"Your mother wanted to be here, too." - David Miller
"I know, but the wounded in Tondc need her more." - Clarke Griffin, "Blood Must Have Blood (Part 1)"
The station was silent as she walked through it early that morning. Her watch read 6:03 a.m. It was a strange thought that most of them headed to war that afternoon, as soon as Raven and Wick figured out the acid fog system. They should sleep as long as they could.
Kane was still sleeping when she entered Medical. His cot was in the back, separated by a heavy sheet of plastic in his own area. She had made sure of that. She pushed aside the plastic and walked over to him, pulling the thin blanket away that covered him. She only uncovered his thigh, the one whose artery she had spent hours in surgery salvaging. She cautiously pulled the bandage off, thankful he still wasn't wearing pants, and took a look at her handiwork. It had turned into an angry, red scar, still fresh and, she assumed, still very painful. His whole thigh was inflamed, tender to the touch, she knew. All injuries like this were, and without proper painkillers, it would hurt him for quite some time. She gently prodded on the flesh surrounding the scar, feeling if it was swollen in anyway.
"Good morning to you too," Kane said gruffly, flinching away from the pain her light touches caused. His eyes flashed open, searching out her face. She leaned over him and placed a soft kiss on his lips before pulling away again and returning to her doctorly duties. He protested, claiming it was nothing more than a scratch, but they both knew he was putting on a strong act.
"Are you sure you're up to this? I don't think riding a horse with this injury's going to feel too pleasant." Abby said, staring down at him with crossed arms and pursed lips.
His lips twitched, forming half of a grin. "I'll be fine, Abby. Worry about your patients."
"I worked hard on that leg of yours, I won't have you open the wound."
He stared at her defiantly. Dryly, he replied, "And I'm grateful, Abby. But I'm coming if I have to stow away in your med pack."
"You're too big," she teased, tossing him his pants. "Get dressed, we have to leave."
He tossed aside the blanket and pulled his pants on his left leg first — that was the easy part. He got them up to his knee on his right leg then he let out a grunt of pain. Abby, who had been gathering medical supplies in two backpacks — one for each of them — ran back into the room, thinking he had hurt himself. An amused smirk crept across her face at the sight of him caught in his pants, but the look of pain on his face — his teeth gritted in frustration, his left hand balled into a fist, his eyes closed in agony — wiped it clear and made her rush to his side.
She unclenched his fist first, smoothing his fingers against her palm, before she reached up and placed both of her hands on his cheeks. "Marcus, it's okay. I'm here."
His eyes flashed open and she knew that look in his eyes. She had seen it in Raven's right before she operated on her without anesthesia. It was despair, distress, but most of all pain, and the need for it to be gone. She took his hand, clutching it desperately in hers. "The pain will take some time, Marcus, but we have no way to manage it—"
"It's fine," he snapped. She released his hand and pulled away from him. Kane sighed, closing his eyes for a brief moment. "I'm sorry, Abby."
He had been apologizing a lot, and though she wished he hadn't the need to, she was glad he was making an effort. She grabbed two belt loops of his jeans and pulled, ignoring his groans as the fabric slid over his aching thigh. Through clenched teeth, he said, "Thanks."
She gave him a fake smile and walked away, grabbing her backpack and throwing his at him. He caught it and set it on the end of the bed, shooting her a glare. He pushed himself out of bed, every muscle in his body tensing up as he put weight on his leg. His face was pained, but he didn't complain aloud. Abby shook her head but held her tongue, not bothering to talk him out of coming with her. He reached for his gun and slung it over his back before pulling the backpack on. It looked awkward, but they would be safer with a weapon.
In truth, it should be Jackson accompanying her to Tondc, but he would be going to Mount Weather to take care of anyone in need of medical assistance — especially those kids trapped within the mountain. He had offered to join her, but she told him with such finality that he had backed down without a word, accepting that he was going to war.
"C'mon, we're wasting daylight," Kane said, nudging her side. She hadn't realized he had crossed the room already, but here he was. She nodded and led the way out of the makeshift room.
The horses had been left for them by the Grounders, a thanks for their help in healing their people. It would be quicker than walking, but the last time Kane had taken a horse to Tondc, he had been buried for over a day under a collapsed building. Abby saw his apprehension written all over his face and touched his hand reassuringly. He glanced over at her before climbing uneasily onto the beast. She pulled herself on hers and they started toward the gate.
David Miller was on duty and he opened the gate for them. Abby called down to him, "Be safe today."
"You, too."
Kane nodded toward him, the men didn't feel the need to exchange any words. Abby watched him head down the trail in the trees ahead, but still, she stayed near David. He looked up at her curiously. "Tell Clarke to be careful. To be smart."
He nodded. "Of course." She smiled at him and took off after Kane, who had disappeared through the tree line.
