fights and flashbacks
Ellie
The four burst into the med center, Ellie walking faster than the rest. After less than a glance at the nurse, Ellie opened the doors to the main room where the patients were. Jesse, Dina, and Quinn stayed behind, answering any questions for the confused nurse that Ellie wasn’t bothered to answer.
Jesse explained that he and Joel, Tommy, and another guy were on a patrol, making their way back to Jackson after a relatively easy time. They were taking their time, talking when they heard the telltale signs of one clicker, and then a horde of them. They were taking them down when another group came into viewing, also escaping a horde of clickers. Joel and his group helped them fight the rest of the clickers (“out of the kindness of our hearts,” Jesse had recalled bitterly), and they talked with the other group for a moment. They learned their names including the main leader, Abby. Tommy had introduced himself and then Joel when suddenly Abby exchanged a look and fired at Joel, right at his chest, saying something about her dad. He had managed to swerve but it still hit him in the side. Tommy and his partner managed to fight off the group, all the while she was yelling things Jesse couldn’t quite catch, and the four eventually outran them and now here they are.
Ellie was fuming. Not only did Joel and Tommy save Abby and her group’s lives, but she had the audacity to attempt to murder Joel. Ellie just knows Tommy is as angry as she is. She doesn’t know how Tommy was able to control himself and not kill Abby right then and there.
Ellie raked her eyes across the room until she found Joel sitting in a bed. He looked ghostly white, and she clenched her fists, digging her fingernails into her palms. She walks over, pulling up a small stool. He stirred, blinking open his eyes.
“You good, old man?” Ellie whispers, gently touching his shoulder before pulling it back. He merely grunts in response.
“They called themselves the Washington Liberation Front or W.L.F.,” he mutters, not answering Ellie’s question. Getting right to the point.
“Washington?” Ellie furrowed her eyebrows. “What did they want here?”
He lets out a dry laugh and closes his eyes. “Me.”
“What the fuck dude,” Ellie says, staring up at the ceiling, then looking back at Joel. He still closed his eyes as if wanting to avoid looking at Ellie’s face. “What, do you owe her money or something? Why did she want to fucking kill you?”
Joel sighs, opening his eyes but still not looking directly at Ellie, opting for the ceiling instead.
“That surgeon…” he starts, pursing his lips, “that was workin’ on you? I think…that was Abby’s father.” He meets Ellie’s eyes but then looks away. Ellie closes her eyes.
Another reason you should’ve just let me die, she thought for a fleeting second. The worst part is Ellie almost understands Abby’s pain. This thirst for revenge, this need for “a life for a life.” Ellie doesn’t know if she was in Abby’s position if her self-control, or lack thereof, would be able to be tamed. Ellie hated herself for understanding Abby and almost felt bad for her.
“She’s gonna come back,” Joel says, and Ellie shakes her head, not wanting to think about whatever shit is going to come from Joel’s mouth.
“Yeah, and I’m not going to sit here and watch,” Ellie mutters, staring at a wall, a plan formulating in her mind. She stands up, making Joel look at her quizzically. “Just stay here and heal.”
“What are you doing?” Joel demands, his voice raising slightly. When Ellie doesn’t answer, he raises it just a notch more, “Ellie?”
Ellie looks at Joel, trying to look as confident and relaxed as possible.
“I have a plan.”
“A plan to get you killed or what?” Joel snaps. Ellie stares at him.
“Just get better. Please.”
And, despite the warnings and protests coming from Joel, she walked out.
— — — —
Ellie walked out of the doors to see three eager faces waiting for her. Dina reached Ellie first, grabbing her shoulders.
“He’s okay?” she asks, looking into Ellie’s eyes. Ellie nods, grabbing her hands.
“Yeah, he’s gone through worse,” Ellie says with a dry laugh. She slightly cringes, flashes of the pole through his stomach and her choppy sewing skills. Ellie blinks a few times, but the feeling won’t go away. Dina furrows her eyebrows, concern growing on Ellie’s paling face.
