Chapter 9: Love, Lies, and Limits

A/N- Please forgive me, I hate to make you all wait for new chapters, but I've been real sick this past week and family matters. So without further ado, it's continue shall we?

"Joel!"

That was him...

"Ellie?" He was hoping that he could spot the lights from the windows of the cabin which guided him to it.

"Joel! You okay?" She inquired as she hopped off the wooden porch to meet him at the base of the stairs.

The sun had already gone down, and the sky was already dark enough for the stars to shine numerously and exuberantly on the mountainside below. From all of the commotion of the arrival, Claire's stomps had met the door, no doubt in search for her true love...

"Brad?!" She looked around and only found Joel and Ellie, her heart panicked. "Where's Brad?"

Joel's body had physically sagged at that question, but he used exhaustion to hide his reaction. What the hell was Joel going to do? How the hell do you tell someone like this the worst possible news? When the old man looked at her hopeful, now quickly turning hopeless, blue eyes as they began to water, awaiting his answer...

"...Claire... I..." His mind flashed back with his situation Ellie upon their escape from St. Mary's Hospital. ...But he's only known both of them two days, why did he care this much?

Would the lie be better than the truth? For her sake? No... Joel found that out firsthand what happens when the truth comes out. ...But these were differnet circumstances, maybe. ...no, he gelt too sorry for her and Joel failed with this fight, and he caved in... "I-uh... couldn't find him. No luck..."

"What?!" Her eyes widened, fearing the worst for him. "Where is he? Joel, why couldn't you find him?!"

Brad's corpse flashed on the inside of his eyelids everytime he blinked at her. "I'm sorry Claire; there was no trace of him..."

Claire let out a light sob from hearing his response. She covered her mouth and shook her head in denial. "No… no. No! I'm going out there!"

She already moved forward off the porch in an attempt to search for herself. That is, until Joel made a move sideways to block her path. "Can't let you go out there."

"Joel, I am going to find him. Now get out of my way, please!" Joel couldn't tell if she was begging or ordering, more than likely the former.

"Claire, you can't! There's still shithead bandits out there that'll shoot you on sight!" Ellie warned, trying to separate them apart.

"Or worse..." He added thinking what a group of men like them could do to a girl like her...

"I don't care!" She sobbed. "I-I-I know B-brad's out there!" She pointed while avoiding eye contact with him because of the stutter.

Joel consoled her, trying to calm her down and spoke in a gentle tone. "We'll all go out and look for him again in the morning, alright? ...I promise."

Claire sniffed loudly as she tried to wipe away the tears as they threatened to fall, nodding now with a clear and logical head. "Okay... *sniffle* I trust you... all of us... in the morning."

"He might be dead in the mornin'..."

The three of them all gasped at the sound of the deep voice entering their conversation as they turned their attentions at Carter and Rylan, who both stood in the doorway.

"What...?" The very thought of her thinking-!

"...Or he might've been captured." He finished his words.

"C-captured?" Claire settled herself down again.

Rylan finally found his chance to talk, stating the fact that Carter and he discussed this earlier inside. "Carter, you really think he could still be alive? After taken by bandits?"

Carter stroked his mustache once more, deep in thought for them. "...Hope so." And then he had an idea. "Grant might want to recruit him as an extra pair of hands."

"Grant?" Ellie was the one to ask. "You mentioned him before..."

"Yup..." Carter sighed. "Let's just say, he's my neighbor... and the leader of them bandits in this area, but we have a mutual understanding, he and I..."

"Easy understanding a bandit..." Joel scoffed. "How'd you get them to not kill you?"

"I made a deal with Grant," Carter looked stoic, even grumpy with this sort of fact. "Last week after a little bit of shootin' we agreed with Food for Protection. ...Didn't really have much choice... but his gang would leave me be if I gave them most of my kills. Rabbits... deer..."

"Well then why don't you just leave?" Joel asked as if that was the smartest idea in the world.

"Can't rightly do that. This here is my daddy's cabin... and this is where I'm gonna to stay." Carter declared. "Just busted my way out of Cheyenne and got back here a few months ago. It's all I have left. ...Too old to move on anyway."

"So we can go look for their stronghold and go get Brad back?" Claire asked the cowboy with hope refilling her eyes, lighting them up.

"Easier said than done... He's got us outmanned and outgunned. So... tomorrow after we get him some food as an offerin', we visit their compound." Carter suggested in an nonchalant tone.

