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Chapter 02.

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Pairing: Ellie Williams x Reader AND Abby Anderson x Reader (separately)

Word Count: 4.8k+

Summary: You finally make it to Jackson, but this was never a simply mission.

A/N: Hello! Sorry this took longer than expected to be posted! I'm trying to get better at having a posting schedule. If you would like to be added to the tag list lmk!

Ao3 Link

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The world had been reduced to three things.

White snow. Grey sky. The golden glow of Jackson.

You had been walking for three hours, maybe longer. Time got strange in the freezing cold. Stretched and unreliable. Every step felt like walking through wet cement; your boots sank deeper and deeper. Your legs trembled from exhaustion. You had walked thousands of miles at this point on your journey, but the last few hours walking through the snow were killing your spirit a little more with every step. But you couldn’t and wouldn’t allow yourself to slow down.

Joel was somewhere inside those walls. The sole reason for your existence in this frozen hell was that man.

You couldn't just turn back because you were cold and exhausted. What would Abby say to you if you showed back up at the lodge empty-handed?

Jackson wasn’t like Seattle. It wasn’t a military settlement. It looked different, calm, peaceful, but alert and disciplined.

Your hands tightened around the straps of your pack. You rehearsed your lie in your head over and over again. You lost your group to raiders a couple of towns back, and you were seeking shelter. You needed to look like a fragile, scared girl. You couldn’t look like the soldier Isaac had made out of you. You needed them to believe your story. You needed to be inside the four walls of Jackson sooner rather than later.

You were now close enough to hear the faint sounds of Jackson. Metal clanking, a distant shout, and the muffled bark of dogs.

Your pulse quickened, and you slowed near the treeline. The hair on the back of your neck perked up.

You weren't alone anymore.

You slowed your breath and took another step forward, then another. Then you heard the snow crunch behind you.

You drew your weapon slowly and steadily, then immediately put it back in its holster, drawing your knife instead. You needed them to believe your story. You needed to look harmless enough.

You kept moving quickly. Quicker than you had been for the last 5 miles. Your lungs burned as the cold air entered. You moved maybe 50 feet before a whistle cut clean through the howling of the wind.

Multiple riders emerged from the treeline. Snow kicked up from under the hooves as they closed in from every direction, circling you before you could form a plan in your mind.

The dogs burst ahead of them, barking sharp and aggressive.

You froze. There were too many of them. Multiple guns aimed at your head, ready to blow it off at a single twitch of your body.

“Hands where I can see ‘em!”

Your fingers trembled as you slowly lifted your hands.

One of the dogs lunged forward, barking wildly. They almost reminded you of Bear and Alice.

God, I miss Seattle.

“Drop your weapons.”

You reached slowly for your gun and your knife and threw them in front of your feet.

The riders, one by one, began to dismount. There were about 8 of them surrounding you. 3 women and 5 men. All healthy and strong.

A man grabs you by your shoulder and roughly spins you slightly, while another begins to pat you down hard, searching every seam, every strap, every hidden pocket. A third man searched your pack.

“Let ‘em check,” a woman says.

Two dogs stepped forward, noses working fast. Sniffing all around you and your pack. Your heart nearly pounded out of your chest. You knew they were checking to see if you were infected, but if these dogs were anything like the dogs back home, then you were afraid. You’ve seen those dogs rip Scars apart with a single command from you.

Finally, the dogs eased back. You were clean. You let out a sigh of relief and let your face drop.

The cold metal of a rifle barrel lifted your chin, forcing you to meet the eyes of the man holding it. Blue eyes, assessing you. Suspicious of the girl running through the snow.

“You alone?’ He asks.

“Y-Yes” you stutter, your mouth feels dry. You had not realized that you were actually really thirsty. You would do anything for a sip of water just about now.

“Where are you comin’ from?”

“The lodge, up the mountain, and before then a trading post,” you says, forcing your words to be steady. You knew the routine of these questions. You’ve would conduct them back home all too often.

