Content: Brief Mel/Abby moment, Suicidal ideation, brief mentions of open wounds, brief mentions of pregnancy, no beta we die like owen♥️
Word Count: 1.8k
A/N: hey......... sorry i disappeared for like EVER on this. but it's here!!! please forgive me.
They left just after the sun had come up. Helen had all but forced some jerky and dried fruits into Abby's hands, claiming she needed to keep Mel and Lev fed.
"He's a growing boy and she's growing a kid. Whatever rations you got aren't enough."
Mel scoffed, she wasn't wrong, but it was annoying that she'd given it to Abby rather than Lev and Mel individually. Whatever. She couldn't be bothered to care. She was too worried about how long it'd take them to get back to the coast.
It had taken eight days to make it inland. Probably longer than it should've, Mel had barely been able to walk by the end of it. At her prime, she could've done it in six days, she would have forced herself to.
Before, when they'd walked from Salt Lake to Seattle, she could run ahead like it was nothing. Owen had called her mountain goat, trying to get a laugh out of Abby, who didn't say a word until they made it to Washington.
Mel almost missed that walk, she and Nora had stayed up most nights on watch. For a while, it felt like nothing had gone wrong. Just the usual Firefly rotations. Then, everyone else woke up and she was reminded why they had to leave Utah.
In reality, this walk was nothing. It had taken a month at least to get to Washington. This felt worse. The California sun made Mel sweat in places she never thought she could, she knew the walk back was going to be a thousand times worse.
She'd asked Abby to let them stay another day with Helen, she could use the rest. Abby just shook her head and told her the sooner they got back to the boat, the better. Figures.
So, here Mel was, leaving the small town and venturing back into the forest. Major deja vu hit as Abby pointed out a squirrel to Lev. God, it was going to be a long walk.
Mel tuned them out, again, humming some song she'd heard back on base. She didn't remember the name of it, but it was catchy enough to distract her. However she was broken from her daze when Abby appeared at her side.
"Give me your pistol." Abby whispered, Mel raised an eyebrow.
"Why would I do that?" Mel asked, placing her hand over the holster, as if Abby would snatch it from her if she didn't.
"Because, if there's anything out here, I need something to shoot it with." Abby said, as of it was the most obvious thing and Mel was stupid for not immediately understanding.
Mel laughed, actually laughed, at the audacity. "You should've thought about that before you traded yours." She replied.
Abby huffed, "I seem to remember that being my gun in the first place, Mel. I gave it to you when we left Seattle."
She wasn't wrong. Mel had left her weapons on the table in the aquarium. She supposed it hadn't occurred to her to grab them while she was actively bleeding out and clutching her dead boyfriend's body. With a grumble, Mel pressed the gun into Abby's hand. The taller woman thanked her, checking the magazine before putting it into her holster. If Mel didn't feel exposed before, she certainly did now.
It was fine. Mel had survived longer walks, alone and unarmed. Abby being there soothed her, somewhat. She'd seen her take down infected and Seraphites with her bare hands. It was almost attractive. Well, it was. Mel loved when someone was physically stronger than she was. She didn't like Abby. Abby took it too seriously, Mel reminded herself.
When they'd arrived at the WLF base, Abby spent all her time outside of training in the gym. They hardly spoke, even less when Mel and Owen got together. They used to be so close, Mel had considered Abby her best friend. It was stupid, Mel thought, to spend all your time bulking like that. Abby burned a lot of bridges, even before Jackson. Mel hardly wanted anything to do with her. Here they were, though, on the worst journey Mel had ever been on.
Her throat started to ache, snapping her out of her racing thoughts. She reached for her canteen and took a long drink, the cool liquid sending goosebumps down her arms as it ran down her throat, inches of flesh away from that still healing cut. That stupid cut. She couldn't even hope it got infected and killed her anymore as it had closed up far too much. Maybe if she rubbed enough dirt on it, she could manage to contract something.
Quickly, Mel shoved that thought aside. An infection like that would be horrible to go out from. It would slow them down. She didn't want to be any more of a burden than she already was. Abby was already hovering, Mel could only imagine how bad it would be if she got sick. Ugh. The idea of Abby being more attached to her immediately silenced that spiral.
The day was already hotter than Mel would have liked and she could tell it was only growing warmer as the sun rose higher into the sky. She figured it might get close to ninety at its peak. Damn Abby for dragging her out here in the middle of summer. They should have waited until fall to make this trip, but Abby said it would be too late. Damn Abby. Damn her.
"Can we stop?" Mel spoke up, embarrassed she already needed a break. Her back was aching worse now and she needed to sit down before her legs gave out. Nausea was starting to roll over her like waves on the beach. God, the beach. Mel missed that stupid boat more than anything right now.