"And how do you know they won't just shoot us dead?" Joel inquired.

"Grant may be a survivor, but he also has some descent respect in him, he don't like to kill people he likes." Carter replied with a plan in mind. "We'll get a huntin' party goin' on tomorrow mornin', and if all goes well... we'll get your man back."

Claire smiled somberly. "Thank you... thank you so much..."

"You're welcome miss." He said in a gruff as he gave a half smile, and he went back inside to finish his stew, leaving the others outside.

Claire looked back at Joel and then out into the forest and down the path and then back in the cabin. "I'm going to help out Carter with the hunt tomorrow. ...And there's nothing you can do that'll stop me!"

Joel had already regretted his lie as he looked at her with sad eyes. "I ain't even in your way no more..."

"Good." Claire nodded and walked past Rylan and into the cabin as well, suddenly bushed from the current of events.

Rylan then stepped out onto the porch to address Joel and Ellie now with an effort to remain optimistic too. "...Not really what I expected but hey I guess we can't lose hope in times like these..."

Joel pushed Ellie out of the way and quickly approached the boy, "Just who the hell are you?!" he was so fast that Rylan stumbled backwards until he was leaning against the wooden logs that made up the wall, obviously intimidated by him as Joel towered over him.

"Joel!" Ellie followed him and she did her best to get in between them but she was pushed back by Joel's calloused hand. "Jesus, he's just my friend alright?! I met up with him in Jackson before the Fireflies attacked!"

"It's true." Rylan tried to explain. "Ellie and I met yesterday morning, and we were talking till those soldiers attacked."

"He saved my life more than once already." She proclaimed to him.

"And she saved mine..." He added as he held his hands up in defense. "...Anything else you want to know?"

Joel scowled at the brunette before him. He knew exactly what boys his age were after when it came to girls like Ellie. As far as Joel was concerned, this was the last thing she or he needed: another hormonal teenager. "...Ellie, give us a minute alright?"

She already knew what he was probably going to imply, but Ellie was ready to retaliate at him and in a hushed tone in case anyone else was listening. "He knows I'm immune, he's seen me breathe in spores..."

Joel interjected. "We don't know this kid, Ellie."

Rylan shrugged. "She just looked like she needed help, and it turns out... we both needed each other. Joel, sir... I get it if you don't want me around Ellie-!"

"You're goddamn right I don't!" He growled angrily. "And neither does sh-!"

"No Rylan! I do!" Her interruption made both the men turn their attention toward the girl. "Joel, he's a good hunter and he can help us out, so he's staying!"

Joel looked like he was discomforted. He felt like overruling her word with a declaration of his own. He only wanted to protect Ellie, now more than ever. But kicking this kid's ass and out into the darkness wouldn't be the best thing either; he didn't want to make another bad decision and divide his baby girl and himself even more. "Boy... if you endanger any of us here... I swear, you'll regret it..." Joel then turned to his girl. "We'll talk about this in the morning."

After he gave Rylan another mean sneer, Joel walked inside to explore the cabin after he gave a protective pat on Ellie's shoulder, leaving the two kids alone. Rylan then pulled himself back from the wall and then addressed Ellie with a knowing smirk. "You were right; he can be a bit of a grouch."

The next morning was that of a hopeful one, according to Claire, but little did any of them know that almost everyone in the cabin had something to hide whether or not they knew it.

Carter played the role of the rooster who cock-a-doodle-dooed everyone awake from in their own beds in the same room on the upper floor of the cabin. They all groggily noticed that it was the crack of dawn, and the fact that that this day was a big enough day to get them out of bed.

"Oh man...why so early?" Ellie yawned as she rubbed her eyes and tugged her shoes on as she sat on her assigned bed.

"Probably because Carter wants to make a plan with us as soon as possible, I get the feeling that he's excited to be around new people..." Rylan responded as he got his boots on too.

"Finding Brad should be our first priority, and I appreciate Carter's early bird attitude." Claire added as she quickly headed downstairs.

Joel told the kids after the blond was out of earshot. "Don't get your hopes up, Brad might be dead."

The fact that Joel told them this at all was only because if the truth was found out that he would be the majority against the idea of Brad being alive, a campaign that his fiancée Claire wanted to reign. But perhaps we should just let the natural courses unfold and tell us what really happened.

"But he could still be taken prisoner too, like Carter said?" Rylan remarked. "That's like half the reason we're all going out, right?"

