Chapter Text
Dina and Ellie don't normally patrol together, the danger of something happening and leaving JJ without both his parents too great. But a large horde had moved dangerously close to Jackson and had required an all hands approach. The fact that this many infected had made it past the traps Dina had helped implement was terrifying.
And now Dina finds herself in a long abandoned school with Ellie surrounded by infected. They had managed to kill most of the infected only a few runners left when Dina hears the heart stopping sound of a floor giving way.
She turns just in time to watch Ellie and three runners disappear into the darkness below.
The scream that she releases is enough to turn the attention of the two remaining runners back to her.
No longer caring about the noise she's making. Dina fired two quick shots, dropping the runners in their mad rush to her.
The chaos being released below her feet has Dina's full attention now.
Dina approaches the opening as quickly and cautiously as she can. Watching in horror as a molotov streaks through the air, slamming into a bloater who shrieks in rage.
Dina pulls her shotgun from her back and shoots a runner attempting to attack Ellie from behind. The bloater turns towards the sound of Dina firing the shotgun, which allows Ellie to hit it with another molotov.
The bloater again turns towards Ellie allowing Dina to drop down and assist Ellie.
The space Ellie had fallen into is small and cramped, the bloater's roars of anger ripple off the walls in an ear shattering waves. The flashes of gunfire and bursts of flame just add to the disorientation. And it's only after quiet has fallen and the infected are dead that Dina realises Ellie has been abnormally quiet throughout the fight.
"Ellie" she calls out, straining her eyes in the darkness.
"Right here" Ellie says from behind her.
"You gotta stop scaring me like that you Jackass" Dina cups Ellie's cheek.
"I know" Ellie's eyes run over her, but the darkness obscures both of them. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. What about you?"
"Landed on my bad side, hurts but I'll be fine" Dina thinks of the mass of twisted scar tissue that has given Ellie a fair bit of trouble over the years.
Before Dina can ask any further questions. Ellie is moving away and looking at the edge of the floor above them.
"I'll lift you up and then you can help me up" Ellie's already bracing herself to help her up.
"You just want to look at my butt" Dina laughs
"What can I say, my wife's got a nice butt" Ellie huffs a laugh as she lifts Dina up and out.
"Come on Handsome" Dina reaches down and helps Ellie pull herself up.
Once back in the gym where this whole shit show had started, Dina notices Ellie takes a few more seconds to stand. But the injury from the past have been catching up with Ellie and the older they've gotten, the longer it's taken to bounce back from their harder falls.
As they make their way out of the school and back to their horses, Ellie is falling further and further behind. Her breathing heavier as she wraps a hand around her side.
"El? Are you okay?" Dina asks, Ellies face pale and forehead sweaty.
"I don't think so" Ellie replies breathlessly, pulling her hand away, blood dripping from her palm.
"Ellie!" Ellie's knees give and she collapses forward. Dina barely manages to grab Ellie's shoulders and prevent her from hitting the ground completely.
"I don't think it's that bad" Ellie mumbles as Dina rolls her face up, quickly brushing stray hair from Ellie's sweaty face.
"Just let me see okay" Dina tries to keep her voice calm and soothing.
A small whine of pain slips from Ellie's lips as Dina pulls up her shirt. A long gash is sliced along Ellie's side just above the terrible scarring left from Santa Barbara.
"Its okay. You're gonna be fine." Dina reassures Ellie (and maybe herself too) and quickly wraps bandages around the gash.
"I'm sorry" Ellie whispers, face scrunched up in pain.
"Hush. You'll be fine and JJ will be thrilled you'll be stuck on bedrest and he can make you watch those new movies you found."
Ellie hums in response as Dina finishes wrapping the wound.
"I'm gonna pass out" Ellie warns her and Dina watches as her eyes roll back and face slackens in unconsciousness.
Panic chokes at her throat but Dina blocks it out and saves it all for later. She checks one more time that Ellie is okay and then stands, ties Ellie's horse to Japan's saddle and manages to hoist Ellie on to Japan. Ellie is deadweight in front of her but they make it to Jackson quickly and with practiced ease, the guards assist in lowering Ellie to a stretcher and rushing her off to the clinic.
Another guard takes the horses and Maria is outside the clinic waiting for her. Dina is thankful for the radios she has managed to repair and the guards notifying Maria.
"JJ is with Robin, he knows something is up. Ellie is with Doctor Clarence, he says he's not worried. Says you did a great job and the bleeding has stopped. He's stitching her up now." Dina can't deny the relief Maria's words bring.
"We were at the old school, the floor collapsed and well... It could have been so much worse. I'm not even sure if Ellie was hiding her injury until we were safe or if she didn't even realise how bad she was hurt. I'm gonna get JJ, he'll worry himself into a stomach ache if I don't let him know what's going on. If Doc thinks everything will be fine...do you mind staying with her until I get back with JJ."
Maria smiles in the tired way she always has "of course, plus I have to remind my niece she has to take better care of herself"
The walk to Jesse's parents is a familiar one. And Dina is easily able to make it while wrapped up in her own thoughts and it's only JJ's yell of "Mom!" As she's walking through the front door that pulls her from them.
"Hey my baby boy" she pulls JJ into a tight hug. His eyes are watery with unshed tears.
"Is Momma okay?" Dina will never stop being amazing by how smart and intuitive their son is.
"She's with Doctor Clarence and he says she'll be fine. Figured you'd like to walk Momma home with me and maybe watch some movies with Momma." JJ hugs her tight and Dina doesn't mention the small wet spot he leaves behind.
"I'm glad Momma is okay" he says, wiping his eyes.
"Me too baby"
They walk back to the clinic and Maria is waiting for them in the front lobby. "Dina take your wife home. She's already causing a ruckus" Maria winks at JJ.
"Room 4" Maria gives Dina's shoulder a light squeeze and then she's out the door.
JJ sprints ahead and disappears into the room. Dina lingers in the doorway and watches. Content her family is safe, and she and Ellie get another day together.