Right where you left me {a Joel Miller fanfiction}

Chapter 5 - Don't Let Me Go

"Come to me now. Don't let me go. Stay by my side. Don't let me go. Stay with me still. I've missed you so." - Don't Let Me Go, Cigarettes After Sex

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November 2023, Kansas City

The burning pain in my head had almost managed to distract me from how incredibly fucked we are. By killing those men we had practically put targets on our heads for the people of Kansas City, we'd be dead by nightfall if we weren't careful.

The ambush had left us with just the clothes on our backs, the weapons we had used to defend ourselves with and Ellie's backpack. This was starkly different from the life I had a few days ago with almost everything I needed at my disposal.

I knew how incredibly stupid I had been to leave the safety of the place I'd come to call home over these past four years, but something inside me knew I'd never forgive myself if I walked away from Joel Miller again. Plus, that home didn't seem like much to me now, not after feeling the warmth in my chest that only Joel brought me. That safety no house or place could ever provide.

"Bridget?" Joel asked in a soft tone causing me to break out of my trance and look up into his soft brown eyes.

"Yeah?" I almost got lost again, this time in his eyes. They were the only thing that I could focus on that didn't send my brain spiralling.

His eyes had always been my favourite feature of him.

"I asked if you were okay. You went quiet." His genuine concern made my heart swell, he had been overly anxious for the last hour fussing over me and Ellie more than usual. I never asked what happened once I had passed out but Ellie wasn't her usual self.

"I'm okay, just tired," I replied, smiling softly at him. I was far from okay. My entire body felt as if it might cave in on itself, along with my vision which was becoming more blurred as the minutes went on. I wanted to tell Joel to stop walking so I could rest, but we had no time for interruptions. I just had to hold off a while longer until we got somewhere to rest for the night.

We continued to walk through the city, hiding in rundown buildings from any passing vehicles that went past looking for us. By the time the sun had begun to set we reached the tall building that we had been aiming for, hoping that we could get a better outlook over the city from there come morning and attempt to find a way out of this shit hole.

With every step I took my body became more exhausted, every movement taking double my usual effort. Once we reached the entrance to the building I clung to the wall, as Joel boosted Ellie up through an open window to open the door from the other side.

"Bridget!" Joel yelled rushing over to me as I fell down the wall, landing with my back against it. I felt totally defeated, weak.

"I can't make it up all those stairs." I whispered, my voice coming out shaky as tears filled my eyes. I kept my head down staring at my hands, trying to stop the tears from flowing, ashamed to meet his gaze.

"You can. You lean on me okay? As much as you need," Joel leaned down putting his hands underneath my armpits to lift me to my feet. He made lifting my body weight seem so easy, it made me feel safe for some reason. The minute I stood my body stumbled like a newborn animal on weak legs, causing me to clutch onto Joel's arms, my nails probably digging into his skin.

Ellie, who had now exited from the building, successfully opening the door, stood in front of us triumphantly, "Where would you two be without me."

"By now, Wyoming," Joel grumbled out. I turned, narrowing my eyes at him before  smacking him on the back of the head with all the energy I could muster.