Joel didn't respond as he got off his bed, ignored the boy, and headed downstairs to join the others. Rylan looked back at Ellie who was about to grab the railing too. "You coming?"

"Hold on a sec." He stopped and motioned her to walk back towards his bed as he rummaged through his backpack. "...I wanted to give this to you last night, but I think Joel would've torn my head off…"

"Pfftt... no shit? You think he doesn't like you or something? No way~" Her sarcastic tone knew no bounds for him.

Rylan smirked in response as he pulled out the item and then stood up by his bed so that he faced her. "Nah... I'll get him to adore me in no time. Close your eyes, no peeking!"

"This better not be anything fuckin' gross..." Ellie chuckled waiting for her gift.

"...Now Ellie, get on your knees." Rylan joked but quickly regretted it when he got punched in the arm. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding! Jeez... here take this."

"Huh?" Ellie took the item that was placed in her hand by the boy in front of her, and it was a golden compass. In near perfect condition, it shone brightly in the rising sun from the window as she laced it through her fingers, inspecting it. "Wow... where'd you get it?"

"I picked it up from the guy in the cornfield, looked cool so I..." Rylan smiled as he scratched his head awkwardly. "You know... it's engraved too." He blushed at that.

"'To My Sweetheart'" it said as she read the back of the compass. "...That's so fuckin' corny."

"But I thought you loved corny." Rylan could not stop grinning as he placed his hand over hers. "Your sense of humor says so~"

She shrugged him off with a huff and pulled away from him. "Do we really need to do this now?"

"No... I just thought, you know... trying to be nice." Said this lonely boy in the apocalypse with a girl.

"Tch... thanks Rylan." She sweetly smiled as she took the compass and pocketed it. "Really."

"Anytime, now let's head downstairs before any of them gets suspicious." His lips twitched as he grabbed her hand tenderly.

Ellie looked down at their interlocked fingers, and then her eyes trailed from their hands to the exposed bite on her arm, always there to remind her. "Rylan... this is..." She didn't know how to handle this. This boy that she had met two days ago... she already knew she could trust him with her life, and he would trust his life with hers. They just seemed to click, sort of like... Riley.

"Shush." He silenced her as he surprisingly joined his chapped lips with hers again, but both sober now.

The blood had rushed to their faces, which made their cheeks and bodies melt like they were both jelly in each other's arms. It was like a magnificent encore of what happened to them the night they shared the bottle of wine. It was nice... it was comforting... it felt so natural and... good... it felt so good to be wrapped in another one's embrace sharing their bliss with one another, this kind of joy...

From downstairs they could hear Joel bark at them, "Ellie? Get on down here!"

The two teens broke apart at the sound of the order, still wrapped in one another's arms they looked into each other's eyes, green ones meeting brown... Rylan's voice broke the silence with a raised eyebrow. "Is this official now?"

Ellie offered him a sweet smile but it then disappeared and was replaced with a grimace. "Why the hell are we doing this?"

"What do you mean?" He questioned with a look of confusion.

"You..." She tore away from him and made her way to the top of the stairs holding the railing again. There was no other way around it, they would never be able to have a normal relationship without endangering Rylan and his health. Kissing was nice, but in the long run their minds were naturally thought about it. What about... sex? No. Bottom line, she was... Infected. "We can't be together."

"Ellie..." But she didn't listen to his protests as she stepped down to the first floor to join the others, leaving Rylan alone. "Ellie wait!"

She ignored him, and it was for his own protection... Rylan quickly followed her to the dining room below where everyone else had already sat down to eat breakfast with Carter at the head of the table. Rylan accepted that whatever stuff he and Ellie had to deal with, it would be for later. Focus at the matter at hand.

"Nice of ya to join us," Carter stated as he placed a hand-drawn map of the local area he must have made. "Now we can get started."

"We should move on outta here, maybe move South before Winter sets in..." Joel suggested prompting a next course of action for their group. That's what he wanted: to keep moving.

"You mean after we get Brad, right Joel?" Claire responded as she shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "But why would we want to leave? What's the rush?"

"Those Bandits might be a problem." Rylan crossed his arms after he took a seat next to Claire, across from Joel and Ellie. "They already tried to kill us once, we shouldn't stick around and test our luck."

Carter frowned. "If they know you're with me, then Grant will leave us alone, as long as we make the payment and negotiate with them. ...Trust me, that's your only option if you want to find your friend."

