A/N: Thank you for your lovely reviews! Had to re-upload this chapter a couple of times because FF's email notifications weren't working :( Enjoy the latest chapter!

After briefly stopping by the centre to give an update to Gwen, Nora wandered the hallways of Mecha, until they merged with Factory Station. Hazel eyes scanned the section numbers, her mind counting down until she came to a stop outside of Section B-17, Bellamy's home where he would now live alone.

It had been a few hours since his mother had been floated and his sister had been sent to lock up. Nora wondered if he would even answer the door or if he was here at all, but she had to check in on him. She couldn't leave him when he was at his lowest, just like he had never left her.

Her knocks were met with silence as they echoed through the hallway. "Bellamy?" She knocked again. "It's Nora."

Silence again. But before she could turn and walk away, the metallic clunking sound of the locks opening was heard. When the door opened and her gaze met Bellamy's. It was like someone had knocked the wind out of her; he looked so lost and helpless.

Without a second thought, she stepped inside and wrapped her arms around his middle. He pushed the door shut behind her before slowly wrapping his own around her. Hugging him tightly, she felt him lean his chin on the top of her head before sighing deeply. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"It's not yours either, Bellamy."

"Yes, it is." Another sigh and a pause of silence.

Pulling back from his hold, she risked a look up at him to see his face still and stoic. "You were just trying to help someone you loved." He hardly showed any emotion. But maybe that was because he didn't have any energy left in him to show it.

"Sorry I couldn't tell you about her."

"It's okay, I understand." Nora shrugged it off. "You had to protect her and your mom."

"What a great job I did at that too." Scoffing, he stepped back and threaded his fingers through his hair and swooping it back off of his face. "Nearly 16 years and a stupid party is what did it."

"I'm sure it meant something for Octavia though. It was the first time she saw the Ark, wasn't it?"

He froze, a flare of light flashing into the room as he thought about his sister. "Yeah, it was. She was amazed at it all."

"I made sure she got the scenic route tonight too." Nora tried to joke, but all she got from Bellamy was a quirk of his lip. "She's strong, Bellamy, you did that. We'll get her out of there eventually."

"You don't know that. Only someone like Jaha would have the power to get her out of there now. She's being punished, because of me... and now she's gonna celebrate her birthday inside lockup."

"It's soon?"

"In a few weeks."

"Then we'll make sure it's celebrated and I'll ask Abby for a visitation."

Nora watched as his jaw clenched and he shook his head. Nora could practically see him retreating into himself, his thoughts taking over. "She won't want to see me again."

"Don't say that. She didn't even want to leave you tonight."

"She's still in shock. When it all calms down... she's gonna hate me. If we hadn't left here, she wouldn't be in lock up, she would be safe, my mom would still be alive and I would be providing for them both!" His voice rose, built up emotion suddenly being released in every word. "We're in this mess because of me!"

"Bell-"

A yell caught her off guard as he pulled away from her suddenly and threw his fist into the metal sheet wall. It grunted under the pressure and Bellamy didn't even register the pain of the bloody knuckles. He went for another punch, his fists growing weaker as his body crumpled slightly and his back hunched.

Reaching out, Nora stopped his next fist before it could connect to the wall. His arm fell to his side, the energy draining from his body as she pulled him into her. She gave him strength when there wasn't an ounce of it left in him. His body rested against hers, his breathing laboured as his body heated up in anger.

"Octavia is not going anywhere. She is alive. Focus on that. She doesn't hate you. She misses you." The redhead spoke softly, repeating the words he needed to hear. "You can't blame yourself for what happened. But you can focus on getting her out, because we will find a way."

"You can't do that. This is on me. My sister, my responsibility."

Nora couldn't help but roll her eyes. He was all for helping her, but wouldn't accept any help for himself. "You helped me, now let me help you." It took a few moments, but the soft smile he sent her filled her with a warm, hopeful feeling. "And we'll get Shumway back too, don't worry."

"If it comes to it, let me kill him."

The redhead couldn't help but scoff. "Because that will be so much help to Octavia. That'll just get us both floated, idiot."

"But it would really make me feel a lot better."

It would make her feel better too. A brief murmur of agreement rumbled from her throat as she looked around the room, it was small for a family of three. There were only two bunk beds built into the wall and a small table and two chairs. She wondered when they would come for his belongings.

They usually didn't waste much time.

When a family member died or was taken to lock up, their belongings were usually re-circulated based on need. She remembered Charlotte's distress upon seeing her parents' items being taken away and thought the pain for Bellamy would be similar. But he was helpless to do anything to stop them.

He had already been demoted to janitorial and would next be likely to be put on limited rations, like her and the kids in the centre. She immediately thought of the extra rations she had tucked away and hidden under the floorboards, and made a mental note to bring some for Bellamy next time.

"You gonna be okay tonight?"

