Clark rubbed at her temples with exhaustion. The day had been long to begin with, but had started well with the vaccinations. Better to face it head on. Bellamy Blake was nagging at her like a needle in her brain. She couldn't get that look of pure fear in his eyes out of her head. He was terrified, but of what? Shumway? Well yes, he was an ass, but was he the one who hurt him?
I need to return his shirt. That is what is bugging me, nothing more. Clarke rounded the corner and realized she was now in Factory Station. She had made her way from medical without even thinking about it. She had looked up The Blake's address from her office in the medical wing. Factory station always made Clarke feel even more suffocated than Alpha station. The walls seemed tighter, but that was probably just her imagination.
She reached Bellamy's door and knocked softly twice. She knocked again, but no response. Glancing at her watch she realized it was almost midnight. Hanging her head low she realized Bellamy and his mother must be asleep. "Great Clarke. Go ahead, wake 'em up already. It's not like he needs his sleep." Clarke sighed in frustration. He would still have to work tomorrow. That was how it worked on the Ark. Unless you were dead or dying, if you were breathing and could stand on both feet you were expected to work, even if you were nearly killed the night before. He would need his work uniform. Maybe she should leave it outside the door, but clothes were a scare commodity on the Ark. What if someone took it?
She knocked one more time in the hopes Bellamy was still up, but no response. "I'll just leave it right inside the door." She whispered more to herself, hoping the door might be unlocked. "You never know, maybe The Blakes are a trusting sort." She snorted at her own joke, but to her surprise the door was unlocking. Twisting the knob quietly, she opened it to see a small bare table shoved up against the far wall. A couch to the left against the wall and a small console that must've served as a monitor for movies and music when available.
Clarke clutched the shirt to her chest staring at the young woman asleep on the table. The girl had obviously fallen asleep after working herself to exhaustion on her project, whatever it was.
"She's too young to be is mother." Clarke thought aloud. Her whisper must've been too loud because the young girl stirred and bright green bewildered eyes met Clarke's. Octavia gasped loudly. He has a sister.
"O? What's wrong?" Bellamy opened his door to look at his sister and saw Clarke staring at Octavia. He froze in doorway.
Clarke was still clutching the t-shirt to her chest. She shook herself out of her stupor, "I wanted to return your shirt." Clarke nodded too many times and placed the piece of clothing on the end table within her reach.
Octavia ran at Clarke grasped her hand and pulled her deeper into room and closed the door behind her locking the door. Octavia took Clarke's hand and held it so tightly, "Please don't tell anyone. Please, please please. They can float me, but not mom and Bellamy. Not Mom and Bell," She whispered. She repeated those last four words over and over like a prayer. And Clarke was her only hope.
Bellamy still stood frozen. Clarke looked at Octavia, crying afraid of being floated, afraid for her brother and her mother. Clarke gently patted Octavia's shoulder, "I'm won't tell." She whispered and Octavia nearly collapsed with relief.
Bellamy leapt into action. He took Clarke roughly by the shoulder and pushed her outside, "Get out." Bellamy's voice was a harsh rumble against Clarke's skin.
"Wait! Bel-" Octavia tried to say before Clarke was roughly shoved outside into the hallway by her brother.
Clark stood out in the hallway dumbfounded. She was speechless. There was a hidden second child. There had always been rumors on all the stations about other children, but nothing had ever been found out. I have to decide what to do. The rules that she promised Chancellor Jaha she would follow dictated she immediately turn in the Blakes for their secret. If she didn't, she would be in violation of the promise she made. Not that she cared too much about his feelings, but what if he floated her and her mother? But she also knew that certain secrets revealed could destroy families. Not only that, if she told anyone she would be sentencing Bellamy or his mother and his sister to prison or worse. I'm good at keeping secrets. I won't betray them, I can't betray them. He would be so disappointed. She thought about her father.
Clarke walked back to her station and sat on the couch in the small living room. She tucked her feet under knees and pulled a blanket over her body. Tomorrow this would be better. Tomorrow it would make sense.
Bellamy kept watch on his post with his nerves about to make him jump out of his skin. What if she tells someone? Her family is best friends with Jaha. What if someone finds out about O? He thought frantically. His hand tightened on his taser. He would fight every single one of them. He would lose, he knew this, but he wouldn't let them take her to prison for the rest of her life. Clarke said she wouldn't tell anyone, but he couldn't trust her. She was The Ark's Princess. The darling of Alpha Station. The morning was dragging on, but he wouldn't get a break until lunch. And then what, try to talk to her while she was in the cafeteria. What if she didn't take lunch and worked through it? How was going her going to talk to her? Maybe if he could only explain to her.
