenny noticed the molotov fire was starting to go out and could hear the Hunters getting closer. When he turns to his friends again, he focused on the weapon he gave to Joel last night for the raid to Crawford and reaches his hand out.

Kenny: "Hey. Lemme have that shotgun. Reckon I might need all the firepower I can get with these assholes."

At that moment, Joel was hesitant about what to do. He eyed the weapon still strapped to his backpack for a moment before looking back at Kenny.

Kenny: "Come on, Joel. They're almost here. This is something that I gotta do. You know that."

The whole time Joel has known this man these past three months, the one thing he knew was that he was always too damn stubborn for his own good. That's what kept him going all this time. As they looked each other in the eyes, Joel knew there was little he could say to change his mind on what he was planning to do. Maybe this'll end up getting him killed, or maybe he'll actually survive from this. Either way, he decided to do the only thing he could do right now; give his friend the best fighting chance he can get. After all, that's what Lee did for Chuck when he gave away his other pistol back at the hospital.

Joel: "All right."

Reaching his hand back, Joel withdrew the shotgun from his pack and then slips it through the bars. Kenny grabs hold to take the weapon, but Joel still had a firm grip on it since he still had something to say.

Joel: "We'd better see you on the other side."

Kenny: "You will. Just be sure to keep your heads down until they've all left. And then... you go get them girls."

With a nod of his head, Joel allows him to take the weapon and then strap it to his back. Glancing back to see the fire snuffed out, Kenny takes one last look at his friends, nods his head and makes a run for it. He comes to a stop at the end of the alleyway before turning around just as a whole group of Hunters show up and takes a shot at them with his rifle.

Kenny: "Hey! Hey, over here! We're right here! Come get us, you bastards!"

After firing another bullet, the man runs away. Joel, Lee and Carley duck down against the wall and keep quiet as they watch at least seven Hunters running and yelling past the gate. Each were armed with rifles, sidearms and shotguns. These men had them completely outgunned. Kenny wasn't far off on how they would've shot them down if they were to climb up the ladder, then they would've gotten to Christa and Omid next. Not only that, but if they attempted to stand their ground in this narrow environment, chances are they wouldn't last long and the result would be the same. Once everything had gone completely quiet, they knew they were in the clear. But there's no telling what became of their friend now. After trying to look over at the end of the alley Kenny and the Hunters ran to, the three eventually begin climbing back up to the rooftop.

Ellie: "They're all I got left. Everyone else that I cared about has either died, or left me. Everyone expect them. And Clementine."

Stranger: "I know what it is like to have someone you cared about leave you. I hurt her so bad. My son, Adam, went missing. I took him out hunting even though my wife said he was too young. I figured he had to learn. I came back without him and the look on her face said... "You are a monster." We all went out looking for him. We never found him. I hurt her so bad. And then we came back, all our stuff was gone. Those people, Ellie. The same people you and Clementine have been trapped with. I could've earned her trust back if they hadn't made our situation so desperate."

Ellie: "You want me to start feeling sorry for you? Is that it?"

Stranger: "No. I'm not asking for pity. I just want you to understand what happened. The hungrier we got, the more she blamed me. Until she finally took our daughter, Elizabeth, and left. They didn't get far... I... found them a day later. In the road... Do I look like a monster to you?"

Ellie: "Yes."

Stranger: "You may think that now, but eventually, you'll come around. I'm not like Lee or Joel. Thanks to Clementine, I know all about what monsters they are. She thinks Lee is a good man, but he was a killer before the dead showed up, and he is still a killer now."

Ellie: "So what? That was a lifetime ago. The only other times he's killed people is when other people tried to kill us. They didn't give us a choice."

Stranger: "You look up to Joel, yet his occupation included dealing with criminals and killing innocent people. And right from the start, he planned on leaving everyone in that group behind just to save himself."

Ellie: "I wasn't thrilled about it either. But he chose to stay with us. I don't care what he used to be before."

Stranger: "But think about everything they put the two of you through up until now. They walked you both into a dairy full of sick people and let them get their hands on you."

Ellie: "We needed food. We were desperate. None of us knew they were cannibals until it was too late."

Stranger: "They abandoned a defenseless, grieving woman."

Ellie: "Defenseless?! Bullshit! She tried to shoot one of our own in cold blood like it was nothing! She got what she deserved!"

Stranger: "They took you two into the most dangerous place in this city where you both could've died. Horribly."

Ellie: "Yeah, well, we didn't. We wanted to go with them. We didn't want to stay alone in that house."

Stranger: "You two would've been better off. How many times have you and Clementine come close to dying just by being with them?"

Ellie: "Don't talk like you would've have done any better!"

Stranger: "THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD'VE DONE!"

Both the stranger and teen girl remained silent after his outburst. Both of them continued glaring at one another without saying another word.

