He hadn't had another Red attack in a few hours; at least he guessed it had been a few hours. His mind was still muddled with red and he had a tenuous grasp on time but according to Octavia, it was early morning, still dark out and most of the camp asleep. It was only yesterday she had saved him from the Red Death. He thought it had been days ago.

She laid a blanket over him before she pulled the curtains around his bed, at last giving them some privacy in the windowed room. She must trust the worst of it was over. She climbed up on the gurney next to him, curling herself into his side and tugging the blanket over the both of them. Warmth spread through him emanating from where she was pressed against him. He wasn't going to protest this time, needing the contact, feeling his tattered soul starting to heal a little bit more.

"On the Ark, I spent my whole life sharing a bed with my brother or my mother until I was locked away." Her hand absentmindedly rubbed across his chest, stimulating his half-dead heart to beating. "That night in your cave…." She tucked her head in closer against him. "…was the only time in over a year I slept without nightmares."

He closed his eyes, swallowing back the knot in his throat. Where only hours earlier he had felt nothing, he was now a raw nerve of sensitivity. His emotions were so close to the surface, bubbling up and threatening to boil over. If his wrists weren't bound, he would have hugged her tight and kissed her and made love to her till the world exploded around them. But unlike her, he didn't trust himself just yet. He didn't trust that the Red state wouldn't return and he might harm her or worse.

Octavia was soon asleep, half on top of him, her arm and leg wrapped around him like a toddler around a toy. He smiled fondly, remembering she had told him about her best friend when she was little, a stuffed animal she christened "Gussie" (short for Augustus, apparently). She then proceeded to call Lincoln her "adult version," much to his embarrassment...and flattery that she considered him her best friend.

The sound of footsteps entering the room drew his attention to the drapes closed around them. He expected it to be Abby or Jackson but was surprised when it was her brother. "She's asleep," he whispered.

Bellamy nodded as he stepped quietly around the curtain. "I'm here to see you." Bellamy glanced down at Octavia, a loving smile crossing his face as he watched her sleeping so peacefully.

It reminded Lincoln this was the man who had raised her. As if she were aware of their eyes on her, she purred in her sleep and snuggled deeper into Lincoln's chest.

"She never gave up looking for you," Bellamy said softly, breaking the silence. "She refused to believe you were dead even when you did die."

Lincoln nodded, unable to speak in fear of the tears that threatened to fall, knowing how unworthy he was of her love for him.

"After...after..." Bellamy paused, for once at a loss for words. "You kept her safe. With everything going on, I wasn't worried about Octavia because she was with you."

Lincoln had failed, though. Octavia had survived without him, perhaps even in spite of him. "I'm sorry." He looked away.

"No, no." Bellamy shook his head. "I'm trying to apologize to you, dammit."

His gaze returned to his angel's brother, red confusion returning.

"You taught her how to fight, how to survive." Bellamy sighed. "Even after I tortured you... I didn't listen to her. I didn't want to listen. But she was right." Bellamy stepped closer, holding Lincoln's gaze. "I'm sorry," he said frankly, his eyes reflecting his remorse.

Lincoln nodded. He had forgiven Bellamy for that even before his angel had set him free. They had been at war; Lincoln was the enemy, it was what was done and he had been through worse both before and after.

"After I tortured you…." Bellamy's brows creased together. "What you did for her, saving her, going against your own people. I never thought there would be anyone else who loves her as much as I do."

"I'd do anything to protect her," Lincoln whispered. Now more than ever; his dismal life was no longer worth living without her in it.

Bellamy studied him closely for a minute before nodding. "I'm counting on it." He glanced back down at his sister, making sure she was still asleep. "Listen, this thing with Finn…. Whatever happens, keep her out of it, okay? Even if you have to take her away."

"You would endanger your own sister's life for Finn?" Lincoln shook his head, finally realizing why Bellamy chose to have this conversation now. They were planning on doing something stupid to save the life of a murderer red. Maybe it was because Lincoln had never been anything but accepting of his own fate for betraying his people but he wasn't able to comprehend why Finn refused to give himself up and face his punishment honorably. Red. Instead, Finn was dragging every single Sky Person down with him, including Octavia's brother. Red. "He's not worth it."

"Maybe not, but I gotta try for Raven and Clarke at least."

Raven. Torture. Red. Raven's fire. Red. Lincoln frowned, biting his lips together in red annoyance as his red heart started beating faster and his red wrists tightened in his red restraints. Red. Red. Perhaps feeling his red tension, Octavia shifted against him. Red. He didn't agree with Bellamy's choice but he wasn't able to do anything about it, short of tattling on him to Octavia. Red.

Bellamy shuffled uneasily at Lincoln's silent red disapproval. "Just take care of her, okay?"

"She can take care of herself," he replied, red anger in his tone. Red.

"You know what I meant." Bellamy rolled his eyes and gave him an impertinent grin. "Besides, I'll be back before either of you know I'm gone." He gave a small red wave goodbye and ducked back around the red curtain, ending the conversation.

Lincoln sighed, closing his red eyes as he concentrated on where Octavia's body touched his, the heat of his angel's fire seeping into his cold red soul. Red. He willed himself to get past this without going red full-blown Red. Red. It had been hours since the last time. Red.

He inhaled deeply and Octavia filled his senses, his discordant mind slowly returning to harmonious quietude. His lips creased up as he finally allowed himself the hope that he might make it through this.