Chunk 22: Sections 106 thru 110
Fandom: The Tribe
Author: PinkTribeChick
Summary: I said maybe, you're gonna be the one that saves me . . . Life goes on for the Mall Rats after the Chosen take over the city.
Extended Summary: Essentially, this is an Alternate Universe story for Series 3 and beyond of the Tribe. I won't say anything more than that, because I don't want to spoil anything for those of you who have never read this before
Rating: Teen
Pairing: Too many to name! But Bray-Amber, Lex-Zandra, Ryan-Salene, and Jack-Ellie, for starters. There will also be some Tribe-character with original character pairings.
Author's Notes: Again many thanks as always go to Brett The Mole, as he was the one who talked me into sharing this story with others when I first started writing it, and he was the one who kept bugging me to complete it. I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without you, Brett! And major thanks to Ariannya, Whit, and all the others who at various times read and proofed sections for me and gave me their invaluable feedback.
Enjoy, and please review! Feedback is much appreciated!
Disclaimer: All characters, situations, and song lyrics remain the property of their respective owners. Troy Wisneski belongs to the author Paula Boock, from her Tribe novel "Power and Chaos." Any original characters are sole property of me, PinkTribeChick.
Tribe 3: Wonderwall
Sections 106 thru 110
"Hi, Ellie," Todd said, walking into her room. She sat in a chair, looking out the window. She didn't hear him at all, she was so wrapped up in her thoughts, so he walked quietly up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. She jumped slightly, and then looked up at him.
"Hey, sweetie," she said, smiling warmly. He bent over and kissed her on the forehead. She put her hands on his.
"Tribe Dorkus and the Mall Rats sent a messenger earlier to announce some party they're having for the opening of the clinic next Friday. They invited everyone. Including us," he said.
"And I suppose you want to go?" she responded.
"I wouldn't mind going, but only if you want to. I'm not going to force you to do anything, although I think it would be good for you to see all your friends again," he said.
"And to face Jack finally," she said in a monotone voice.
"Yes, I think it would help. Besides, we have to tell everyone that we're engaged sometime. There's no better time than the present, Ellie," he stated. She stood up and faced him.
"I guess so," she said. "Let's go. It'll be fun." She smiled, and they hugged. Alice came running into the room.
"Cloe and KC are here! Something's wrong with Lysette, and Jack sent them to fetch you, Todd!" she exclaimed. Ellie and Todd looked at her strangely.
"Are you sure?" Todd asked.
"Cloe's beside herself. KC said that Jack told him to come get you and tell you that Lysette was ill, and you needed to come right away," Alice said, shrugging her shoulders. Todd looked at Ellie.
"Come with me?" he asked. She nodded. "Alice, can you look after the girls for a little while?"
"Sure, but don't you want to take them with you? If something's seriously wrong, they need to be there," Alice said. Todd thought for a moment.
"Bring them to the mall in a couple of hours, okay?" Todd said, nodding. "It may not be that major, but you can never be sure with Lysette. Come on, Ellie." They hurried out of the room.
"Come on, Lys, push!" Dal exclaimed. Lysette squeezed Jack's hand as she beared down. Trudy and Amber were holding her feet up, and TaiRon was getting everything ready for when the baby came out. They had brought an incubator with them from the hospital, and it was hooked up to several batteries and such, with everyone hoping to give the baby the best possible chance for survival.
"Aughh!" Lysette screamed at the top of her lungs, in pain. It had been almost 5 hours since she had gone into labor, and she was exhausted.
"Alright, rest for a minute, Lys, then I'm going to need you to push again," Dal said. Lysette leaned back, and Jack wiped the sweat off her face with a towel.
"You're doing wonderful, Lysette. I'm so proud of you," Jack said. She gave him a half-hearted smile. He kissed her on the forehead.
"Alright, Lys, I need you to push again," Dal said. "One-two-three!" She beared down one last time. Finally, the baby came completely out. Dal wrapped the tiny child in a towel. "It's a girl!" He handed the baby over to TaiRon, and TaiRon cleaned her off and got her breathing. Suddenly, the little baby girl's shrill cry filled the room, and Lysette started to cry. She and Jack kissed. TaiRon brought the baby over while Dal cleaned Lysette up.
"Say hi to your mommy, little one," TaiRon said, putting the little girl in Lysette's arms. She barely weighed anything at all, but she had Todd's blonde hair and cute nose and Lysette's eyes and mouth. She looked up at Lysette and Jack with a beautiful pair of blue eyes.
"She's so beautiful, isn't she, Jack?" Lysette said.
"Yes, she is," Jack said.
"Has Todd arrived yet?" Lysette asked, knowing already that her tiny daughter might not have much time.
"No," Jack said sadly. "Hi, little bit, I'm your Uncle Jack." He held her tiny hand in his. Dal came over.
"Lysette, we need to go on ahead and put her in the incubator to keep her warm, okay?" Dal said. Lysette nodded and put the baby in Dal's arms. Dal held her for a moment. "What are you going to name her?" he asked.
"Ilse Marie" Lysette said.
"Well, Ilse Marie, we're going to give you the best care possible. Because we all want you around for a long time," Dal said, looking at the child. He smiled and then walked off to put her in the incubator. Lysette started to sob, and Jack put an arm around her.
"She'll be fine, Lysette," Jack said soothingly as Lysette cried on his shoulder. After a few minutes, everyone left the room, and Jack just held Lysette in his arms as they watched the tiny infant fighting for life in the incubator.
