Above Average | TLOU 1

Waits for you

(II/II)

Claire and Ellie walked over to the table and I sat across from Joel.

"How'd you guys find this place?" Joel asked, looking around the room.

"It was actually Maria and her Dad that found this place. Thought they could start a new life." I said, looking at Maria, who was with Dina in the kitchen.

"It's a nice town, how many people?"
"Around 200, and we find more people everyday," I looked back at Joel. "Y'know, people said no one could ever live like this again, but here we are."

"You guys still deal with Infected though, right?" Joel asked.

"'Course, it's just a part of life now." I replied, leaning back in my chair a bit.

"Doesn't have to be."
I chuckled "You're sounding' a lot like Marlene"

We talked for a few more moments before the room started to quiet down.

"Can I talk to you?" he said in a whisper.

"What? It's just us." I gestured to Maria and Claire.

He asked me again and I said fine.

We went into the guest room and locked the door.

"So, why'd you leave Boston?" I asked.

"I've been on quite the adventure, little brother." Joel sat down on a chair.

"I reckon it's got somethin' to do with that little girl." I guessed.

"It's got everything to do with that little girl"

"Well, go on then."

He hesitated. "She's immune."

I furrowed my eyebrows and looked back at him.

"Immune to what?"

After he didn't answer I put the pieces together.

"Oh come on." I scoffed.

"Listen, I've seen her breath enough spores to take down a dozen men and nothing."

I immediately thought it was bullshit but I went along with it.

"Alright, I'll bite." I sat down next to him. "Why bring her here?"

"I was supposed to take her to the fireflies...The way I figured, they're your boys. You finish the job, you collect the whole damn payment." He explained.

"I haven't seen a Firefly in years." I argued

"But you know where they are...I'm not asking for much Tommy, I just want some simple gear to set me on my way."

"What makes you think I'd do this for you?"

"This isn't for me, Tommy. It's for your damn cause."

"My cause is my family now." I looked at him in disbelief "You're not talking 'bout some walk in the park here."

"Jesus boy, get Maria to have one of your born-again friends to do it." Joel raised his voice.

"They got families too."

"Tommy, I need this."

There was a long pause and I thought about if I should actually do this, leave my family behind for some girl who is apparently immune.

"You want some gear, sure. But I ain't takin' that girl off your hands."

"This is how you're gonna repay me, huh?" He muttered.

"Repay you?" I echoed.

"For all those damn years I took care of you, took care of Claire."
"Don't you talk about my daughter."

"You two survived because of me!" He pointed a finger at himself.

"Sure as hell wasn't worth it." I turned to the door but he grabbed me and threw me at the wall.

"I bring you the cure for mankind and you wanna play the pissy little brother?" He said.

"We ain't back in Boston. You lay your hands on me again, it won't end well for you" I walked outside. And ran back downstairs.

As I got downstairs an alarm went through Jackson and I looked back to Claire and Dina.

"You two, get upstairs."

Claire got a pistol from the drawer, "Dad, I can help!"

"Now, Claire." I took the pistol from her and gave it to Maria.

I ran back outside and we got back on the horses.

I ran through the town and as Maria yelled at the people to get back inside I saw the threat.

It was the same group of people who'd been harassing Jackson for the past few weeks.

Joel and I dealt with them. Ellie ran up to him and he dismounted his horse.
"Shit, Joel! They were jumping the gate and this guy came running at me and I hit him with this broken bottle, it was so scary but so cool-"

Joel cut her off. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!" She said and Joel hugged her before they got back on the horse.

"Shit." I muttered. I had to take her.

We rode the horses back home and Claire was waiting outside.

"What happened?" She said as I dismounted my horse.

I checked her for injuries. "You're okay?"

"Yeah," She muttered.

I walked inside after making sure she was okay and talked to Maria.

"He wants me to take Ellie to the firefly hospital." I said.

"Why?"

I took a breath and wondered if the decision I was making was the right one. "She's immune."

I heard running up the stairs. It was Claire.

I shook it off and hoped she didn't hear any of that.

Maria tried her best to get me to tell Joel no but he needed this.

A few minutes passed and Maria went outside and talked to Joel.

"If anything, anything at all happens to him it's on you" She said simply before walking back inside, avoiding eye contact with me.

I started saddling up a horse and Joel put a hand on my shoulder.

"Where's the hospital?" Joel asked.

I told him the directions and he looked at Ellie.

"Mind If we take the horse?" He said.

I looked at him and stepped back a bit.

"Had a change of heart?" I asked.

"Your wife scares me. Plus, Claire needs you. I got this."

"She's all yours, then." I gave him the reins to the horse and he mounted the horse.

"Take care of that family of yours Tommy."

I waved goodbye and he did too as he rode off with Ellie.