Onxio and all the others who may have been waiting for an update

sorry guys, I had medical issues for a while and also moved across the country and got another job. I can't promise regular updates any time soon, but I will surely update more often again

Chapter 21

Taylor spent a little more time at the fire in their makeshift camp, sitting next to Anya and mostly inspecting Skykru.

The contrast between both groups was obvious and Lincoln who was not hiding his connection to Octavia was openly insulted by a few of the warriors. It was also obvious how Octavia seemed to be more interested in the grounder culture than belonging to Skykru.

Taylor could not hold it against the dark-haired young woman. Raised under the floor and hidden her whole life just for being born. She knew though how Octavia would rise to be some form of leader to the survivors of the meltdown of the atomic plants in the bunker below the temple of the commander in Polis.

She also saw Indra eyeing Lincoln and Octavia together. The dark-skinned general was not Octavia's first yet, but it would not be long now before that happened. Right now, Indra was still distrusting Skykru strongly, but Taylor knew that she would be one of the grounders really warming up to them, especially to Markus Kane.

"Why are you looking around like this, Yssa?" Anya's voice was low and she knew that no one was paying closer attention to them. She had watched Taylor's demeanour for some time in silence now. The blonde doctor seemed to focus on one individual for a while and Anya observed a variety of emotions passing over her fair features while she did so. Anya had not been able to detect a pattern in who was catching the blonde's attention, but she seemed to randomly switch between members of Skykru and Trikru.

The slight smile which had settled on Taylor's lips vanished, when she contemplated the question and how to answer. The future of which she knew and what might happen was not a happy one for any of the people present here. Most of them would die sooner or later and not without suffering loads before they finally died.

Although she was sitting right in front of the blazing fire and could also feel the warmth being emitted from Anya's body while the general was sitting so close, a shiver ran through Taylor's frame and her grey eyes were clouded with sadness when she met Anya's expectant gaze "All of what I know what may be…" Taylor hesitated and swallowed strongly against the lump lodged deep within her throat "…there is so much suffering and death" she added carefully.

Anya felt for the blonde doctor and she reached out, gently placing a hand on the other woman's knee next to her and giving a slight comforting squeeze. Everyone who was born among their people knew some form of suffering and most of them did not live a long life. Death was a constant companion to them.

"I am afraid if I even can save anyone of them…" Taylor exclaimed in a downtrodden tone when Anya remained silent.

Anya looked at the blonde woman next to her in sympathy. She did not know though how to efficiently comfort her. No one of them was able to know for certain if Taylor's interference could indeed change things for the better. She had already wondered herself if she had been fated to die and if was only a matter of time now, but otherwise as a warrior she knew that live was short, so in her opinion it was kind of pointless to even ponder over such a question.

Lexa's return to the fire broke up the situation though before Anya could think of a fitting reply. The commander did not sit down, but remained standing slightly behind Taylor, looking down at her "The tent is ready" the young leader exclaimed in a calm tone which was slightly negated by the way she clenched her jaw together afterwards.

Anya met the commander's gaze for a moment. She did not have the chance to speak with her former second in privacy yet. There was definitely chemistry between the blonde doctor and Lexa and the commander undoubtedly had noticed that there was something between herself and Taylor already. Hence there was already unspoken jealousy between them. She would give the other two the night alone though.

Anya squeezed the blonde doctor's knee softly once again before she nodded to her curtly "I will sleep outside" she proclaimed in a firm tone.

Lexa appeared slightly surprised by that and a tad bit of her tenseness left her frame.

Taylor's brows furrowed in confusion for a moment and her gaze was unsure when she met Anya's gaze. She gave the general a slight smile, before she got back to her feet. She was caught off guard herself by the way how weak her legs felt and she swayed just a little bit as her vision swam with sudden stars.

Lexa immediately took one step closer to the blonde doctor and quickly reached out to one of her arms, steadying the other woman at her elbow and looking at her in concern.

"Have you eaten?" she asked Taylor in a worried tone and gently began to steer the woman away from the fire and instead in the direction of the small tent which had been erected for her.

Taylor shook her head in the negative mutely. She had seen some food being distributed before but she had declined the offer as felt rather nauseous right now. "I think I should just drink another tea and lie down" she said in explanation. Her body felt exhausted and the pain was intensifying with each passing moment as well.

"Go ahead, Yssa" Lexa directed the blonde doctor in a caring tone "I will fetch you some hot water" she explained and already turned on her heels, striding back towards the fire behind them quickly.

Taylor nodded in agreement and proceeded towards the tent alone. Her heart beat faster within her chest when she was faced with Gustus guarding the tent. The burly guard was looking at her distrustfully with his dark eyes and Taylor swallowed forcefully again as she ducked into the tent, feeling his gaze almost burn into the back of her skull.

She sighed deeply once she was inside the tent. It was much smaller than the last tent Lexa had had. The largest part of the tent was covered with a layer of soft furs as a bedding. There was even a small table with two stools and Taylor sat down on one of them.

She carefully took off her shirt as she needed to inspect the bandage over her wound. Taylor bit down a slight grunt at the movement.

Carefully, she unwrapped the bandage and placed it on the table. Taylor frowned in distaste. There was fresh blood on the bandage, so, her wound must have reopened at least partially.

