Part 7: Back to Boston
Things had become more active in Jackson since Philips group started working with Johnny and the word of the cure got out. So far they had cleared most of the towns nearby of infected and even set up small settlements. A few months ago there was a celebration for Steve and Rachels wedding. Currently Johnny was in the town hall with Maria, Tommy, Joel Conner and Philip.
"The WLF huh," Tommy said putting a hand under his chin.
"Apparently they're based in Seattle," said Philip. "One of the people who joined me a while before we joined up with all of you used to be on the side of the people they're currently fighting," he said looking down.
"Your saying theres a battle going down in Seattle?" Maria asked calmly. Philip nodded.
"Yeah and trust me WLF has some messed up enemy," he said before looking at Johnny. "He was covered in scars and couldn't take it any more before he left," he said.
"Alright," said Johnny. "Has there been any sign of either side in the area recently," he said.
"No," Philip said. "But from the stories ive heard these guys are well armed, they fought the city's military and won," he said.
"And gained their equipment in the process," said Joel rubbing his eyes.
"So what do we do?" Maria asked.
"As much as how good our weapons count is were not ready to fight in a war," said Tommy.
"But does it have to be a war," Philip said getting everyones attention. "I know I cant say much after you all attacked my last home, but things did end where not everyone died," he said.
"Your saying we tell them about the cure," said Conner. "Then again we haven't tried introducing the cure to a large group yet," he said before looking serious at Johnny.
"We do a test," he said getting everyones attention.
"What do you mean?" Maria asked.
"Try and recruit people from a larger group," said Joel. "Its risky, what if they don't agree with the way we get things done," he said.
"They'll understand," Johnny said getting everyones attention. "A lot of them still don't know that theres a cure available,".
"Will let them know theres a better choice out there," he said looking at Philip determined. Philip nodded at him smiling before someone knocked on the door.
"Come on in," Maria said. The door opened revealing Dave who had a calm look on his face.
"Sorry for interrupting but Johnny your needed at the medical office," he said making the leader look surprised.
"Is it Ellie?" Joel asked looking concerned.
"No its Rachel, Steve and Ellie are with her now," he said looking worried.
"Alright, Conner, Maria can I ask you both talk about possible places to go?" Johnny asked and they nodded. As Johnny walked outside with Dave he didn't notice Tommy and Joel looking at each other with a serious look on their faces.
As they walked through the town some of the people waved at Johnny who waved back before yawning. "You doing alright, Ellie says the two of you have been getting up early," Dave said.
"Yeah its just been a couple of busy months," said Johnny.
"How did trying coffee with Joel work out," Dave said smiling.
"Honestly Ellies reaction to it was better then mine," Johnny said smiling at the memory before looking calm. "Just tell me one thing Dave, is she badly hurt," he said.
"No but she now has someone else to worry about," Dave said as they reached the medical office. Dave opened the door to now what looked like a small hospital. There were hospital beds with a few doctors and survivors who were training to be nurses to help them. Dave lead Johnny to a hospital bed near the end and found Rachel sitting on a bed. Steve holding her right hand while her left was over her stomach. Ellie was standing on one side of the bed with a nervous look on her face.
Johnny may have read a few books on the subject. But he had also been around enough of the settlements to recognize what had happened to Rachel. "How far along is she," he said knowing Rachel was pregnant.
Rachel put her hand over her eyes as Steve hugged her. "Its going to be okay," he said.
"Almost a month, apparently she had been throwing up a lot recently and Ellie noticed when they were delivery supplies to a settlement," Dave said.
"I told her to come here this morning when I found her at her house when we were suppose to hang out," Ellie said.
"Alright then," Johnny said before walking over to his friends. "Why are you upset?" He asked.
"Your going to take me off the missions aren't you," she said .
"Your right," Johnny said and Ellie was about to speak before Johnny spoke up next. "The same goes for you Steve," he said looking serious.
"Wait what," Steve said.
"I refuse to let you take a risk out there when you have a kid on the way," Johnny said looking serious make Steve look surprised. "You and Rachel came up with the idea for the team and made me the leader," he said.
"So I'm asking you to listen to me on this," he said.
Steve looked a little annoyed but then when he looked at his wife before he sat down next to her. "Alright I understand," he said.
"Alright," Johnny said before heading outside with Ellie following him.
"If you ask me he did the right thing," Dave said calmly. "Children need their parents," he said before going to do some work.
As Johnny and Ellie walked away the two of them hadn't said a word since leaving the medical office. "Anything important come up in the meeting?" Ellie asked.
"Just some news about a group called the WLF," Johnny said calmly. "Luckily they're based in Seattle and have no reason to come after us at the moment," he said.
