CH 10: Inquiring Minds

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Recap: "I'm done," says a soft voice from behind us. We both turn to see a worn out Clarke struggling to stand. I walk to her and gently lift her into my arms, she's fading fast. Used to me by now I feel her lean into me and resting her head in the crook of my neck. I look up to see Bellamy watching her, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"What is it?" I ask.

"It's good to have her back," he says. I look down and couldn't agree more.

Clark's POV

I smell the dirt, that damp and heavy perfume that I have grown used to, I slowly stretch out my shaking hand daring this all to be a bad dream, but it isn't. I can feel the moldable earth beneath my hands and I start to shake, I look around me and I see him, it would be easy to pretend he was asleep if it wasn't for the open eyes looking ahead unblinking, and for the distorted angle of his neck. That's when I start screaming. Hell has welcomed me back.

I startle awake and look around at the empty hut, for the first time since I've been back I'm completely alone except for the memory of all I've been through. The darkness that touched me, it will never leave.

Miller's POV

After I settled Clarke down in our hut to rest, headed out to see how Monroe and the rest of the guards were doing. Ever since Clarke had been taken by the grounders we had become more vigilant in our security, although we hadn't seen any grounders around in a long time.

"Monroe." I call motioning for her to join me. "How's it going, has there been any activity?"

"No, it's been quiet" she responds. As Bellamy's second it's my job to make sure the camp is running smoothly, and when he went through his depression, I assumed even more responsibility. I see Monroe eyeing me nervously and shifting from foot to foot. She doesn't get nervous so whatever's on her mind, it must be serious.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"It's about Clarke," she starts cautiously. "What happened to her, how come we haven't gotten to see her?" I look down, these are not questions I want to have to answer but I know she won't be the only one who's curious. I remember the way Monroe looked at Clarke when I brought her back, like she was weak and broken when she is actually the exact opposite. She's stronger than any of us because she went through horrors I can't even imagine and she survived.

"Look Monroe, all I can say for sure is that when the grounders took Clarke they tortured her and did God knows what else. Judging by the marks I saw on her, it wasn't good. She can't deal with the questions and the stares right now, she's been through so much and I don't know if shell ever be ok." I feel better finally being able to admit this out loud and I know I can trust Monroe to keep our conversations private. I can see on her face that she is mulling over what I've said and I am completely unprepared for what she says next.

"I'll help you look out for her, I can tell she means a lot to you."

"What?" I say caught off guard. "What makes you think I care about her?"

"Well, the way you talk about her for one, and the way you looked at her when you first carried her into camp."

"Thank you Monroe," I say sincerely.

"So… How does Bellamy feel about all this?" she says barely hiding a smirk. I was just about to respond when a blood curdling scream filled the air and I immediately knew it was her, she needed me. I took off running towards our hut, Monroe at my heels. The closer we got the clearer the screams became, I heard her screaming his name. Finn.

Walking in and seeing her like that again was enough to make me hesitate to approach her. She looked just like she did on the day I found her in the bushes. Terrified. Like the whole world was out to get her. She was huddled on the floor, the jug of water on the table between our beds had been broken and she was holding a jagged piece in her hands ready to defend herself. Her eyes were wide and she couldn't seem to stop screaming. People were trying to peek into the hut to see what was going on, but Monroe, seeing this immediately took up sentry duty and would not allow anyone to pass. One glare and a harshly uttered command allowed Bellamy entrance and when he took in the scene he looked as panicked as I felt.

"What's wrong, why is she screaming his name?"

"I don't know," I ground out. That's not what mattered right now, he seemed to understand and we both turned to Clarke. I crouched down and started to approach her slowly. "Clarke! Clarke it's me Miller." Her breath stuttered and her voice cracked from all the screaming but she wouldn't answer me.

"Clarke look at me." I slowly put my hand to each side of her face and the contact made her jump. I never wanted her to be afraid of me, I couldn't stand the look in her eyes but I pressed on.

"Clarke do you recognize me?" I see her nod softly, the only sound emanating from her in the form of whimpers. I slowly lower my head so that our foreheads are touching, still cradling her face and trying to surround her, and in our small confines I begin to whisper to her making my voice as gentle as possible.

"You're okay Clarke, I told you I wouldn't let anything happen to you and I won't you're safe." Instead of the nod I was expecting I hear a soft whisper.

"He was dea-d, and I was a-al-alone," she choked back sobs.

My jaw clenched and I shut my eyes so she wouldn't see the shock written there. So they killed Spacewalker and she probably saw it happen. I couldn't begin to imagine her terror, alone and scared, then I realized I had left her alone as well. It's no wonder she was petrified.

"Sweetheart I am so sorry," I murmur into her hair drawing her as close to me as physically possible. "I won't leave you alone like that ever again, I promise. I'm so sorry." I feel her collapse into me, tears flowing freely, she's fading fast. I slowly reach down between us taking the weapon out of her hand and throw it across the floor. I then reach down further and hook an arm beneath her knees and pick her up to settle us both on the side of the bed, with me holding her n my lap. I didn't realize Bellamy had left until I saw him return with some medical supplies to treat Clarkes bleeding hand. He set out the rags and poultice and looked at me questioningly checking to see if it was safe, and at my nod he slowly approached Clarke.

"Hey Clarke it's me Bellamy. You cut your hand up pretty bad, I'm going to clean it up for you ok?" She nods into my neck and he kneels in front of her and starts washing up the blood. He's being careful but we both feel it when she start to shake. He looks up sees her face tucked into my neck and silently mouths, "Finn?" a million questions in his gaze

I mouth back, "We'll talk later." I look down at Clarke then. "Hey Clarke, you've got a camp full of people who want to welcome you back. When do you want to see them?" she looks up at me softly, her eye's showing her fear.

"Will you be with me?" I nod softly, and to his surprise she turns to Bellamy. "Will you stay with me too?"

"As long as you want me around, I'll be here. I promise."

"Then I want to see them now."

"What Clarke, are you sure?" I ask.

"Clarke think about this," says Bellamy. She slowly sits up in my lap and I help her stand.

"I did think about it," she responds, "and I want to see my people." Bellamy already knew that when she set her chin and took on that tone there was no arguing with her, so he went to gather the camp for what was sure to be an eventful reunion.

Bellamy's POV

When Clarke stood up to me and demanded to see her people, in that moment I would have given her anything she wanted. It was amazing to see a bit of her old spark back, that's something I thought I'd never see again and it made me realize just how much I had missed her.

"Fine," I relent. "I'll go gather the camp and Miller… just keep her calm." I see him nodding his head seriously, then look down to see Clarke frowning slightly at me. "Just like old times," I murmur to myself and can't stop the smirk that covers my mouth as I exit the hut that is until I see the figure that's entering the camp gate.

"No, no, no."

Sorry about the cliffhanger, I'll update soon. Read. Review. Enjoy. Check out the new story I uploaded called Of Grounders and Queens. It's a new Lincoln and Clarke fanfic. Let me know what you think!