Christa and Omid were still anxiously looking down from the ledge. They couldn't tell where anyone was down there or even what was happening. That is until they hear someone in pain and turned to see Lee had dropped back down onto his knees, grasping his bleeding arm with Carley in front of him and Joel by his side. The couple quickly rush over to them worriedly.

Omid: "Oh shit, man!"

Christa: "What happened!?"

Lee: "Landed on some glass on the way down. Jesus, this hurts."

Omid: "Seriously?! Holy crap. What do we do?"

Joel: "I got this. Lee, I'm gonna try pulling this thing out, but I need you to keep still and stay quiet as best you can, yeah?"

Furrowing his eyebrows, he knew this was going to hurt a lot more, but still nods his head at him. Looking at the reporter in front of him, she reaches out her hand and he takes it while she uses her other hand to hold his forearm. Before he could get started, Joel sets his pack down to take out what he needed; the used roll of bandages and fresh bottles of antibiotics and painkillers that he got from the Nurse's station in Crawford. Only thing he didn't have was a pair of pliers. He'll have to do this barehanded. Grabbing on to his friend's arm with one hand, he reaches for the shard with the other, grasps hold of it and pulls it very carefully. Lee was trying his best not to make any sudden moves and keep the volume of his painful moaning to a minimum while squeezing Carley's hand. One wrong move and the shard could break apart, leaving it wedged inside. Fortunately, Joel was able to get it loose enough to yank it all the way out. Tossing it aside, he quickly grabs for the bandages and used what was left of it to stop the bleeding.

Joel: "There. That'll hold."

With that done, he picks up the two medicine bottles and opens them up as Lee holds out his hand and was given two separate pills to take.

Joel: "This oughta help with the pain and keep it from getting infected."

Lee: "Thanks, man."

Joel: "Don't mention it."

Carley: "Lee, don't you dare fucking scare me like that again. You hear me?"

Lee: "Ngh, no promises. Sorry, Carley."

That didn't really provide any reassurances as she frowned at his choice of words, but at least he was being honest. But then she furrows her eyebrows. Seeing him fall to the alley and finding his arm bleeding in such a short time scared the absolute hell out of her. He came pretty close to dying just now before he could get the chance to rescue their girls. They all would've lost someone invaluable in their crew. She was just very grateful that Lee was still alive right now. So much so that, being this up-close to his face, she decided to take the opportunity reach her hands up to cup his face and leans in to kiss him on the lips. This took the man by surprise as he was not expecting her to be doing this right now. But rather than attempt to push her away, he closed his eyes and returns the romantic gesture. This may not be the appropriate time, but in this world they live in now, any day could be your last despite your best efforts to ensure that it wouldn't happen. Sometimes, you got to be able to cherish every moment you get to spend with the ones you care about. That was what the two of them were doing now, and no one dared to interrupt. Finally, they break the kiss and look into each other's eyes.

Carley: "I'll take what I can get."

Still a little surprised by what they just did, Lee responds with a little smile on his face and swallows the pills he was given while Christa was still staring at the ladder, expecting Kenny to show up at any second. But he never did.

Christa: "Wait, where's Kenny? Why hasn't he come back up yet?"

At first, she was only answered with sad frowns on their faces. She glanced at her boyfriend for a moment assuming the worst before Lee finally stands back up and answers.

Lee: "The Hunters. They... They were coming for us. He knew that if we all tried climbing back up, they would've gunned us down. So, Kenny stayed behind so they'd go after him instead."

Christa: "Oh, my God."

Omid: "Damn. That's just-... Do you think-?"

Lee: "Look, Kenny's a tough guy, so maybe he'll be all right. Maybe- maybe he'll make it to the bridge."

Carley: "Lee..."

Christa: "What if he doesn't?"

The man didn't really have an answer to that. He really wanted to believe that his friend would make it. But with the amount of odds stacked against him, all on his own, who knows. Knowing they had wasted enough time on this roof as it is and that they can't exactly wait here for Kenny, Joel decided now was the time to get back on track as he straps his backpack on.

Joel: "C'mon. We gotta keep moving."

And so, the crew now one man short move on from the rooftop and continue forward on their way to River Street, where they will find the Marsh House, and hopefully Clementine and Ellie still in there.

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N I hope that everyone is staying safe and well with everything going on with the COVID-19 (Or Coronavirus). I myself am trying to stay positive despite everything. Not only that, but after so long, The Last of Us Part II is finally here. I hope you all have fun playing it. I just wish I could've had this book completely finished before it released. And even though Ben had already died in this story, I wanted to mix up the alleyway scene for this chapter. Otherwise, it would've been much shorter. Now, given the situation in the alleyway, would you have given the shotgun to Kenny or hold onto it for the dangers ahead towards the Marsh House?

Updated A/N - Normally, I wouldn't do this, and this may seem selfish, I know. But with everything that is about to unfold in the next chapters, I wanted to be able to get away with at least one CarLee kiss.