Zandra lay on her stomach on the ground, fully-clothed. She was propped up on her elbows staring at Ryan. Ryan lay on his back with his eyes closed.
"We have to go back to the mall soon, don't we?" she asked quietly. Ryan turned his head to look at her, squinting in the bright sunlight.
"I don't see where we have any choice, Zan. There are people back at home counting on us, and while I would love to just stay here forever with you, it's not possible," he replied. She nodded knowingly. He held her hand in his. "There's a little girl back home with your sweet smile who needs you very much, and a wife and two great kids waiting for me."
"So this is it?" she said, her voice cracking as tears filled her eyes. He gently touched her cheek.
"Yes, for now, it has to be," he responded sadly. He rolled onto his side and kissed her tenderly.
Todd and Ellie burst into the mall through the sewer entrance and rushed upstairs to Jack's room. They found Lysette in the bed fast asleep, looking pale as a ghost, and Jack pacing slowly around the room with a bundle of blankets in his arms. He stopped when he heard them come in.
"Hi, Todd, Ellie," he said, nodding at them. He smiled genuinely.
"What's wrong with Lysette?" Todd asked.
"Nothing now, other exhaustion," Jack replied. Todd and Ellie both gave him puzzled looks.
"Then what was all the fuss about?" Ellie questioned. Jack walked over to them and pulled down the blanket, revealing little Ilse inside.
"Her," he answered. Todd's mouth fell open as Ellie just stood there, speechless. Jack nervously took a deep breath before speaking again. "Todd, would you like to hold your daughter?"
"Sh-she's mine?" Todd sputtered, his eyes widening.
"Yes," Jack said warmly, nodding. "Her name is Ilse Marie." He gently put the tiny baby in Todd's arms. Todd just looked at the sleeping infant in disbelief.
"She's so tiny," Ellie observed.
"Yeah, well, she's about four months early," Jack explained. "We're doing everything we can to help her survive, since she's so small and everything. That's why we sent for you. We wanted you to be able to meet her . . . well, just in case." They all stood there in silence for a bit. Ellie wasn't really sure what to think of it all, but it scared her. Todd and Lysette had a child connecting them together now, and she was worried he might leave her for Lysette. Jack was just staring at the small diamond ring on Ellie's left hand and wondering when she was going to say something about it.
"She's so beautiful," Todd said suddenly, in awe of his daughter. "Just like her mother." His words felt like a knife stabbing Ellie in the heart. Tears filled her eyes, and she walked out of the room quickly. "Ellie!" Todd called after her. He sighed loudly and looked back at down at Ilse. He smiled. "Hi, Ilse Marie. I'm your daddy." Jack shifted uncomfortably.
"Todd, I think you'd better go after Ellie," Jack said softly, not wanting to wake Ilse or Lysette.
"What?" Todd asked, looking up.
"Go after Ellie," Jack instructed, grinning. "She's upset by all this, and I saw that diamond on her finger. If you want to keep your fiancée, I suggest you go stop her. I think Ilse will understand just this once." He smiled sincerely at Todd. Todd looked questioningly at him. "Go. I'll watch Ilse until you get back."
"Thanks, Jack," Todd said, giving the infant back to Jack and hurrying out of the room. Jack looked down at Ilse. She was waking up and looked up at him with those big blue eyes.
"Your mommy and daddy love you very much, you know that? And so do I, Ilse," Jack told the little girl. He looked over at Lysette for a moment, then back at the baby. "I love your mommy a lot, too. I just hope she knows that." Ilse let out a little cry, and Jack went over to get her bottle, sitting down in a nearby chair to feed her.
Ellie sat on the wall of the fountain in the center of the mall, with her head in her hands, crying. She felt like a complete fool. There was no way in the world Todd would want to be with her now. He and Lysette had a child. A child. Those words reverberated through the spaces in her heart over and over, making it hurt so much she thought she would explode in agony.
"Ellie?" she heard Todd say. She looked up to see him standing there, with what looked like a sympathetic smile on his face.
"What do you want?" she asked, pulling a handkerchief out of her pocket and wiping her eyes.
"I'm wondering what you're thinking right now," he replied, sitting down beside her. She looked away.
"I think that's pretty obvious," she retorted grouchily, sniffling.
"True," he admitted, nodding his head once. "But why do you think that I would leave you for Lysette? Ever?"
"She had your baby. You must love her because of that," Ellie answered.
"I do love her. As a friend," he said slowly, smiling. "She and I loved each other as more once, and we have that sweet little girl upstairs as a result. But I have no intention of pursuing a romance with Lysette again. I love you now, and you're the girl I want to be with." Ellie looked up at him with hopeful eyes and a bit of a smile. "I do, however, plan on being a good father to Ilse, above everything else. Is that okay?" He took her right hand in his left.
"Yeah, I guess so," she said quietly. "Just as long as you promise we'll always be together." Todd laughed a little.
"Well, of course. I wouldn't be marrying you without intending to stay by your side forever," he said, grinning. "Just remember, Ilse is part of the package now, too." Ellie smiled, tears filling her eyes again. Todd kissed her gently, then took her hand and led her back upstairs to Lysette and Jack's room.
That's all for now, folks! Thanks again for reading, now please go and tell me what you thought of what you read! I love reviews – they keep me going! Toodles until later . . .