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Chapter 17:

Back inside the hotel Owen rushed down the hallway and opened the door to the room that Ellie and Lev were still locked inside. "C'mon, I'm getting you both out of here".

"Where's Cedar?". Ellie questioned, refusing to move from her spot on the couch.

"He's alive, but I need you both to come with me right now". Owen replied anxiously.

"Why?". Lev demanded as he folded his arms and stood up.

"Because Joel and Rocky are outside right now". Owen replied, walking over to the window and pointing out at the entrance of the hotel.

Ellie and Lev looked at one another for a moment before the former of the two stood up and nodded. "Alright, lead the way then".

Owen gave Ellie a curt nod and carefully guided both young adults out into the lobby of the hotel, where he holstered his pistol and placed his hands up in surrender as he walked outside to meet Joel and the other's.

"Dad!". Ellie cried out, running over to engulf her father in a tight hug as soon as she saw him, with Lev doing the same with Rocky.

"Hey Rocky". Owen greeted awkwardly once he had caught sight of him.

"Hey Owen". Rocky replied just as awkwardly as he stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"Where's Cedar?". Joel asked as Owen led him and the rest of the group (save for Ellie and Lev, who stayed outside) back into the hotel.

"He's down here, just a fair warning that he's hurt badly". Owen replied grimly as he swiftly led the group down the hallway.

The group had almost made it to the room when a shot rang out and Benji slumped to the floor, blood pooling at the back of his head as Manny turned the corner and revealed himself.

"Manny, just let us go". Owen said calmly as he protectively placed himself in front of Joel, Rocky and Luca.

"No way, not until he's dead". Manny replied as aimed his gun at Joel.

"You know what? If you want me dead so badly then get it over with". Joel said in a shaky voice as he stepped forward and placed himself right in the path of Manny's gun.

"Joel". Luca said anxiously as Owen held him back.

Manny smirked at Joel and raised the pistol. "Burn in hell, pendejo"

Just as Manny was about to cock his weapon, another shot rang out, causing Manny to collapse as Tommy stepped out from behind the wall he'd been pressed against.

"Nice job sniper". Joel joked, wiping Manny's blood off his face as he clapped his baby brother on the shoulder.

"What the hell was that?!". Luca hissed angrily even as he hugged Joel.

Joel frowned but didn't reply to Luca's question as he turned to Owen. "What room is Cedar in?".

"He's in here". Owen replied, walking down the hall a bit further before coming to a stop at the third room on the right and carefully unlocking the door.

"Oh my God". Joel mumbled as he spotted Cedar leaning against the back wall whilst cradling his horribly swollen arm.

"Where the hell is his finger?". Tommy asked as he spotted Cedar's missing right index finger.

"Mel broke his arm and cut off his finger trying to figure out where you were". Owen explained, shooting a look at Joel as he took a vial of Menocaine from his pocket and injected it into Cedar's broken limb.

"Speaking of Mel, where the hell is she?". Tommy questioned.

"She's right here". Mel replied evenly from where she stood in the doorway of the room with her pistol pointed at Tommy.

"Mel please, I don't want to hurt you or your baby, just walk away". Joel pleaded as he eyed Mel's stomach.

"That's not gonna work this time". Mel interrupted sharply as she pointed the gun away from Tommy and aimed it at Cedar's half conscious form.

"Tommy no!". Joel shouted as Tommy ran forward and wrestled the gun out of Mel's hands before shooting her directly in the stomach.

"We need to get out of here". Tommy mumbled, wiping the specks of Mel's blood off his shirt and stepping over her fallen form before leaving the room without another word.

"I'll carry Cedar out if that's alright". Owen volunteered, gently picking Cedar's small body up and cradling him against his chest once Joel nodded.

"What about Benji?". Luca asked in an almost childlike tone as the group walked back out into the hallway.

"He's gone buddy". Joel replied quietly as he pulled Luca in for a consoling hug.

"But he -". Luca tried to protest.

"Hey, at least he's with Charlie again". Rocky said gently as Joel hauled Benji's body outside and buried him in the front yard of the hotel.

"Where are we going?". Owen asked as Joel led the way down the street.

"Bowen Island, the rest of our group is at one of the cabin's out there". Joel explained.

"I - Is it alright if I come along? You can say no obviously but I just -". Owen began with a nervous stutter.

Joel raised a brow and shared a look with Rocky, who nodded his permission before looking back at Owen and nodding. "You're welcome to stay with us".

"Thank you sir". He said with a grateful smile and nod before frowning. "Listen, about what happened back in 2038".

"Owen, with all due respect, not now". Joel cut in sharply as he glared at the young man.

"Right, sorry". Owen replied quietly, falling silent as the group continued on their way out of Seattle.

Author Note: The "Burn In Hell" Line From Manny In This Chapter Was A Nod To When He Says It To Joel While Spitting On His Corpse In The Last Of Us Part II.