"And if we don't find him?" Ellie surprisingly challenged him. "What then? We just wait around here like dipshits until something else happens?" She gave Joel a quick glance over to him, and he knew exactly what she meant.

Fireflies. Little did the rest of the group know, Joel and Ellie caught up with one another and informed each other of the imminent threat. About Devlin, how the Fireflies might be chasing them now. Time was what they probably didn't have.

But even if Joel told the truth now, Claire and maybe even Carter would deny it and continue thier efforts, shit what the hell could he do?

"We take it one step at a time." Carter replied with a harsh tone, more than likely offended someone would backtalk him in his own home. "Here's the plan."

They all listened in to his words. "What I wanna do is leave two of us to guard the cabin and check the nearby traps, here, here, and here." He pointed on the map. "The other two of ya are gonna come with me and track down some big game on the way to their compound." He explained. "Keep an eye out for your friend too."

"Deer'll be near water." Rylan chimed in. "Who's staying behind?"

Claire sat up like a nail was on her chair, "I'm going! Only Joel and I know what he looks like!"

"...I feel more confortable knowin' an adult is guardin' my cabin, no offense kids."

Ellie shrugged at that comment. "Hey, none taken. Rylan can go hunt with you two, and I'll stay here with Joel. Done."

This feeling in the pit of of his stomach had intensified, and alarm bells rang out in Rylan's head. Joel might convience Ellie to just leave while their gone. She always talked about how they were such a team. He couldn't risk it, not after what happened upstairs. He had to stay with Ellie, she couldn't leave yet. "Hold on! ...I don't think I can hunt..."

"What? What's your problem boy?"

"I... I-! *URP*" And then almost as if on command, he remember that horrible night... the sight... the smell... the taste... Everyone was surpsised to see Rylan's cheeks puff out and almost instantaneously a pot was placed in front of him by Claire and he filled his sick into it.

"Jesus, Rylan. What's wrong with you?" Ellie exclaimed as she scrunched her nose at the smell of the bile.

"Are you okay?" Claire inquired as she rubbed his back to soothe him while he spat in the pot. "If you're throwing up, you should stay here. Right?"

"Fine. Boy'll scare the animals away if he keeps this up. Little lady, you up for a hunt?" Carter wanted to ask for permission to make it final.

Ellie shot a suspicous glare at Rylan who had buried his head in the pot to avoid her gaze. She then looked at Joel, but he only he groaned and gave a shake of disapproval to her. "...Anyone got a bow and arrow?"

"I don't like this." Joel finally said out flatly in front of everyone. "I don't want Ellie out there with two people she barely knows!"

"Then suggest an alternative, 'sides holding hands, tellin' our life stories and singin' Kumbaya, because I ain't doin' that." Carter stood firm. "You wanna protect your people right? Well then, you're doin' it MY way. Clear?"

"Brad is dead! Alright?!" Joel finally let it out almost to forcefully, but still he wished he never told the lie in the first place. He would not endanger Ellie like this, he couldn't trust these people, not yet. "I found his body last night and-!"

"SHUT UP!" Claire roared. "SHUT THE FUCK UP JOEL! You might have given up hope on Brad, but I sure as hell didn't! I never will!"

Everyone was silent... they all stared at either Joel or the Claire, uneasy on what might be said next. But it was Joel who frowned through his thick greying beard. "I can show you..."

"Show me then." Claire stood up and checked to see that she had ammo in her pistol. "I won't believe another word unless you prove it!"

"Tell me then how it all works out." Carter sighed as he folded up his map and gave an annoyed look at Rylan. "You're cleanin' that out, you got that?"

He nodded as he got up from his chair and went to the sink, dissapointed that his plan backfired on him, he was just worried that Joel would make Ellie leave him. "On it."

"Come on," Joel motioned for Ellie and Claire to follow him. He definitely needed Ellie to stick close to him. She was safe with him, no longer would they ever be separated like this. "Let's get on outta here."

As the three of them stepped out the door, Joel bowed his head as he heard Claire mumble under her breathe.

She whispered under her breathe. "He'll be okay... you'll see..."

A/N- I actually had something a lot differnet in mind in this chapter but then realized it would go against Joel's character. So I changed it, what do you think?

How will Claire react to Brad's death? What the hell is wrong with Rylan? And what are your predicitons on the chapter? :)

*cough cough* I'm still very sick, maybe some reviews would make me feel better? *cough* To motivate and inspire and heal me? Until next time! ;)