Even on difficult days...OC x Joel Miller

•SIX•

"What if we get there and they're all dead?" Another dead firefly along the journey had planted doubt in Ellie's mind.

Tess didn't hesitate to respond "They won't be"

"How do you know" Ellie questioned Tess' certainty.

"I just do." Tess was firmer in her response shutting Ellie's uncertainty down. "Look it's going to be fine"

The group came out into an overgrown road right outside of building they had been trying so hard to reach. The slowly setting sun made the area glow, an inviting sight to the youngest girl.

"Homestretch Tess" Joel shouted from slightly in front of the group. He had resumed the position guiding the group through the streets after a fight with runners an hour earlier.

A large accumulation of stagnant algae filled water caused Ellie to speak up "just so it's out there, I can't swim"

Imogen looked at the girl frowning, it had never dawned on her than the children born after the outbreak would never have been taught to swim due to the lack of swimming pools and subsequently the lack of swimming instructors.

As the group waded through the water Ellie gave a weak but well meant thank you to the smugglers. She explained how although she knew they were being paid she was glad to be in their company over others. Joel said nothing and Tess have a relatively flat response to her thanks. As the group climbed the steps Imogen jogged to Ellie's side.

"That was really sweet" Imogen looked at Ellie with total sincerity, she didn't feel the need to pretend to be callous in front of Ellie. She was just a young girl with a large weight on her shoulders and Imogen believed some softness would be more beneficial. Ellie's nose scrunched at Imogen's words, a pink tint to her face showing her slight embarrassment that she had come off as sweet.

Joel sighed as he opened the large white doors of the building, stepping in with his head thrown back in defeat.

"No.NO. NO NO NO." Tess ran past Joel dropping to the ground by the side of a dead male. His firefly logo blended into the crimson stain that tarnished his blue top. Ellie's fears were correct, several bodies lay strewn around the floor each in their own dried and crusted blood.

"What happens now" Ellie shifted around anxiously looking at each member of the group in turn.

Joel approached Tess and began talking to the women who was frantically patting down the rebels. Snatching at their pockets for any clues of where else the group could go. Imogen's mind raced but she couldn't produce anything to say. She had no comfort to offer Ellie, she couldn't even lie. She was purely devastated for the young girl, nothing had gone to plan since they had left the QZ.

Imogen watched Ellie's face as Joel and Tess argued about what to do and where to go.

"Where was this lab of theirs?" Tess spoke directly to Ellie.

"She never said. She only mentioned it was some place out west." Ellie stepped closer to Tess as she spoke.

Joel inched closer to Tess raising his hand "what are we doing here?" His head cocked "this is not us."

"What do you know about us?" Tess was short with Joel; a warning to him that his input wasn't appreciated "about me?"

"I know that you are smarter than this" he pointed down to the corpse on the floor.

"Really? Guess what we're shitty people Joel, it's bin that way for a long time."

"No we are SURVIVORS!" Joel was becoming frustrated at Tess.

"This is our chance-" before she could finish Joel shouted in her face. "It is over Tess! Now we tried. Let's just go home."

"I'm not...I'm not going anywhere." The statement wasn't forceful, it was defeated and prickled with hurt. "This is my last stop"

There was a pause between the conversation. Imogen flicked her gaze between the pair waiting for the realisation to hit Joel, her chest already starting to burn with an all too familiar sadness.

"What?" Joel was confused.

"Our luck had to run out sooner or later" Tess turned away from him a slight crack in her voice telling Ellie exactly what she suspected to be true. Joel spoke and reached out to grab Tess' arm " NO DON'T TOUCH ME!" she snatched herself away from his grasp.

"Holy shit." Ellie shifted her weight, eyes wide and eyebrows pinched upwards on her face "she's infected"

A silence filled the room as everyone looked to Tess. She bit the inside of her cheek, her waterline filling with tears as she finally came eye to eye with Joel. He stepped backwards creating space between them.

"Joel"

"Let me see it" his voice was hushed.

Tess began to speak but Joel cut her off, his voice riddled with upset and anger "Show it to me"

Tess pulled back the collar of her top aggressively revealing a perfect bite mark on her trap. The veins branched away from the wound, the surrounding skin angry with infection. Ellie's heart was pounding, she felt the dull ache of loss in the pit of her stomach; a feeling she was well acquainted with.

"Give me your arm" Tess hurried to Ellie's side pulling up her sleeve " This was three weeks" she pointed at Ellie's scarred arm " I was bitten an hour ago and it's already worse." Tess approached Joel, Ellie's arm firmly gripped in her hand. "This is fucking real Joel." Desperation leaked into Tess' words "you've got to get this girl to Tommy's he used to run with this crew he'll know where to go." Tess didn't stop for breath her speech was hurried as if she were running out of time.

"Nonono that was your crusade I am not doing that" Joel pointed a finger towards Ellie treating her as if she was no more than cargo to him.

"Yes you are" Tess let go of Ellie closing this distance between her and Joel once more "Look. There is enough here that you have to feel some sort of obligation to me." Although the words weren't spoken to Imogen she took in a breath quietly, sucking the roof of her mouth to hold the tears in her eyes. " so you get her to Tommy's" Tess wasn't asking Joel she was telling him, with out saying the words she was telling him that her death had to mean something. She was telling him that she can't have survived all of the pain and hardship and sleepless nights and grief to die a death that meant nothing.

"Shit" Tess ran to the window, a large armoured vehicle was pulling up outside of the building.

The group burst into argument about Tess' decision to be left behind so she could help them escape. Tess shouted over the top of everyone's disagreement " I will not turn into one of those things."  The group went quiet muffled voices could be heard outside " come on. Make this easy for me." Tess was once again speaking directly to Joel.

"Ellie." Joel didn't take his eyes away from Tess as he spoke " get a move on" Ellie was desperately trying to apologise to Tess as she left her behind. The two started walking away leaving Imogen and Tess alone.

"I promise I'll look after him" it was only a whisper. Imogen walked to Tess placing a hand on her forearm, pushing her forehead against Tess' own. It was brief but enough was said in that moment between the two women. She let go running to catch the pair who were now jogging away.