The barrel of the rifle inched closer to your neck.

“Group?”

“No. Not anymore. Raiders hit us a week ago. I ran.”

The blue-eyed man exchanged glances with another man. He looked younger than him. Maybe around your age or a bit older. He looked strong, smart, and… kind.

That man stretched forward. His voice quieter, more gentle, “You’re pretty well armed for someone who was hit by raiders.”

The wind picked up, forcing you to inch closer to the barrel of the gun.

“I was able to leave with my pack, and I traded for some stuff.”

Another pause.

“What do you want in Jackson?” The kind man asks.

Your answer slipped from your lips too quickly, “Shelter.”

His eyes softened with your response.

“Let’s go, a storm is coming soon.” The woman says.

The man finally removed the rifle from your throat. You take in a deep breath and touch your neck.

The man with the kind eyes reached his hand out for you to get on the horse. You hesitate for half a second before taking his hand and pulling yourself onto his horse.

You sat rigid behind the man, your hands gripping the back of his coat just enough to stay balanced, just loosely enough not to seem desperate. His body radiated heat through layers of wool and leather. All you wanted was to press your face up against his back and warm yourself up, but it all felt wrong. It felt wrong to want warmth from this stranger.

No one spoke. Maybe it was routine for them to be silent. The only noise around you was the steady sound of the hooves beneath you and the soft jingle of the metal from the saddle.

The riders did not need to stare at you directly for you to feel their awareness. Had they sniffed you out already? Are they suspicious of you, or are they simply kind enough to offer a girl shelter?

You would have never been this trusting back at home. You always shoot on command. You shoot to kill unless instructed otherwise. You are one of Isaac's best soldiers, which you think is bullshit. Abby was far better than you were. But he swore that you and Abby were the best he’s ever seen.

A faint whisper broke you out of your thoughts. It was too quiet for you to make out words.

Were they discussing you?

Why wouldn't they be discussing you? A girl appears alone, heavily armed with a story that sounds too rehearsed to be true.

You imagined their voices.

She’s lying.

Keep an eye on her hands.

Shoot to kill.

The outer gates of Jackson suddenly appeared as they rose from the snow. The gates were massive. The gates groaned as they opened. The guards greeted the riders. You felt a sense of relief knowing you had made it inside; you were officially one step closer.

This place was an actual town, like in the old days before the outbreak. This was nothing like what you imagined. You imagined Jackson to be a variation of Seattle or the QZ. You imagined that a man like Joel would have some sort of military training and maybe live the way you did back home. But no, it was the complete opposite. This town felt different; it felt like a warm hug.

Joel, you luck bastard.

People looked at you as you rode through the town and towards the stables. You felt as if every eye was on you. You stood out like a sore thumb; their curiosity pressed against your skin.

“Stay on the horse. Intake first.”

You nod and watch carefully as the man guides the horse away from the group and towards another long wooden building. You enter the building with the man, and warm air rushes in as she opens the door. It smelled clean.

A woman with a clipboard approached you immediately, “This way, we need to inspect you.”

You entered what looked like a medical facility. Everything looked sterile and clean, but also peaceful.

The woman with the clipboard gives the man a look, like kicking him out of the room. Then he breaks the silence, “I’ll be just outside. I’ll come find you when you’re done. I’m Jesse, by the way. ”

You nod slowly.

Jesse.

“You need to take your clothes off. Pack off. We will be inspecting you, checking for bites. Anything out of the ordinary. It is standard procedure. Anything the team outside of the walls might have missed. Then Maria will come in to ask you a few questions.”

Your jaw tightened, and you blew air out of your nose, but you did not argue.

You began to strip slowly, suddenly becoming aware of every bruise and scar on your body. She checked every crevice of your body. Checking for bites, wounds, and infection. She wrote it all down on her clipboard. She took your hands in hers and inspected your palms.

“Hmm, callused. You’re certainly not helpless,” she murmurs.

