Part 31: Give another chance
In the meeting hall there was mostly most of the people looking at the firefly solider had a serious look on their face. Besides Tommy, Maria and Johnny Dylan had also come over from his town. There was Philip sitting next to Johnny. Mike, Derrick and Leo were listening from the radio.
The person in front of them was wearing a firefly soldier uniform. He was nice enough to hand over his weapons for safety. But that didn't stop Johnny from clenching his fist under the table after everything they had done to his family.
"Your Tommy right, some people mentioned you before and one of them had a photo," the man said.
"Yeah well I have other things going on now," Tommy said.
"What about you, are those tags under your shirt," he said looking at Johnny, "Im glad Im talking to you,".
"Why's that," Maria said.
"Well after all you used to be fireflies," he said.
"Don't ever call me that," Johnny said angrily but looked calm.
"Okay," the man said looking nervous.
"What are you here for," Tommy said calmly.
"Were looking for people to join up with us," he said.
"Is there not enough of you?" Derrick asked.
"No we've lost a lot of people over the years and we've bee trying to make San Francisco livable again," he said, "A lot of soldiers have been working on clearing the infected,".
"What do you need us for," Maria said.
"Survivors have been coming in from a nearby town, they were wounded or badly injured," he said. "The ones that made it to us were lucky to survive," he said.
"So you want us to help you save them," Mike said.
"Yes but we were hoping we could bring more people into the fireflies," the man said calmly.
"Well luckily were doing just fine on our own," Dylan said.
"We heard of the fireflies but we didn't need them to keep our homes and people safe," Derrick said.
"But we need to unite everyone together," the man said before Johnny quickly stood up from his chair.
He looked at the others and they all nodded at him. "Mike, Derrick, Leo you okay with me making the decision," he said.
"Go right ahead Johnny," Mike said.
"Im okay with that," Leo said.
"Tommy what about you," Derrick said.
"I trust him," Tommy said and Maria nodded at him.
Johnny took a breath before speaking, "Will help save the captured survivors but not one of our people will be joining the fireflies," he said.
"But," the man said before Dylan interrupted him.
"He grave you our answer and that's it," he said before standing up, "Saving those people is more important then people joining up with you,".
"The fireflies wont take credit for saving the world," Mike said, "Johnny I have to go, Ill talk to you in a few days," he said.
"Alright, will leave in a few days to manage supplies and choose who's going" Johnny said before he began to leave the room.
"I think its safe to say the meeting is over," Maria said before getting up.
A few minutes later at the shooting range, "Hearing that makes me glad that I don't have to attend meetings," Steven said as Johnny shot his target with his pistol. All of them headshots.
"Their usually not that annoying," Johnny said as he reloaded his pistol.
"You think he knows about you and Joel?" He asked.
"Im not sure, besides Abby and Owen Im not sure who else survived from Salt Lake City," Johnny said before firing again.
"We did hear that Owen was going to look for them after he and Mel left Seattle," Steven said, "So theres a chance he could be with them,".
"Well if he knows about you the only way to know for sure is if you use your power in front of him," David said walking over.
"Hows the cure looking," Johnny said knowing they would have to bring some with them.
"We have enough for two whole towns, so whoever they were able to recruit there should be enough to go around," David said before taking a breath.
"You gave more kids the cure," Steven said and David nodded.
"Yeah and luckily there wasn't any side effects," David said.
"How do you feel about this," Johnny said.
"Im just hoping that whoever's leading them now isn't like Marlene," David said as he took a seat, "But you shouldn't focus on them, instead focus on your mission,".
"Im annoyed with them after hearing what they've done but Johnny I cant understand what you must be feeling," Steven said.
"You get along well with me and Tommy though," David said.
"Thats different," Johnny said putting his pistol away, "You guys left the fireflies and became something different,".
"What about Abby, she almost killed us," Steven said making Johnny look at him, "Maybe theres a chance we can get them to listen too,".
"Well for now will focus on the mission, that's what our team was formed for after all," Johnny said before grabbing a bow to practice.
The day before they were to leave Joel got a barbecue going in his garden. He, Johnny and Tommy had found one on a trip to celebrate Joel marrying Jessie. Joel was standing with Johnny as he cooked the food. Johnny drinking from his water bottle.
"I don't see why your drinking that when you can't get drunk," Joel said as the two of them laughed.
"Hey no fair," Tommys daughter Sarah said as Elsie was smiling.
"Your not going to catch me," she said before taking off again.
"Your friend Lily is right, she is a little version of her mother," Joel said as he grabbed his own drink.
"Ellie thinks she got her strength from me," Johnny said before Jessie came out and gave the kids drinks.
