CYOA Page 200

[lumy12]

Page Two Hundred

You've mostly managed to compose yourself by the time Joel returns; you didn't hear gunshots, and he's not at all... rumpled-looking, so it must have been an easy encounter. You hated pulling the baby away from her mother, never to return to her arms, but the alternative was to let her lay there and feel her mother's body go stiff and cold, so... and actually, she stopped crying as soon as you picked her up.

"How many were there?" you ask Joel when he gets close enough for conversation. You're pacing with Ellie's head on your shoulder -- because she seems happiest that way.

You thought you sounded pretty normal, but he looks at you with concern and doesn't even answer the question. "What is it? She okay?"

"For now." You look pointedly at Avery so that Joel will follow your gaze.

"Shit."

"Yeah."

He stops your pacing with a hand on your shoulder (the non-baby-occupied one). "Are you all right?"

"No... but I kind of have to be, right? How close is this hospital?"

"I don' know. Three, four hours maybe?"

"Will they have baby bottles and milk there?"

"I hope so. Clock's tickin' now, though. We gotta hurry."

"Can we bring Avery? Like... tie her on her horse or something? I don't wanna leave her here. We prob'ly can't, um... use her, anymore? But still..." You really can't stomach the thought of trying to get the baby to nurse off a corpse.

"No, I don't think that's... but we can bring her. Sure."

You're a good ten minutes down the road before you remember you haven't told Joel about Avery's final few minutes of life. "Joel... right before she died, Avery named the baby."

"Oh yeah? What's her name?"

"Ellie. I'm not even joking."

He smiles. "Ellie... hmm. I like it."

You smile back shyly; you still can't quite believe this kid has your name. "But... whoever's going to be her parents now... what if they wanna change it?"

"Well... they might. They could keep it as a middle name, though. Or maybe keep the name, but call her by her middle name."

You consider those options. Is it vain of you to want her name to remain Ellie? Or are you just trying to honor Avery's wishes... "Maybe they won't want to change it... when they hear the whole story?" you suggest hopefully.

"Maybe."

You look at the sweet little sleeping face for the umpteenth time (Joel thinks the motion of the horse rocks her to sleep). She looks so peaceful right now. You're almost afraid to ask... "What do you think is going to happen to her? ...What if we can't get her back to Jackson? Where will she go?"

"First things first. Hospital."

...Yeah, Joel probably doesn't want to think about saying goodbye, either.

* * * * * *

By the time you find the hospital, Ellie is obviously hungry -- and, you imagine, quite frustrated that you're suddenly failing to understand this now.  You're surprised she hasn't screamed herself hoarse.  No amount of soothing will shut her up.  Joel says she's actually not very loud, compared to older babies.  At least now, with poor Avery reduced to mere cargo, strapped to her horse, you and Joel can take turns carrying her.

You're sure you've found the right place when you see a guard stationed outside the main entrance.  He watches your odd little procession and seems unsure whether to lower his fucking assault rifle or not (does he really need one of those?!).  Joel dismounts before you get within the guard's ear shot, and motions for you to do the same. "I'm gonna let you take her, all right? ...Act sad," he adds as he hands the baby to you.

"Um... okay?" You're not not-sad about this whole thing, but...

"He's prob'ly gonna assume this is your mom" -- he nods to Avery -- "an' your sister.  We'll let him think that.  We want him to... let us in with as little fuss as possible."

"Got it." You snort.  "Though I think it's pretty obvious we're here cuz we need help, not cuz we're looking to rob the place?"

"Still." Joel frowns as he starts untying Avery. "I reckon it would've been better to be carryin' her like a normal... like a person who's real sick..."

"Well, they're gonna know she's... not..."

"This guy don' need to know that."

You don't see what difference it makes, but you can play this game. "Oh -- well, you thought I'd drop the baby.  You didn't trust me to carry her on the horse.  And Mom here... she's like, comatose, right? so it makes no difference to her if she's treated like a saddlebag or not."

Joel smirks at you. "You're good.  I s'pose he won't much care anyhow.  Hopefully he's like most people an' has no desire to hang around a screamin' kid any longer than necessary." He hoists Avery in his arms and tries to situate the blanket so it's covering most of her.  He has some difficulty with this; you try to help him and find that her limbs are awkwardly stiff.  "Good enough," he declares. "Let's go. Remember: we're in a real hurry."