It was like a routine; she would look at something on your body, then she would write it down.

“Okay, now you’re going to shower. There will be clothes ready for you when you're out. This way.”

The steam curled from the shower stalls. Soap, shampoo, and conditioner were left for you. You walked in, letting the hot water hit your body. It had been months since you’ve had a warm shower. It felt so nice to finally be warm after being out in the snow. Your body relaxed under the water. The water at your feet was brown and red, from dirt, grime, and blood.

After the shower, you dressed yourself almost too quickly. The clothes left behind smelled of wood smoke and some detergent. The clothes were a bit big, but fine. You slipped on your boots before being led to a smaller room.

“They will be in shortly. Go ahead and take a seat.”

This room wasn’t warm like the others; there was a cool breeze. You sat in front of two empty seats. Your nerves were starting up; you could feel the panic rise through your body. What if they had found Abby and the rest of them, and now they have you here, ready to interrogate you about them? What if you had walked right into their trap?

The door creaked open, and your eyes met the eyes of a blonde woman, whom you assumed was Maria, and the man who held a rifle to your throat.

“Please start from the beginning, Miss…” The woman begins as she makes her way to the chairs in front of you.

“Y/N,” you begin calmly, “My group and I were at a trading post, maybe a three-day ride northwest from here. It was an old mill building. We needed information and food.”

“You mentioned raiders when we picked you up outside the walls. What happened?”

“As I says, we were trading for supplies. They hit the post at night; there were maybe 8 or 9 of them. I’m not sure, I didn’t stick around long enough to find out. I was a coward, and I ran and… and left them behind.” You say.

“So, how did you hear about Jackson?”

“First, at the trading post, we traded information about a settlement south of there. Well organized, stable, and room to take us in. Then I saw the lights from the lodge up the mountain. ”

“What did you trade for that information?”

“A rifle, a handgun, and spare ammunition. ”

“That’s a steep price, especially around these parts.”

“Yeah, there’s nothing I wouldn't pay to be out of the snow and cold,” you say, too real, too fast.

“Anything else the trader gave you?”

You chuckle, “Coffee and that was more expensive than the directions here.”

The pair exchange a look. A look you couldn’t quite decipher.

“I’m Maria, and that’s Tommy. We will allow you to stay, however long it is that you need to stay to get yourself together, and if you would like to stay here long term, then we can discuss that. I want you to know that everyone in Jackson has responsibilities and duties that they must attend to. You will too, regardless of the length of your stay,” Maria begins.

She was so serious and almost as intimidating as Isaac. She had the qualities of a leader.

“Jesse is outside with your pack. He will take you to have dinner. Then he will take you to the home you have been assigned. Your weapons will be held in a safe house and will only be given to you when or if you leave.”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.” You say.

You walk outside, and the cold air immediately hits your face. Your body missed the warmth of the building. You look around and spot Jesse standing against the wall.

“Ah, the woman of the hour. I’m glad Maria and Tommy let you out alive. I know I told you already, but I’m Jesse. I didn't catch your name,” Jesse says.

“I’m Y/N. Maria mentioned you’d be taking me to dinner?” You say as you sling your pack over your shoulders.

“Yeah! We’re going to the Tipsy Bison; we have killer burritos there. I’m sure you’re starving.”

You and Jesse walk side by side in silence. You take in every bit of Jackson. You needed to memorize it all and start creating a plan. You certainly were not expecting it to be this size and with this many people.

Jackson was louder than you imagined. It wasn’t loud, the way home was. Home was loud in the way of machinery being cleaned and trucks driving in and out all day. Explosions are going off in the distance, and training is going on constantly. Here in Jackson, it was loud in the way people laughed and had conversations. The way children ran around the streets. It was peaceful here.

“Some of my friends are actually here. I told them I would meet them here for dinner. They are nice, I promise.” Jesse finally interrupts the silence.

