Work Text:
As soon as the words left Ellie's mouth. Dina knew that it'd end up badly. She had a horrible feeling in her stomach, and she couldn't tell Ellie that splitting up was a bad idea. Not when it meant that finding Joel would take longer. She just nodded and left after Ellie. The high feeling of spending the first time with Ellie was fading into something she hated.
Dread.
*
She had found nothing, so she made her way to Ellie, who had been closer. She made her way to the house up on the hill. Seeing Shimmer, tied to a tree not too far from the house. She quickly got off her own horse tying the horse close to Shimmer. As she walked closer to a small cliff she saw the dead runners at the front of the gate. She hoped that Tommy and Joel were alright.
She made her way around the fence, finding a small hole she could fit through. She quietly made her way into the house. Her heart beating in her ears, the house was so quiet. Nothing could be heard, making her foot steps sound louder than they should be. As she made her way down the stairs, the feeling of dread grew. She went down to the basement seeing that it was the only room she had not checked.
But when she opened that door. Nothing could have prepared her for what she saw. Blood. Loads of it surrounding her best friends/girlfriend's father figure. She stood there shocked not believing at what she was seeing. She knew in her heart that he was gone. The wounds she could see were not wounds she'd be able to fix or any doctor back at Jackson could fix.
"Ellie?!" Her feet started to move at the sight of the girl on the floor unmoving. "Ellie? Ellie I'm so sorry."
"Joel." Dina's eyes filled with tears. She saw how heart broken and devastated Ellie truly was. And there was absolutely nothing she could do to help Ellie at this very moment.
*
Ellie stood there knowing exactly what she had to do. She knew Maria would talk Tommy out of it. She knew that. She couldn't ask Jesse or Dina to come with her. She wouldn't put their lives as risk for something she had to do. It hadn't even been a three since Joel was killed. And she had to move. Which was why she was here. She had just sneaked out of Jackson with her horse Shimmer. The same horse Joel had gifted her.
She took one last glance at the mansion and set off for Seattle. It was early in the morning way too early. It was two in the morning. Way too early for anyone to think she was awake. She hated herself for pushing Dina away. But she had to. It had to be done. Telling everyone that she had to be alone. That she wanted to be alone. Even though she didn't. But she had barricaded her door from the inside to buy her time to be too far for anyone to come after her.
She gathered her weapons, some ammo and a little bit of food. And Joel's revolver.
She set off on the journey alone, a journey that could possibly kill her.
But she had do this. She was going to kill every last one of them.
For Joel.
*
"Ellie here's some food. Talk to me El." At hearing the light noise. She sighed giving in when nothing else followed. "I love you Ellie."
Not knowing that the one inside was just a squirrel that found its way in.
*
Ellie had made it into a small town in Idaho. She had been taking small breaks but hardly any. Wanting to get to Seattle as soon as she can. It probably had been three days since she had been gone. She had to kill runners, clickers, stalkers and hunters. Things she was used to.
She had just cleared a house, she had no choice but to take cover as a group of runners and clickers passed by. Shimmer safely in the garage.
As she walked back into the main room she noticed a safe. She went to it and saw the lock. Looking around the room seeing if she could find a code for the safe. Picking up the old journal in a box on a box. Most of the pages were worn out and the ink barely readable except the last page. A page that had two lines and the three numbers at the bottom.
It was a mistake leaving them, I miss them everyday.
09-26-81
She set the book down going back to the case putting the numbers in. The case opened to reveal another journal, a pistol box, some pain meds, a shotgun and a picture facing down. She gathered the supplies putting them in her backpack. Getting the picture last.
Turning the picture, she gasped at what she saw. Or who she saw. It was a picture of a family of three. There was a beautiful blonde woman could be in her late teens, holding a small baby. The baby couldn't have been older than a few months. But the man, the man it was...it was Joel. A younger version of Joel. Cleaned shaved, no wrinkles smiling with no care in the world. Ellie's eyes filled with unshed tears, her hands trembled as she tried hold onto the sobs. Clutching the photo to her chest.
*
Seeing that the food she had left was gone, Dina sighed and picked up the plate. She hated how Ellie was shutting her out. This had only happened once and that was when Ellie and Joel had there fall out three years ago.