“Dina,” Ellie mumbles before nearly collapsing in the nearest chair. Ellie vaguely notices Quinn rush over to her side with Jesse on her heels. Dammit dammit dammit dammit. Flashes of Joel’s shivering body in the cold basement whizzed in her mind’s eye, where suddenly Sam and Henry were there too, and Ellie’s breathing became more shallow. Joel carrying her from the hospital, the dinosaur museum, back to the gaping hole in his side.
She’s had this before. She knows she’s going through some "episode" or whatever Joel says because he goes through them too. She holds out her hands which are wildly shaking, and sweat begins to pool on her forehead. Breathe. Breathe.
“Ellie?” Quinn says, grabbing both of Ellie’s hands. Dina’s hand was planted firmly on Ellie’s back, as a reminder and comfort. Ellie looks up at Quinn, blinking a few times, her breathing fast and shaky. Quinn nods with coaxing comments.
“Breathe,” Quinn instructs gently. Ellie vaguely watches Quinn wave away a nurse but never takes her eyes off Ellie's. Ellie focuses on following Quinn’s tender instructions. Slowly, the images disappear and Ellie’s hearing is not so muffled. She didn’t even realize she was crying until she was blinking away tears and her face heats up.
“I’m sorry,” Ellie mumbles, but Quinn and Dina were already shaking their heads furiously. Quinn stood up, reaching a hand out to Ellie. Dina gave the nurse a quick thumbs up before the four walk out of the med center. Ellie took a deep breath, inviting the fresh air into her lungs.
“I’m going after Abby,” Ellie says as they were walking down the road. She heard every single one of them stop, staring at her back. She looks over her shoulder.
“What?” Dina demands. Ellie sighs.
“I need to figure out what she wants with Joel,” Ellie says turning fully around, and Quinn throws her hands up in the air, letting out an over-obnoxious laugh. Ellie crosses her arms, defiant.
“What she wants with him? She wants to kill him!” Quinn exclaims incredulously, then points a finger at Ellie. “You are going to get killed. I don’t think she cares which one of you dies.”
Ellie shakes her head. “I’m going to offer myself up. She doesn’t know I’m immune, and maybe there are more doctors--”
“That’s a very big risk, Ellie,” Jesse interjects, and Ellie scowls.
“One I’m willing to take.” Ellie’s eyes bounce between the three of them, before Quinn sighs and shake her head.
“I’m going with you, you idiot,” she says. Ellie immediately goes to object, but Quinn holds up a finger. “Don’t even argue. You’re definitely not going by yourself.”
Dina helplessly looks between Ellie and Quinn, eyebrows furrowed.
“First of all, you’re both stupid,” Dina says to the two, crossing her arms. “And I want to go with you. But…” Dina sighs and says this next part softly, “I’m pregnant.”
They all stood in stunned silence. Jesse held Dina close and Dina begins to ramble, talking about how she didn’t intend on telling them this way but wasn’t sure how else it would come up. Ellie digested the news, knowing she needs to say something. She stepped towards Dina and took her hands.
“Don’t worry about us, Dina,” Ellie whispers, leaning against Dina’s forehead. Dina rolls her eyes and smiles.
“You know I will.” Dina smiles and then they part. “Tell us when you decide to leave.” Quinn reaches over and gives Dina's hand a squeeze.
They all exchange nods. Ellie was eager to leave by tonight but figured she should wait until at least tomorrow. The fact that Abby might be back at any minute was enough to make Ellie itch to pursue her and her anxiety spike. Dina and Jesse go separately, while Quinn and Ellie walk together before stopping in front of Quinn’s building.
“Quinn?” Ellie asks, quietly. The thought of staying in her apartment without the thought of Joel in the house next to her made Ellie's stomach churn. Quinn hums and turns, raising an eyebrow. “Can I stay with you tonight?”
Quinn smiles, reaching for Ellie’s hand.
“Of course,” Quinn says.