2 Years Later

Went out one night to make a little round
I met Little Sadie and I shot her down
Went back home, jumped into bed
44 pistol under my head

I woke up in the morning about half past nine
The hacks and the buggies standing in line
Gents and gamblers standing around
Taking little sadie to her burying ground

I began to think of what a deed I'd done
I grabbed my hat and away I did run
Made a good run, just a little too slow
They overtook me in jericho

Elliot stood by the bar, taking a few sips of his bourbon every now and then, as he watches the people dance. He looks around the place and hoped that maybe (y/n) was there but there was no sign of her.

But Dina was there dancing around with a different guy since her and Jesse broke up about a week ago. Daniel was there as well as he danced with a few girls and Elliot couldn't help but chuckle at this. 

He bobs his head to the music when he heard approaching footsteps. He looks over and sees Jesse coming up next to him and stands next to him. "I hate these things." Jesse grumbles before he sips his drink. Elliot shrugs and says. "They're not so bad."

Jesse chuckles as he and Elliot watch the crowd. "Looks like she's having fun." Jesse said as he nods towards Dina. Elliot looks up and sees her dancing with a guy Elliot didn't know. "I'd give it two weeks before you two get back together." Elliot said to Jesse, knowing that these two always broke up but then got back together.

Jesse scoffs and says. "Not gonna happen." Elliot chuckles before Jesse looks over at him. "Did she...did she say anything to you about it?" He asked, his voice full of hope. Elliot smiles and says. "Make it a week." 

Jesse chuckles then he noticed that Elliot was scanning around the crowd. "She's not here, if that's what you're wondering." Jesse said and Elliot looks over at him. "I saw her sitting out on the porch, playing her guitar." Jesse replied and Elliot bites his lips at this.

"Speaking of which, your old man really laid in on me earlier." Jesse said and Elliot grits his teeth. "What happened?" He asked. "Ah, another lecture about my patrols. Don't go here, don't go there." Jesse explains and Elliot felt his anger and annoyance boiling in his chest. "It's funny how involved he gets when it's yours and (y/n)'s day." Jesse said and Elliot lets out a heavy sigh then sets his drink down on the bar.

"I gotta go." He growls as he walks out of the bar. "Everything okay?" Jesse asked, worried. "I don't know." Elliot said and he makes his way out.

*(y/n)'s POV*

Joel and I were sitting out on the front porch, in the cold dark night, and both of us were playing the guitar together. "There ya go." Joel said, encouragingly, and I smiled as I continued to play the song. Joel then plays along with me with his guitar when we heard footsteps.

We stopped playing and see Elliot standing there, which shocked me a bit. I hadn't really seen him in about two years, only just in passing. And I'll say that even after seeing him again after two years, a part of me still had the same old feelings for him. Unfortunately, I pretty much grew out of it but it didn't stop me from caring about him.

"Hey." Joel and I said as he comes up. But I could tell that this wasn't gonna be pleasant as he looked pissed off. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" Elliot asked Joel. "Excuse me?" Joel asked him, taken aback, as I raise an eyebrow. "Jesse told me that you were getting onto him about my patrols!" Elliot yells and I glance over at Joel, who had his eyes slightly narrowed.

"I mean, what the fuck is your deal? I'm not a kid anymore! I don't need your fucking help, Joel!" Elliot says, angrily. "Elliot stop!" I shouted then he turns to me. "Are you fucking kidding me?" He exclaims as he and I glare at each other then he scoffs. "Course should've known you would stick up for him." He grumbles.

"You wanna know what my problem is, boy?" Joel said, his voice calm but yet firm. "All I'm doing is making sure you and (y/n) are safe. Cause whether you like it or not, I care about you and your safety."

Elliot's eyes widen a bit as he stands there. But then he shakes his head a bit then whispers. "You're such an asshole."

"What part of that is being an...?" Joel started to ask then Elliot slammed his fist on the railings. "I was supposed to die in that hospital. Riley, Tess, Sam, all of their lives would've fucking mattered! My life could've meant something! If I died, it could have been meaningful. But you guys took that from me!" He shouts then he takes a deep breath then lets out a shaky breath.

"The Fireflies were the ones that took away your choice!" I said, loudly, at him and he looks at me, confused. "What?" He said. "The Fireflies were the ones who took away your choice first. I mean, did you ever stop and think why they didn't wake you up to ask you what you wanted to do?" I said and Elliot's eyes widen a bit. 

"She's right, Elliot. When I woke up at that hospital, after they knocked me out, Marlene told me that they were gonna operate on you for a vaccine. They were gonna kill you, no questions asked, and they were gonna send me out without any sort've protection. I had no choice." Joel said and I nod.

"They wouldn't even let us see you. I begged Marlene to take me to see you but she refused." I said and Elliot looks shocked by this. "I-I didn't know..." he said and I scoffed a bit. "That's what you get for not letting us explain." I grumbled and Elliot looks down in guilt.