Clarke looked up from her work on inventory to see that it was already four in the afternoon. She needed to get up and stretch her stiff muscles. Thomas Mayer and John Goode, two members of Alpha Station Guard, walked into the waiting room.
"Clarke, where's your mom at?" Thomas asked while scanning the room.
"She had to go see a critical pediatric patient at Farm Station. What can I do for you both?" Thomas came around to the other side of her desk and held up his hand. It was badly bandaged with a loose rag wrapped around it.
"We tried to help one of the mechanics who got caught up in the explosion the other night. Thomas here, tried to lift a beam that was on fire." John explained.
"Here, lets take this to the exam room. I'll bandage that a little better." Thomas sat on the exam table and looked around like a frightened kid.
"Thomas here didn't want to come in. Said he wasn't hurt that bad." John kept explaining.
"It's not that bad." Thomas argued while Clarke unwrapped his hand.
"I'll be the judge of that." Clark replied. Once she had unwrapped his hand, she took note of the charred skin. The top layer of skin had been scraped away in areas and bone was showing through on his knuckles and some of his wrist.
"Jesus Thomas!" John exclaimed. Apparently, even he hadn't realized how bad this burn was. "That's more than a little scrape!"
"No, it's not that big a deal, right Clarke?" Clarke chose not to answer as she administered a lidocaine injection to deaden the area.
"Well, I'm not going to lie, I've seen worse. But not much worse. I'll need to scrape away the dead flesh and rewrap it." She explained and continued to do just that. "Should heal up fine as long as you keep it dry and clean."
Thomas nodded and looked away as she started her job of picking out the dead skin from the healthy, "Thanks for the quick job, Clarke. We've got an inspection in less than an hour and he's going to need both hands." John said as he kept watching her like a memorized kid.
"Oh really, huh? Searching for contraband?" Clarke teased.
John missed the joke, "Nah. Just routine surprise check," He continued.
"Who's the lucky station? I only ask because, I haven't picked up my room in a while." Clarke joked.
"Ah, you're good Clarke. Factory station drew the short straw, we're looking for food caches. Apparently, rations have been disappearing." Clarke stopped breathing.
"Oh, really? Well good luck, boys." She filled out Thomas' paperwork for a work injury and handed it to him. John waved goodbye and they both. Clarke was in panic. She had to warn Bellamy. They could discover Octavia if it was truly a surprise inspection.
Clarke grabbed some bandages, stuffed them into her pockets and locked her office as she briskly walked towards Bellamy's home. She had to help them. She had to.
Bellamy rubbed the back of his neck as he shifted from one foot to the next. Something was brewing in the guard, but he hadn't figured out what it was.
"Cadet Blake, gather the rest of the team up. Surprise inspection at Factory Station in five." Bellamy' stomach dropped to his feet. If he had to help lead an inspection, he wouldn't be able to hide O. If he made a run for it, they'd surely discover. And his mother was at work, she usually chose to work from home on the days of surprise inspections. She hadn't taken off today, so she must've not known about it.
"Yes sir." He sputtered. He would have to warn Octavia minutes before they opened the door. Octavia was smart, she would figure it out. If she didn't they'd both be dead.
Clarke knocked on the door. She prayed that Bellamy was home. It was doubtful.
"Hello! Please open up. Bellamy it's me Clarke! Open up! It's an emergency, they're doing a surprise inspection." The lock turned slowly and the door opened.
Bellamy's sister stared at her from behind the door. Clarke quickly stepped in and shut the door and locked it.
"I have to hide you, they're doing a surprise inspection."
"Okay, I have a hiding space." The girl explained.
Clarke watched as the girl motioned to the floor. She knew that if the guards were looking for food, if they even noticed one corner of that trap door Bellamy's sister was a goner.
"No, that won't work this time. My name is Clarke. What's yours?" Clarke as she took out the bandages and began to wrap them around the girl's head.
"Octavia. My name is Octavia." Octavia stood still as Clark wrapped all the bandages completely around Octavia's head leaving just enough room to breathe and see out of for one eye.