At that time Dina had never seen Ellie so mad, so betrayed. Till this day she still hadn't known why Ellie was so mad at Joel.
"Ellie?" She spoke as she gently knocked on the door. Hearing how quiet it was, she tried to open the door but it was still locked. She sighed resting her forehead on the hard wooden door. She was clueless on how to help Ellie. But she was still trying. Although she didn’t want to seem too pushy. She could understand why Ellie would want to be alone. But she knew Ellie, it was why she kept coming to check on her. Even if the door wouldn’t open.
"I'm here Ellie. You're not alone."
*
Ellie didn't hold back. Killing anyone who crossed her path. She was here on a mission. She needed all the information she could get. Torturing some of the wolves that she had come across in a hotel. She had arrived in Seattle two days ago. Moving with a purpose.
She didn't care if she got hurt or if she would come close to dying. She needed to do this. She had to.
For Joel.
*
"Has she spoken to you?" Jesse asked as he sat down next to his ex girlfriend. He knew about the relationship between his two best friends. And he honestly didn't care about it. Don't get him wrong, he still loved Dina just not in that way anymore. And he knew Ellie would treat Dina right. Dina was in good hands. When he had arrived at the house on the hill. He just knew something was wrong.
He had entered that house hearing the cries of anguish coming from both Tommy and Ellie. He had hurried towards the noise, bursting through the door to see Ellie crying as Dina held on to her.
It was something he would never forget. Seeing the once strong, afraid to show any emotions best friend crying into Dina's chest.
"No, it's been days Jesse, a week. Almost two. I've tried to be patient and let her be. But-She hasn't left that garage and I'm beyond worried. I don't know what to do, how to help her if she doesn't let me. Tommy hasn't been any help either because he's also still grieving which I don't blame him for but...I don't know what to do Jesse." Dina cried, her emotions reaching their breaking point.
"Come on." Jesse stood up holding out his hand.
"W-What?" The brown eyed girl looked up confused, tears still streaming down her cheeks.
"We're going to go check on Ellie and if she doesn't open the door. I'll kick it down."
Dina whipped the tears away, sniffling as she took Jesse's hand in hers.
*
She was in the aquarium. Where one of the women that was with Abby said. She had killed three friends of Abby's so far. She had killed the ones she remembered from that day. One of the woman she did remember was already dead when she arrived at the radio station. But after the hospital and brutally killing a woman named Nora. She hadn't been the same since.
She was here for one person. And one person only.
*
"Ellie?! Yo Ellie open up." Jesse banged on the door. Dina stood right next to him. Her eyes still a little red from crying earlier.
"Listen here Williams if you don't open this door I won't hesitate to break this door down." When he got no reply, he motioned Dina to step back. At the first kick the door didn't budge. So he followed it with another strong kick. The hinges gave way and the door cracked open. But it was stopped from falling by a drawer.
"Really Ellie? A drawer?" He shouldered the door pushing the drawer out of the way. Dina followed him in and stood stunned when she saw that the red head wasn't in the room.
"Ellie?" She walked further into the small garage. There was a mess in here. Ellie always had it somewhat cleaned. As she glanced around the room she noticed that Ellie's back pack was messing, along with those sneakers she'd always wear. The over whelming feeling of dread washed over her every second that passed.
"Dina." Jesse called over. When she looked at him she saw right through him. She saw the anger, concern and fear.
She looked down at the letter and she knew she had been right.
Ellie left after that group. Ellie had been gone for almost two weeks now.
Ellie left. She left alone.
*
"You took him from me." Ellie yelled as she laid down punch after punch. She had found Abby at the aquarium after she had killed a man named Owen. She had watched the pregnant lady leave just before she entered the aquarium. Attacking Abby from behind with her pipe. Catching the older woman completely off guard. The young boy the blonde had been with unconscious and on the floor.
Abby tried her best to block the punches. She was able to get over the shook of being attacked and fought back.
But nothing could stop Ellie. She was filled with anger. An anger that no one could stop.
*
"What do you mean she's gone?!" Maria yelled. She had been over to Ellie's to check on the younger girl and heard noises in there. She figured Ellie would need space and time. She granted that time. Seeing that Tommy was no better. She had thought that she convinced them both not to go after that group. She should have known better.