Dawn was breaking and they would at least have some light as they rode the several hours to Tondc. They were as silent as the woods around them; despite the fact that she had told him it was safe, she still felt uneasy being out there, just the two of them. She would never admit it to him, but she was glad he had defied her and come. Their horses rode close despite the width of the trail, their knees bumping every few minutes when the ruts in the road forced their horses even closer.
With the sun up, they didn't feel as strange being out in the woods. It had been surreal, moving among the trees, the world like a vacuum: no sound, but a hint of light. But it was like everything had come to life around them with the rising sun. Birds moved overhead, something larger ran through the trees nearby. A deer poked its head out from behind a tree and Abby turned to show Kane, but the look on his face stopped her.
She reached over across the space separating them and touched him arm, bringing him back from wherever he was. He blinked several times and turned to look at her. She asked, "Are you okay?"
That had become her mantra to him, the one question she was constantly asking him. It made her feel better — having him know that she cared — so she kept asking whenever he seemed down, which was far too often for her liking.
Kane just nodded, but his eyes told a different story. They were like dying embers, all of the fight of a fire leaving them. It was like he had given up, but on what, she didn't know. All she knew was that he wasn't okay. But, she had to let him bring it up on his own, she had learned to only press him when necessary.
But this left her to her own thoughts. And they were all centered on Clarke. Her daughter was going to war today. She was too young, just a child, though Marcus was always the first to remind her that she needed to stop treating her like one. And she knew that she should, but that was her daughter. She had raised her, seen her grow to the woman she was today. Still, looking at her, she saw the little girl playing chess with her best friend, Wells. She didn't see the war commander, she never could.
She was left in her mind for hours, it was nearly 10 a.m. when Kane finally said something. They were nearly to Tondc; the sun was higher in the sky. He blurted out, "Are we still not talking about how you never said it back?"
Her head snapped to look at him, her mouth a thin line, an eyebrow raised a fraction of an inch. Her mind went completely blank, that was the last thing she expected to come out of his mouth. When her brain rebooted and started firing neurons again, she started to think, surely I've said it, right? But, the more she thought about it, the more she became aware that he had said it twice now, once while buried under the train station and again when he woke up after surgery.
She hadn't been able to worry over anyone else but him when they got back from Tondc after the attack, letting Jackson deal with the onslaught of patients coming through the door. Kane had gotten surgery first to repair his artery and after, she had stayed with him, seeing patients in his makeshift room in the back while he recovered. She had been sleeping next to his cot when he woke later that night. He had run his hand through her hair, brushing a strand over her ear, waking her unintentionally. It had come out of him, bubbling up from his throat, like I love you was a reflex to him. But, she hadn't said it back. Why hadn't she said it back?
"I thought I had," she answered quietly, unable to look at his unwavering gaze. She knew it would turn cold on her in an instant, she had seen it all too often. "I guess I thought it was implied—"
"Love's not something that's implied, Abby," he spat. And, when she risked a glance at him, there they were, those cold eyes that she had grown so used to on the Ark. She sighed and forced herself to look at them, wanting more than anything to melt them back to that honey brown that she loved. Yes, that she loved.
He was closing off from her, she could feel it, but he wasn't too far gone just yet — she could bring him back. She reached across the short distance between them and took his hand, leaning a little more off her horse than she felt comfortable. She was met with an icy stare, but looked past it. "Marcus, just because I haven't said it, doesn't mean I don't feel it, okay?" She ran her thumb over the back of his hand, continuing, "I do love you. Now stop nagging me about it, or I may stop just to spite you."
He smiled, a genuine smile from Marcus Kane. A slow, steady laugh built up inside of him and spilled from his mouth. It was infectious and she found herself laughing too. He took her hand in his, holding it tight for a moment before releasing it so she could steady herself on her horse again.
They continued in silence for another half an hour until he asked, "Do you think they've figured out the acid fog system yet?"
"Don't you think we would have seen the flare?"
"We're facing the wrong direction, Abby," he reminded her.
"Raven and Wick will figure it out, they're smart, overconfident if anything." She said, smiling. He chuckled, nodding.
The gates were ahead, wide open. He glanced over at her, asking, "Are you ready for this?"
"It's just another day, Marcus."
They both had their jobs to do once they dismounted their horses. She tended the wounded; he searched out those most in need of medical attention, conversing in Trigedasleng when necessary. A woman named Jakia assisted Kane with his translations while a healer named Tisa helped Abby. They didn't really see each other until everyone was bandaged, when it was near 6 p.m. and they sat around a fire, eating.
Abby wondered how far the war had progressed at Mount Weather. She and Kane discussed it, practically ignoring their companions — Jakia, Tisa, others they had been introduced to: Knute, Ingo, Jefferson, and Cora.
"I need to be there, Marcus," she whispered, it was plea really.
He didn't think about it, didn't resist at all. He grabbed his backpack and gun and started limping toward the gate. Abby watched him in awe, surprised that he hadn't fought her on the subject. Abby secured her pack over her shoulders and followed.
They were at the gate when they heard the shout, "Wait!"