"What happens if someone asks for my I.D.?" Octavia breathed fastthe anticipation of actually getting to go outside was too exciting.
"I'll handle it. Just follow me, don't speak and try not to draw attention okay?" Octavia nodded.
Clark took Octavia by the and and led her down towards the medical wing. If anyone asked what they were doing, Clarke would say Octavia was a factory station worker who she was bringing in for more burn treatment. It was lame, but no one usually argued with her when it came to medical necessities.
Octavia followed Clarke silently, but took in all the sights. She wanted to stop and look at everything, especially the views of the sky, but Clarke kept dragging her forward.
Clark looked right and left making sure the ghost was clear before veering left away from medical. When she was little, she and Wells would run around the station playing hide and seek. They found tons of hiding places. But her favorite had been one wing over from medical. Mecha Station housed all the mechanical workings for the Ark. But little did everyone know, there was a hidden bay that used to be a place where docking ships were serviced. It had been sealed up when the Ark was created, but a tiny room was created with an amazing view of the earth. It was Clarke's favorite place to hide. When she hid from Wells the first time the loud noises from the machines scared her, but when she found this secret bay it was silent. It became her sanctuary. It was also surrounded by machines, so you could make as much noise as you wanted and no one would hear.
Clarke slid a panel away from the wall and ushered Octavia inside. The room had no conventional lights, but due to the large docking window, it was lit by starlight. Clark had also hidden rations and a lantern here for when she visited. She took the bag of trail mix she always keep on hand and handed the bag to Octavia to munch on.
"Thanks, that's so nice of you. This is amazing." Octavia beamed at the view while grazing on the food. She sat happily and quietly as Clarke breathed a sigh of relief. No one would find them here.
Bellamy's heart was about to burst out of his chest. He knocked three times with no answer. And knocked again, "Come on Blake, we have to check the other rooms too before we move to the next hallway." His partner Terrance stated.
Shumway pushed past both of them and used his master key to open Bellamy's door. He swung it open.
Bellamy held his breath, but sighed in quiet relief when he saw the room was empty.
"Clear. Move on." Shumway announced as Bellamy closed the door.
Good job, O. Bellamy thought.
Clarke looked at her watch. It was after eight at night. She had sat here with Octavia for over four hours. The search had to be over by now. Her mom was bound to be livid since she hadn't left a note or returned to the office.
"Okay Octavia. Let's head back." Clarke stated and stood up. Octavia had stared outside the entire time they had been holed up.
"Sure." She said sadly and got to her feet.
Clarke felt for the girl, she had never been able to set foot outside her family's home and now that she had seen the outside, Clarke was forcing her to go back. It wasn't Clarke's fault that Octavia had to go back, but she still felt guilty.
Octavia met Clarke's eyes. Even through the bandages Clarke felt her gaze bore through her, "Why did you save me?" She asked sheepishly.
Clarke couldn't lie to her, "I don't know. I guess, I didn't want to see you or Bellamy get hurt." Octavia nodded sadly, "I don't know if we'll ever come back here together. But I can come visit you. Would that be okay?" Clarke asked.
She had few friends. She could count them on one hand. And Octavia had even less than that. Just Bellamy. But she was so sweet, she deserved a friend and Clarke wanted to have a friend she trusted completely. She used to have that in Wells, but ever since Jaha had floated her father, things were different between her and Wells.
"Let's go. Bellamy must be losing his mind." Clarke murmured and Octavia smiled. Clarke kept her close on the walk back and smiled. Even though the afternoon was tense, she enjoyed hanging out with Octavia. Octavia didn't want anything from her. She didn't need medical help, she didn't want anything from the Princess of the Ark, she didn't care about social status or station status. No strings, just friendship. She didn't know she had missed that until she had it again. I'll protect her, she deserves that if only for being my friend.
Bellamy frantically paced the expanse of the small room. His mother hadn't returned home from work yet, but O was missing. She wasn't in her hiding place. Where had she gone? Why had she gone outside during a surprise inspection? Had someone spotted her? Turned her in? Was that why his mom wasn't home yet? Had they already convicted her and decided floating her was easier than a trial?
"I just like the flavor of blueberries best. I don't know why." Clark said as Octavia opened the door.
Bellamy stood with his hands in his pocket, "What is going on? O? Are you okay?" Bellamy reached for the bandages.