You don't have to fake that -- you are in a hurry. You've seen Joel play nice before and be downright charming about it, but you think you probably have a better shot at winning over this guard (who appears to be a soldier), so you take the lead. "Hello," you greet the guy, warily eying the gun like you're afraid he might shoot you, tugging the blanket up over Ellie protectively. You don your most pathetic, pleading look -- one that usually enables you to get your way when you use it on Joel. "We need to see a doctor... they're in bad shape -- please, can we go in?" Please don't be a dick...

"Not without goin' through security."

"Okay -- where's that?"

"I'm security."

"What?" You heard him, but the crying baby isn't the easiest thing to hear over, so you figure you can use her to buy yourselves a moment or two to think. What does he mean by that?

"Search and scan. No one--"

"We ain't got time for that," Joel cuts in -- and he sounds more desperate than angry (pretty impressive for him, you think). "Please -- she's unconscious, an' the baby... the milk... it stopped--"

Omigod did he really just say that?! The guard looks a little uncomfortable.

"--see, so she hasn't eaten all day -- she's sick, an' we can't--"

"Fine," the guard interrupts. "You can go in."

"Thank you!" you say with a grateful smile. You and Joel start to move forward...

...but the guard holds up a hand. "Whoa -- not so fast. You can't bring all these weapons inside. Sit tight." He pulls a walkie talkie off his belt -- just like the ones they have in Jackson! -- and speaks into it. "Major Thumb to Blue Magpie, come in Magpie."

You glance at Joel with a what the fuck? look at that, but he's too busy playing ~concerned husband and father~ to smirk along with you.

"Go ahead, Thumb."

"I've got four civilians out here: one unconscious, one infant--"

"A sick infant," you add loudly. "A sick newborn!"

"A sick newborn. Over."

Magpie responds immediately. "Send them in, we'll be right there."

"Affirmative. Over and out."

Joel starts for the door again, but the guard blocks the way. "Weapons."

"I'm sorry," says Joel (...did he really just say "I'm sorry" to a soldier?!). "Can we just come back an' leave 'em later? I can't... I can't--" He makes a big show of having to juggle Avery and all his shit, like he can't possibly unload anything right now.

"I can help, Dad," you offer sweetly. I hope this works... You turn to the guard. "If you could maybe hold her for a minute? But watch her head -- and she just pooped... diarrhea... you can prob'ly smell it -- so be careful -- we didn't have a diaper so it's a bit messy, don't tilt her too much and you might be okay -- and the blanket's all wet down there, too... sorry..."

You try to hide your excitement at the look of revulsion on the dude's face. He frowns. "You know what? Just go ahead. Wait in the lobby right here. They'll be coming from the elevators."

"Thank you, sir," Joel says with a relieved smile. (A fucking smile.) "That's real nice of you. We'll come back an' give 'em to you, after we-- which way to the elevator? We can meet 'em there." He's holding the door open for you by leaning on it, barely waiting for the guy's answer (he says they're to the right).

"We could've left our weapons there, couldn't we?" you ask once you're safely inside.

"We could have," he agrees. "I just don't much care for the idea."

You know he doesn't like being unarmed in a strange place, around strange people. You're not crazy about that, either, but you feel safe enough here with Joel by your side, and you're pretty sure you'd feel that way even if he wasn't armed to the teeth (...no, his teeth aren't armed... but you've decided you like the silly expression). "Well, we're gonna have to go back and leave them in a minute, right?"

"Hell no."

"Um, that's what you told the guy... don't you think he's going to wonder...?"

"Nah. Once he learns that I've just found out my poor wife -- your mother -- is dead..."

"Aha -- yeah, I guess it's understandable that it slipped our minds."

"Most important thing is he didn't scan you. ...There's the elevators." Joel glances at you and chuckles. "Tryin' to hand the baby off to him like that... that was genius."

You grin. "It was pretty much true. I made up the diarrhea part, but this blanket is a little wet... I don't think she's peeing much -- we just haven't changed her in ages. Is she gonna get a rash?" That was reason #2 Joel gave for not blowing off diaper changes -- with reason #1 being to keep her happy (translation: quiet).

