Chapter 36

"He's been out too long," Clarke said. She had been sitting with Bellamy for hours.

"Clarke, give him time. I think he's just needs rest," Abby said. She looked around. "Where's Raven?" she asked.

Clarke rubbed eye wearily. "She's trying to contact Octavia. She would want to know about her brother," said Clarke.

"Why don't you go and get some rest," Abby said to Clarke. "You look like you need it. I'll call you when he wakes up."

"No, I'm fine," she said. Then she got frustrated "Why won't he wake up?" she whined. "He's been out too long."

"Clarke, we think he rode nonstop for several days. He's probably just worn out," Abby said calmly. "He'll wake when he's ready to."

"How's he doing?" Clarke asked, nodding towards Roan.

"He's going to be fine,' said Abby. She glanced at Elow who was sitting in the back of the room, like Roans personal guard.

Elow was silent, never moving. She just sat and studied everything and everyone around her.

Clarke looked at Bellamy, and then over to Elow again, "Why?" she asked. "Why did you're people have to drag him off the horse and hit him so hard?" she snapped at Elow.

"Clarke don't…" said Abby

"No Mom," she said. "If they hadn't knocked him out, he would be fine. We don't know, how hard they hit him," she argued.

Then Clarke walked over to Elow. "Bellamy rode for days to bring Roan here. He saved his life, and that's the thanks he gets? To be hit and locked up, like an animal?" she yelled.

"We saw our King wounded," Elow said. "When we were certain your friend was innocent, he was released," she said.

Clarke frowned at the young woman and just shook her head. She turned with a huff and went back to Bellamy. She looked at his face. He was lying there, looking so peaceful. His Black hair had gotten longer, and shaggy. Strands of curls were loose around his face and covered one eye. She could count the plaster freckles across his cheeks. "You're going to be fine Bellamy," she whispered to him, as she leaned down close to his ear and stroked his hair.

He began to stir. "Clarke?" he mumbled, "Roan, is he …" his voice was horse and cracked.

"Bellamy," Clarke said softly. "You're going to be fine, Roan too. How are you feeling?" she asked him softly.

"Tired," he said. "I'm glad to see you," he said to her, his voice tired.

Clarke stood and moved to stand over him. She looked down into his face and smiled, leaning into him. Tears began to fill her eyes. Her chin quivered.

"Hey… do I look that bad?" he asked

Clarke laughed softly. "You look perfect," she said as she leaned down and softly kissed his forehead.

Bellamy looked down at his arm. "What's this?" he asked as he saw the needle taped to his arm, clear liquid pumping into his veins.

"It's an IV, you were dehydrated, and weak," she said. "How long did you ride to get here?" she asked him.

"Three days, maybe four, I'm not sure," he said. "I just knew I had to hurry, so I only stopped to loosen his tourniquet. I wasn't sure if what I was doing was the right thing or not. I just knew I had to get him here to see your mom."

"Well I see sleeping beauty is finally awake," said Raven as she stood in the doorway. Bellamy turned and saw her big smile, and he couldn't help but smile back.

Clarke loved it when he smiled and it made her realize how rarely he smiled.

Raven came into the room, followed by six others, all of them anxious to see him. Even Murphy, although he pretended to be bored, like usual.

"Always got to make an entrance," said Murphy. "You come riding in; dragging the King…then lay around like a prince," Murphy said in drawn out tone.

"Murphy," Bellamy acknowledged, with a sideways smile.

Murphy raised his eyebrows and scratched his temple. "So you planning on sticking around this time, or what?" he asked.

"I still have a lot to do," Bellamy said. Then he glanced at Clarke.

"Bellamy, the villages are taken care of," said Miller

"Yea, between us, you and Ice Nation, all the effected villages have more than they need for the winter," Monty said.

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Bellamy asked with a frown. "That was on me, no one else, it's on me," he said again, he was getting upset and the others could see his mood turn darker suddenly.

"Bellamy listen, we know how you feel but…" Clarke began but was cut off

"No Clarke," Bellamy said, as he slowly sat up. She tried to help him, but he pushed her away. He pulled out his IV.

"I didn't ask for this, any of this," he said.

The others looked at him. "Bellamy, we just wanted to help," said Monty.

"Yea, we've all done things, were not proud of, Bellamy," said Jasper. "We all felt like we needed to help."

"Speak for yourself," Murphy said in a droll tone. "I just didn't have anything better to do at the time.

"Bellamy, we all care about you," said Clarke. "Please don't be upset."

Abby walked into the room. "Alright, everyone out," she said in an angry tone.

Bellamy sat, his legs dangling off the side of the bed. Both hands clenching the edge of the bed, his knuckles white from the fists he was making. His head was hanging down.

Raven walked up to him, she put her hand on his shoulder, 'Hey, don't be upset with them Bellamy, they just wanted to help out because they care," she said softly "I care," she added.

He looked up to her, his brow furrowed. Then his lips in a straight line, he clinched his jaw and nodded to her as he reached up and put his hand on hers. She reached in and hugged him. "I'm glad you're back," she whispered. He reached around her shoulders and returned her hug.

Clarke watched the two and although she knew they were just good friends, she knew they had shared a past, but knew they were still close.

Raven pulled back, "I radioed Indra and left a message for Octavia that you were back, she should be here tomorrow," Raven said.

Bellamy's eyes lit up at the news. "Thank you," he said his face softening.

Raven left, leaving only Abby and Clarke. Roan was across the room still sleeping and Elow, still in the shadows, still watching, and listening.

Abby walked up to Bellamy. She picked up his arm, where he had pulled out the IV. It was bleeding, and she put a piece of gauze over it to stop the blood.

"You know, you're friends have spent all this time, hunting and working. It wasn't just to help you. It was because they all knew it was the right thing to do. You just made them realize that," she said

"It was my responsibility. They had no right," he said.

"Look I get you feel guilty. But would you rather those people starve to death? Because you know you couldn't feed an entire clan by yourself. It was an impossible task even for you," she said."Bellamy you inspired them to do this, they saw your determination, and it sparked something in them. I think that's pretty amazing. Don't you?" she asked him.

"It was my penance, it still is," he said softly. "I'm glad they have food, but I still owe them so much, don't you see that?" he said sorrowfully. "I've not paid for what I did."

"Bellamy, you have to move past this," Abby said.

"Why?" he snapped.

She was surprised at his sudden anger.

"You can't tell me how to feel Abby," he said in frustration.

"You don't have a clue how I feel," he said as he tried to keep from breaking down.

"Bellamy," Clarke said as she went to him and put her hand around his neck. "I know how you feel." She bent down looking into his eyes, "I know how you feel, Bellamy." She said again clearly to him.

Then she hugged him tightly. She drew him into her chest, her hand buried into his black curls. "Well work through it," she whispered.

They held each other, blocking out everything around them.

Abby watched them and smiled. She worried about him, she knew he was haunted, but she was glad he was back.