Chapter 1: The New Shipment

Abby laid on the couch, waiting for Gerard to awaken. They had a long day ahead of them. Their shipment was ready and they had to retrieve it from their supplier. He had been providing them with supplies for quite some time now, as they provided him with their services. Some close encounters with men with guns, infected, and even military had been only half the things they had experienced while working with Max. It was a dangerous job, but it quickly stocked them on ammo, food, and water, sometimes if they were lucky even pills. These supplies could be traded as well, allowing them to obtain ration cards, which was the basic money within the quarantine zone.

Gerard exited his bed room sleepily, and she gazed back at him hearing him approach her. "You're up early," he said gazing at his partner sprawled across the couch. "No, you're just up late, as usual." The female answered with slight irritation in her voice as she sat up. "Today's the day, the exchange is being carried out at 9:30 and it's already 9. You know how Max loves it when we're late," Abby snarled at him. Gerard shot her an amused glance. "Oh don't get your lacy panties in a bunch Abigail, we'll be fine," he said smoothly, drawing the words out. She scoffed, grabbing her hair in frustration. "You just don't get it do you? God you're impossible," she said quietly. Gerard laughed now, entertained with his companion's anxiety and irritation. "No, I get it perfectly fine. You're just overthinking and worrying too much. Max has never been disappointed with us before, and if you honestly were so worried, you would have gotten me up earlier." "Well I-…" Abby retreated, clearly thrown off guard. "Ah, that's what I thought… Anyway." Gerard stood up. "I'll get dressed then we can go, okay?" Abby sighed, watching Gerard make his way to the bathroom. "Fucking idiot."

Soon Gerard exited the bathroom, his backpack strapped on him, his tight clothes accenting his body. His muscles were toned as him and Abby stayed in top shape, and she looked him over, admiring him. She nodded once in appreciation, and turned smugly. "You ready now beauty queen?" She said sarcastically with a smirk. Gerard looked at her, a goofy grin plastered on his face. "You really know how to make a guy feel special, don't you Abs?" He said, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, especially when that douche is my partner." "And your best friend," Gerard stated, semi annoyed at her sarcastic attitude. All he wanted was her to show him some kind of feeling. He had loved her for years now, and she had never showed him anything. Sometimes he even doubted she was capable of feeling, but Abby always seemed to prove his doubts wrong on previous occasions. He just wished she'd do it this time.

Gerard remained silent now, going towards the door. "Hey, you okay?" Abby said, grabbing his arm lightly. Gerard turned to face her, looking into her dark emerald colored eyes, his pale blue ones sad. "I just… I don't know, never mind," he said quietly. Abby frowned, and released his arm. As he looked at her, he debated what he wanted to do. She had to know he had feelings for her, didn't she? Wasn't he obvious? She just didn't care. That was probably the case. Wasn't it? The thoughts of kissing her ran through his mind, and he looked at his feet unsure of himself. Abby stared at him, confused. "What are you thinking about?" She mused. Looking over her body, finally meeting her face, taking it all in, Gerard just couldn't fight it anymore. Stepping forward he quickly grasped her face, cupping her cheeks in his hands and placing his lips on hers, kissing her gently. Sadly, it was over as quick as it began, as she pulled away startled. "Gerard what the hell are you doing?" She said, her hands against her lips, her eyes darted at him. "Better to ask forgiveness than permission," he said quietly. His confidence melted away as she reacted to him. "Look, we have to go," she said, turning toward the door and walking out of it. Gerard watched her exit and sighed. "Better to do it now, then regret never doing it at all. After all, I never know if both of us will come back alive."

Abby walked down the street flustered. How could he do this? He was her partner, not her boyfriend. She trusted him with everything, including her life, but she didn't need this distraction. It had taken years for her to build this trust for him, and now he was doing this? Trying to over step the boundary that had been clearly marked? One slip and they could be dead at any moment. If one was to get down in the field, the other would need to be ready to fly, not fight. How could they be together? Even if she did possess feelings for him, it just wouldn't work. It couldn't. Right? She let loose a loud sigh releasing her breath, and turned to peer at Gerard. He was glancing at her, but quickly turned away when her eyes met his. She shook her head, frustrated at his reaction. He couldn't avoid it now. It happened, and it couldn't change. Finally reaching the familiar border to the outer lands beyond the wall, she turned to him. "Can we just…forget this?" She said quietly, not meeting his eyes. Gerard looked at her, appalled. How could she just say this to him? She obviously didn't feel the same about him. She hated pushing him away but she needed to for his own safety, or so she believed. "Yeah, whatever," Gerard said pushing past her, moving the large board covering their exit hole. Abby followed silently, regret flooding through her.

