(Groans) GTA has taken over all of my free time. Anyway the beginning was difficult to write, Because of them feels. Also nice to finally have some new reviews, just saying.

Guys who guest reviewed

Hdji(?): Is there any doubt I'm not going to finish it or are you just saying to hurry up. In any case, I like to take my time in writing this; I'd rather have a decent long chapter than having a bunch of awkwardly cut shorter ones. Thanks.

Guest 1: That was kind of a test, I wanted to see who got it and only two of you did though I guess more people got it but didn't review about it, so kudos to you man.

Hope you enjoy.

Jakes POV, the entire chapter.

Joel finally unlocks the diner door with a shiv and we head inside, guns drawn and pointed, I hear the panting of breath and Ellie's cries for help.

We sprint into the main part of the place and D-

I freeze up in shock which turned into disbelief which than turned into blind rage as I watched the scene unfolding in front of me. Ellie's jeans were pulled down, as was David's, the only difference is that one was balling her fucking eyes out, and one was on top of her grinning sickly.

I wipe the tears from my eyes and kick David off as Joel attends to Ellie, David tries to get up from the ground but I kick him down again. I sit on top of him and start punching his face, as hard as I can, over and over, and over…

David suddenly turns into a different guy, as my surroundings morph into what I vaguely remember as the part of the road where those hunters with the shotguns stopped us. I have a pipe in my hands and the guy laying beneath me has his brains spilled all over the pavement.

My surroundings morph again to a gas station and I have a shotgun in my hands. My Dad is lying right in front of me half his face is gone and the old dogtags he never took off were in his limp, outstretched, right hand. I threw the shot gun on the ground and I felt my knees collapse. I don't notice the tears running down my face, nor do I notice the gun pointed at my face; Joel's emotionless expression doesn't show any remorse as he pulls the trigger.

A sound of thunder booms through the night.

I spring from my makeshift bed, panting in cold sweat. I took a deep long breath and sighed. It was just another one of those fucking dreams. It was a couple weeks after David, and we were squatting in some old house filled with old useless things, Joel was sleeping in the corner snoring heavily. I sat up in my bed, checking on Ellie, who was sitting in the corner staring at me.

"Bad dreams?" She said from across the room.

"Yeah, you too?" I trudged over and collapsed right next to her.

Ellie scooted a bit away from me. "Yup." She responded weakly.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked her.

"Do you want to talk about yours?" she snapped back.

"N-No." I hadn't been expecting hostility.

We just kinda sat there in silence for a while. Ellie sitting right next to me, us both staring at the wall ahead of us, I was feeling bad for whatever I did to anger her, She really hasn't been the same since David, and I care about her you know? I mean we had each other's back for the entire winter and we still do even now. It's just that, well it's kinda hard to explain I mean I probably sound like a total sap but I think I might have a thing for Ellie.

I mean I think I've had a thing for Ellie. I have this feeling in my gut whenever I'm around her, like guilt but without the stowed body at the bottom of the pacific. It kinda started up during the middle of winter, something about the way she smiles and laughs. How she finds ways to make the best out of everything. Her sassy attitude but now, something is just off, she's more distant, sad even.

It just made me so fucking frustrated, I want to help so fucking much but I can't because every time I do she pushes me even further away. I've considered telling her the way I feel but I'm legitimately scared. Scared that she pushes me so far that I have no chance of ever coming back.

Shit, I'm such a fucking coward.

Eventually Ellie says good night and crawls back into her sleeping bag; I sit there for a good ten minutes before deciding to go crawl in my bed myself.

I woke up two other times that night.

-The next morning.-

I usually hate mornings.

Back at the zone I always stayed up late doing stuff with an older buddy of mine. You know, throw rocks at the guards, graffiti bad words on the walls, and shoot old paint cans with BB guns. You know, the stupid shit you do when you're a kid. So whenever I got up I would feel wiped out like a motherfucker.

This morning though I appreciated it, Ellie wasn't up yet, Joel was, probably scavenging or some shit, and I needed the time to think. I slipped on my jacket, still stained from...winter, and groggily headed downstairs.

Too my surprise, Joel's in the kitchen when I get down there, eating some kind of canned meat.

"Morning." He acknowledges me, as I step into the kitchen.

"What's for breakfast?" I ask, taking a quick whiff of whatever was out of the can.

"Dog food." He said plainly, ah Bon' appétit or whatever that one character in my book used to say. I've actually had worse than twenty year old dog food, although I can't think of one right now, I'm sure the memory will hit me sooner or later, anyway food is food and we're all damn lucky to have some.

So I started chowing down on that delectable dog food when Joel hits me with a question that almost makes me spit out my food. Almost, I mean you got to have those nutrients.