The Grounders from their fire, the ones not wounded, ran at them, all clutching weapons. Jakia, Kane's translator, said, "We're coming with you."
Abby shook her head hastily, "We can't ask you to do that—"
"You're not asking, Skaiplan. We're telling you, we're coming." The man named Ingo said, clutching an oversized ax in his fist. Kane nodded at them and said, "We should hurry."
The Grounders knew the way better, they let Jefferson lead, he was apparently someone's second who had been ordered to stay behind at the village to protect the Sky People coming to heal. Abby stuck next to Kane, making sure he didn't re-injure himself. But, he was doing just fine on his own, moving swiftly on his hurt leg, working through the pain.
"What's a Skaiplan?" She asked after a while, when they were about ten miles out from Mount Weather.
He glanced over at her, a knowing smile on his face. "It means 'skywoman.'"
She thought it would be something worse and couldn't help but show her relief. But that relief was short lived. Gunshots popped in the distance and they moved faster through the woods. Kane limped along as fast as he dared, Abby was far ahead of him now, knowing that he could make it on his own.
Jefferson was stopped ahead, the other Grounders with him, all crouched down near to the ground. Abby huddled with them and when Marcus finally caught up, he joined them on his haunches.
"What is it?" He whispered.
"Mountain Men," Ingo spat, staring through the trees.
Abby squinted through the darkness, but she couldn't see a damn thing. Jefferson jumped up suddenly and attacked someone in the darkness, a man screamed out and he brought them back, short-sword against their throat. Abby stood, staring into the person's face, with Jakia trying to tug her back to the ground.
"It's okay, he's our people," Kane said, standing too, albeit with more difficulty. Ingo assisted him.
"Kane? Abby?" David Miller was released by Jefferson and the bush behind him rustled and Monroe walked out, swinging her gun behind her. She sighed in relief at the sight of them.
"What happened?" Abby asked, walking toward them. "Where's Clarke?"
"She didn't come back with us." Monroe said, sighing. "The Commander, she made a deal with them for her people, ours are still trapped inside."
Abby shot a look at Kane.
"They all left. Our people too." David said, looking at Abby only. "My son's still inside, Abby."
"I know. And we're not leaving him there."
Jakia grabbed Jefferson's arm and whispered, "If the Commander has ordered a retreat, we should go."
He shook his head. "I'm to protect the Sky People. If they are going to the Mountain, I'm going to the Mountain. You can return to Tondc if you wish."
None of the Grounders moved. Kane looked at them and said, "Thank you."
Continuing through the trees, every noise they didn't make unnerved them. They expected retaliation from the Mountain Men. They moved in a tight ground, weapons out, even Abby had one — a spare handgun Kane had in his backpack.
They heard them before they saw them. The group was large, Jefferson could tell. The Mountain Men didn't even try to hide their presence, but Jefferson's group broke into pairs and flitted from tree trunk to tree trunk.
"We know you're there," a voice came out of the darkness. Flashlight beams broke through the black, blinding them. "We have radar."
A gunshot ran out and Ingo screamed out in pain. Carl Emerson walked out into the clearing, no hazmat suit in sight, nearest to Kane and Abby's tree. He held a rifle and raised his hands in the air. "We just want to talk."
"Bullshit," Monroe spat.
Emerson laughed and fired off a round her way, missing her on purpose. "You're right. C'mon, let's get this over with."
The Grounders shouted as they attacked the Mountain Men, their weapons raised high. Emerson turned to Kane and Abby's tree, raising his rifle before the two could respond.
"Emerson," Kane spat before he was hit across the face with the butt of their former prisoner's rifle. He staggered a few steps, falling against the trunk of a tree.
Emerson said to his men, "Kill the Grounders, but take the others alive. We need them."
It was a slaughter, to say the least. Abby barely knew how to use her weapon, Monroe covered her. Marcus fired from his stance against the tree trunk, unable to move due to his leg. The Grounders were fierce though, but still, they fell one by one. They were expendable to the Mountain Men. David Miller was captured first, hands tied and a black hood placed over his head. Then Monroe fell to Emerson. He went for Kane next, but Abby wouldn't allow it, she could stop it.
"Marcus," she breathed, rushing to him, gun raised. But it was too late. The rifle connected with Kane's head, knocking him out, his eyes locked on hers before they rolled back in his head. Emerson probably figured knocking the fight out of him was easier than actually fighting him.
Emerson rounded on her, both of them the last ones standing. Several of his men were injured but still alive, slowly getting up. He held his rifle in his hand and approached her. She squeezed the trigger but it just clicked.
Emerson smiled, "I counted, Abby. You've been out for a while, but over the noise, you didn't hear it." He smiled as he grabbed her arm forcefully and added, "You'll come in peace, right? You want to see Clarke, don't you?" He tied her wrists together, staring at her with a smirk set on his face. He pulled a black hood out of his pocket and pulled it over her head, saying, "I'm sure you'll see her soon. But, of course, I can't make any promises; that's all up to President Wallace."