"I'm fine Bells. Clarke used the bandages as a disguise. Bell we walked right in front of people and no one even stopped us. It was so cool!" Octavia squealed and hugged Bellamy. Bellamy looked as confused as he felt.
"Let me take these off you Octavia." Bellamy stood perplexed as Clark unwrapped his sister's face. Octavia sighed happily and pulled a bag of food out from her skirted pants.
"Where did you get that?" He asked incredulously.
"Relax, Bellamy. I gave it to her." Clarke motioned for him to be quiet as Octavia skipped to her desk and began to sketch.
"What is going on?" He asked.
"I heard about the inspection and didn't want her to get caught. They told me they were specifically looking for food stores. I got worried." Bellamy ran his hands down his face. "Sorry if we worried you, I-" Bellamy pulled Clarke into his embrace. His arm encircled her shoulders and he lowered his head onto hers.
"Thank you. Thank you so much." Clark was still for a moment. She wasn't sure what to do. Then the urge to hug him back was too much and she wrapped her arms around his waist and tucked her head into his shoulder.
"She's fine. You need to be resting." Clarke mumbled against his chest. Bellamy laughed and released her.
"My mom will be home soon. She doesn't know about this." Bellamy explained.
Clarke nodded in agreement, " I need to get going. My mom is gonna freak when she realizes I never came back to the office and did inventory. But it's okay, I'll figure it out." Clarke smiled and patted Bellamy's shoulder affectionately.
Bellamy smiled. Clarke had protected his sister. Against the entire Ark, she had risked her own life and hid Octavia and on top of it, Octavia looked blissful.
"Bye Octavia. I'll see you soon." Octavia jumped out of her chair and hugged Clarke.
"Thank you so much! I'm so happy to have you as a friend. By the way, everyone calls you princess, or at least Bellamy does. Do I need to call you Princess too?" Octavia asked in complete deadpan.
Bellamy rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Clarke rolled her eyes, "Of course not. I don't know who started that stupid nickname. Clarke is fine." Octavia nodded and hugged her once more before Clarke slipped through the door and headed back.
Bellamy watched his sister as she hummed while continuing to doodle on a sketch pad that Clarke had brought her. He still couldn't believe how happy she was. She was a different person, no longer the ghost of the little girl who used to beg for pony rides.
"I gotta go, my shift's about to start." Bellamy said and Octavia waved bye without looking up from her sketch. He smiled and pulled on his jacket.
Their mother was none the wiser about Clarke's knowledge of Octavia. Clarke timed her visits to usually either late night or afternoons. She had been so good at avoiding his mother, he wondered if it was on purpose. Probably not, but he would mention it to her. The strange thing was, that Octavia wasn't the only one who had made a friend. Clarke stopped by and talked to him as much as she did Octavia. She always checked on his injuries and admonished him when she noticed he'd overdone it. They were friends when she visited them at his home, but when they were out in the real world, they both kept their distance. It shouldn't have upset him, but it did. Clarke had become a anchor for him, and he couldn't even smile hello without someone becoming suspicious. Everyone's eyes followed her into a room and he found his eyes being drawn to her now too.
He had cafeteria duty today. It was considered one of the easier duties to shovel. Just watch the crowds during the main lunch hours and keep the peace. Most of the time the crowds were docile. He caught sight of loose blond curls pulled into a bun at the nape of a neck. He moved to right slightly to improve his field of vision. It was Clarke.
She was in line to grab something to eat. She was tailed by two members of Farm Station. He thought their names were Kelsey and Janice. They were talking and laughing about something Janice said. She talked to everyone in the room with such ease. She stopped by an empty table and sat down. The two girls trailed behind her and sat across from her once they reached the table.
Every person that went by the table said hello to her. She pulled the room to her without even trying. She sat in the light and he blended into the shadows. They couldn't be more opposite, but he was the same as the rest of the people around her. Drawn to her kindness.
Bellamy shook his head slightly. Stop it! You can't think like this, not about her. She's O's only friend. Do not fuck this up.
She waved to someone at a nearby table and got up to leave. He watched her move across the room through the crowd. He breathed a sigh of relief when she left. Now he could concentrate. Now he could do his job.