"She left two week ago maybe." Jesse said handing Maria the note.
'I'm going after them. I can't just stay here and let them get away with what they did. She has to pay, every single one them. I'm sorry I didn't tell anyone but I'm not risking anyone's life but my own. Don't come after me. By the time you probably read this I'll be heading back. Hopefully. Maria don't let Jesse or Dina come after me. I know they will. They shouldn't.'
"We're going after her." The brown haired girl spoke as she paced the room. Wanting to beat the crap out of her girlfriend. She couldn't believe Ellie would be so stupid to go off by herself. Especially since they didn't know anything about that group.
"Dina-No" Dina interrupted Maria not liking the tone the older woman was using. "We are going after her. She's alone she has no one to have her back. She could be lost or hurt or...we have to go after her I'm not staying here while she's out there by herself."
"We will. But we can't leave now it's late. We'll leave first thing in the morning. So get some sleep." Tommy spoke, he felt guilty. He should have known Ellie wouldn't let this go.
He shouldn't have let this go.
He should of gone with her. Not leave her to go at this, alone.
*
Ellie didn't know what it was. But she was breathing heavily as she stood over the well built woman. Her hands wrapped around the woman's throat. She was seeing the life of the blonde woman leaving her so slowly.
"He....he killed....my...dad." The blonde woman chocked out. Ellie felt her self falter at the new information.
The blonde gasped for air as the hold around her neck was released. "He-He was the doctor who was going to operate on you." The mention of that operation Ellie stopped all together. The surgery that Joel stopped. The surgery that was going to change everything.
Ellie stood on shaky legs. Her gaze never leaving the blue eyes. "He was going to kill me." She whispered, the fact setting in. She picked up her-Joel's revolver and aimed it at the blonde who didn't move from where she laid.
"He thought you'd be the cure for the infection, everyone did. They were wrong, there is no cure."
*_*_*_*_*
Ellie didn't know how or what had happened. How she went from killing anyone who got in her way to…this. She was now making the long journey back to Jackson. She was tired, hurt, in pain, conflicted. She wasn't sure if she did the right thing. She had understood in a way why, Abby killed Joel but yet, Ellie hadn't accepted it. She couldn't, Abby had killed Joel, right in front of her. She couldn't just let that go.
But killing Abby wouldn't have brought Joel back. The person she became in Seattle, was everything she was afraid of. She didn't like who she had become. But she was chocking Abby, seeing the life fading in the blondes eyes. It wasn't as satisfying as she would have hoped. Once those words had escaped the blondes lips. Ellie had couldn't do it. Joel was dead cause of her. Joel had protected Ellie and it costed him his life.
They had shared few more words after that and Ellie had came to, accept that she couldn't kill Abby. Not when there was a boy the age she was when she was with Joel, depending on the blonde. The only reason Ellie had let Abby live was because of that boy. He was the reason she couldn't pull trigger.
So she left. Leaving the war between the wolves and whistlers. Letting them kill each other.
*_*_*_*_*
Dina, Jesse and Tommy had gotten far in their way to Seattle when they had to stop. Heavy rain had stopped them. They couldn't see five feet ahead of them with how hard it was raining. So with some reluctance they cleared a near by house and hid in there. They had been on the road for a week now. Making it a total of three weeks since Ellie left to Seattle. It was said that it would take them up to two weeks for them to reach Seattle.
With how fast they were going. Dina hoped that it would be much quicker. She still felt so angry, confused and most of all hurt. Why wouldn't ellie come to her. She knew that Ellie knew she would have gone with her. Ellie was smart, as much as she played dumb most of the times. Ellie would known that going after Abby would be a suicide mission. Especially alone. Unless she didn't plan on coming back.
No.
No. She couldn't afford to think like that.
Ellie would come back to her.
*
Ellie knew going back to Jackson would take longer on foot. As much as she wanted to go back, part of her didn't know how to face on what waited for her if she did. All this anger she felt was still there but not towards Abby(it was still there just not as consuming as before), not towards the wolves, not towards Joel. But at that stupid doctor. Joel died to save her. But in the end that had caused him his life. She knew Joel would do it again. It was just who he was. How she wished she could get her hands on that doctor and Marlene. Why couldn't they just let her see Joel. Why couldn't they just let her say anything. Why did they have to rush the whole thing.