"So…. You like Ellie right?"

I almost gagged.

Joel chuckled,"Kid, don't look so surprised, it's pretty obvious."

I swallowed hard, "Really?" I hoarsely whispered.

He laughed," Yeah, but don't worry about it."He left it at that.

"All right." I paused before continuing."So yeah, I've had a thing for her, what now? Am I just going to bust in and confess my feelings to her?" I said raising my arms. I feel really stupid saying that.

He looked at me curiously before continuing."No, I'm not saying you should do it now. I'm just saying you should do it soon."

"Joel, if you haven't noticed she hasn't been in the best of moods lately." I replied.

He sighed. "Yeah, she's going through a rough time and you and I got to do what we can to help."

"And that means confessing my feelings right after she was al-" I started to say.

"Don't." Joel said, turning serious. Needless to say I stopped.

Joel once again sighed before continuing. "Sorry, I just-." He stopped again. "Listen Jake, you gotta understand this about me and Ellie, she's not just some burden placed on my shoulders. At least not anymore, but never mind."

He paused before continuing. "She's like a daughter to me, and I would do anything for her just to be safe."

"Aren't you bringing her to her family?" I asked confused.

He looked confused for a second before his eyes showed a glint of realization and responded with. "Distant relatives." That was a bit worrying, how he took so long but eh; it's early in the morning.

"Anyway, you should get upstairs and get packed; we leave in about an hour. And while you're at it wake Ellie up. Thanks." He said, before getting up and heading to the living room, leaving me to my own devices.

I stood there, still eating whatever crap twenty years ago they packaged as dog food, thinking over what had just transpired. Wow, Okay so apparently I'm as transparent as the water from my canteen because Joel's been awake for about a week and he's already figured out shit like that? Fuck.

I sighed and got up from the table, heading up the stairs and walking into the room Ellie and I shared. Okay just thinking that makes me feel weird, in the 'Never thought I would be saying that' kinda way.

Ellie was sitting up in bed, facing the wall, gasping for air as she gripped something in her hand.

"Ellie?" I asked confused. She didn't answer.

"Hey Ellie, you okay?" I asked again, a little louder this time. Still no answer.

With that I slowly approached her and tapped her on the shoulder. Next thing I know I'm on the ground, Ellie on top of me with her switchblade poised to strike. Fear runs rampantly through my whole body, she must've sweeped me somehow. A dull, blank look shines in her emerald green eyes, before its replaced by recognition, and then panic.

"Oh shit, Jake I'm sor- I mean-" She exclaimed getting off me and putting the switchblade back into her pocket. She held her hand outstretched, took me a moment to realize that she was offering to help me up.

I took it and dusted myself off from all the crap on the floor, dust, dirt, broken glass, the works.

"Oh fuck I'm sorry, I thought you were-"She started.

"Him?" I asked weakly.

"Yeah." She looked down at the ground.

Does not knowing what to feel a good excuse? Because I think conflicted describes me better. On one hand she held a switchblade to my throat, on the other hand she was in one of those trance things where she didn't know what she was doing or something like that, I think I left that book back at the zone.

"I was dreaming, it was back at the town. I was just running, and running away from something and then I ran into him and-"She grimaced.

"Its fine, I got the gist of it." I replied, not wanting her to recall anymore of this kinda stuff.

She sat down on the floor. "I could've killed you. If I hadn't- . I could've fucking killed you!" She covered her face with her hands, frustrated.

"It's fine, really. I would've kicked your ass off me anyway." I said smiling, trying to alleviate the mood.

She faked a smile. "Yeah, when are we ready to go?" I missed her remarks.

"One hour." I responded.

"Anything for breakfast?" She asked.

I shrugged, "Dog food."

She cracked a smirk. "Delicious." And left the room.

See? A few months ago that would've been just a regular thing she would do, but now it's rare to see her smile. I considered telling her right there how I felt, anything to raise her spirits or have some kind of reaction or just something! But then again she just went through hell and maybe she needs time or-. I sighed.

I'm such a fucking coward.

I agonized over this chapter. I really disliked how I put the whole 'Jake has a thing for Ellie.' And 'Joel talks to him about it in the same chapter but I'll live with it. I also think Joel was out of character over how casual he was with Jake but no matter how much I poked at it I couldn't seem to get it right.

Also does anyone have any ideas for oneshots I could include in this fic? I'm kinda getting to the point where filler would be nice and I have one planned in my mind but it would be nice to have more. So if you have any good one PM or review me about it and I'll see what I can do. Also of course you'll be given a shout out. It can be about anything hell if you want me to write an AU chapter I'll be happy to do so. As long as the idea is solid. Counting on you guys.

Until next time.

-Jogman