Chapter Text
Fuck.
It's the first thing that crosses her mind. She can't say it aloud since her breath is coming out in gasps of blood. Her sight is no better from the skilful punches the blonde threw at her.
She wasn't the only victim, though.
The petite girl turns her head sideways ever so slowly and catches a distinct body on the floor, motionless. On her elbows, she manages to crawl towards it. "Dina?", her voice cracks, "Please… Dina, say something."
As she reaches the girl's back, she spots the Hamsa bracelet on her arm. So much for giving good luck, uh… and as though some sarcastic superior being had just heard her thoughts, the Jewish girl moves under the palm of her hand also ever so slowly, "Babe", she grunts and Ellie finally has a moment to breath, "...fuck."
"Couldn't have said better."
The two girls don't know how long it took them to lay down on their backs again but they eventually did. Now, Ellie assists her girlfriend to sit down.
"Are you…", she hovers her trembling hand over Dina's stomach, "Are you okay?".
Dina sighs and brings their hands to rest on her lap, "I guess, yeah".
"Okay."
They help each other get on their feet, both walking with caution through the seats rows. The brunette licks her dry lips, ferrous taste going down her throat. They push the door open together and immediately hold hands at the view. Jesse's body is at their left on the floor, his round lifeless face soaked in blood - Ellie shields Dina's sight with her shoulders; Tommy's body is just a bit farther, his head no better than Jesse's.
"What are we gonna do?", Dina asks behind shaky hands.
"W- Working on it", she clenches her hands in agony. Yet again she loses those close to her. Yet again, caring about her got people killed. Quit it, Ellie, she berates herself as her breath starts acting up, not the time. She takes a deep breath and looks back from where they came from, them at Dina, "The way we are, we ain't gonna be able to take them back to Jackson by ourselves", Dina nods, "I say we wrap 'em up... and go back for help."
"Sounds like a plan to me."
"Good", they nod in agreement and part ways to find sheets and ropes.
The sun is starting to lit up the place when they sit down to assist Jesse and Tommy. Dina silently cries as she turns her ex-boyfriend's body over and over until he's just a cocoon. Ellie wants to say something but she damn sure knows there is not a thing to be said now - neither done, besides covering Tommy as he did to Joel back in the lodge.
"Fuck, Tommy. I'm so sorry", she grabs the rags and sheets she gathered and starts wrapping them around his legs, his hips, the tears build up when she reaches his torso but then she jumps back and as soon as her butt touches the floor again she hops on him eagerly, "Oh God, Tommy?!", Dina looks at her and they both spot the faint ups and downs of his chest. Ellie holds her knife in front of his mouth and they let a wet laugh out when the sharp blade gets foggy.
As they hear through the few days Tommy required to get better, the WLF is practically over. Every couple hours someone would try contact to no avail. Some stranded soldiers ended up going deeper in the island forest, others were shot in the middle of their calls. The trio concluded it was safe to stay at the theater for a while to rest up.
However, time's ticking for Jesse's body.
"We better get a move on", said Tommy. He's sitting on a crate whilst Dina finish changing his blood-soaked bandage. Ellie's on another crate, cleaning her weapons and fixing her strained arm. She looks at her bracelet and muses she was lucky to be alive after going against that goliath of a woman. What was I fucking thinking, honestly… I didn't think things through, she looks at what's supposed to be Jesse and frowns, I didn't think at all.
"Ellie?" She shots her eyes up at Tommy and Dina and says "Ellensburg was the plan, right?", Tommy nods, "We stick to it."
Now that they are three and even though Tommy's got only one good eye now, they manage to carry Jesse's body across the lowlands. Somewhere on the way the old man finds a couple of calm horses not so hard to tame. Tommy rides with the body while Ellie takes Dina. She's glued to her back.
"Robin deserves his son back", she says, "This is the right thing to do."
Dina's been talking in short sentences the whole trip and both Ellie and Tommy knew she was more trying to convince herself than actually talking to them.
Ellie nods and replies "We're all going home." Dina hugs her even tighter.
They see the lights of Jackson already when Tommy signs them to catch up with him.
"This ain't gonna be easy", his hands tightens around the reins, "I'll talk to them. You two go get some rest, alright?"
"I need to talk to his parents."
"Later", he takes a deep breath, this loss reminding him of the time Joel had to grieve Sarah's deceased body, "They need their time, the three of 'em."
Dina nods knowingly despite her urges - she also needs them, they are family to her. And she also needs to grieve her former partner, forever buddy. It wasn't the time, though.
It's been a week since they returned to Jackson. At the second day Jesse's parents came at Ellie's door to check on them, to see Dina. Ellie stayed inside to give them privacy at the porch. Dina and Jesse dated for quite a long time. Even Ellie was aware she couldn't be jealous. They do have a bond. And now with their son gone… Ellie's eyes get watery as she sees through the window the old couple hugging the tan girl, caressing her belly.
The couple was lying on Ellie's bed in silence when the freckled girl moved to rest on her girlfriend. Luckily that day's been a good day, minor nausea only, no damn cramps. Dina acknowledges her shifting by a thick eyebrow rising in curiosity. Auburn hair is tucked under her chin as the girl looks down.
"Wanna touch it?", she asks with a gentle smile. Bruised eyes look up at her, confused, "You haven't touched it yet."
Ellie said nothing. She was on her elbows, staring at Dina's belly.
"Uh, are you disgusted by it or…"
"No", she snaps, "God, no! There is no way I'd be disgusted by anything about you."
Dina giggles, "You dork." They kiss.
"I… I just don't know if this is right."
"What? Touching me?", she smiles, "You know, I'm pregnant, not dead."
"Dina, too soon."
"Sorry. But I mean it, babe", she rolls on her side to face her beloved, "Even if…", she clears her throat, "Jesse was alive, we wouldn't be together. This child doesn't tie me to him."
"Except it does", Ellie murmurs.
"Not like that", Dina's voice is serious now, they look into each other's eyes, "I'm with you, Ellie. I mean it. I carry a piece of Jesse, yes. A piece I want to take care with you by my side. That's… Is that too much to ask for?"
Ellie shakes her head vigorously, "Don't be ridiculous", she takes her girlfriend's hand in hers, "I couldn't ask for anything greater."
"Good", she kisses their entangled hands and swiftly guides them downwards. Brown eyes stare at green ones for permission. The pale digits timidly touch the skin under the blouse. It's warm and comforting.
"No wonder babies cry when they are delivered… I mean, it seems good in there."
"Oh!"
They look at each other astonished.
"Did-"
"I think...", Dina laughs, "I guess?"
"Fuck me", they giggle together as Ellie caresses her girl's stomach one more time and they again feel something akin to a kick. "Hey, buddy", Ellie whispers and smiles, "I have so many things to teach you. I hope you don't have two left feet like your dad."
Dina amused herself as Ellie kept chatting with her stomach. A warm feeling takes her over as she sees her girlfriend still carries the Hamsa bracelet. Despite the losses, despite all the hurt and hatred, Dina and Ellie went on their journey for revenge, the two of them only. And they came back alive, as three.
If this isn't luck, she doesn't know what kind of gift this is.