"Okay, Chancellor Jaha is throwing his son's usual birthday celebration tomorrow night. He has requested extra security. So on top of guards we've assigned a small team of cadets to mingle with the kids. If you hear your name, step forward," Shumway read from the list, "Lavila, Stockton, Knowles, Seldon, Lynch, Arnold, O'Donnel and Blake." Bellamy stepped forward along with others.
"You've all been chosen for this detail. Be at the party at Alpha station at 2000 hours. Be on time and in uniform. You are not to dance, speak with anyone or eat anything. You are there to guard Jaha's guests. That is your only job. Dismissed." Everyone left and headed home. Bellamy smiled. He would get to see Clarke.
Clarke sighed. She hated parties. She hated getting all prettied up and everyone always wanted to talk to her about this, about that. She just wanted to eat cake and be left alone. She had better things to do than preen for the masses. She looked at the horrendous thing her mother called a dress. She preferred a pair of jeans and tennis shoes with a loose t-shirt. This thing was made of lace and silky material that fell to her feet in gentle waves. The top half split down the middle enveloping her in ornate lace designs that swirled around her arms and ending with the black looping around her fingers. Her hair was piled atop her head in a mess of curls that fell about her face, "framing it" as her mother had said. The shoes were the only saving grace. Thankfully, her mother had listened to her when she said heels were not her friend. They were a roman style of flat shoe that laced up her legs all the way to her knee. When she moved the dress split and showed off her calves. It made her feel exposed, but her mother said she never looked better.
The party was in full swing by the time Clarke arrived. She didn't enjoy all the glances and attention her outfit was getting as she made her way towards Wells. She smirked. Well's dad had obviously forced him to dress up.
"Hey Birthday Boy, looking sharp." Clarke joked and Wells rolled his eyes.
"You have no idea how uncomfortable this is." Wells grumbled while trying to the collar of his formal tuxedo.
"Try squeezing into one of these getups while holding your breath and not eating for the past three hours. Then talk to me." She teased and kissed his cheek. "Seriously though, congrats." Wells nodded and half hugged Clarke. It was one of those masculine hugs that was more pat on the back than an actual hug.
Clarke made her way over to the refreshments and cut a piece of cake. Damn it all, if she had to wear this get up, she was getting a piece of cake out of it. Chocolate, her favorite. The Chancellor hadn't spared any expense it seemed. Clarke licked stray frosting off her fingers and caught a glimpse of someone across the way. Standing against one of the doorways into the gathering room was Bellamy.
His posture was relaxed, like he could be any partygoer, but his eyes were focused on the crowd. Constantly scanning, never forgetting to watch. Clarke made her way over to him. But as she started to walk towards him, his gaze lingered over her a little longer than the rest of the crowd.
Bellamy couldn't help it. Clarke in a dress was mesmerizing. He had trouble tearing his eyes away from the way he sashayed her hips as she took each step. She was beautiful, but it was an alien beauty. She looked like some kind of barbarian princess, not the sweet Clarke with unruly wavy blonde hair and ice blue eyes. The black smudges around her eyes made her eyes look dark and menacing, rather than the bright orbs he knew them to be. She came to stand in front of him, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye as she too scanned the crowd.
He didn't meet her eyes, but kept scanning the crowd, "Are you allowed to speak?" She asked with a smile in her eyes.
"Not really, Princess." She rolled her eyes dismissively. She hated the title, but he had taken to using it instead of her name.
"How's Octavia?" She asked.
Bellamy shrugged, "As good as can be expected." Clarke nodded.
Shumway was making his rounds through the crowd. Bellamy spotted him first, then Clarke followed his gaze.
"Is he bothering you, Clarke?" Shumway asked throwing a dismissive glance at Bellamy.
"Hardly. I just asked if they could have cake. Seems almost a torture for all the guards to have to work during a party, and not even get a taste of cake." Clarke teased, faking social courtesy with the best of them.
"The guards can have the leftover refreshments, the cadets are restricted. It's a privilege only bestowed to us." Shumway offered his arm to Clarke in the way a gentleman might've offered to escort a lady in 1900 England. Clarke threw up a little in her mouth, but covered it up with a giggle and took his arm playing the part of the princess to perfection.
Bellamy stood at his post and watched the party continue on. In truth, he was starving. He had given his last ration to Octavia before showing up for duty. Having to see all these privileged Alpha station stuff themselves silly while dancing was making him ill. Clarke hadn't touched any of the food since she spoke to him. Strangely, even though Clarke was from Alpha station, he didn't see her as one of them. She was just Clarke Griffin, who saved his sister, whose kindness knew no limits.