They walked for what seemed like hours, but were only minutes, through their silence until they reached the small opening to the sewer. Going down there was second nature to them. After all, they had to retrieve their gear. Their vests, guns, ammo, everything was down there, except for the few supplies in their packs. They couldn't be seen bringing those such things into the barricade. They'd be killed. Gerard leaned down opening the sewer hatch for Abby, looking at her silently. She stopped to look at him as well. "Thanks," she said, before jumping down, her voice holding a small hint of gloom. He quickly followed, closing the hatch as he reached the bottom. Abby walked over to the table, searching it, and around it. "Gerard… Where's our shit?" "What?" Gerard said walking over to her, looking at the table top. "It-It's not here," she muttered, her voice angry. Gerard flipped the table over, checking under it. "Shit," he muttered. "You know who did this right…" Abby said, her voice rising. "I'm going to kill her." Gerard sighed, knowing exactly who it was. "Alice…" He said, almost silently. The female had been obsessed with him for longer than he could remember. Numerous times she had come to him at her request of being with him, but he constantly ignored it. He wanted nothing to do with the petite female. She was but of a nuisance to him. He pitied her. For years, she had been trying to win his affections, like he was trying to win his partner's though she used much stranger methods, and could not take no for an answer. She was used to getting her way with men, and that annoyed Gerard to no end. He resented her, and half hoped what Abby said was true. "We'll have to get our packs after the transaction," Abby said, standing up. "We have no time to burden ourselves with this now." Gerard nodded, sighing. Abby turned ready to leave, but stopped, leaving a hand out to help up Gerard. He smiled slightly and took her hand, not releasing it even when he was up. She did nothing to stop him, and their fingers remained intertwined as they walked.

Reaching the end of the sewer, Abby proceeded to get on Gerard's shoulders to unbolt the exit hatch. After doing this she lifted herself up, and pulled up Gerard alongside her. He smiled, leaning forward. "I'm so glad I met you," he whispered. Abby's eyes widened, and she quickly looked away from him, saying nothing. Gerard laughed, looking at her face which appeared flustered. He had always been one to flirt with his partner, and usually she returned it to him. There had always been sexual tension between them, but he had never over stepped the boundaries until now. There had been a time when they had both been drinking, but he didn't want to think about it. After all she didn't even know and that's why he regretted it, but during the time they had been with each other that night she had told him she loved him and drunk words were sober thoughts weren't they? Abby turned to him, her face hard. "Well?" She said harshly. Gerard looked at her, his eyebrow raised. "Well?" She rolled her eyes. "We have a job to do you know." He smiled at her smugly, "Always one for work, everything about the job," Gerard answered, aggression building in his tone. Abby heard his aggression and turned around to face him, her eyes holding frustration. "Well what the fuck do you want to focus on?! We're in the middle of an apocalypse Gerard, it is life or death here; we're doing this to survive!" She screamed at him. "Well maybe all I wanted was for you to stay true to what you told me!" Gerard recoiled back. "What are you talking about?" Abby said, her voice still not decreasing in volume. Finally Gerard gave in, retreating. "Nothing," he said quietly. Abby faltered for a moment, looking at Gerard, observing his features. "Look…" She started. "Save it," Gerard answered, remorse in his voice, "We've got a job to do," he said, pushing past her.

Abby sighed, feeling even more regretful then before. Things just weren't going right for them today. She loved him, she always had. Ever since they met and became partners almost four years before. When they met, they had almost killed each other. They had both been exploring outside the barricade of the quarantine area 51 zone. Thinking he was infected, she had jumped him, almost stabbing one of her shivs through his unguarded throat. He had quickly reacted and grabbed her wrists, releasing the shiv, only to see a frightened girl staring back at him. She had been 18 at the time. Now almost 22, Abby could easily take down Gerard using her charms against him. They trained together every day, keeping their fitness thriving. Before the infection had begun, Abby had wanted to go into law enforcement, specifically the FBI. She had been set on it since she was thirteen. When the epidemic hit in 2013, her age being 16, she gave up on her dream knowing now the only thing she needed to do was survive.

Well I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! I know, it probably won't get that many views due to its lack of characters from the actual game, but anyway those of you who read it, thank you so much! I've never really written and shown people before, so please don't critique too hard. 3 Thank you again!

Disclaimer: I do not own any content from the video game The Last of Us, or any of the characters mentioned that originate from the game.