Abby looked back at her, Mel hated the expression she wore. Concern, you would have assumed, but Mel saw right through it. Abby's brows knit together and she nodded, sighing a bit. "Yeah. I could... go for a rest." Not true. Abby hadn't even broken a sweat. Ugh. She was too perfect.
Mel nodded, still, slumping back onto one of the trees with a groan. She placed her hands protectively over her stomach as she slid onto the forrest floor. It was cooler there, the grass and soil were still damp with morning dew. Thank god. Mel tugged her canteen from her pack again, taking a long drink. She knew she should conserve the water. Who knew when the next time they saw a stream would be. She couldn't make herself do it, though. Her throat ached and she could tell she was already growing dehydrated.
The pressure change when going from standing to sitting made another wave of nausea crash against Mel. She just wanted to tug her knees up and hide her face against them, but her damn stomach was in the way of said position being remotely comfortable. Instead, she covered her face with her hands, enjoying the cool air radiating off the ground.
It was quiet for a moment, then Abby spoke. "Mel, hand me your canteen." She said, leaving no room for argument. Mel wanted to argue, still, but she didn't have it in her. So, she tugged it out of her bag and handed it over.
"Lev, there should be a stream just up that hill." Presumably she pointed. "Go fill your canteen and Mel's, stay where I can see you," Abby instructed and Mel could hear Lev walking off. Well, that solved the water issue. Mel felt better about draining her canteen. She felt bad that Lev had to fill it for her. That hill wouldn't be a challenge. It wouldn't have been when she was at her peak, anyways.
Then, Abby stepped forward and dropped down next to Mel. Great. She had to deal with that. Mel didn't look up at her, but she flinched when Abby's shoulder pressed to her own. "You alright?" Came the woman's voice.
No, she wasn't alright. What sort of stupid question was that? Mel just nodded. "Fine." She grumbled, trying to get Abby to back off.
Abby spoke again, laughing. Mel grimaced at the sound. "Your face was green," She pointed out. "That doesn't seem 'fine' to me, you know."
Mel finally raised her head and looked at Abby. She supposed she probably looked as miserable as she felt. She swallowed thickly, shaking her head. She'd be fine if she just got back onto her feet, but something in Abby's eyes said she wouldn't be allowed to stand until that greenish hue in her cheeks faded. "I'm fine," Mel repeated, leaning her head back against the truck of the tree. "Just need a breather."
"That's fine," Abby replied, immediately. Mel was a little grateful she wasn't pushing. For once. The thought made Mel laugh a little.
Silence fell over them for a moment, Mel let her eyes flutter shut as Abby, presumably, eyed Lev filling his canteen. Surprisingly, Mel wasn't upset with the silence. It wasn't as tense as normal. Maybe she was just too tired for it to matter. "I miss those painkillers on base." Mel spoke up, just talking to distract herself.
Abby seemed surprised that Mel started the conversation, judging by the way her shoulders stiffened. "I have some in my bag." She offered, already moving to dig them out. That was... sweet. Mel didn't really expect her to have any, much less offer them over something like this.
Mel just nodded, opening her eyes and sitting up a bit. She held her hand out and Abby pressed two oblong pills into Mel's hand, holding her own canteen in her other. Mel didn't waste a second before tossing them back with a swig of water. Alright. In ten to thirty minutes, she should feel better. "Thank you," Mel added, like an afterthought.
Abby nodded in return, not speaking again. The silence was welcome again until Lev approached with the canteens, handing Mel her own. She thanked him, taking a long drink. She'd definitely have to refill it before they started moving again. Worth it. She'd rather not be dehydrated. Lev lingered, before sitting down next to Abby, leaning against her.
Mel assumed it was a funny sight, the three of them popped against that tree. Still, it was comforting. No one felt the need to speak, well, Mel didn't. She didn't want to talk to either of them. And slowly, the nausea passed as the medicine kicked in.
"I can go again," Mel decided, her hands feeling less clammy. She actually let Abby help her up, who didn't protest at the idea of starting again. It was more preferable than falling onto her face when she was just starting to feel better. Alright. Just a few more hours, then they could set up camp. Six more days of this, at least. Mel couldn't wait to be back on that stupid boat and take a shower, or just sleep in a real bed. Soon, she reminded herself as she began to walk again.
Shot, bloody and shaking on the night of the scar raid, you came face to face with a woman you'd bared your teeth at for the past 5 years. She was a walking reminder of your horrific time in Salt Lake City, and both of you despised each other simply for existing in each other's space.
Now, with you inching closer to death, Isaac dead, and Abby- who'd been AWOL for days- accompanied by a young scar boy, it was go with her or bleed out.
You should've pulled your gun. But there was a softness with her, a glimpse of what you once loved as a hopeless 15 year old. So you recklessly let her drag you along.
Will it be a chance for something good, or will it bring more misery into your life?