Clarke winked at him and scooted two pieces of chocolate cake and some others goodies into a box that she procured from one of the people setting up the food. Before Bellamy could smile the wall behind her blew out. Debris, smoke and fire bellowing out from the entire left side of the room.
The explosion had knocked him to the ground. The ringing pounded in his ears as he tried to sit up. He heard groaning around him. Everyone was on the floor. Bellamy forced his body to roll to a sitting position.
Clarke! His thoughts raced by. Would he find her dead, among a pile of bodies? Whatever that explosion had been, Clarke had been at the center it. He made his way to where the food tables were before the explosion. The room was thick with smoke and it crawled down his throat and made breathing so hard.
"CLARKE!" Bellamy shouted over the roaring of the fire and the cracking of plaster. The fire was still going as people ran out of the room to get to safety. The fire kept climbing the walls. If he didn't find her soon, they both might not make it out of here alive.
"CLARKE! CAN YOU HEAR ME!?" He heard a groan and saw one pale bleeding ankle under two dead bodies. "Clarke!?" Bellamy rolled the bodies off her and took in her injuries. "Clarke, are you alright? Can you hear me? Answer me!" Bellamy's voice cracked on the last syllable. He touched two fingers to her neck and she groaned. Bellamy didn't wait for anything else. She was alive, that was all that mattered. Not caring about anyone else, he swung her over his shoulder in a fireman's carry and hurried out of the blaze as quickly as possible. The partygoers were rushing about trying to find loved ones in the hallways. Bellamy pushed past them.
Clarke groaned atop Bellamy's shoulder, "It's okay Clarke. You're going to be okay, you hear me?"
No response. Bellamy broke into a run heading towards the medical wing. When he got there it was crowded with people with cuts and bruises. Mostly non-lethal stuff.
"HELP! I NEED HELP!" Bellamy bellowed as he carefully swung Clarke into his arms and carried her into the medical suite.
"Make a hole! Move it people!" Abby Griffin parted the sea of people to see Bellamy carrying her unconscious daughter. Abby took one look at her daughter's face and motioned for him to put her on the table.
"What happened?" Abby asked as she started an IV.
"I don't know. Some kind of explosion at the party. Clarke was at the center of it. I found her under two dead people." Abby nodded and took her daughters blood pressure. She was concentrating on reading Clarke's vital signs as Bellamy looked on helplessly.
"Is she going to be okay?" He asked breathlessly, panting by Clarke's side.
"Something's going on. Her blood pressure is too low. She's losing blood, but I don't know where. She's breathing okay, no distended abdominals, it's doesn't seem to be internal." Abby rattling off explanation after explanation.
"She had blood on her leg." Bellamy coughed out as he tried to clear his lungs from the ash and toxic smoke. Abby searched her daughter's legs and found a huge splinter of wood stuck high into her thigh.
"Good catch. It nicked her femoral artery." Abby explained. "Put pressure here." Abby instructed placing Bellamy's hand atop the splinter. The blood kept covering his hands in red gushes. He kept pressing harder trying to make it stop.
Not her. Not her. Please not her. He kept chanting in his mind while trying to keep that precious fluid inside her. Abby took a clamp and inserted it in-between is where his fingers slipped on Clarke's skin from the blood pulsing between them. The blood stopped pulsing.
Bellamy removed his hands and let Abby do her work. Bellamy collapsed into a chair by the side of the operating table. He looked at his hands and felt like falling apart. I should've stayed next to her, I should've stopped it. I should've saved her. Not her, please not her. Bellamy wasn't much for praying, God seemed to have a cruel sense of humor when it came to his life, but he hung his head low and sent one lonely plea up to God. Begged him to spare Clarke. If he spared Clarke, he would do better. Be better.
"Bellamy?" Abby asked in front of him. Bellamy hadn't noticed, but she had been calling his name, hadn't she? Abby sat on her haunches in front of Bellamy.
"Huh? Is she okay?" He asked dazed as his gaze floating towards Clarke. She was still so pale, her skin an ashen gray, not the usually healthy pink.
"She's doing good. You saved her, now I'm worried about you. How many fingers am I holding up?" Abby held up four.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me." Bellamy stood up and then had to sit back down. A wave of dizziness hit him like a battering ram.
