The Ring Chapter 38 An Alternate place

The sky was never so blue, the grass never this green. The wind blew a soft breeze over the open field and it made him smile. Peace had finally found him and it felt good.

"Let's go Bell," Octavia called out to him. "You can't stay here all day," she said

"Why not?' he asked her "just feel that breeze," he said opening his arms and letting the warmth from the sun shine down on him.

"Come on," he smiled and she smiled back at him. He pulled her down and they both laughed out loud, stretching out in the open field and letting the grass dance around their bodies. They acted like kids; something they could never do together on the Ark growing up. Bellamy looked over at his baby sister and suddenly she was a giggling little girl again; not the hardened warrior she had grown up to be. A young Octavia; playful and full of wonder. He missed that girl she used to be. He loved watching her have the childhood that living on the Ark stole from her.

Looking over at her as she lay next to him, he spotted someone in the distance. Long dark hair pulled back into a braid, Raven was standing with her arms outstretched; feeling the wind against her face. She was spinning in the wind, her leg held no brace, and gave no hint of a limp. Raven was happy and free from pain.

Suddenly Clarke walked up to them. She knelt down and held out a dandelion. "Make a wish," she told him as he sat up, and then she blew the weed. Tiny pieces scattered out into the wind and slowed in front of him; suspended and floating like spring snowflakes. "Did you make a wish?" she asked him with a smile of wonder.

"I don't know what I'd wish for," he smiled and his words made her laugh. A laugh like he'd never heard before.

Her laugh made him smile. "You're so pretty when you smile like that," he said

Clarke got up and smiled down at him. "You need to smile more Bellamy," she said and she laughed and ran away.

"How much longer?" Octavia asked

"He'll wake when he's ready," Abby said "Octavia, why don't you go and get something to eat? You have to be starving," Abby said

"I have to be here if he wakes up," she said

"Look, you're not going to be good to anyone if you collapse," Abby warned. "If he wakes up, I'll send for you…I promise.

"Abby," Raven said as she passed Octavia in the doorway. The look between them couldn't be mistaken; they disliked each other.

"Abby," Raven repeated walking up to Bellamy's bedside. Abby looked over at her. "How is he?" Raven asked, not taking her eyes off him.

"There's no change," she said

"Is that normal?" Raven asked with concern. "It's been almost two days." Abby watched Raven brush the hair from Bellamy's forehead.

"Bellamy lost a lot of blood, and by the look of it, he hadn't been eating well. Starvation, blood loss, the weaken state he was in, he's lucky he survived. He's just taking his time," Abby said trying to lighten Ravens worry.

"Bradley wants me to go back to the Gagarin ship with him and help them set up the new communications system, but I don't want to go until I know he's going to be okay," Raven said.

"Yes Marcus said we were setting up a link between the camps," Abby said "That system's important Raven. The Gagarin's know nothing of grounder culture, having that system in place could be critical in keeping the peace," Abby said "You should go."

Raven looked at Bellamy and a tear fell down her cheek. She wiped it away and looked at Abby. "There are things I need to tell him," she said. "What if…" she couldn't finish.

Abby took Raven by her upper arms and turned Raven to face her. "Then tell him Raven. He can still hear you. Even now," she said. Abby let go of her arms and hugged her.

"I pushed him away," Raven said "I know I hurt him. I messed things up between us and I just wanted him to know it wasn't his fault."

"Then tell him that," Abby said. She looked at Raven before turning and leaving her alone with Bellamy.

Raven stood looking down over him. "You look like crap Bellamy," she said trying to lighten her own mood. His non response made her feel guilty for saying that. "Clarke's alive," she said "can you believe it?" she asked him. She looked at him. "Small talk," she said. "You're not even awake, and I'm making small talk. Cos' I don't know how to say I'm sorry," she said. "I'm sorry I pushed you away, I was such an ass. Men like you don't grow on trees Bellamy. I was afraid and I ruined things, but I just want you to know, it wasn't you, it was all me," she said. "I want us to be okay," she said "I know we can't go back to where we were before, but I'll always love you Bellamy. I'll always love you," she repeated. She kissed his cheek and wiped her eyes.

Raven walked out into the corridor. Bradley stood waiting. His easy supportive ways always made Raven relax.

"Are you okay?" he asked her

Raven gained her resolve. "Yea, I'm good," she said

"How's he doing?' he asked with honest concern.

"I don't know. Abby said the surgery went okay, but he'd lost a lot of blood, and he was weak. He just hasn't woke up yet," she said

"Then stay," Bradley said. He stopped her and tuned to face her. "I know how you feel about him, Raven. The captain will just have to wait for the comms. System," Bradley said

"No," Raven said. "I need to go," she said "Bellamy's got Clarke and Octavia," she said. "I told him…" she said "I'll get my gear," she said.

Suddenly he was in the grassy field again, lying in the sun. The sky as blue as eyes he had once seen, but he couldn't remember where. "It's pretty here, isn't it?" the soft voice asked. Bellamy turned and saw Maya sitting. Her legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. She was leaning back on her arms, looking up to the sun. "I just love the sunshine," she said with a smile on her face.

"Maya?" he asked. Someone came up behind her. Jasper held out a handful of bright yellow daisies. When she reached up for them, he took her hand and pulled her up onto his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissed him and then looked down at Bellamy. "What are you waiting for?" she asked.

"Yea Bellamy, come on," he said and held his hand out. They were full of Jobe nuts. He tossed them to Bellamy and turned with Maya and ran away.

The nuts never came. They changed into the dandelion pieces and floated down slowly.

"What did you wish for?" he heard the voice ask again. "I don't know what to wish for," he answered again and closed his eyes.

"Mom, he should be awake up by now," Clarke said looking down at him. His eyes rolled beneath his lids.

"I would have thought he'd come out of it by now," Abby said "It could be a way for the brain to allow the body to heal," she said.

Abby looked at the tender way Clarke stroked his unresponsive hand. She looked across the room as Jackson changed Madi's bandage. He smiled down at the child when he finished.

"Are you going to tell me about her?" Abby asked motioning to Madi. "It's been two days Clarke. I didn't want to push , but please talk to me," Abby said

Clarke breathed a heavy sigh before turning towards Abby. "Yea," she said. "We both have some catching up to do." She smiled and took her mother's hand. "First I guess there's someone I need you to meet," she said leading Abby to Madi as she sat on the bed in medical.

Clarke told Abby about finding Madi, and she introduced Madi to her mom. Madi had heard stories, set in a child's world. Clarke left out some of the unpleasant versions, casting her closest people in a heroic light. Madi looked over at Bellamy, and Clarke noticed. "He carried me all the way," Madi said and looked up at Clarke with a sorrowful face.

"Yes he did," Clarke said looking towards him.

"Hey," Abby said, trying to change the mood "I bet you're hungry and it just so happens that I have a pull with the cook. How about you and I go see if we can find something." she smiled glancing up at Clarke for her approval.

Clarke forced a smile for Madi. "Hey, I bet you've never seen a real cafeteria before," Clarke said

Abby stood up and held out her hand.

Madi looked at Clarke with a questioning expression.

"Go," Clarke smiled

"You're not coming?" Madi asked

Clarke looked over to Bellamy. "I need to stay and keep an eye on Bellamy, in case he wakes up," she said "I'll grab something later," she added.

Clarke walked to Bellamy and took his hand. "What's going on in that head of yours?" she asked softly.

She pulled a metal chair up alongside the bed, sat down and laid her head against his arm. Clarke was tired and worried. "Wake up Bellamy," she whispered. "Please wake up."