"I don' know... I'd say it's the lesser of two evils at this point. Plus we really don't have anythin' left to use, do we?"

"Just the rest of the toilet paper." Which totally sucks as diaper material, you've found. You've reached your destination now. "So we can ride in the elevator, you think?"

"I assume so. You ever ridden in one before? One that actually works, I mean."

"Yeah, a long time ago. And you're the one who rides them when they don't work!"

"I fell," he reminds you.

"The good old days," you say fondly. "I think that might've been the first time I was really scared for you."

"We fought infected before that. An' soldiers."

You shake your head. "Not the same." And we, nothing -- it was all Joel in the beginning. Joel and Tess. To this day, you still don't know the nature of their relationship; he would probably talk about her now, if you asked.

"I'd have you guess which elevator it's gonna be," says Joel, "but I reckon you can figure it out."

"I can?" There are six of them here. Who the fuck would ever need six elevators?! You look at each one-- "Oh, yeah, it's that one. Duh." The only one with lights above the doorway, counting down...

The elevator dings -- just like they do in the movies! It's a pretty dumb thing to be excited about, under the circumstances, but your brain doesn't always seem to register the circumstances when it wants to get excited about something (...does that make me a bad person?). You notice Joel's hand hovering over one of his hip holsters. -Nope, he can't possibly disarm himself with the burden he's carrying, but shooting someone? No problem!

The elevator doors slide open slowly, and two doctor-types emerge, a man and a woman. The man is pushing a gurney with a pole attached to it. "Oh --hello," the woman (Magpie?) says, looking from Joel to you, perhaps a little surprised to find you waiting right there. "Who do we have here?"

You assume she means the baby, as Joel and the other guy are situating Avery on the stretcher. Thanks to Ellie, you can't hear what Joel's saying... but you think he might be pretending that he's only just now come to the realization that Avery is dead. You watch them for a few moments... then remember that the woman asked you a question. "Uh... sorry..."

"Quite alright. We have a neonatal unit here... it doesn't get much use, but it's functional." She exchanges a look with the other doctor, and you have no idea what they're silently telling each other. She turns back to you. "I can take the baby up there if you want to stay with your mom and dad."

You don't know if you're supposed to keep up the roleplaying or not, but you don't bother to correct her. "Can I go with you? I'll hold her. She's... a little gross. We ran out of diapers," you add apologetically.

"Sure. Come on." She gets back in the elevator, and you follow her.

"Ellie -- let's both go." Joel steps into the elevator, too. "She's gonna go... somewhere else." Meaning Avery. And the 'somewhere' is probably wherever they keep their dead. Joel is clearly ~trying to be brave~ for you, hiding his emotions (yep, real tough role for him to play!). "We can see her later."

"Okay." You're glad you don't have to play the part of grieving daughter, especially since you're truly concerned for little Ellie and don't want to waste time on that shit. You look at the doctor. "Do you have milk? Like the kind for babies?"

The woman presses a button on the panel. "We have some formula here, yes. And we can get more if needed... though it will take at least a few days."

You're momentarily distracted by the slight jolt of the elevator when it starts moving. Whoa! "...A few days? How long will it last -- what you have?"

"Not sure. We'll check on that. How old is she? Is she premature?"

You hesitate, so Joel answers. "Only a day old. And... we actually don' know if she's premature or not."

The doctor nods. "That's not uncommon, if you don't have a doctor and don't know the exact date of conception. I'm not a pediatrician, but I'd say for a one-day-old, she's a pretty healthy size."

"Really?" you marvel. "She's so little."

"I'll weigh her and let you know. What's her name?"

"Ellie," you say proudly.

The doc looks puzzled. "Oh... I thought... didn't he just call you Ellie?"

"That's right," says Joel. "They're both named Ellie." He says it so casually, knowing that the doctor assumes you're both his children... like it's totally normal to give your two daughters the same name.

"I see. I'm Dr. Johnson." She clearly thinks it's strange, but she lets it go without comment.

Somehow that just makes it even funnier. You stifle a giggle. "And he's Joel. Um, it's nice to meet you. Thanks for helping us."