"You're not okay. I'm pretty sure you've got a concussion. Sit here, I'll come check on you in a little while, okay?" He nodded and Abby went to tend to other patients.
Clarke may have been okay, but her hand hung limply off the table. The way she looked disturbed him. Like she was a lifeless corpse. But then he saw her chest move up and down, up and down. He counted each breath she took. He reached over and took her hand in his own. It was so tiny compared to his. She seemed larger than life when she was around him, but she wasn't. She was so fragile, so easily breakable.
He squeezed her hand and felt the tears start to flow. He thought he was going to lose her. His only friend. Octavia's only friend.
"Bell-amy."She asked as she started to come around.
Bellamy scrubbed at his eyes with the back of his hands. He smeared her blood along the side of his face by accident, not caring, "Clarke? You're okay. You're in medical." He explained.
Clarke opened her eyes, at first the light was so bright then a shadow covered the light. Bellamy's face above her, looking down at her with concern. His onyx eyes searched hers. He looked as if he was memorizing every angle, every scar, every curve.
"What happened?" Clarke asked trying to sit up. Bellamy's hand on her shoulder stopped the movement in its tracks.
"There was some kind of explosion at the party. Don't try to move. You almost died." His voice was rough, like he'd swallowed glass. He coughed after finishing his sentence.
"Are you okay?" She asked with concern seeing the blood on his hands and his face. The hand he had been holding reached up to wipe at the blood on his face.
She cupped his face gently in that hand. It took all her strength to lift it up to his face. Bellamy's usual expression fell away and Clarke saw he was terrified. Terrified of losing her. Terrified of finding her. His face was a mask of vulnerability. He placed his hand over hers on his face, "I'm fine. Little concussion, no big deal." He whispered against her hand.
"Help me up." She ordered.
"You need to rest." He growled, becoming angry.
"There are more emergent cases coming in. They'll need the operating table." She argued again and tried to sit up.
"You are so stubborn." He said as tugged her arm over his shoulders and they limped to her office. He helped her to lied down on the couch without pulling out the IV that was currently replacing her blood. Bellamy sat in her chair and swiveled around.
"You can't go to sleep for at least eight hours if you've really got a concussion." Clarke warned as she glanced at him. Her finger pointing at him accusingly.
"Wouldn't dream of it, Princess." He smirked and swiveled in the fancy chair again.
"Good, I'd hate for you to die." She mumbled and passed out again.
"Get some rest, Clarke." He said. Atop the couch was a blanket. He took it and gently placed it over her.
Abby came back into the operating room to find Bellamy in the doorway of Clarke's office, "She wouldn't stay on the table?"
Bellamy shook his head, "She said you would need it for other patients."
Abby shook her head, "Of course she did." She turned to look at the cadet who had saved her only daughter, "Thank you for saving her."
Bellamy nodded silently and turned back to Clarke.
"Go home. Get some rest, just don't sleep for at least eight hours." Abby pointed at him.
"Like mother, like daughter." He chuckled and headed to Octavia.
Clarke woke to her mother snoring in spurts in her office chair. Clark looked at the clock on the wall. Ten in the morning. She got a little sleep.
She shrugged out of the blanket and sat up. Disconnecting the IV she walked over to her mother and covered her with the blanket. Stretching she stood up. She looked down at her leg. She was going to have a nice big scar on her inner thigh. Clarke scanned the new logs. Apparently, a heating mechanical failure had caused flammable gas to build up in the heating ducts and when someone turned on the lights at the party a spark ignited it. The most devastating news was that their stores of medical supplies had been decimated. Some of those medicines took years to culture, especially the antibiotics.
Clarke sighed. This was bad for everyone. Clarke reached into the pocket and smiled as she pulled out a handful of blueberries. She had swiped them for Octavia. She had also planned to take both her and Bellamy chocolate cake. Chocolate cake that was now gone. She didn't know why, but that thought is what broke her. Not the thought of dying, not the thought of the victims, but that Octavia and Bellamy wouldn't get chocolate cake like she had planned.
"Damnit, pull it together Clarke." She sniffled and wiped her nose on the sleeve of the dress. Silver lining. Clark thought and ripped a sleeve off and used it as a tissue. She took the few precious blueberries and put them in a baggie. It wasn't much, but it was something.
So, that's my chapter two. How did you guys like it? Please review.