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Joel was supposed to go on patrol with you that morning but after promising Ellie that he’d show her a few songs on the guitar you told him you’d go with Tommy and Jesse. If there was anyone Joel trusted to go on patrol with you, it was his brother. Plus with Ellie finally opening up to Joel, you didn’t want anything to get in the way of that.
“You take care of my girl, Tommy” he patted your horse as you moved up by the gates.
Tommy looked down at his older brother and gave him a nod of reassurance before the three of you went on your way.
“She’ll be fine, you know how Tommy is” Maria tried to assure Joel who didn’t take his eyes off you as you rode away.
~~
“I wish he’d be more relaxed whenever I have to go on patrol, I could tell how much he hates it” you spoke with Tommy as you both went down a trail, Jesse close behind.
“Hey but that’s, Joel. He’s gonna protect what’s his, hell, I hate it when Maria has to do anything that can risk her safety.”
“Yeah, I know. I get it” you sighed looking off into the distance when Jesses voice distracted you and Tommy.
“What the hell is that?” You turned behind to see him staring at something in the woods you couldn’t make out. Jesse jumped off his horse walking towards what he saw, you and Tommy quickly followed.
“Where the hell are you goin’?!” Tommy called out to him just as you heard movement beside you. You both froze reaching for your guns, Jesse nowhere in sight.
“Stay right here” Tommy whispered as he slowly moved ahead, you stood still, gun in hand watching your surroundings. Tommy quietly moving ahead when you heard another quick movement coming from your left and quickly turned only to hear a gunshot go off.
It all happened so quickly, the sudden intense burning sensation on your waist, the sound of Tommy’s voice muffled in the background.
“The hell did you do?!”
“Oh shit, oh shit-“ Jesse panicked, everything felt like a blur, you hadn’t even noticed you fell on the ground.
“What..the..hell?” You whispered looking down at your bloody shirt, Tommy’s voice suddenly louder and clearer.
“Don’t move” he quickly knelt down beside you, slowly lifting up your shirt.
“Thank God” Tommy whispered as you slowly felt yourself coming back to reality.
“W-what?”
“Didn’t go through, grazed ya pretty good but you’ll be fine, let me just stop the bleedin’ till we get back”
“Shit, I’m so sorry” Jesse rushed towards you.
“Joel’s gonna kill you” was all Tommy could say as he wrapped up your waist with a spare shirt.
“No” you whispered slowly propping yourself up on your elbows
“Move slow” Tommy ordered giving you his hand as you winced getting on your feet.
“No one’s telling Joel anything” you looked up at Tommy who had a look of disbelief.
“You know how he gets about you. He finds out you were hurt and I didn’t tell him-“
“So what, blame me. He doesn’t need to know, I don’t need him worrying anymore than he already does”
“And how the hell are ya gonna hide that?” He looked down at your wounded area.
“I’ll figure it out, just promise me you won’t say anything” You could see the hesitation in his eyes. If anyone knew how Joel would react it would be his brother.
“Please, Tommy”
After a tense moment of silence he gave in.
“I’ll distract him when we get back, so you have time to change. I’ll stop by and get some pain medication and send someone to clean it up for ya” you breathed in relief.
“Thank you, Tommy” you whispered.
“Yeah, thanks” Jesse intervened making Tommy narrow his eyes on him.
“Get back on the damn horse and put your gun away,” he ordered, Jesse anxiously got back to where he was.
With the pain you felt, how you were able to get back on that damn horse even with Tommy helps, you’ll never know. The whole ride home he kept looking over at you, riding slower than he usually did to make sure you were ok, he really was like a big brother to you.
Once you returned, Tommy did just as he said he would. He found Joel in the house sitting at the table with Ellie, a smile on his face watching her play the guitar till he noticed his brother walking in.
“Everything go ok?” He took off his glasses, an anxious look in his eyes.
“Yeah, everything’s good” Tommy felt guilty lying through his teeth.
“Where is she?” He slightly leaned over hoping to see you walking in behind Tommy.
“Said she wanted to go check on what ingredients we have to make something for the event,” Joel furrowed his brows as he walked around the table.
“Hm-“ he scratched his chin with the tip of his index finger.
“Coulda sworn she checked on it this mornin’”
“Hey, guys” you walked in casually, your hands crossed before you as Joel walked towards you with a smile.