"Hey hows the food coming," Tommy said.
"It will be ready soon just wait," Joel said before moving a burger.
"You ready for tomorrow," Tommy said looking at Johnny.
"Yeah, how did Sarah did take it," Johnny said.
"She was sad of course and wanted to come with," Tommy said, "Luckily Maria was able to talk her down," he said looking down.
"Hey don't look so down, your doing a good job with her," Joel said.
"Thanks brother, hows Elsie holding up," Tommy said as the two children talked.
"She was looking forward to today but tomorrows going to be different," Johnny said before taking a drink.
"Well we better make sure to be careful then," Tommy said before Joel spoke up as he started taking out the food.
"Tommy Ive been meaning to ask do you have any idea who could be in charge," he said as the three of them headed to the table.
"No idea, I ran into a few groups after I left Marlene's and the bunker," Tommy said as he put a plate of food down, "Some of them had their own leader or they all split up,".
"And joined groups like the WLF," Johnny said and Tommy nodded.
"Yeah Derrick has some people he knew from them and Abby ran into some when she was with the WLF," Tommy said before Maria spoke up.
"Alright boys dinner time so no work talk," she said.
"Alright you got it," Tommy said before they all sat down and enjoyed the food.
That night Johnny was in bed looking over the list of supplies they were bringing and the people coming. Lily and Dean were staying behind since Lily was pregnant. Rachel had been checked out by the doctor and was all clear to go. Sam was going to be watched by Lily.
"Okay shes out for the night," Ellie said walking and Johnny put his notebook in his backpack.
"How is she," Johnny said.
"Full," Ellie said as the two of them laughed, "Honestly I think she just wanted to enjoy today,".
"Are you sure you want to come along," Johnny said.
"Its fine, at least this way she knows you have me to look out for you," Ellie said as she got into bed, "Plus I feel better if I went with you, for the first few days I wasn't great when you left for Seattle,".
"Even though I said to go," she said.
"Its fine, sure I was worried about you when I left," Johnny said.
"Guess were just going to have to look out for each other then," Ellie said smiling at him and he smiled back before kissing her.
"Though I guess we can't try for a second now," she said before sighing.
"Don't worry will be home before you know it," he said.
"You sound excited by it," she said.
"Well you did give me the idea," Johnny said before she kissed him on the lips and pushed him on his back. She then took of his shirt and her top before smiling at him.
"I thought you mean this,".
"This is great too," he said.
"Thats why were going to be safe tonight," she said before kissing him again. They enjoyed their time in bed before their mission the next day.
The next morning Johnny was standing at the gate as people loaded supplies onto the trucks, "So were meeting up with you later," he said speaking into the radio.
"Yes but I might be late because Abby is staying in Jackson to help out and wait for me there," Mike said.
"Alright Ill let Maria know," he said.
"Also I was hoping to stay a little longer, we couldn't find a place here so we would like to get married there," Mike said.
"Well first congratulations and Im sure it will be fine," Johnny said, "Give us all something to look forward to when we get back,".
"Alright will meet you later," Mike said before Johnny shut off his radio.
Not far away Lily was talking with Steven and Rachel, "Of all the times," she said putting her hand on her stomach that clearly showed she was pregnant.
"Sorry Lily," Dean said.
"Hey no apologizing, we were both smiling when we got the news remember," Lily said looking serious.
"Thanks for looking after Sam, you be good for them okay," Rachel said looking at her son that was next to Dean.
"Okay," Sam said.
"Make sure to stay safe," Lily said.
"Don't worry, will be back before you know it," Steven said.
Johnny had reached Joel, Jessie and Ellie who was hugging Elsie. Johnny joined them and could see his daughter looked sad.
"Do you have to go," she said.
"Sorry Elsie, but we got take care of some bad men that are hurting people," Johnny said.
"If we don't do something they will be stuck there," Ellie said.
"I know, you have to be heros," she said.
"Thats right kiddo," Joel said smiling.
"Make sure you two look out for each other," Jessie said.
"We will and thanks Jessie," Ellie said before smiling at her daughter, "Ill keep an eye for more comics," she said and Elsie smiled.
"Really," she said and Ellie nodded. The two of them had both come to enjoy comics. Johnny remembered one day when he was making dinner he caught the two of them reading one on the couch.
"Be a good girl okay," Johnny said.
"I will be safe," she said.
"We love you Elsie," Ellie said before hugging her again.
"Be safe mommy," she said before Ellie held Johnnys hand as they headed to the lead truck. They were sitting with the firefly and then they left to meet up with the other people from the other three groups. Before heading to their mission with the fireflies.
The only problem now is if they could work with each other.