A Quiet Moment
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-thank you for all the wonderful reviews. I loved them all. Nikki
Part Twenty One
It was Monty who found Raven. He saw her from afar, sitting alone, her brown eyes wide and staring at nothing. He didn't see Finn's body at first, not until he approached and nearly tripped over his lifeless form. He let out a little yell when he finally realised that Finn was dead. Congealed blood was still seeping from his temple where the bullet had lodged in his brain, before pooling around his head. The most bizarre thing was his eyes were wide open as was his mouth, as if he had been caught by surprise, and hadn't even suspected that his attacker was about to kill him. It didn't take a genius to work out who had slain him. Monty saw the shiny metal of the gun in Raven's hand. She was still clutching it tightly as she stared straight ahead.
Monty crouched in front of her and studied her carefully. His long fringe fell into his face as he nudged Raven's shoulder gently. "Give me the gun." He said gently.
Raven came to. She glanced down at her hand and winced as she noticed she was still clutching the weapon tightly between her fingers. She relinquished it to Monty at once, before turning her eyes onto him. Monty had never seen such heart break in his life. Silent tears spilled out of Raven's eyes as she sought Finn and found him lying prone in front of her, his arms splayed out either side of his body. "Finn." She whispered brokenly.
"Raven let's go." Monty held out a hand to her. Raven stared at it for a second before taking it. He helped her rise before turning back to Finn's dead body. He carefully deposited the hand gun into Finn's hand and forced his lifeless fingers around the butt of the gun.
"What are you doing?" Raven questioned him.
Monty stood back up and looked one last time on Finn's body. He had respected Finn once. He had come across as a peaceful and just person. But something had warped him inside. His obsession with Clarke had brought out a hidden side to him that no one could have predicted; especially not the dark haired beauty who had given him her heart and then offered him a merciful end. Monty knew that if Clarke died, Bellamy would have torn Finn to pieces. It was better this way. He took Raven's trembling hand again and tugged her after him.
"He killed himself." He said meaningfully to Raven.
"No one will believe that." She whispered.
"They will believe what they want to believe." Monty dared to place an arm around her waist to guide her away. He was not often in the position of playing the strong one. He knew he hardly registered on Raven's radar as a person. But today, after all that had happened, Monty knew he had grown into a man.
"Stay with me, princess." Bellamy yelled at her as she began to lose consciousness again. "Do as you're told." His grip on her hand was painful, but it was nothing compared to the burning in her stomach. Clarke groaned as tears spilled out of her eyes.
"You are not the boss of me." She gasped.
Bellamy used his free hand to stroke the sweat soaked hair out of her face. Compared to his grip on her hand, his touch was gentle. Clarke could see that under his angry demeanour he was scared. He had been the same when she had fallen ill from the poisoned water. He had yelled and cursed at her, forcing her to keep awake. Octavia had confessed to her it was Bellamy's ministrations that had kept her alive. This was what he was trying to do now, keep her alive through the force of his will alone. But he couldn't do anything to save her this time. Clarke knew how serious her injury was. Without the medicine that Lincoln had she guessed her chances of survival were very slim. She wondered whether Octavia and the others had found Lincoln yet, and if he even had any of his medicine left to give her. Time was running out. She was certain she could see the shadow of death peeping over her shoulder, ready to strike and take her away if she so much as blinked. Bellamy's face came into view again, she had zoned out and hadn't realised he had been yelling at her again. She must have been slipping into unconsciousness.
Bellamy took hold of her chin and made her head turn in his direction. Her dull blue eyes looked up at him. They were full of pain and fear. It about tore him apart. He couldn't handle it. "Are they not back yet?" He shouted at the guards, who were hovering in the drop ship's doorway.
"Not yet." Spencer replied.
"Go and look for them." Bellamy barked at him.
Spencer exchanged a look with the others before doing as he was bid. They could all see the tension that their leader was under. It took a lot to make Bellamy fall apart, but he was close to it. Seeing him that way made them all uneasy. If Clarke died, they were not sure that Bellamy would survive for long afterwards. He was shouting at her again, demanding that she stay awake. Clarke occasionally whispered something in response, but they could not hear what.
An hour, then two ticked by. Bellamy was kneeling next to Clarke now. He had ordered the other guards away. He had nearly attacked Spencer when he returned and said there was no sign of Octavia and Lincoln. The others had to pull Bellamy away, he was unravelling fast. It was only Clarke's faint voice calling for calm that brought him back to himself. He had apologised to Spencer than told them all to leave. Now he and Clarke were alone. He stroked her face with his trembling fingers as he tried to muster up a smile. Clarke saw him struggling and sighed softly. The pain in her stomach was overwhelming but she forced herself to ignore it. Time was running out and she had much to say.
"Do you remember the day when I fell down the pit and you caught my hand just before I hit the bottom?" She whispered.
Bellamy nodded. "Yes."
"I thought you were going to let me drop. I could see you thinking about it." She softened her words with a weak smile.
"Only because you had spent the whole damn day lecturing me and ordering me about." Bellamy's lips pulled up at the memory. "Always so damn controlling, even from the beginning princess."
"Yes. That's me, controlling, but usually right. You were acting like a tool." She pointed out.
"Me? Never?" Bellamy squeezed her fingers gently.