“Hi darlin’” he greeted you with a kiss to your forehead.
“So, Joel taught me the coolest song ever” Ellie interrupted with excitement.
“Are ya gonna play it at the dance?”
“No way! I just started learning it, gotta perfect it first” she stood up excitedly taking her guitar to the room as Joel turned back to you.
“Had fun today?” You asked with a smile seeing the happiness in his eyes.
“Yeah, it was a good day, how about you?” He put an arm around you.
“The boys take good care of you? Or do I need to have a talk with someone?” He teased not noticing the uncomfortable look in Tommy’s eyes. Tommy knew it wasn’t no damn tease and he knew it wouldn’t have been no damn talk either.
“They were great” you smiled up at him when his smile slowly faded.
“What’s wrong?”
“What?” You whispered confused.
His hand slowly coming up to your face, taking a hold of it as he moved it from one side to the other.
“Why do ya look pale?”
“I don’t look pale” you shook your head taking your face out of his grasp.
“Tommy she don’t look pale to ya?”
He silently shook his head tightening his lips.
“Come on, let’s go relax for a bit, I’m tired ” you sighed attempting to change the subject. Joel agreed walking beside you out the door till you pretended to forget something in the room.
Quickly creeping in you found Tommy lost in thought rubbing his forehead till he heard your footsteps. Somewhat relieved to see you alone he rushed towards you.
“Did you take the medicine I left ya?” He whispered.
“Yes, thank you. I’m fine, Tommy”
“You do look pale, you sure you feel alright?”
“Yes” you sighed.
“If something else looks wrong even the slightest bit, I ain’t stayin quiet. I’m just lettin’ ya know” he rushed off past you and left the house.
~~
The next day you woke up feeling a little more sore than the day before. The area on your side feeling tender surrounding the actual wound itself, you wondered if that was normal. Looking at yourself in the mirror you lifted your shirt before hearing the door open behind you, quickly you pulled it back down.
“How’d ya sleep, honey?” Joel came up behind you, his hand sliding over your waist, thankfully opposite of where the wound was.
“I slept ok, I know we have a long night with the dance.”
“If ya don’t wanna go we don’t have to, you just say the word” he looked at you through the mirror.
“It’s fine, I already promised Maria. It’s ok, we’ll have a good time” you smiled but Joel knew you, your smile didn’t meet your gaze.
“Is something botherin’ you?” You turned to him and caressed his face, his eyes darting between your eyes and lips that he could never resist.
“I’m fine, let’s get ready for the day” you assured him with a gentle kiss and went on your way.
~~
That night getting ready for the event you found yourself feeling a little weak but pushed through it. Joel noticed you were more quiet than usual and kept an eye on you as he always did. You had cleaned the wound up the best you could before leaving but still something felt off.
The moment you arrived to the gathering, you noticed Tommy look directly at you from across the room and when he did, you knew that was it. The simple walk from the house to the party throwing you off, you felt queasy and it showed. Joel holding your hand leading you further into the event, you gently tugged at his arm.
“Joel”
Tommy got closer.
“What is it, baby?” He turned to you, instantly noticing something didn’t look right.
“You alright, what’s the matter?” His hand quickly releasing yours to caress the side of your face and that’s when he grew more concerned.
“Jesus, baby ya burnin’ up-“
“Joel, we gotta talk” Tommy cut in.
“Tommy don’t” you whispered, you knew how Joel would react, especially towards Jesse.
“I shoulda said something the moment we came back but…there was an accident”
“The hell are ya talkin’ about, Tommy?” He turned towards him.
“Joel-“ your voice barely heard, the music continued to play as no one noticed the tense conversation between the two.
“It was an accident-“ Tommy repeated trying to remind his brother before telling him what played out.
“What the hell happened, Tommy?” He grew more desperate by the minute with what his brother needed to share.
“We thought there was some infected or raiders, we heard somethin’ but didn’t find anyone. Jesses gun went off-“
“Tommy, I’m fine dammit!”
“The bullet didn’t go through her but it grazed her pretty bad-“ Joel quickly turned to you, an alarmed look in his brown eyes.
“You were shot at” he whispered as you quickly shook your head.
“Under her shirt, left side” Tommy continued bluntly.
“No-“ you attempted to stop him but Joel moved towards you and quickly lifted up your shirt to see gauze wrapped around your waist beginning to fill with blood. The color draining from his face, worry mixed with anger. How the hell did someone accidentally shoot at you?