"That's what we're here for," she says lightly.

It is... except you know that Jackson and the hospital have some kind of arrangement worked out. But, she doesn't know you're from Jackson, and they're still helping you out, so that's something?

The elevator dings again when you reach your floor: the fourth. Dr. Johnson leads the way, pausing when you reach a lounge-like area. "Okay, Ellie, I'll take Ellie off your hands now. You can both wait here."

"Can't I come with you? Maybe I can help?"

"Not necessary," she replies, moving in for the baby transfer. "You know, the restrooms on the third floor are functional, if you two want to go wash up?"

"But..."

"It's all right," Joel assures you. "Give her the baby, Ellie."

You grudgingly shift the squalling bundle into the doctor's arms. "We'll just wait here, then. If there's anything wrong..."

"I'll come find you, either way," the doctor promises.

You feel helpless, watching her walk off with the baby.

Joel squeezes your shoulder. "Don't worry, kiddo. We made it. It's gonna be fine now."

You frown. "She thinks we're too dirty to help her with the baby, doesn't she. She's prob'ly judging us -- for all of it. For bringing her here all... filthy and everything." You haven't even given her a real bath yet... but you think you got most of the blood and gunk off.

"I got that impression, too. But once she knows the real story, she'll know you're a hero. C'mon, let's sit down."

Joel does unburden himself of at least the clunkiest of his weapons here, and you both shed your backpacks when you sit on the (pretty cushy) couch. You find that you can't sit still for long, though; you keep getting up to look down the hallway where the doctor disappeared with Ellie. What if she doesn't come back?

"Joel... what if we don't tell her the real story?" you think out loud. "What if we just let everyone think the three of us are a family?"

Joel idly scratches his head. "Well, I'd say that might not fly, assumin' Danny and his mom are here an' we go see 'em. They know the truth."

You actually completely forgot your real reason for coming here! "Shit -- I guess we should go find him, huh?"

"It can wait. So is there a reason you don't wanna tell her the real story?"

"I dunno... like... that means we don't have any say in what happens to her, right? If we're not related to her? The doctor can just decide that they're going to... keep her here and experiment on her or something? Like testing drugs and stuff?"

Joel snorts. "An' here I thought I was the cynical one."

"I'm serious! Or what if she like... has some asshole friends who want a kid, but they're her friends so she doesn't realize they're assholes, right? and she gives her to them and they're shitty parents? Who gets to decide?"

Joel sighs. "It ain't our call, either, though. I know you feel... some responsibility towards her. I do, too. But don't worry about that yet, all right? We just got here... we don' know enough yet. Maybe they won't want the responsibility... then it'll be a non-issue."

"You think so? Huh. ...Maybe she won't stop crying, and they'll be like PLEASE TAKE HER, GET HER OUT OF HERE, PLEEEEEASE," you muse.

"Will you come an' sit down, please? I'm gettin' worn out just watchin' you."

You trudge over to the couch and plop down beside him. "You're already tired," you point out.

"So are you." Joel puts his arm around you and tugs you close. "Neither of us got much sleep last night. You should take a little nap while we wait."

"How can I sleep when Ellie's... with that doctor?"

"That's exactly how you can sleep," Joel says with a chuckle. "Take advantage of the quiet."

"Maybe you should sleep. You're old -- you need it more than I do," you tease him.

"Me? I can't sleep here. But I bet you could if you tried. Go on. I'll wake you up if anythin' happens, all right?"

It is really cozy, tucked against Joel's side, nice and warm... you let out a big yawn. "Fine. I don't think I'll actually go to sleep, but I'll... rest my eyes."

"Good girl."

You close your eyes.



Continue to page 201.

Comments

Carlos

[(Anonymous)]

I like this part of the story, see Ellie like a mother now. When I read about the deal the hospital has with Jackson it remaid me Accretion.

Re: Carlos

[luminations.livejournal.com]

Heh, I kinda didn't like that it was similar to Accretion in that way, cuz I'd rather do something different, but there were just too many cool things I could do with a hospital setting so I did it anyway :) At least in Accretion the hospital isn't really connected to them yet? And they don't go there... and it's west instead of north. Lol so different enough :)