Chapter 14-

Ellie put her head down, looking at her hands. Joel had been protecting her, but he had never really came out with the fact that he actually did worry about her. Until now she had only been thinking that he had stopped hating her and was protecting her for the task while being just a bit politer than before.
"Oh" she said briefly, and neither of them moved for a while.
"Look, whatever it is you want to do, I can't stop you" he started with a quiet voice, and turned his head to see her.
"But in a world like this, it shouldn't be a decision done on a whim. I think you're too young" he continued, and Ellie had risen her eyes to see him. He turned his eyes back at the wall, sighing out before continuing.
"But I have to admit that was about the same age as you are now. I can't say I regret it, but it wasn't smart"
He was finished, and Ellie didn't speak right after him. She thought about what he had said, and nodded after she thought she had understood the meaning of his words. Something remained open, but she didn't want to ask anything more. Joel was clearly coming to the edge of being so open about his life, and she didn't want to push it further.

Neither of them were able to continue with the subject. Even though Ellie wanted to talk more about the teenager things, she could leave it for another day. She had gotten a piece of news she'd probably never forget. Now she could also be sure that whenever she wanted to talk about it, she could. As for Joel, he was relieved that Ellie didn't ask further questions. It was rare for him to talk so openly about his past, but he thought it would be the best in a situation like this. If he'd make her upset, she'd probably rush into conclusions and do something hasty.
"But about those bruises" Joel suddenly continued. Ellie had risen her gaze to see him, and lifted her eyebrows. She was all ears, and suddenly felt a huge need to agree with anything he would come up with.
"We ain't going nowhere. We'll rest for another couple of days before getting a move on" he said without even giving an option. Even though Ellie did want to reach Salt Lake City as soon as possible, a couple of days wouldn't make much difference with such distance.
She nodded, and easily dropped herself off the bed. She knelt down and rolled up the leg of her jeans to see the bite. It was red and burned like hell.
Joel was surprised that she didn't argue about staying, and got up himself. He knelt down next to the girl and looked at the bite.
"I reckon you're gonna scratch that if we don't cover it up" he said and stood up. Ellie lifted her eyes to watch him get his bag, which he went through to find something. As he came back with a bandage, Ellie straightened her leg in front of her.
"If you make it hurt more, I won't hesitate punching you" she said without a doubt, and cracked a smile on Joel's face.
"And I'm supposed to be scared it'll hurt?" he laughed, starting to wrap up the spot. Ellie sneered, leaning back to get a better position.
"You don't think I could take you?" she blustered, stretching her neck like she was preparing herself for a fight.
"I don't think it's a subject we want to get into. And stop shaking your leg" Joel answered, shaking his head while finally finishing wrapping up the bite. He got up and offered his hand to help Ellie get up.
"Let's get some sleep"

They slept well. Ellie didn't crawl near him, even though she kinda had the feeling that he'd let her do it. In the morning she was a bit closer than in the evening, but she was not holding him with her arms like before.