How the hell didn’t he notice?
“We need to get cha inside, right now. Tommy-“ he turned to his brother.
“I should’ve told you, I know-“
“We will deal with that later. You bring me a doctor, meet me at the house.”
There was no use in even trying to go against Joel at this point. You could tell he was angry but more so you could see the concern he felt helping you walk back to the house. You could see him looking over at you repeatedly to make sure you were alright, that was his first priority.
“Joel, don’t be mad at them-“
“Don’t talk right now, save your energy till they make sure you’re alright” he replied looking ahead, his arm around your waist, his hand careful to not rest on the wound but still enough to help balance you.
As the doctor checked you, Joel anxiously stood over his shoulder with his arms crossed watching what he was doing.
“Is it infected?” Joel asked.
“Too early to tell but looks like it’s gettin’ there. I’ll give her some antibiotics”
“And I’ll be fine for patrol tomorrow?” Your question making Joel narrow his eyes on you.
“You think you’re goin’ back out there any time soon?” His brows grew knit.
“Joel-“
“He’s right, should slow down for a few days. Let this heal properly” the doctor agreed. You couldn’t look up at Joel, you knew what he was thinking, there wasn’t anything you could say.
Once the doctor finished dressing your wound properly he left you and Joel alone together. A tense moment of silence, Joel didn’t know what reaction to even begin with. Pacing back and forth, Tommy could hear his footsteps loudly outside the door.
“So this was Jesses doin’ huh?”
“He didn’t do it on purpose” you quickly responded, a quick glance at him through the corner of your eye as he stopped to face you.
“Don’t matter, he put cha in danger. Kid shouldn’t be allowed with a damn gun till he’s properly trained” his nostrils flared just as Tommy walked in.
“How she doin’?”
“And you” Joel turned to him, hands on his hips.
“What the hell, Tommy”
“I know” he looked down in defeat.
“You shoulda known better”
“I know” Tommy didn’t bother to argue, he knew he was right.
“Don’t blame Tommy, I asked him not to say anything” you cut in but he didn’t take his eyes off his brother.
“Still, he shoulda been more alert, kept ya safe. Let alone at least tell me when my woman was hurt-“
“It happened so fast, Joel, Tommy did take care of me” you sat up faster than you meant to causing a sharp pain making you gasp. Joel quickly turning to you rushing to your side.
“Easy, lay down, baby” his hand gently guiding you to lay back on the bed as you looked up at him desperately.
“I know Jesse could be an idiot at times but he didn’t do it on purpose and Tommy-“ Joel looked down at you silently listening to what you had to say word for word.
“You can’t be mad at him, you should’ve heard everything he said to Jesse the whole ride home, he ripped him a new one” Tommy couldn’t help but silently smirk in the background, if there was one person that could make Joel break, it would be you. Joel took one look at his brother then back at you, you swallowed nervously waiting for some kind of a response.
“Now as to why Tommy kept your little secret. I know how persuasive you can be” he whispered.
“But I will have a word with Jesse” you sighed.
“Nothin’ like this is to be kept from me again. Am I clear?”
“Joel-“
“Am I clear?” His eyes narrowed on you until you nodded before turning to his brother.
“Never again” Tommy whispered.
“I’m sorry, Joel” you whispered, the sight of tears building up in your eyes was enough to soften Joel’s.
“It’s alright, baby, you’re ok” he whispered, his hand caressing your face, his thumb gently wiping the tears away.
“You get your rest, don’t worry about anything else, alright?” You nodded and took a deep breath.
After both men left the room allowing you to rest Tommy could see Joel was still left uneasy. His mind lost in thought as he sat at the table crossing his arms.
“You alright?”
Joel was silent for a moment, biting his inner lip staring off into the distance.
“How the hell didn’t I notice?” He blurt out looking back at his brother.
“Joel, you can’t blame yourself for not knowing what she was hidin’” Joel shook his head stubbornly.
“No, I knew somethin’ wasn’t right. I could see it in her face. I just- she shouldn’t have gone on that patrol without me. That shouldn’t have happened.”
“Well Jesse won’t be on patrol for a while.” Tommy assured him.
“Neither will she” Joel uttered low looking back in the direction you were in. The thought of how worse it could’ve actually been haunted him. The thought of anything happening to you was one he couldn’t live with.