Title - Written By The Victors
Chapter title - The Wound
Author - OblivionsGarden
Genre - Romance/Adventure/Friendship/Drama
Disclaimer - I do not own the Uncharted Series in anyway shape or form. I only own the plot points surrounding my oc's, not recognized from the games. For this chapter I own, Penny Kingsley.
Chapter Word Count - 1733 words.

A/n - Another short one for now.. x
Please leave a review, I'd greatly appreciate it. Hope you enjoy, xx (:

When Sam and Penny saw Nate's car go down, Penny insisted Sam drop her off at the side of the street so she could call Sully whilst he went and got his brother. He was reluctant but she pointed out that the three of them wouldn't fit on the bike and promised she'd be fine and would call him if not.

And she was fine when she called Sully who she managed to meet down a side street. It was only when she was in the car, anxiously awaiting a call from either Drake that she realised she wasn't so fine. A throbbing pain that started as dull ache and gradually built in intensity was shooting through her right leg. With a wince she sneaked a glance, hoping Sully wouldn't notice. She stifled a gasp when she saw the blood and discreetly pulled at the hole in her jeans. There was a gash about the length of her index finger just above her knee but at the angle she was sitting she couldn't tell how deep it was.

When Sully stopped for gas, she found her back pack still beneath the back seat of the jeep. Inside was a thin checked shirt she had been wearing that morning. She used her teeth to tear the sleeve from it and tied it around the wound, letting out a whine as she did. She kept her bag on her lap to stop Sully from seeing, knowing he'd only panic if he did. She'd be fine as soon as she got to the first aid kit she had at the hotel. Sam Drake, however, was not as oblivious as Victor Sullivan.

As soon as he and Nate climbed from the bike and headed towards them, Sam scanned her frame, eyes widening when he saw the blood.

"Oh crap." Nate paled as Sam rushed to her.

"Whoa, I'm fine big guy. Just need my first aid kit, that's all." She held up her hand to Sam who seemed to be at a loss for words.

Sully turned, seeing for the first time the dark stain running down her shin.

"Kid, you didn't even say anything."

"I knew you'd panic. And besides it's just a graze... It's not like a bullet actually went through. I wouldn't be walking if it did." She shrugged. "Tell me you found something in your tower." She addressed Nate, forcing the topic change.

Nate and Sam explained about Libertalia as the younger brother was writing away. At the mere mention of the pirate haven, Penny was speechless. She listened to Sam explaining to Sully about the treasury building until Nate located the correct island an opened up his and Sam's hotel room. When Nate swore, Penny nearly pulled a gun until Sully stopped her, whispering who it was into her ear.

The look in Elena's eyes told Penny just how hurt she was, how betrayed she felt by her husband. She stood, awkwardly beside Sam as husband and wife spoke until Elena left and Sully was sent to follow by a frustrated Nate.

"I'm, uh... Gonna go fix up my leg." She mumbled, leaving the brothers alone to talk.

As she went next door to her own room, she spotted Sully talking to Elena across the parking lot. Part of her wanted to speak to her, try and explain what was happening and say something about Sam's situation but she knew she'd probably cause more damage.

Instead she headed inside, straight for a quick but thorough shower, washing off the days blood, sweat, dirt and grime. The heat of the water seemed to make the wound on her leg begin bleeding again and so she hopped out and rushed to find the first aid kit. She cleaned the wound, thankful to find that it wasn't so deep to merit staples or stitches. Once it was dry she allowed her meticulous mind to return and re cleaned and sterilized the entire area before wrapping a dressing and a clean bandage around it.

Once she had pulled on an old faded pair of blue and white pajama shorts and a loose fitted Fleetwood Mac shirt she headed onto the balcony to try and cool down. Being so used to rainy London, the Madagascan heat was killing her.

"How's that leg?"

Sam's voice startled her and he laughed when she jumped. When she turned his face was illuminated by the light from his room. He had a cigarette between his lips and he was leaning against the metal railing behind him. It took Penny a second to find her voice.

"It's alright. Just superficial... No stitches or anything."

"Good to know." He smiled, blowing out a puff of smoke. "We did pretty good today."

"Yeah." She smiled, recalling holding onto Sam's waist as she shot at the men surrounding them. "We make quite a team, huh?"

