Consequence

Chapter Two

Tommy couldn't believe this was happening. Barely getting the chance to recover from his own injuries only to watch his brother suffer to the point that he had begun to question the very world around him.

He remembered the moment it had happened. When Joel had woken up not knowing what was going on or where he was, the worst part for him was when he had asked about Sarah that Tommy finally realised the true extent of what the ex-Fireflies had actually done.

Ada had screamed for Joel in the hallway, demanding to know what was wrong with her husband, Ellie standing on the sideline completely frozen as the doctor had tried to explain what was wrong.

Traumatic amnesia she had called it. Memory loss resulting from a hard blow to the head. Joel didn't remember anything before the Outbreak and while the doctor had calmly informed them that it was perfectly normal to experience loss of memories while unconscious, it still didn't make things easier for Tommy when he had to tell his brother the truth about Sarah.

His heart broke watching him grieve for her all over again. That darkness descending over him once more. He'd eventually exhausted himself as the drugs took over giving him some peace as Tommy had silently left the room, his eyes burning from his own tears of grief.

He didn't understand even after days had passed and Joel was still the same. As he watched as Ada finished packing up the last of her belongings from what used to be her and Joel's closet.

"Ada are you sure you wanna do this?" He asked gruffly. "No." She sniffled as she took a sweater from the drawer and placed it in her bag. "But it's what's best for Joel right now."

Tommy just scoffed, to him this all seemed so stupid. Ellie had already packed her things and moved into the new place she and her mother had cleaned up. It was a small house, quaint. A few blocks down the road. Two bedrooms, one bathroom. Nice for any small family...but in Tommy's mind it still didn't make sense why moving there and leaving Joel alone was such a good idea.

He pushed away from the wall he was leaning against, slowly stepping further into Joel's bedroom. His eyes darting around the room to spy all the empty spots that Ada's things had once sat. Then glanced back at the woman sorting through the closet only to stop suddenly as she came across Joel's favourite jacket. She sighed heavily, her head bowing in sadness as she pulled the jacket close, hugging fabric that undoubtedly smelled like her lost husband.

"You don't have to do this." her brother in law murmured by the doorway catching her attention. "You know that right?" "Yes I do...you heard the doctor Tommy. It could take months before he gets his memory back and even then, she's not a hundred percent certain."

He watched as she walked past him, checking the contents of her bag before zipping it closed and taking a seat on the bed. "He has enough to deal with right now. I don't want to overwhelm him by trying to force him to remember too much at once. That could do more harm than good."

He supposed it made sense when she put it like that. It had been days and Joel was still grieving over Sarah. There was still the Outbreak to explain and all that he had done in those years to survive. How he and Tommy had ended up in Boston and the jobs they'd taken on to make ends meet. Then of course there was Ellie, her immunity and the Fireflies. Ada didn't want him to have to deal with all that whilst living with a stranger. He needed time and she was prepared to give him that. No matter how much it hurt to be away from him.

Tommy was the only thing that was familiar to him. If anything, Joel needed him more than her right now. But it was strange for Tommy to see his big brother so confused and vulnerable. He'd always been the level headed one. The one who people always looked to for guidance or reassurance.

Ever since they were kids, Tommy had looked up to his brother. Even in Jackson's early days, he had asked Joel's opinion on certain things he was unsure of.

Ada moved to pick up her bags from the bed as Tommy quickly moved to help with the load. "So how's Ellie holding up?" He grunted, straining against the weight of the rucksack pulling at his shoulders.

"Not good." She sighed. "She took her stuff over to the new place and hasn't come out of her room in two days. She blames herself for what happened, Dina and Jesse came by to see her last night and even they couldn't get her to open the door." Tommy's face fell as he met Ada's sad eyes. Poor kid he thought following his sister in law down the stairs.

"Well why don't ya'll come over for dinner tomorrow night? See if that gets her out and about again." He offered, holding the front door open for the brunette.

"Thanks Tommy, I'll try." She smiled weakly. When the two had finished moving Ada's things into her new place, the younger Miller figured it was time to call it a day as he began heading home himself.

He felt uneasy.

It still didn't feel right separating Joel and Ada like this but in the long run, he considered it may have been worth it if Joel did eventually gain his memory back. She'd left some things. Things she'd wanted to keep safe. Pictures mostly, of herself with Joel and Ellie. Others with friends and family. Left untouched in the attic they hardly ever used. She'd left some of her books and records in the bedroom where they belonged. But the little things were gone, toiletries and clothes. Ornaments and shoes. Her favourite blanket from the couch that now looked empty without it.

Tommy hated this, it was so much worse than what Fireflies had intended. This was torture of another kind. To rid a man of his mind, his identity...his family and all that it stood for.

Joel was suffering the punishment for a crime he couldn't even remember committing. Tommy just hoped something might come back when he finally went home in the morning. Even if it was the smallest of memories...it would be better than nothing at all.