Clarke laughed softly, which then turned into a cough as her stomach rolled. The pressure in her abdomen was getting worse. More sweat broke out on her brow and she swallowed thickly. She needed to say the words now. It would be her only chance; the life was seeping from her. She didn't think that Lincoln and the others would make it back in time. Clarke was resigned to that fact. "I love you, Bellamy."
He became still at her words. An angry glint lit up his eyes as he glared down at her. His hold on her hand became painful again, making her flinch. "Don't you dare do that?" He practically growled at her. "Don't you fucking say your goodbyes."
"I'm so cold." Clarke felt tears spill down her cheeks. "I'm so cold now."
"Stop it." Bellamy roared at her. "Stop."
Clarke closed her eyes, the lids were too heavy to keep open. "I had to say it." She breathed. "Stay strong Bellamy. They all need you..." her last words were barely a whisper.
"And I need you, princess. I need you. Do you hear me?" He yelled at her. He gripped the sides of her head and shook her a little, but she didn't wake up.
The journey back to camp had been slow. Lincoln had been angered by the sight of Octavia's injuries. He insisted on patching her up first before leaving. Secretly he vowed to get vengeance on Murphy for hurting the woman he loved. He carried Octavia back toward the camp; Jasper and Sean had trouble keeping up with his long strides. Jasper was finding it difficult to hide his jealousy as he saw how affectionate Octavia was with the grounder.
"You'll be able to help her?" Octavia begged her lover as he carried her bridal style.
He looked at her gravely. "I can't promise you that. I have no knowledge of your weapons. We use spears, bows and arrows and stones. These metal machines that you use are alien to me."
Octavia fell into despair. "But Clarke was convinced that you could help."
Lincoln sighed heavily as he placed a kiss on her forehead. "I think she was probably doing what she always does."
"What?" Octavia asked.
"Trying to provide you all with something to do while she fought the battle alone. She wanted to distract you." Lincoln saw the dawning realisation in Octavia's eyes. He leaned down and kissed away her tears as she cried.
Raven crept into the drop ship with Monty close by her side. She saw Bellamy leaning over Clarke, shouting at her. Clarke's eyes were closed and she was barely breathing. When Raven peered at her face, she saw a sheen of perspiration covering Clarke's skin. She was feverish. The bullet was doing it's job. It was killing her.
"We have to act now." Raven snapped at Bellamy.
He raised his head and glared at her fiercely. She took a step back, worried that he was going to lash out. He was nearly losing control she could sense it. She wondered if he would even let her near Clarke. Raven knew that Bellamy would follow Clarke's last orders to the letter and wait for Lincoln to appear, but she knew that Clarke had lied. Lincoln wouldn't be able to help. The only way for Clarke to survive was to get the poisoned bullet out of her stomach, but Clarke was the only one with the medical know how to do it. Raven had assisted Clarke a few times, even the one time Bellamy had been shot. She had seen what the blonde had done. Raven was determined to take on the challenge. She owed it to Clarke and to the memory of Finn's love for her.
"Let me get the bullet out." Raven said firmly to Bellamy.
"NO." He yelled at her. His dark eyes showed his pain. Raven bit down on her lip. She had never seen Bellamy like this. His love for his sister was obvious. He had taken care of Octavia his whole life. But Raven had never seen Bellamy look at another girl like he was with Clarke. He was deeply in love with her, but Raven could guess he hadn't managed yet to say the words. It wasn't his way. "WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR LINCOLN. THAT WAS WHAT SHE SAID, AND SHE SHOUD KNOW."
"Clarke knew the only hope was to get the bullet out and no one here would know what to do. She was trying to ease your pain; everyone's pain as she always does. If you do not let me try than the girl you have finally given your heart to will die, and I don't think you could handle that. None of us can. We all need Clarke, not just you." Raven stated harshly.
Her cool manner pierced Bellamy's despair. He locked eyes with Raven for a long moment. "If she dies because of this then I'll kill you." His words were like a vow and Raven didn't doubt them. Monty was shocked at Bellamy's threat but he had the sense to remain quiet.
"I need some of Jasper's moonshine to sterilise the equipment." Raven placed a steady hand on Monty's arm. "Can you get some for me?"
Monty felt like her touch burned, his crush increased exponentially. "Consider it done." He left quickly to retrieve the alcohol.
Bellamy watched as Raven calmly cut Clarke's top away and peeled off the blood soaked bandage covering Clarke's abdomen. She swallowed at the sight of the fiery wound, but she kept her panic inside. She needed Bellamy's help and she didn't want to force him into doing something rash. She felt him grab her hand suddenly in a strong grip.
"Are you sure you can do this?" He asked her, his voice full of suppressed emotion.
"I will save her. Clarke Griffin will not die." Raven said firmly.
Monty came back with the alcohol. Raven carefully sterilised the instruments and took a deep breath. "Bellamy, keep Clarke occupied."
Bellamy nodded. He took Clarke's face between his hands again and gazed steadily down at her. Raven glanced at Monty and asked him to pass her the knife. He did so in silence. Raven placed the knife into the wound and began to cut.
Clarke's eyes opened wide at the pain and she screamed, her whole body jerking. Bellamy did the only thing he could do to distract her. He leaned down and kissed her.
A/N-thanks for reading! Please share your thoughts?