You just nod and trail behind him inside the building. I was packed with people. Many people greeted Jesse. The two of you make your way to a table with two girls.

“Sorry, I was running late. I was waiting on Y/N, and we found her on patrol. Please be nice to her while I grab our food.” Jesse begins. “Y/N, this is Dina, and that broody and gloomy girl is Ellie.”

Your chest tightened at the name. It was a name you had not heard in years. Not out loud, anyway.

It couldn't possibly be her.

“Hi, it is so nice to meet you! I’m Dina, please sit.” Dina says, scooting over in the booth.

You take in a deep breath before taking a seat next to her. “It’s nice to meet you,” you say, not being able to take your eyes off Ellie.

“You have a problem or something,” Ellie says.

There was no way in hell that this woman sitting before you wasn’t your Ellie. You could recognize those eyes and those freckles anywhere in the world.

“Sorry, you just look a lot like someone I knew.”

The warmth of the restaurant wrapped around you slowly. This time, the warmth didn’t provide you with comfort. All you felt was the tightening of your chest. You truly couldn't believe your eyes. She was real.

Ellie was real.

She was alive, breathing, real. She was not a distant memory you kept reliving. She wasn’t a dream; she was real. You could reach across this table and touch her sleeve. You could see the faint scar on her eyebrow and count the freckles dusted across her face.

Your awareness tilts towards her completely, like gravity has shifted and she's suddenly the center of it. You could feel her presence like heat against your skin. You couldn’t stop looking at her.

She couldn’t either. It wasn’t directly or as constant as you, but every few seconds her eyes would return to your face.

Ellie always had a tendency to look at people as if she were taking them apart piece by piece.

God, she doesn't recognize me.

The realization slammed into your ribs with blunt force.

Ellie has no idea who I am.

Jesse slid into the booth across from you with four plates balanced in his hands as if he’d done this a million times.

“Alright,” he says, setting food down in front of everyone. “So, are you gonna tell us about yourself, or do we gotta interrogate you again? Because Maria already had her turn. It really only seems fair we get ours.”

Dina immediately glares at him, “Ignore our friends. He thinks he’s funny.”

“I am funny.”

You chuckle at them. If your time wasn't limited here, you could grow to like them.

The burrito he had set in front of you was huge. You had not had real food in weeks. Other than dried jerky, you mostly shared with Abby.

“When you're ready, tell us everything,” Dina says, smiling widely at you.

“Um, like what?” you asks as you took the burrito in your hands and took a big bite.

“Like where you grew up. What life was like before this moron found you wandering alone in the snow.” Dina asks, pointing at Jesse. Jesse gave her a dirty look, but remained silent for your response.

Your gaze flicked up to Ellie. She was still watching you. You felt your chest tighten. Like, there was not enough air in the room.

You didn’t want to lie, so you stuck to the only truth you could share without compromising the mission.

“I grew up in the Boston QZ,” you say.

Ellie’s posture changed ever so subtly that most people wouldn't bat an eye, but you did. You always noticed her smallest movement.

“I lived there for most of my life. I was um an orphan. My parents died when I was a young child.”

Jesse spoke first, “I’ve heard stories about how rough it was out east.”

You shrug, “I guess it depends on who you ask. If you stayed in line and followed their rules, then it was predictable.”

“How long were you there for?” Ellie asks quietly.

You felt your heart beat fast, “Until I was sixteen.”

Her eyebrows furrow slightly.

“Wait, hold up,” Dina began, “Didn’t you say you were from Boston too, Els?”

“Yeah,” she says slowly. “Left when I was fourteen.”

That was it.

That was the confirmation you needed to be sure that this Ellie was your Ellie. You looked at Ellie, hoping she would realize it too, but she was still looking at you like a stranger she had not been able to figure out just yet.

You wanted to reach across the table and tell her that it was you, that after all these years, the universe brought the two of you together again. How was it possible that she couldn't piece it together? Yes, of course, you were no longer the fifteen-year-old girl, and she had not seen you in five years, but you had not changed that much to be unrecognizable.