Her pace was slow. But yet Seattle was no longer seen from a distance. Seattle was a long way back now. Her arm ached like crazy along with every other injury she could reach or see. She was sure her ankle was swollen from the fall she had taken on her way out of Seattle. The streets were a lot more empty than when she got there. Knowing that the wolves and whistlers were all together killing themselves.
It was something that was long behind her know. She didn't care.
What she cared about now was what she was going to say to Tommy.
Would he be angry?
Disappointed?
Would he understand?
*
"We should be entering Washington by nightfall." Tommy said from his horse. He was leading Jesse and Dina. Jesse at the end and Dina in the middle. It was now a week and two days since they left after Ellie.
All Dina wanted was to see Ellie again. The dread that had gripped her heart since that letter had only gotten worse. She couldn't sleep, not for long. Not with the nightmares. Not with how her own mind was making her see all the bad possibilities of how they would find Ellie. Or worse. That they wouldn't find her at all.
"How do we know if Ellie took the same route?" Jesse spoke from the back. He had his rifle in his hand at the ready if anything were to happen.
Tommy glanced around the area, "well she's smart enough to avoid main roads and big once populated areas. I'm positive she took this route. It's the safest and quickest to Seattle."
Dina knew Ellie was smart. A dumbass but her best friend had her smart moments. A dumbass who thought going to Seattle by herself was a good idea. It still angered so much. Ellie was-is her best friend. Of course she was angry but the worry overshadowed her anger. There was something else deep in her gut, the fear of losing Ellie. The fear of never seeing Ellie again. It clawed at her in a way she's never felt before. And she knew exactly what it was. The love she felt for Ellie was something she's only ever read about. The ache she's always felt when Ellie wasn't around. Or that feeling she'd get when they shared glances. The way she's always wanted to see Ellie laugh, smile. The jealousy she felt when Ellie was with Kat. It made perfect sense, the way she had not taken no for an answer when Ellie arrived to Jackson five years ago.
Dina loved Ellie.
She loves her.
And she had to believe that she'd get a chance to tell Ellie.
**
The exhaustion won over. She found a small cabin. Or it used to be a cabin. It looked much worse on the outside. The inside of the cabin had most of the it over taken by nature. She tapped on the wall waiting and listening.
Taking a step in trying to keep as much weight off her injured ankle. Standing a few feet from the entrance. It was all it took for a stalker to come out of its hiding spot from her left.
It was fast, like most stalkers are. It tackled her by her stomach, she felt the moment its teeth sunk in her stomach. The yell of pain as she fumbled to get her gun. Shooting it and throwing it off her when it became dead weight.
Heavy breathing as she struggled to catch her breath laying flat on her back.
Her ankle felt much worse, she was sure it was out of place, or worse broken. Walking on it didn't make the ankle feel any better. Fighting with a stacker for sure didn't help. Making sure the cabin was clear of any more infected. She got to work on fixing herself. Taking out her medical supplies.
With the perfect little gab between two rocks. She took off her shoe and sock, looking at the damage. The bone was for sure out of place. All she needed was to pop it back into place. So with that in mind, she slotted her foot in. Adjusting one of the heavy rocks. With a rag between her teeth she twisted her foot fast and hard. The sound of a pop filled the small room. Followed by grunt of pain from Ellie. Her hands shook from the pain as she now laid flat on her back. Looking up as the roof.
What was she going to do?
Every time her eyes closed. She saw Joel.
She tried to picture him before that day.
But she couldn't.
She saw bruised, bloodied, eyes swollen shut Joel.
Then she saw that kid. The bald headed kid with scars.
Killing Abby would have started this stupid cycle all over again. Unless she killed the kid as well. And she couldn't do that. The kid was thirteen at most. A thirteen year old who obviously cared about Abby.
-
A small fire was lit in the cabin. Her leg propped up and bandaged in the way Joel had taught her. Two thick sticks on either side of her ankle. She had seen this done by Joel when they had gone hunting with a group from Jackson. Remembering how Joel had wrapped the boys leg. Using two sticks to stabilize the ankle. She knew walking on the foot was a terrible idea. It would only damage it more than it already was. She would have to rest here for a few days before moving.