Again, Joel was the second one to get up. They had not slept until noon like the day before, but Andy seemed to be a morning person and was again up before him. Joel met him downstairs, cleaning up his rifle.
"Morning" Joel said while stepping to the ground floor. He had packed his belongings from upstairs, and laid them onto the dining table before sitting on a chair next to it. Andy was on the other side of the table, and he briefly lifted his eyes to see Joel.
"Morning" he answered, putting down the cloth he was using. He sighed and laid the rifle to lean on the table as he turned to go through his bag.
"Did ya sleep well?" he asked without the usual smirk, and found a large knife from his bag. He started sharpening the blade while waiting for an answer. Joel nodded a few times, leaning against the back of the chair.
"Pretty well, actually"
Andy nodded once for an answer, moving only his eyes instead of his whole head. He stared at him for a while before taking a look at the knife when continuing. Joel was still a bit drowsy, but he got the feeling that Andy had something on his mind. He was once again right with his instincts.
"I, uh, heard you two chatting last night" Andy said, and made Joel stop instantly. He was rubbing his face, and slowly lowered his hands after a moment of silence. He frowned his face, listening to what he would say next.
"Her screaming awoke me and I wanted to hear what it was about. Sorry" he continued, pausing with the sharpening. He stared at the back of the couch while waiting for an answer, but he didn't get one. Joel was hardly moving as he waited to hear what he knew.
"I didn't mean to eavesdrop on the personal stuff... "
"Yet you did, didn't ya?" Joel burst out with his penetrating look piercing Andy's eyes. The boy didn't look back at him, since he knew it would only make him feel worse.
"I'm sorry!" he protected himself, putting down the knife. He waited for a while before he turned his head to see the stairway. Ellie wasn't there yet, but she could come down any minute.
"But hey, I heard we ain't moving today, so why not make a day of it? Let's go hunting together" Andy proposed, spreading his hands. He had the guts to turn his head at Joel, who wasn't smiling despite his "fun" idea.
"What exactly did you hear?" Joel ignored his proposition. He slid his right hand to his pistol, ready to dig the information out of him. If Ellie would've been around, this was the time she would be yelling stuff like 'Joel, don't'.
"Nothing! You were speaking so quietly I couldn't... "
"Bullshit" he burst out again, grabbing the pistol under the table. He wasn't yelling, but his voice gave out his anger without a doubt.
"Okay okay!" Andy got scared. Even though he didn't see the pistol, he knew that Joel had a bad temper, and was getting angrier every second.
"I sort of heard that... she ain't your daughter"
Joel stopped, biting his teeth together. Andy was looking at him with an apologizing look in his eyes. Once he didn't get an answer, he turned his head back at the couch.
"Alright.. " Joel sighed, swallowing once while putting the pistol back to it's holster. He turned his eyes to see the wooden floor. Ellie popped into his head, and he knew she would let it go. Somehow she had made him think about what she would do, instead of just rushing into his own conclusions. This time it was really hard, but he decided to let it go.
"But this stays between us. If you tell anybody, I'll shoot your goddamn brains out" Joel threatened after a short while of silence. He turned his eyes back at Andy to make his threat more convincing.
"Fair enough" Andy said with no hesitation, lifting his hands up.
"But to be honest, who would ever call their dad by their first name? That kinda made me think of it before even finding out" Andy dared to laugh, as Joel turned his head away.
"Maybe the people who rob and rape people with their parents are a different crew, then" Joel said without a slightest bit of joy. Andy stopped laughing. Even though he didn't think he deserved it, he didn't continue the arguing.
"So, how would you and your kid like a trip to the woods, huh?"
"What?"
They both turned their heads to the stairway, and Ellie got the same feeling as yesterday with the both of them staring at her. She stared back at them with a spark in her eyes, and already seemed quite excited. Joel hated Andy for giving her that idea, and tried to swipe it off the table.
"Now I don't think that's a good idea, we gotta... "
"Don't be a killjoy, Joel" Ellie said as she took the last step down. She walked to the dining table and leaned to it with both of her hands.
"I could use some training" she said, looking at them both alternately. Joel shook his head, turning his eyes to the table.
"Come on, old man. We spent the whole yesterday inside, we'd better get some fresh air today" Andy tried to convince him, and already started packing his things. Since he hadn't spread out that much, he was quickly ready to head off.
"If you're not interested, I can take her" Andy proposed, as Joel was still staring at the table without giving any answers. Once Andy said he'd take her alone, Joel sighed out and started gathering his stuff.
"Now, we all know that ain't happening" he murmured and got up from the chair. Ellie detached from the table and took a step back.
"Were going?" she rejoiced, fixing her backpack while staring at Joel. He didn't answer, but his actions showed Ellie that it was happening. Andy took the rifle from the table and walked towards the door, and Ellie followed right after him. A weird thought entered Andy's mind, as he was wondering why Joel was so protective of a kid that wasn't even his.
Joel checked that his pistol was loaded and put it in it's holster. On his way to the door he also took his hunting rifle from his shoulder to load it too. Ellie and Andy stopped at the door and looked behind to see Joel, who soon reached them.
"Now if anything goes wrong, I'll blame ya" he said to Andy, who smirked and nodded once. Joel walked past them and through the door, leaving the two behind him.
"Fair enough" Andy said after he had passed, and showed Ellie a sign to go before him. She smiled a bit while stepping outside and Andy followed right after.