Firefly

Seven

September 27, 2003

Narrator

Joel was clutching onto Sarah, rocking back and forth. His little girl was dead, she had died in his arms. The asshole who shot her was now dead, laying in the ground. If Tommy wouldn't have come when he did Joel would have been dead too. Yn lay a few feet away, Tommy's hands pressing down on her abdomen to try and stop the bleeding so she wouldn't suffer the same fate as Sarah.

They had to get out of there. They needed to find a place to hold up in for a little while, until yn could travel because Tommy wasn't going to let her die. Joel wouldn't want to go anywhere. He wouldn't leave Sarah to just lay on the ground and rot. Tommy knew he would need to bury her; he knew Joel would need time. There would be no getting over it. There would be no coming back from this. They're lives were going to be different. They were going to be different.

Tommy pulled back, putting an arm under yn's legs and one under around her back then he lifted her off the ground. He had to get to the military truck. There would be a first aid kit in there. There would be stuff in there that he could use to help slow the bleeding until they got somewhere safe. When he reached the truck he pulled the passenger door open and set her inside then started rummaging around.

When he finally found the first aid kit he started pulling what he needed out. Hemostatic gauze was the first thing to be pulled out then the Compression Bandage was next. He rushed back to the passenger side and lifted her shirt to expose the bullet wound. Luckily it had gone straight through and he could only hope it didn't hit anything vital. Ripping the gauze packing open he pressed it onto the wound. The hemostatic gauze should help stop the bleeding.

Once he got that pressed onto her abdomen he started wrapping the compression bandage around her making sure to put gauze on the exit wound too. After he finished he slammed the door and rushed back down to Joel who was still sitting there clutching Sarah in his arms. "Joel, we need to go. We have to get out of here and find a place to hold up. I got yn patched up the vest I can but we gotta go now," he said, standing behind his big brother.

"I'm not leavin' here!" Joel yelled. "I didn't say you had to! Now get up and let's go before someone else comes along!" He went over and picked his rifle up before turning back to Joel. "Now dammit!" He had to grab onto him and pull him up and to the truck, pushing him to get in the back. Joel refused to let go of his daughter and Tommy didn't blame him. All he wanted was to get them the fuck out of there.

Tommy found an old farmhouse set back a mile from the road after driving for almost an hour. He kept looking over at yn and then back at Joel. Joel refused to let go of Sarah even after they got there. Tommy had to go into the house to make sure it was clear and they wouldn’t come along any unexpected surprises. Then he went out and got yn and took her inside, laying her in one of the beds.

It took a little to get Joel to get out and come inside. He sat on the old worn couch with his daughter clutched to his chest. It was clear to Tommy that his brother was in shock. After check on yn and properly cleaning and looking at the bullet wound and wrapping it better he walked outside. He took in a deep breath, closing his eyes and pushing his emotions down. He had to stay strong things needed done.

He pulled the truck around the back of the house and pulled it into the barn then found a shovel. He found a spot under a big oak tree where a tire swing swayed back and forth. He stood there for a good twenty minutes looking down at the ground. He had to dig a grave for his niece. He couldn’t let Joel do it. He pushed the tip of the shovel into the ground and started digging. The sky was starting to turn an orangish pink by the time he headed back inside. The sun was starting to rise.

After he dug the grave he just sat out there looking out into an empty field. His emotions had taken over him. The loss of his niece took over and he couldn't hold the sob that had escaped him. Now he had to convince Joel to bury her and let him look at his side where a bullet had grazed him. He walked over and stood in front of Joel, looking down at him. “We have to bury her, Joel. I found a nice spot and already dug the grave. I can find some scrap wood and make a cross too.”

Nothing. Joel sat there staring out at nothing. His grip never loosened on Sarah. Tommy knelt in front of him and shook his shoulder slightly. “Joel, we need to bury her. I’m sorry but she’s not…” He didn’t get the rest of his sentence out before Joel snapped his eyes to look at him. “Don’t tell me what to do with my fucking daughter! I know she isn’t coming back! Just leave me the fuck alone!”

Tommy sighed and nodded his head. He stood up and walked to the room where yn was. They were going to need supplies if they were going to stay for a little while. This place looks like it hasn't been used in a couple years by the dust collected on all the surfaces. He found a chair and pulled to sit beside yn. He kept checking to make sure she was still breathing. When her eyes fluttered and then opened there was panic set in them. When she went to sit up a cry of pain left her. "Hey, hey, hey. You're okay. You're safe. Don't move."

Her panicked eyes looked right at him. "Sar–" a gasp left her before the pain took over and she passed out again. Anxiety sat deep in Tommy's gut as he quickly checked for a pulse. A shaky breath left his lungs when he found it. She was going to need antibiotics and pain medication. He needed to figure out a way to get those and other supplies. But he had to make Joel be in his right mind first. He knew he would be different after this.

He had no doubt the brother he knew was gone. No parent should ever experience the pain of losing their child. And no child should have to live such a short life. If he could go back and kill the asshole who did this over again he would a thousand times. Maybe if he was there he could have stopped him sooner. Maybe if he was there Sarah would still be alive, Joel would be himself, and yn wouldn't be fighting for her life.

Maybe if he wouldn't have gotten locked up Joel wouldn't have had to leave them to come get his dumbass. Maybe they could have gotten out safe and this would have never happened. Yn and Sarah would have never gone to the Adler's, Joel would have never had to kill nana, he would have never had to kill that soldier. But he can't turn back time. The only thing he can do now is try and keep them all safe.

Twelve Hours Later

Tommy was finally able to convince Joel to bury Sarah. He sat out there for hours before stumbling back inside and going to sit in the room with yn. He watched as Joel gently lifted her hand, taking it in between both of his and kissing the top of her knuckles. He had found a couple MRE's in the truck and some water. He would still need to go looking for more. Maybe find some houses nearby. That would be the best way to get supplies. Go once nightfall comes.

"Once it's dark enough I'm going to go out. Find food and water. Try and find some pain medication and antibiotics, maybe more medical supplies. I'll need you to stay here with her. I'll try to see if I can find out more about what's going on." Joel said nothing so Tommy left the room to go see what more he could find around here before he set off. He was sure Joel would be in the same exact spot when he got back.