"Mm." He hummed, eyes hooded as he watched her. "Y'know, if I knew all it took was an army to get you to cling to me that tight... I would've ran outta that tower, screaming."

"Shut up." She shook her head, her wet hair brushing against her shoulders. "Can I have one of those?" She gestured to the cigarette he now held loosely between two fingers.

He paused for a moment but pulled his carton from his pocket, handing it to her. She took one, placing it between her lips and leaning forward for him to light. She let her eyes flicker up as he flipped the lighter top, locking eyes with him for the briefest moment. But just that one second was enough to send shivers up her spine, even in the evening heat.

"I didn't know you smoke."

"I don't usually, but it's been a rough day. Just don't tell Sully."

"What, 'always-has-a-cigar-in-his-mouth' Sully?" Sam raised an eyebrow and Penny giggled.

"In his words, he's too old to have to worry about quitting now."

Sam watched as she took a drag from the cigarette. The way her slender fingers curled around and the way her lips pursed at the end as she inhaled and how they pouted when she blew out the smoke. He watched her eyelids flutter closed as she felt the release of tension from her body. He watched her until his chest and his pants felt tight and forced himself to turn away.

"He really cares about you, huh?"

"Yeah. It's kinda like having an extra dad around... One who actually does dad stuff." She smiled to herself, clearly remembering something.

"Scaling buildings and cliffs, fighting an army, getting shot at on a regular basis... That's dad stuff to you?"

"No... Worrying about me and actually giving a shit whether or not I'm happy and safe. That's dad stuff."

"Yeah, I guess that's why Nate likes him so much." Sam flicked her ash over the railing, lost in thought for a moment.

"He likes you too you know. Sully I mean." Penny moved as close as she could to Sam, her side pressed against the railing separating the two balcony's.

"He doesn't show it much." Sam scoffed.

"Neither do you, Mr Cool."

"Mr Cool? I like that." Sam smiled, wider than usual as Penny lightly hit his arm.

"Don't get cocky."

They shared a laugh, both grateful that Penny was growing more and more comfortable around Sam. They spoke away the remains of the evening, Sam asking what she was going to tell her parents when she returned home, which she shrugged promising that she'd think of something. Or just run away. Penny asked about Alcazar, wondering just how bad this guy was. Sam refused to tell her anything new about him, just promising that he was bad enough for him to be willing to split with a cut of the treasure. Sam continued to smoke like a chimney but Penny only stole drags here and there, never having been a full time smoker.

When it got the the early hours, Penny's eyes were drooping but she still couldn't help staring at his neck. Tentatively, she reached a hand forward, brushing her fingers across the highest bird. Sam tensed, unmoving as he allowed her to trace the outline. For a second he let his eyes drift shut, appreciative of such a gentle touch after so long of the rough hands in Panama.

"If you're good I'll show you my other tattoo." He smiled, turning his head ever so slightly, expecting to see her familiar blushing cheeks. Instead she was wide eyed and slack jawed.

"You have another tattoo? Where? What is it?"

"You're suddenly perky."

"What can I say, I'm a sucker for ink." She grinned, eyes scanning every exposed piece of his skin, without guilt.

"Ok, little miss. I'm gonna hit the sack." He stretched out his limbs with a yawn, heading for the door, still laughing at her response.

"Samuel Drake, you are a tease." She pouted, moving for her own room. "I'm going to find out what that tattoo is, you know."

"I said I'd show you." He called back, being careful not to wake Nathan. "If you're good."

He gave her a wink and slipped inside, a content smile of his face. It was only when he saw Nathan's fitful sleep that he realised just what his lying may have done. He stripped off his jeans and boots, climbing into bed, watching his little brother toss and turn for a moment.

If Elena left him, it would be his fault. Nathan would never forgive him for that and if he was truly honest with himself he wouldn't blame him. But he needed Nate too. All he'd thought about for fifteen years was Avery and his treasure and finding it, with his little brother. That was all he'd ever wanted.

He rolled onto his side, mind slipping to the young woman in the room next door. What would she think if she found out? He knew he shouldn't care, he'd only known her five minutes. But he couldn't help but feel that if she were to find out, she'd hate him and that would be like sucker punch to his gut.

Sam didn't sleep that night. Instead he lay staring at the ceiling, reliving days in prison, imagining Nate and Penny expressing their hatred towards him and leaving. Leaving him just as alone as he had been for the past fifteen years.