His eyes caught a soft toy in the corner of the room, and his jaw clenched tight. "I'd be a lot better if you stayed with me." There was a beat of silence between you as Bellamy's eyes softened in question.

It was the first time Nora had ever seen Bellamy Blake look so vulnerable. He usually was the strongest one in the room with that confident presence that set him apart from everyone else. But all of that had seemingly been washed away. There was no laughter behind his eyes anymore, no joy to make those dimples appear.

Nora would guess that Octavia had been the biggest joy in his life, just like the kids had been for her. But now that his sister was gone, who would be there for him? It was normal that he wouldn't want to be alone just yet.

She couldn't say no to him, to disappoint him after the day he had had. Nora wanted to support him, to help him. No matter what Gwen said, it was more than just attraction that she felt for Bellamy. There was a bond there between them that she never wanted to lose.

The redhead wanted to be the one to help him for once and bring back some joy into his life.

Nodding her head, she gave him a small smile "But only if you let me clean up your hands first, you big oaf."

The smile she got from him warmed her up and gave her hope that he wouldn't slip away just yet. She needed him to be strong and fight for his sister and get back to being the Bellamy she loved.

Her eyes bulged slightly at the stray thought.

But Bellamy hadn't noticed as he squeezed her shoulder and passed her to grab what little medical supplies he had stored away. Blinking back the shock, now was not the time to be thinking this way. She had pushed away these thoughts once already.

But that was when you thought he had a girlfriend. She mentally answered herself.

Nora shook her head and sat down on the metal chair between the bed and table. As she stared into space, trying with all her might to shut off her brain, Bellamy sat down on the bed, his forearms resting on his knees. "Fix me up, Nor."

A smirk tugged at her lips and it seemed with just a few words from him, he had pushed away all swarming thoughts in her mind. "I'll try."

Taking the cloth and antiseptic from him, she delicately wiped at the blood and cracks in his skin. She didn't look up at him, just kept her eyes down and focused, drying the cuts on both hands before reaching for two small bandages. Nora taped them into place, pressing down to make sure it stuck to his skin properly. "Good as knew."

"Thanks." He nodded, sparing a glance around the room before frowning. "Octavia always used to be the one to bandage me up." A light laugh fell from his lips, shaking his head. "After telling me to grow a pair and stop making a fuss."

"She's right." Bellamy shot her a look and her smile widened. "I bet she would also tell you not to punch a hole into the wall next time, because you're gonna have to fix it."

"Whatever." He rolled his eyes, a smile quirking at his lips, and leaned back against the back of the bunk bed. He jerked his head to the space beside him, inviting her to sit on the cushioned bed instead of the hard, cold metal chair. She slipped over and rested her back against the metal wall with her legs stretched out in front of her.

"What else would she tell you?" Nora asked with baited breath, not knowing whether this would be pushing him too far. But when a smile touched his lips, she was hopeful that talking about his sister would get him to calm down and relax.

Bellamy spoke about their teasing nature as brother and sister, but also how Octavia would be quiet and withdraw sometimes. She was a classic teenager it sounded. "She used to love the stories and books I would read to her, just like Jimmy and Kyra, she was fascinated. We used to sit here, read while Mom was out. When she was little, she used to fall asleep in my arms, then she grew up and tried to push me out the bed." He laughed.

"Teenagers, huh?"

"Yeah. We used to do pony rides around the room and I used to re-enact the stories. She loved that. She asked to be trained too, like you, said she was sick of sewing all her life."

"Can't blame the girl." Nora joked. "I would be too. What was she like when she was little?"

A soft smile rested on his lips. "Quiet, inquisitive, wild, always smiling, well except when we began to teach her about going under the floor. Because she was so small, we used to get away with hiding her inside different things, but then when she got bigger it got harder. So mom opened the floor up and we moved to that. It was safer, no one had guessed, in all the inspections we had." Nora didn't speak, she just listened beside him. "She hated it. She would cry these silent tears. Never once did I hear her sob, like actually cry her heart out, they were always these silent tears. I used to get under the floor with her, show her there was nothing to be afraid of." He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back off his face again. "There would be times where I wasn't there for inspections and she would have to go in alone. I'd come back and she would just cry with me and sleep in my bed all night long."

Nora reached out and placed a hand on the arm closest to her, giving it a small squeeze before resting her head on his shoulder. "She's a fighter." All Bellamy could do was nod. "I know you miss her, Bell. But just use it as your focus to keep going and fighting for her."

He nodded once more, taking a deep breath before rubbing his eyes. "I just feel like I've failed her."

"I know." The redhead rubbed his arm, trying to offer any support she could to him. "Just get some rest and we'll get through tomorrow together."

She felt his head drop to rest against hers. "Thanks." His voice was gruff and low, filled with emotion and the torment of the day. "With Octavia, and being there for her when I couldn't. I appreciate it."

