- Chapter 2 - Time

If only Bellamy were here. He'd have her back. There's no way he'd trust 'President' Dante Wallace either.

Raven would have seen through him too, she was sure of it. It had been a punch to the gut to find out she wasn't with them in this place. Talk about being on a walk without a tether, she needed someone like Raven on her side. Just as with Finn, Octavia, and Bellamy, Clarke refused to believe anything other than that she was safe and well on the outside, fighting to get them out.

Why doesn't anyone else get it? This isn't a sanctuary it's a fucking prison! She stabbed a carrot with her fork a little too aggressively, sending it flying across the table.

She would think nothing of hurting anyone who got between her and her people… but that didn't work anymore. It was the kids who were in her way now. They wouldn't follow her, didn't believe her, couldn't see they were all in danger. God! I wish Bellamy were here!

Damn, it was good to have his sister back. No one should mess with the Blakes, and this time it was O's turn to jump to his defence.

"Where do you get off, huh?! You talk like the sun shines out of Finn's arse. Hypocrites! The truth is, his little spacewalk cost the Ark a month's oxygen so those 320 deaths are on his head as much as Bell's. Without Bellamy and Clarke all your kids would have been dead within days so just stay the hell out of our way!"

She grabbed his arm and muttered "Come on Bell" as she dragged him away from the camp.

He was grateful for her intervention, but glad Finn hadn't been there to hear it. Finn had saved his life, sure, but that kid had surprised him – had really come through for him before Octavia came back to fight his corner like a wildcat. Without Finn's dogged defence, and the back-up of Monroe and Sterling, he'd have been surprised if the Ark would have let him stay, or maybe even live. With Jaha cut-off, probably dead by now, and without Clarke to speak for him again, his pardon hadn't been worth a byte. Hell, I'd probably still be in cuffed in the airlock now.

Not that he'd even wanted to stay at first – he'd wanted to get the hell away and find Clarke and Octavia. Chancellor Kane… Camp Jaha… It'd be funny if it wasn't… just wrong. They think they're so decent… acting as though they didn't sent a hundred children down to Earth to die… as if their beloved system hadn't been corrupt as hell… Shumway made me try and kill Jaha for fuck's sake… and Diana Sydney's little coup almost killed them all! They act as though they haven't lied to everyone again and again… they floated Clarke's father and nearly floated Abby instead of actually trying to fix the air supply… They have no right to decide what's right or wrong anymore… not when could believe it was OK to lock Clarke up for knowing too much, or Octavia just for being born!

Yes, it was good to have Octavia back, she helped him stay sane in this place. And as everyone's eyes followed him with daggers he was even glad to have Lincoln around. The poor guy attracted even more wary glances and outright evil eyes than he did. But no one messed with the Grounder on his watch, Lincoln had saved O's life… they were good. They'd even formed a weird little trio. O looked out for Bellamy, Bellamy looked out for Lincoln, and Lincoln looked out for O. He thanked his lucky stars she'd not only proved how well she could look after herself, but that she'd managed to find someone even more protective of her than he was… it had meant he could take a step back, and that had done wonders for their relationship. Lincoln loved her so much that he'd die for her… that was good enough for Bellamy.

Right now O was in full-on protective mode and she was going to do everything in her power to make things alright for him. With Clarke and the kids still gone things could never be 'good', but they could certainly be better.

Abruptly she turned to face him, the serious look on her face reminding him briefly of the imperious little girl who used to demand he tell her a story, or that he pretend to be Jingles McBell the pony again and give her a piggy back ride.

The warm feeling quickly disappeared. "Bell, we can't keep going like this! It's killing you. It's time we did something to get them back."

"I know… I can't stand this place anymore." She was right, it was time. He sighed under the weight of the responsibility he had to shoulder alone. "Clarke would've known what to do."

Tough love was in order. "Clarke's not here Bell. I know you think you need her, but you've got this… you're going to bring her home… And Kane? He can go to hell! You're our leader, we've got your back… so what's the plan big brother?"

Finally! They were getting out.

It wasn't until she'd found Anya that things had started to change. At last she'd been able to show them she'd been right all along. Fucking savages! They acted so superior and civilised… curators of the lost world's culture… all of that was bullshit if they could treat another human being like that. They might have saved the world's treasures, but they'd clearly gained nothing of real value from their mutual ancestors. Even if history lessons in the Mountain had taught these people nothing about the horrors of colonialism and genocide, surely you didn't have to be raised on the Ark to know that what they were doing to the Grounders… to Anya… was sick and inhuman – it was just wrong!

She'd made peace with Jasper. She'd tried not to blame him for turning her in. She could understand why he'd chosen to believe the Mountain Men – they'd provided delicious food, shelter, and clothes; not to mention that they'd reunited him with Monty. He'd been tempted by the easy choice, not realising it was offered by the devil. At the end of the day though, he'd disappointed her. "The biggest threat to us is you Clarke," he'd said, when all she'd ever done since they'd arrived on this God forsaken planet was try to protect them all!

In the end though, he'd more than made amends… "Ready to be a badass Jasper?" That's my boy!

He and Monty had brought Maya in. She'd been horrified to learn what her people had been doing to the Grounders. That frightened girl who'd first encountered Clarke with a shard of glass to her throat, and just a few hours later had pulled a gun on her it return, was now Clarke's ally. They were an odd trio really, the Mountain Girl, the Grounder, and the Princess – but the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Clarke had even begun to feel that they could be proper allies and genuine friends on the outside. Anya was the catalyst, she was the leader, and Maya was the key to getting out.

Concern tinged his voice as he turned to Abby. "Does Kane know about this?"

"Kane doesn't need to know."

"You know there'll be consequences. You can't give us guns and expect him to take it calmly. He'll probably see it as treason."

Her expression was fixed, she gave a grim nod and stated firmly, "You're the best chance I have of saving my daughter. There is no choice. This has to be done."

He nodded.

"I'll do what I can to buy you time. There's a few of the parents that are coming with you. Finn knows who they are, he'll tell them when to meet you. When you find her… make sure she knows I would have come for her too… but I had to stay behind to give the rest of you a chance. Don't…." Her voice cracked. "Please… just don't let her hate me more than she already does. OK?"

"She…" He didn't know what to say... "When Clarke saw the Exodus ship crash… when she was at the crash site… Look… I know she loves you Abby." Even if she can't forgive you yet.

"Bring my baby home Bellamy."

He nodded once more before striding away.