The slight ache coming from her stomach was still there. Reminding her of the fight with the stalker. She lifted up her shirt. Seeing the familiar bite mark. With a sigh she took out her mother's knife and some alcohol. With a clean knife she started cutting into her flesh with shaky hands. A needle and thread ready to cover yet another bite.
*
"Check it out. There's a light coming from that cabin." Jesse spoke up in a light voice. They had only encountered infected as of late which was a whole lot better than raiders. They knew running into raiders was inevitable.
Dina looked at the cabin. One side of the cabins wall was over taken by veins and bush. Also looking like a few rocks have fallen on it from the mountains side. It was a terrible place to have a cabin. She could only imagine how bad it would be if a big rock would fall on it. "Do we avoid and keep going or check it out?"
Tommy stayed silent debating whether it was a good idea to check. He needed to get to Ellie. Needed to find her as soon as possible. He didn't care about no one else in Seattle. He just wanted to see Ellie again.
"Maybe they've seen a little scary red head around here." Jesse continued.
"Tommy?"
"Damn it, okay. We’ll check it out."
They left the horses hidden, guns at the ready as they made their way quietly towards the cabin. Trying to see in through the windows. But it was no use. The windows were covered in dirt and weeds. The only way in was through the front door. Tommy didn't even have to crack the door open. It was already cracked open, so with a glance at Jesse who gave a nod. He pushed it open a bit more the fire was slowly dying out and all he could see was feet. One bandaged and propped up. A make shift brace around the ankle. And...
Black and white converse.
Well one black and white converse. The other foot was bandaged and wrapped with a make shift brace. He pushed open the door more. His breath hitching his throat at the sight. Bloody cloths, a medkit thrown open with all its supplies scattered and covered in blood. An infected lay not far dead. And in the middle lay his niece.
Ellie.
Dina heard the gasp. Seeing Tommy's wide eyes. So she looked leaving her position by the side door. Her eyes widen as well. But she's the first to break out of the trance. Moving quickly towards Ellie.
"Ellie?" Hands cupping pale cheeks. A breath she didn't know she was holding escaped at the feeling of warm cheeks. Finger finding a steady pulse when she placed two of her fingers on Ellie's carotid artery. She pulled back to access the damage. Cuts, bruises littered the taller girls face. The elevated ankle looked to be properly bandaged. She couldn't imagine what the damage was under Ellie's clothes. So she got to work on Ellie's face. Throwing her backpack off and dug out her medkit.
"Make yourselves useful take that stalker out and bring some fire wood."
With the cabin clear and it was just herself and Ellie. She let the tears fall. How she wanted to see those captivating eyes that had become her favorite color. Cleaning the blood and wounds. With a clean face. The bruising and cuts were more noticeable. "Oh Ellie." She sniffed, her fingers gently caressing Ellie's cheeks.
"...D-Dina?"
Green eyes connected with her brown ones. She let out a small sob. "Yeah it's me." Her hands remained on Ellie's cheeks.
Tears filled those green eyes. "I-I'm sorry." Ellie's voice sounded dry, raspy.
Dina shook her head. Moving stands of hair from Ellie's face. "Rest now. I'll be right here when you wake up." She watched as her favorite pair of eyes fluttered closed. The breathing returning to normal.
She then moved to lift up Ellie's shirt. Making sure there wasn't any other wounds that needed fixing. Tears fell more freely at the sight of all bruises and cuts. Some deep and others were just breaking the skin yet surrounded at that redness. She cut open the shirt with the scissors. Only a few cuts were deep enough for stitches. Others just needed to be cleaned and disinfected.
*
Ellie woke thinking it was a dream. She had been so out of it. She knew she had pushed through immense amount of pain, hadn't eaten or drank water for awhile. She knew she had become delirious. The exhaustion, the fight with stalker had really taken it out of her and having to patch herself up had really taken it out of her. But she heard voices. And oddly felt well rested. Her wounds still hurt and her ankle was throbbing. Yet she felt warm, she was no longer cold like she had been before she had passed out. The small fire she had made should have been long burned out by now.