Dina looked between you both, “That’s crazy! Did you two ever cross paths?”

Your fingers tighten into a fist under the table.

Just tell her. Just tell her who you are.

You wanted to so badly, but you couldn't, not yet anyway. Ellie needed to figure it out for herself.

“Boston’s big,” you begin. “There were lots of kids training for different divisions. It’s hard to keep track of everyone you’ve crossed paths with.”

Ellie leaned back, crossing her arms in front of her chest, studying you a little harder now.

“FEDRA track?” Ellie asks.

You give her a nod, offering a tight smile.

The memories flashed in your mind. The concrete walls. The early morning drills. Dragging Ellie out of bed every morning. The sound of boots marching in rhythm. Her voice whispered beside you during bunk inspections, so you wouldn’t spiral. You kept Ellie in line to keep her out of punishment, even though she found herself in trouble regardless.

“I was on track to become an officer.”

“What made you leave?” Jesse asks.

“Um.. it was all becoming a blur. It was the same routine every day. Woke up, went to school, trained, and did inspections. Hoping and praying that I would make it to Thursday because that's when the shitty rations would arrive. It was an endless loop. I just couldn’t be there alone anymore.” You say, looking down at your food. Suddenly, all hunger had left your body.

“Don’t get me wrong, that place was awful,” you add softly, “but I do have some memories that I deeply cherish.”

Ellie inspects you deeply.

There was this girl,” you continue, eyes fixed on the food. “She would always steal extra bread and rations for me, because I would give my rations away to the kids younger than me. And she would pretend it was gifted to her, so I wouldn't scold her.”

A small smile pulls at your mouth. “I was always terrified that she would get punished for it, but she didn’t care that it would cost her a week in the hole.”

Ellie felt as if the air had been sucked out of the room. That story was about her. She would steal bread and rations for her best friend.

You finally look up at Ellie. She wasn’t blinking or breathing. But it was as if you could physically see the pieces being put together for her. She finally recognized you. You held her gaze. You let every ounce of your history sit between you.

“I feel like we're missing something here…” Jesse mutters.

It was too loud. The warmth that once provided you with comfort made you feel as if you were suffocating.

“Excuse me, I just need some fresh air,” You mutter, sliding out of the booth.

You didn’t wait for permission or for questions. You simply could not bring yourself to look back at the table.

To look back at her.

You shoved through the crowded restaurant, the sudden wall of heat and noise becoming unbearable. The door slammed open under your palm, and the cold air didn’t just hit your lungs; it bit. Each breath felt like swallowing glass.

You barely made it around the corner before your stomach began to convulse violently. You bend forward, bracing yourself against your knees when the three bits of your burrito come up harshly.

You could feel your insides burn. Your body shook violently as you hurled out your insides.

You wipe your mouth with the back of your sleeve.

You’ve survived worse than this. You’ve traveled thousands of miles. Across so many states. You’ve left your home. You’re actively risking your life, and this is what does you in? You’re falling apart because of a girl who didn’t recognize you fast enough? A girl who you haven't seen since you were a teenager.

Your vision blurred. Hot tears streamed down your face, and you angrily swiped them away, disgusted by your own weakness.

Five years.

Five long, long years of carrying her memory in your head. Her voice. Her laugh. The exact rhythm of her footsteps. The way she looked at you like you mattered.

She was always with you, and she couldn’t remember you.

The sound of shoes crunched in the snow behind you. You didn’t need to look to know exactly who was behind you. You knew that walk despite it being years since you heard that cadence. Slightly uneven, careless, but controlled.

Her voice came slowly, tentative, “...you okay?”

You turned sharply. So fast she flinched and took a step back.

The anger in your chest boiled over.

“Am I okay?” Your voice came out harsher than you intended. “Are you fuckin’ serious?”

Ellie looks like she doesn’t know where to put her hands. They hover uselessly at her sides.