She just shrugged. "It's my job." Nora knew that was a lie; it wasn't just because it was her job. It was because of Bellamy that she was willing to help, no matter the circumstances. "I'll always be here to help you, Blake."

A long arm wrapped around in front of her, as Bellamy cradled the side of her head and pressed a kiss to her temple. His lips catching her red hair, never her skin. A smile touched her lips as his arm dropped back down and they just sat in that spot for the evening.

He spoke of stories with Octavia and when she was younger, and it seemed to help him for the time being. At some point, as her head grew heavy and her eyes began drooping with tiredness, Bellamy had manoeuvred them to lie down on the bed.

Nora curled into herself on her side, trying to keep awake to make sense of the words Bellamy was currently speaking. But her foggy mind couldn't make them out, but she did feel the warmth of a blanket over her body as her eyes gave up the fight.


She could count on one hand how many good sleeps she had had recently. This was definitely one of them.

Nora blinked back the sleep, lifting her hand to rub at her eyes before letting it flop back down. When it met a hard, warm object, she peaked her eyes open and found the sleeping face of Bellamy Blake staring at her.

His eyes were closed, his brow furrowed with the stress of his dream possibly. Lips were lightly pressed together and soft breaths left him as he slept. He looked like he needed the rest. Nora didn't move from their spot as her legs pressed to his as she lay on her side. Bellamy's arm was slung over her hips, as if he didn't want to let her go and be alone.

Dark messy hair fell over his eyes and she resisted the urge to push the locks back. Instead, settling on closing her eyes and letting herself indulge in a slightly longer sleep beside Bellamy.

But it didn't last long. Nora heard the loud footsteps outside before several thumps on the door. Bellamy shot up and awake in seconds, his eyes wide while Nora shrunk back on the bed. "Bellamy Blake."

The unmistakable voice of Shumway was heard from behind the door. The former cadet rose, still fully dressed from the night before. Unlocking the door, the second it opened just a crack, it was pushed open.

As the guards entered the room, Nora quickly swiped the white and blue soft toy from the corner of the bed and shoved it underneath the mattress before sitting on the edge of the bed.

"What do you think you're doing here?"

"We are here to collect belongings for re-circulation." Shumway announced, strolling into the room and Bellamy visibly stilled in his steps. Two older guards, ones she had noticed that routinely stuck by Shumway's side, slipped around the room with a box and filled it with surplus female clothing, bedding and sewing supplies. They picked things up without a care in the world.

Nora spied a female's jacket hanging off the chair and grabbed it, wrapping it around her waist before they could see it. Octavia would always need new clothes in lock up.

"I thought your standards would have been higher, Blake." Shumway spoke loud and clear. Nora looked up to find his eyes firmly fixed on her, mirth dancing behind them.

Bellamy's face turned hard with a glare and he took a step closer to the Lieutenant but Nora surged forward, pulling him back. "He's not worth it." Pressing a hand to his chest, she pushed him back a step and watched helplessly as the guards picked up stray belongings.

Bellamy was helpless to do anything to stop them. This was routine. Nora knew they wouldn't wait long to appear and claim goods, but Shumway was taking clear delight in the process. It was as if he had forgotten that someone had died and another locked up in the space of 24 hours. He didn't care; he didn't show any emotion other than pure delight in this moment.

A guard went to pick up a pair of shoes but Nora stepped forward and grabbed them from his reach. "Those are mine." The guard shot her a look at her harsh tone and reached for the shock lash at his side. Bellamy reached for her, his arm wrapping around her shoulders as he pulled her into his side.

"You've got what you wanted." Bellamy spoke, his voice loud and steady. "Now get out."

Without another word, the guards picked up one last item and left, with Shumway sparing one last look at the pair standing together. "Try and stay out of trouble."

Bellamy went to open his mouth but was stopped when Nora pressed a hand into side. As the door shut behind them, she spoke, "don't rise to the bait." He gave her such a conflicted look, like he wanted to agree with her, but also wanted to destroy Shumway and the council for taking away the two most important people in his life. "There are other ways we can make his life a little bit more difficult." A smirk touched her lips.

Pulling the jacket from her waist she placed it on the table and then walked over to the bed, to where she had hidden the soft toy under the mattress. Stepping back to Bellamy, she saw his eyes soften and his jaw clench when his eyes found what she was holding. "My mom made that for O."

"Can't have them taking that." She handed him the white and blue soft toy, which had seen better days but it was the memory of his family the toy held that meant more to him.

Reaching out, Bellamy pulled her into his side against and pressed a kiss to her head. "Thank you."

"Remember Octavia. Don't risk your life. You have to be alive when she gets out of lock up." She nudged him in the side and he gave her a soft smile, before pulling her in close and wrapping her up in a hug.

"Just you and me now, Nor." He mumbled over her head.

"Yep, against the Ark."