"Were also thinking of going to a city to recruit a bigger group," Johnny said before Ellie held his hand.
"Would you do the same thing if it was me," Ellie said.
"Of course," he said calmly before she held his other hand.
"They're going to find it tough to not being able help anyone for the next nine months," Ellie said.
"Yeah but I hope they'll understand what I had to do," Johnny said before Ellie hugged him.
"It must have been tough for you to do, but I'm happy you did it," she said before Johnny hugged her back with his eyes shut.
"Thank you Ellie," Johnny said before they started heading back to the house. But when they reached the front door to Joels house they saw Tommy and Joel waiting for them.
"We need to talk," Tommy said before they all headed into the living room. After sitting down Tommy asked what was up with Rachel and Johnny told him.
"Oh well that's great," said Tommy before looking calm. "I'm sorry you had to do that, I knew that if you were made a leader at a young age you would eventually have to make tough decisions like this," he said.
"Its fine," said Johnny calmly as Ellie held his hand. "I made the right choice," he said.
"Well you dad did the same thing when Sam was pregnant with you," Tommy said. "Even after what happened to him after Elsie, he was a good man," he said.
"Yeah he was," Johnny said before siting up.
"But this isn't just about Rachel is it?" He asked.
"No we think we might know a place to start with," Tommy said before looking at Joel who nodded.
"Boston," he said making the two of them look surprised.
"Wait what," Ellie said standing up.
"Now hang on," said Joel.
"That place is probably still crawling with the military, they were wiping out the fireflies the day we left," she said looking serious.
"But Marlene was still able to make it out of there," Tommy said. "It's a long shot but a buddy of mine might still be there," he said.
"What do you mean?" Johnny asked.
"Derek, back before I met you and left the fireflies there was guy who like me was thinking about leaving if things didn't go well," Tommy said. "A few days after you met Dave I found out he was still alive in Salt Lake City," he said.
"But he headed back to Boston a day before the three of you arrived," Tommy said. "Apparently he still had friends there and wanted to be with them," he said.
"I know how to get us in, but maybe Bills still around and he can give us a hand," said Joel. "Even he cant say no to a cure," he said.
Ellie sighed before looking at Johnny who looked like he was thinking. "What do you think?" She asked.
"Boston seems like the best choice, given we've been there before and Joel could sneak us in," Johnny said before looking at Joel and Ellie.
"But are you two okay with going?" He asked knowing they've both lost people there. Ellie smiled before sitting down next to him and holding his hands.
"If you can handle going back to the bunker, then I can handle this," she said before watching Joel put a hand on his shoulder.
"Let us help you this time," he said smiling before hugging him. Johnny smiled before hugging him back.
"I'm coming with you too," Tommy said making them look surprised. "Maria will understand," he said.
"Alright," Johnny said. That night everyone gathered in the town hall where Johnny and Tommy explained their plan. Most of Johnnys team would be going along with Joel and Tommy. Half of Phillips group was going with the rest being asked by Johnny to look after Jackson.
"We wont let you down," One of the people from the group told Johnny.
Some people from Conners group we're going as well. Dave was coming as well to look after the box of cures they were bringing with them.
The next morning Conner pulled in with three trucks and a few motorbikes. "I'll make sure to check in on the town while your gone," Conner said shaking hands with Johnny.
"Thanks, ill make sure I bring your people back with me," said Johnny.
"Make sure you do as well," Conner said before Steve spoke up.
"Hey," he said. Johnny looked over to see him standing with Rachel. The two of them looked down.
"Hey you guys here to say goodbye," Ellie said walking over to Johnny.
"Yeah and to say sorry," Steve said. "Your right, I need to focus on looking after my kid," he said.
Johnny walked over to Steve and patted him on the shoulder. "Thanks and I'm sure your going to be a great dad," he said. Steve looked surprised before hugging his friend who hugged him back.
"You better make it back," he said.
"You got it," Johnny said smiling before noticing Rachel hugging Ellie.
"You better make it back," Rachel said before puling away and wiping her eyes. "I maybe first but I still want our kids to be friends," she said.
"Don't worry ill make it back," said Ellie smiling before nodding at Johnny.
"Keep Jackson safe," Johnny said looking at Steve who nodded looking determined. Johnny and Ellie got in the leading truck with Joel while Tommy was saying bye to Maria as he sat on a motor cycle.
"You stay safe on that thing," Maria said before kissing him.
"You got it," said Tommy before starting the engine.
"Don't worry Joel you'll get a turn eventually," Ellie said smiling.
"Thanks Kiddo," Joel said smiling before looking at Johnny. "You good to go?" He asked and Johnny nodded.
"Lets get going," he said before the team started moving out. But Johnny knew they had a long way ahead of them before reaching Boston.