A groan escaped her lips as she tried to sit up. Hands were then on her shoulders. Before she could even think of reaching for her switchblade. Her eyes opened and time seemed to freeze at who was holding her down.
Her favorite pair of brown eyes looking down at her. "Dina?" Her voice more clear and steady.
"Yeah it's me you dumbass."
"What are you doing here?" With the help of Dina she sat up. Leaning back on the couch. Now realizing that they weren't alone. Jesse and Tommy stood behind Dina. Her eyes staying on Tommy. The guilt now coming back in full force as she now couldn't hold his eye contact.
"Saving you. Goddamn it Ellie. Do you have any idea how worried I was. How scared I was that I was never going to you again. Why did you have you come alone? I would have gone with you I would have-Dina." Jesse stopped her rant now realizing that she was crying. She quickly whipped her tears away as she stood up and backed away from Ellie. "I'll go make sure the perimeter is clear." With she that she stepped outside.
"I'll go with her. I'm glad to see you again Ellie." Jesse said and then followed Dina outside.
*
It was silent. Too silent. But yet Ellie didn't move or try to even say anything. A deep sigh was heard in the room and she prepared herself for what was to come.
"I'm not mad."
Those words were not what she was expecting. And it was what caused her to look at Tommy. She knew when people lied. Especially the Miller brothers. It was how she always suspected that Joel had been lying about the fireflies. It was herself that refused to believe the truth. That the one person she had trusted so much had lied to her.
"I'm not mad kiddo. If you did or you didn't." That made her eyes fill up with tears. He knew already. She didn't even say anything and yet he knew. "I am disappointed though. You shoulda have never gone on this by yourself. We were all worried."
"I'm sorry."
Tommy was quick to wrap his arms around her. And this was the final crack that broke the damn. She burst into tears as she cried into his chest Tommy held her closer and tighter. His own tears escaping his eyes as they both cried.
*
They had stayed another two days at the cabin. Letting Ellie heal a bit more before moving. Her still throbbed but with the pain killers Dina had the pain wasn't as painful as before.
"Ellie you think you're ready to move?" Tommy asked as he finished cleaning his gun.
"Tommy it's still-Yeah. I just wanna go home."
Dina couldn't argue with that. So she kept quiet. She could see how emotionally and physically tired Ellie was.
"Okay. We will leave first light tomorrow." Tommy said as he put away his guns.
Jesse stood up. "I'll take first watch."
Tommy was out like a light. He had always been one to fall asleep as soon as his head hit something soft.
Dina was right next to Ellie. As mad as she was, she refused to leave Ellie's side. The moment before she had just needed a moment to cry, the relief, the pain, the anger she had felt, had felt so overwhelming. She only needed a moment to gather herself and her thoughts.
"...I didn't know." Ellie whispered.
"What?" Dina looked away from window, to look at Ellie. Who was looking down at her hands.
"To ask you. And even if I did, I wouldn't have."
Dina should have seen that answer coming. It was just who Ellie was. A selfless and a complete idiot. A person willing to risk their own life and not the lives of their loved ones.
"God, you're such an idiot."
"What?"
Dina turned her whole body to look at Ellie. Hands now cupping those freckled cheeks. "You go. I go. End of story." And with that said she pulled Ellie into a long awaited kiss.
*
The following morning Ellie had gotten ready with the help of Dina. Dina's hands refused to let go of her waist. Helping her to a more stable balance. Dina had helped her change her clothes. She had backed Ellie spare clothes. It plain black shirt with a grey flannel and a pair of jeans. The dirty, ripped and bloodied clothes were thrown in the fire. Their little camp was torn down and everything packed. Tommy and Jesse getting the horses ready.
"Come on. You're with me."
Ellie slowly followed her out of the cabin. Japan stood tall as he ate some grass. Seeing him reminded her of Shimmer. another victim that died because of her.
"Alright kiddo. Lean on my shoulder to get on the horse. Try to avoid putting any weight on the foot of yours."
Ellie did as she told. She was then on the horse with Dina in front of her. She could tell Dina leaning back just a bit. Her warm back pressed into her front. Ellie felt herself relax with Dina's weight against her. Arms wrapped around Dina's waist.
She had long road to recovery. But she wasn't on it alone.
:)