Ellie Williams x fem!reader

Chapter 34

In the few months since Joel had found you and Ellie in the snow, you and Ellie had changed.

Something had snapped inside of you both and Joel didn't know how to fix it. He'd tried to get the two of you to talk about what happened, but he never got far, whatever had happened it was something Joel wasn't sure you'd ever fully forget always lurking the the back of your mind.

"Ellie! (Y/N)!" Joel looked over at you two sitting in the back of a truck, facing away from him in a sort of daze

"Girls." he called again,
"(Y/N), Ellie!" He tried one more time finally gaining your and Ellies attention

"D'ya hear me?" Joel asked

"No... What?" Ellie asked her voice just above a whisper,

she looked over to you watching as you itched the bandages that wrapped around your head injury still lost in a daze...

"Well, I found this in there."
Joel proudly held up a can with a smile. "Beefaroni. Chef Boyardee."

"Oh, cool," Ellie replied,
lacking enthusiasm.

Joel's smile faded a little as he approached the truck
"And have you ever played this? Boggle? It's a word game."

He held out the orange box
Ellie shook her head, nudging you

"Huh...oh um..don't think so"
you answered your voice breaking
slightly and ending with a cough

"Well, if you wanna beat me at somethin', it would be this."

He went to offer the box,
but you and Ellie just nodded.

"Well, all right then. We're gettin' close."

"Mm-hmm." Ellie hummed, reaching for your hand

You gave her a small smile before returning to your dazed expression, You felt numb after what happened in the snow...and you knew Ellie felt it too, at least you still had each other and Joel. That thought was the one thing keeping you together you wondered if it was the same thought for her.

"Hospitals that way." Joel pointed down the freeway. "Maybe the one we're lookin' for."

"Got it." Ellie pushed herself down from the truck, helping you down before grabbing her bag,

she'd been babying you ever since your concussion treating you like a piece of glass, as if she wasn't one herself

Joel tucked the Chef Boyardee and Boggle into his backpack as you and Ellie wandered over to him

"Take this for me?"
Joel extended the rifle to Ellie

Joel slung his pack over his shoulders.

"Thanks."taking the gun back, a concerned expression clouding his features worrying about you and Ellies lack of usual energy

"They had a guitar in that RV. It was all smashed up but got me thinkin', maybe I should find one. I haven't played in forever. In fact, I was thinkin' maybe I could teach you two. I bet you'd both be great at it."

Ellie let out a slight chuckle, void of emotion grabbing for your hand and pulling you back into reality

"Do you wanna learn how to play guitar?"
He asked as you all began to walk

But Ellie was too focused on her feet to hear, and you were dragged back into your thoughts...
"Ellie? (Y/N)"

"Hm?" Ellie looked up,
"Oh, yeah. That'd be great,"
she replied then right back to staring at the ground