The medic paused standing in front of many worried faces, once he landed on the familiar faces he moved towards them. Lincoln and Wick stood.
"I take it neither one of you is Clarke?"
"That's his girlfriend"
"Well you'll be happy to know he's stable. I dug two bullets out and sewed him up, it's going to be touch and go, he lost a lot of blood"
"Can we see him?"
"Yeah, try and talk some sense into him, I told him we were going to move him to the hospital and once safe to travel, he would be sent to the states. He's stuck on staying with his platoon"
"Thanks Doc, I don't know that we can change his opinion but we will mention it" Wick answered before they headed for the medical tent.
They pulled back the flap, Bellamy was sitting reclined on a bed.
He smiled seeing his friends.
"How do you feel?" Wick asked.
"Good, Sore, Tired"
"Well you did get shot twice" Lincoln added.
"Doc said they want to fly you out "
"I'm not going, we have six weeks left, I'm seeing it through."
"Yes, why would you want to be there for the birth of your daughter?" Wick asked sarcastically.
"I can't show up there like this, if she's not in labor I'm sure news of me being shot will put her over the edge."
"I get that, I'd go though" Lincoln added.
"I'll be good in a few days, we are going home soon, I'm not throwing all of the work we did here away, I may not be allowed in the field but there is plenty I can do around here." Bellamy argued.
"It's your choice, We were just making sure that you are sure" Wick huffed.
"I'm sure" he stated. The guys left it alone and sat with him for awhile before letting him sleep and heading back to the tent to do the same.
The next day Bellamy slept a lot, his body needed the rest and needed time to restore itself. The guys visited briefly, he was ornery and so were they, between the deployment, the heat, and him being stubborn they were all ready to go home, whether or not they would admit it.
Friday morning Wick carried Bellamy's bag into the med tent dropping in on the end of his cot. Only to find him hooked to a few IV's, paler than the day before.
"What's that?" he asked, motioning to the fluids.
"I started bleeding last night, must have moved wrong, they got it under control though"
"You need to write Clarke and tell her" Wick motioned to the bag.
"She doesn't need to know" Bellamy snapped.
"She does and you are more than aware how news like this travels so either you tell her or someone else will, mail goes out at noon, it's ten, I'll be back to grab the letter." Lincoln stated sharply before heading out into the sun.
Bellamy sighed grabbing the bag, he pulled out a notebook and a pencil. Tapping the notebook with the pencil a few times, thinking of the best way to write it out. He sat up more clenching his teeth to bite back the pain and moving to a comfortable position before bringing the pen to the paper.
...
Raven and Octavia wore a path in the floor between the nursery and ICU. They would take turns leaving to shower, sleep, and walk Aella.
They were just getting ready to call in a breakfast order to the coffee shop across the street when a doctor approached them with a smile.
" Ladies, I followed the beaten path to you, Aurora was supposed to be released today, instead we are moving Clarke to a room out of the ICU and placing Aurora in with her." he smiled.
"Clarke is well enough?" Octavia asked.
"Yes, she is doing well, we figure placing the baby in her care will speed up her recovery. A mother will do whatever is needed to care for her child" he motioned to the nurse getting Aurora packed up in her cart to be moved.
"Thank you, thank you so much" Raven smiled moving to the door to walk beside her.
"Anything we should know?" Octavia asked.
"No, I think you ladies have it all under control, I'd visit for a little while then let her catch up with that daughter of hers." he smiled before walking away. Octavia turned smiling at her niece coming towards her.
No one's smile matched Clarke's as they wheeled that cart in, she couldn't wipe it off her face if she had to. They set the cart up in the corner before handing Aurora to Clarke. She cried and whispered, and cried some more.
"She's beautiful, looks like her dad" she spoke softly.
"She looks like both of you" Octavia stated.
"Did they say when you get to go home?" Raven asked.
"Five days, so Tuesday"
"Good, we will have everything ready then" Octavia smiled.
"Can you write to your brother for me?" Clarke looked up from the baby.
"Yeah, how much do you want me to tell him?"
"I figure that he has a beautiful daughter will be all he needs for now" Clarke smiled.
"I'll print some of the photos I took too" she added as she stood.
"We are going to get headed out, and maybe sleep " Raven laughed.
"Aella won't know what to do if someone is there more than two hours" Octavia pressed her lips to Clarkes forehead.
"We are a phone call away"
"Thank you guys for everything, I don't know what I would do without you"
"We will stop before work in the morning" Raven waved on her way out the door.
...
Bellamy limped to the communications tent when he heard the mail call. They were almost out, two weeks left so this would be the last letter. He wasn't even going to write back because chances were he would beat the letter home.
The Sergeant in the tent handed him one from Octavia.
"That's it?" he asked.
"Yup that's it"
Bellamy was disappointed knowing today was the last mail day, so nothing from Clarke meant nothing more until he saw her. Lincoln had one from his sister too and Wick took his from Raven into the tent. Bellamy sat on the sand bags outside the tent, Lincoln leaning on the pole next to him. The camp was pretty much quiet, everyone reading there letters. Bellamy unfolded his to find pictures. His daughter. She was beautiful. There were pictures of her, of her and Clarke and of her and Octavia.
"Lincoln" he glanced over at Bellamy, he sounded almost like he was choked up.
"Congrats, O sent me ones too" Lincoln smiled.
"You're a dad!" Wick yelled coming out of the tent with pictures in hand, waving them for Bellamy to see. Many people yelled congrats after hearing Wick's announcement.
...
Bellamy,
As you see your beautiful daughter has arrived.
February 22nd, 2012
Aurora Isabelle Blake
5:47pm
6lbs and 10 oz
19" long
She can't wait to meet you, she is so loved already, everyone is head over heels
for her. She is so sweet.
Clarke is doing well. Her labor had a few mishaps but nothing to worry about.
She misses you a lot, and sends her love.
We aren't sending anymore letters, I know the drill.
See you soon big brother.
Love, Octavia
...
Clarke sat at the table paying bills as Aurora slept quietly in the pack in play a few feet from where she worked. She went through the pile of mail from today, stopping when she found a letter from Bellamy. She smiled sliding her finger under the seal to open it.
...
Clarke,
How's it going? Hope you are feeling good, it's almost time to meet our daughter,
I can't wait. Can't wait to hold her, or you! Had a few hiccups in our day to day
activities this week, but we are all good and counting the days until we come home
to all of you. It's so close I can taste it! No more letters after this, I'll never get them.
I need to buy a razor when I get back, I'm pretty scruffy, you may not even recognize me.
I love you so much, and will be back in your arms before you know it. Take care of yourself,
that baby of ours should be here this week or next! I'll be home by the end of March, looking
like the 25th.
I Love You
Forever and Always,
Bellamy
...
She glanced at the date...two weeks, and they couldn't move fast enough.