“I just… you ran out and..-”

“I threw up,” you snap. “That’s what I did. Because apparently seeing you is enough to make my body reject everything in it.”

The words land. You see it. Like she’s been punched.

“Y/N,” Ellie begins.

Your name. She says it softly, in the same tone she used when you were kids. This time, it didn’t soothe you; it broke your heart all over again.

“Don’t,” you say, pointing at her, finger shaking.

“Don’t what?” Ellie asks.

“Don’t say my name like that. Don’t say it like years haven’t passed. Like you didn’t sit in there and didn't recognize me.”

“I didn’t recognize you at first-”

“At first?” you explode, “At first!?”

Your hands fly up in disbelief.

“I knew the second I saw you, Ellie. The moment I laid my eyes on you, I felt like the air was sucked out of my lungs. And you just sat there clueless, looking at me like some stranger.”

“That’s not fair,” she shoots back.

“Fair? You wanna talk about fair, Ellie?”

You take a step closer to her. Close enough that she can’t avoid your eyes.

“You left me, Ellie.”

Her jaw tightens. “C’mon. I was fourteen.”

“You promised me,” you cut in, voice cracking, but louder now. “You promised me you’d come back after you cured the world. Looks like you lied about two things. You never came back, and you didn’t cure the world.”

“I thought about you every day. I wanted to go back for you, but I wasn’t allowed to leave. I tried.”

“You tried?” you scoff. “For how long? A day? A week?”

“It’s more complicated than that,” Ellie replies.

“Complicated, how Ellie? Please do me the favor and enlighten me,” You demand.

Ellie stands there dumbfounded, trying to find the words to explain things to you.

“I waited for you,” You begin. “I stayed in that place longer than I should have because you were always good on your promises. Every night that there was a tap on my window, I would wake up in a frenzy, thinking it was finally you. To my surprise, every time, it was just rain tapping my window.”

Tears form in Ellie's eyes. She’s breathing heavier than she was before.

“I carried you with me,” you say, placing your hand over your heart. “Every day. Through every stage of my life. You were there. And you’re telling me you looked at me and didn’t know?”

“You’ve changed.”

“So did you!” you shout. “But I still fuckin’ knew.”

Silence stretched between. Snow crunches under your boots as you begin to pace, dragging a hand through your hair.

“And the worst part?” you say, finally looking at her again, “You’ve been here this whole time. In Jackson. Safe and settled. Living this beautiful, normal life.”

The tears finally spill from your eyes.

“I tried really hard to convince myself that you were dead. That was the only logical reason I could come up with… I never imagined that you had just…moved on”

“I didn’t move on,” she says immediately.

“You sure?” you fire back, “Because it sure does look like it.”

She takes a step toward you, “I’m sorry, okay. I'm really sorry for all of it.”

You stare at her. Unsure of what comes next.

She's sorry.

You couldn’t wrap your head around any of it.

Five years of anger. Of rehearsed speeches. Of what you would say to her if you ever saw her again?

None of it actually prepared you for this.

Before you could walk away from her, she pulled you into her.

It was pure, genuine muscle memory. The way her arms wrapped around your waist, the way she fit against you.

For a moment, your body goes rigid, your mind screaming at you to push her away. But then, you were fourteen again. Hugging your best friend after a long day.

Your arms find their way around her neck. You could practically feel your heart folding in on itself. Tears spill from your eyes, hot against your cheeks, against the freezing air.

You press your face into her shoulder the way you used to, like you never stopped.

“I thought I would never see you again,” you choke out.

You could feel her arms tighten around you.

“I know, but we're together now,” Ellie whispers. She rubs slow circles against your back like she's trying to convince both of you, “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

You wanted so badly to stay angry and hold your ground, but your facade falls the second she holds you like this.

Ellie is real.

You could feel her heartbeat against your chest.

You could hear her breathing.

You could feel her warmth in your arms again.

She’s actually here.

--

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