The Last Of Us: Past And Present

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

For the next several weeks, Joel stayed in the infirmary, letting the doc take care of him. Making sure his arm didn't get infected, cleaning his knuckles (which had broken when he'd punched the tree), and keeping his swollen feet on ice. Joel found it hard to admit that he needed the help he was getting (he definitely never admitted it), but he came to terms with it eventually.

After roughly a week, Tommy gave Joel the okay to leave the infirmary.

"You're good to go Joel. Doc says you've improved. No signs of infection in both meanings. He says your knuckles are going to take at least six weeks to heal. So you need to keep those wrapped." Tommy's eyes drifted to Joel's stump. "He also says to try not to do anything that'll reopen that. You'd most likely bleed out if you do." Joel nodded his head, and grabbed his pack from beside the bed. Once he had it on his shoulders, Tommy motioned for him to follow. "C'mon, let's head on over to your bunk. Ellie will probably have my head if I don't get you to her immediately." Joel smirked, and nodded his head before following Tommy. As they walked, he looked down at his arm.

Joel wore his plaid green shirt, and the left sleeve was rolled up, just above his elbow, showing just the end of the wrapped up arm. He shook his head. If he'd been more vigilant, if he'd been paying more attention, maybe he would still have both of his arms.

The two walked through the dam. Tommy would wave to people here and there, but besides that he was quiet.

"How many?" Joel asked. Tommy didn't need him to elaborate. Tommy shrugged his shoulders. "Just around thirty got here safely. Everyone else..." His voice wavered and he trailed off. Joel nodded his head, and put his right hand on Tommy's shoulder. Tommy grinned at his older brother and sighed. The two continued on in silence, until they reached the complete, other side.

The bunks were stationed in an unused section of the dam. There were just several beds put on handmade stands. There seemed to be just enough room for everyone that was there. Tommy led him through the building, to a bed that was unused. Across from that bed was Ellie's. "Joel." She said, waving to him with a smile on her face. Sitting by her cross-legged was a boy Joel didn't know, but he seemed to be about Ellie's age. Inside of himself, Joel felt that old wave of parental over-protectiveness that he had had with Sarah. He narrowed his eyes at the boy, who just made a peace sign in his direction.

Joel put his bag down on his bed, and sat down next to Ellie, on the opposite side as the boy. Ellie wrapped an arm around Joel's shoulder, that same smile still on her face. "Hey babygirl," he said, mirroring Ellie. He felt a great happiness fill inside him at the feeling of Ellie being next to him. He didn't know what he would of done if she hadn't made it. If she had...he blinked a few times and stopped thinking about it. Instead, he looked around Ellie, at the boy, who nodded his head at the old man.

"Who's your friend Ellie?" Ellie seemed to suddenly remember Devin, and scooted back a little so the two could shake hands. "Joel, this is Devin. Devin, this is Joel." Devin grinned and held a hand out. When Joel didn't reach out to shake right away, Devin just chuckled.

"It's cool. I won't bite." Joel sighed, and stretched his good arm out. The two shook hands quickly, and Joel rested his hand on his leg. Devin looked at Joel's left arm (what was left of it) without much surprise and said; "You okay?" Joel nodded his head.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Devin grinned, leaned back, against what Joel would've guessed was the headboard.

"Cool."

For the next several weeks, Joel worked on trying to get accustomed to using one hand for everything, which was extremely difficult. First Joel learned how to dress and undress. Then he went on to opening things. This was especially difficult. Many times, as he was trying to open a locked door, or a medkit, he found himself in dire need of help. He knew he would get better at these things, but right now he found it extremely frustrating, not being able to do the most meager things.

One thing Joel found especially difficult was reloading his weapons. He wasn't too great at using long weapons (the kick was the biggest problem, because he no longer had two hands to hold them with), and so he focused more on trying to master reloading his 9mm and revolver. The 9mm wasn't too bad, Joel could hold the gun and pick up a magazine in the same hand, and slowly maneuver it into the gun. However, using the revolver was a different story. He found it was nearly impossible to get the shells into their separate places without the use of both hands.

In the end, he decided it would be better if he only used the revolver when he absolutely had to.

A month passed. Joel walked briskly through the dam, his fist clenched, his blood boiling. He was pissed.

"Tommy!" He yelled when he reached the front gate. Tommy turned from the horse he was standing by, and Joel saw him swallow. "What's this I hear about a trade route?" Tommy nodded. "There's another civilization, about a day's ride from here. This is around the time we ride out to make a trade with 'em."

"Why wasn't I told about this?" Tommy shrugged. "You never asked." Joel shook his head and sent a look Tommy's way.

"So you're just gonna' ride out there, give them some of this place's supplies and hope they give us somethin' of equal value?" Tommy smiled and shook his head.

"We've been doing this for a long time Joel. You should have a little more faith in the operation." Joel only stared at his brother. He looked down, then back up.

"Fine, but I'm comin' too." Tommy sighed. "Joel...I don't-"

"You don't have to worry about this." Joel said, motioning with his stump. Tommy sighed heavily, and put his hands on his hips. "Is your girl gonna' be okay with this?" Joel pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and first finger. "She's probably not going to stay here willingly so..." Tommy nodded, and turned back to his horse. "Fine. Be back here in ten minutes." Joel agreed, and began making his way back to the bunks.

AN: I know, I know, another short chapter. But this one is actually the first half of one full chapter. The tenth chapter is the other half of this. I'm ending this one early for the suspense. Speaking of suspense: What do you guys think is going to happen on the road? Tell me all of your predictions in that little review section. The next chapter will probably (and I am saying probably) be uploaded today or tonight, depending on how busy I am. Hope you all enjoyed. Stay tuned.

~Exangellion