"Elliot." Joel said and Elliot looks over at him. "You said you wanted a meaningful death, well I wanted you to have a meaningful life." Joel said and Elliot frowns while Joel stares at him for a moment. "If somehow the Lord gave me a second chance at that moment, I would do it all over again." Joel stares at Elliot, who's eyes widen then he turns his head away. "Yeah..." he mutters and Joel and I watch him.

He let's out a sigh then said. "I just...I don't think I can ever forgive you guys for that..." Joel and I frown at this and I turn my gaze to the ground. "But I would like to try." He said and I look up at him, shocked. Joel gasped a bit then looks over at Elliot. I look up at Joel and could see tears in his eyes. "I'd like that." He said in a tearful whisper. "Me too." I said as Elliot looks between us.

"Okay." He mutters then he sighs. "I'll see you around." Elliot said. "Yeah." Joel and I said then Joel clears his throat as Elliot leaves. I stand there for a few more moments, watching Elliot leave, before I head back in the house.

The next morning, I heard a knock at my bedroom door. I let out a groan when I hear Joel say. "Hey, kiddo, get up!" He calls out and I groaned again before I get up. "I'm up." I grumbled as I started to put on clothes.
After getting dressed, I walk out of my room then head downstairs to see Joel and Tommy. "Good morning." Tommy greeted me. "Mornin'." I yawned and the brothers laugh. "Want some coffee?" Joel offered and I nod. "Please." I said and Joel goes to make me a cup.

"What's on the agenda today?" I asked Tommy. "Well, you're with me today. So is Daniel." Tommy said as Joel hands me the cup of coffee. "Oh Daniel's coming? I mean, it's been a good while since he's been on patrol." I said and Tommy nods while I take a sip of coffee. "That's why he's coming with us, to train some more." Tommy said.

Daniel rarely goes out on patrol since he does take some sort've medical training most of the time. Plus, I think, he doesn't like to go outside of the walls of Jackson.

"Okay, cool. So where will we be?" I asked him. "We'll be up north, Maria said that she got information of some infected around that way." Tommy said to me. "Oh, sounds fun." I said, sarcastically. 

"Just be careful, okay?" Joel said and I roll my eyes a bit. "Okay, dad. I will." I said and Joel smirks a bit. "Well, let's head out." Tommy said and we gathered up our gear and headed out.

"Well, look who decided to show up!" Jesse said, sarcastically, as he, Dina, Daniel, Elliot and a few others were gathered around at the front gate. "Everyone here?" Tommy asked Jesse. "Yes, sir." Jesse said as an older man, with wild brown hair, comes up to us. "Hey, Tommy. Got these SAT radios working." He said as he holds up a box of radios.

"I'm so glad you found those, Eugene." Tommy said, appreciatevly, and Eugene nods before Tommy turns to everyone. "Now, everyone! Before you head out, I want all of you to at least grab one radio per team. If you ever need help..." Tommy explains as he holds up a radio then presses a button on the side. "...you press this button to talk and one of us should answer. Got it?" He said and everyone nods.

"Alright. Now Maria and I have assigned all of you with at least a partner or two. So here it goes....Jesse, you're with Joel and Ashley. Elliot, you're with Dina and Troy. Laura, you're with Eugene and Shannon. Daniel, you're with me and (y/n)." Tommy said. "Everyone got it?" He asked and everyone nods once again. "Okay." He said then he pats Jesse on the shoulder.

"Alright. You all know the drill. Run your routes. Mark your log books. Clear any infected you see. You run into anything you can't handle, you come back. Be smart about it." Jesse said, firmly, as everyone listens. He looks around to make sure everyone got the message before he nods. "All right, get goin'." He said and everyone started to grab their stuff and head towards their horses.

"Be careful, alright?" Joel said to me and I nod. "Same goes for you too." I said and then Elliot comes up to me. "Can I talk to you for a moment?" He asked me and I glance over at Joel. He nods at me before he walks off, leaving me alone with Elliot.

"What's up?" I asked him. He bites his lips and says. "I-I just want to say that...even though it's been bad between us the last couple of years...." he said. "Understatement of the fuckin' century." I remarked and Elliot rolls his eyes. "I just want to say...I don't know what's gonna happen between us from now on...but I do hope that we can go back to being friends again." Elliot said as I watch him. "I just wanted to say that cause I didn't want to give you the impression that we might get back together. I-I'm just not sure if I'm ever gonna be ready for that."

I stare at him and could see concern in his green eyes. "Elliot..." I started to say when Daniel comes up to me. "Hey, (y/n), we gotta go." He said and I nod. "Okay." I said and I look over at Elliot. "We'll talk later." He said and I smile at him. "Okay, see you later." I said and I walk with Daniel and the two of us head over to our horses, next to Tommy's, and we start to head out once the front entrance gate opens.