Taylor used the bandage to gently dab at it. Thankfully it seemed as if it was not bleeding anymore now though. Taylor sighed, she at least did not have to redo the stitches then and could hope that it would heal without further care over time now. She just needed to be careful with it.

Lexa entered the tent a moment later, while Taylor was still sitting on the stool dressed in her trouser and her bra, but still topless. The commander lingered at the entrance of the tent just for a moment. The skin of Taylor's back was almost milky white and there were no visible marks on all the skin she could see. The contrast of the black piece of clothing still covering her breast to her pale skin was stark and Lexa suddenly felt it rather hard to swallow.

Taylor turned around immediately when Lexa stepped closer and placed a cup with steaming hot water in front of her onto the small table. She looked into the commander's piercing green eyes and gave her a smile.

"Here" Lexa voiced unnecessarily in a throaty tone.

"Thank you" Taylor retorted as her cheeks dusted with a blush and her tone was slightly breathless. The commander had also organized for some healing herbs and Taylor averted her eyes after a long silent moment of heated eye contact to prepare the tea. She knew that she would feel better once she had some of it.

Lexa also turned away from the table and started to divest herself off the regalia of the commander, placing her large shoulder guard on the ground before she took off her weapons and her coat.

"Do you need a new bandage?" Lexa asked once she had finished, turning back to the table her gaze immediately fell on the other woman's exposed stomach.

Taylor shook her head "No, I should leave it uncovered for the night. I will cover it again tomorrow" she explained. Her grey eyes remained on Lexa's form, the commander appeared to have shrunken several inches without her large shoulder guard, still she appeared poised with power.

The young woman was undoubtedly beautiful and Taylor was enamoured by the depth of her green eyes especially.

Lexa had also brought a little plate with food, holding some bread, a few pieces of roasted meat and vegetables Taylor could not recognize.

"You should still eat just a little" Lexa encouraged the blonde woman in a gentle tone "You have gone even paler" she assessed with an underlying worry in her tone.

Taylor huffed a little, but she nodded in agreement. She still did not feel like eating, but it was obvious that it would ease the commander's worry, so, she reached out and blindly took a piece of meat, taking a bite of it gingerly, while she upheld eye contact with the brunette.

Lexa's lips tilted into an amused smile, she nodded though in satisfaction and took the other stool to sit down right next to Taylor. She had not eaten before either and picked up a piece of bread, joining the other woman.

"Tell me something of your former life" Lexa broke the silence between them. Her tone was not exactly demanding but it was obvious that she was honestly curious about the doctor. She seemed to have waited patiently though until Taylor had eaten a few bites and also took some sips of her tea.

Taylor met the commander's gaze with a slight smile "What do you want to know?" she asked, feeling that the question had been way too general.

"I want to know everything" Lexa retorted with a surprisingly charming smirk.

Taylor chuckled under her breath "Alright" she answered kindly and began to tell the commander whatever she could think of about herself.

Lexa had listened to the blonde doctor's words for a long while. At times, she had interrupted her narrations, questioning things she did not understand, like "what exactly is a burger?".

Taylor had no idea just how long they had spent sitting together at the table, just freely talking to each other. She had never found it easy to open up to people she did not know well, but for some reason with Lexa it all felt so easy and almost natural.

"We should lie down soon" Lexa stopped Taylor suddenly. They had been talking for a few hours already and there was hardly any time left to catch any sleep before they would need to continue with their journey to TonDC.

Taylor nodded, still smiling at the brunette. She had almost been surprised by the honest interest the commander had shown within her person and she felt so much closer to her already. Sometime after she had started telling Lexa about herself, the commander had also told her things about her own past.

Both of them got up from the stools at the same moment and due to the restricted place, the small tent offered, they stood directly facing each other.

Taylor immediately felt the attraction towards the green-eyed brunette again and her own eyes fell onto the other woman's lips.

Both of them seemed to look up at the very same moment and Taylor did not know if she was the one to cross the distance or if Lexa had leaned forward, but their lips met in a gentle kiss.

Taylor felt her lips tingle strongly once they broke away from each other and they still remained standing as close as before. Her hands still hung at her side and Taylor looked back into the commander's green eyes.

Lexa's pupils had visibly dilated and there was only a slim ring of green left around them. Both of them were breathing just a tad bit harder.

Taylor hesitated just for the blink of a moment, before she threw all rational thought to the winds and just reached out, placing her hands around the brunette's hips, pulling her the slightest bit closer.

Lexa definitely approved of the action and their lips met again, this time the kiss was not as gentle though, but more heated than before. The commander's hands settled onto the doctor's hips as well, but as both of them opened their lips during the next kiss, she lets her hands trail from her hips and under her shirt, gently feeling along her slim sides, being extremely cautious not to come anywhere close to the woman's wound.

They remained engaged in a row of heated kisses until Taylor pressed her own body firmly against Lexa's and her slightly passionately raged breathing was interrupted by a hiss of pain when Lexa's belt was pressed right into the area of her wound.

Lexa immediately broke away from the doctor. The commander's cheeks were heated and her gaze was hooded, she cleared her throat though and gently pushed the doctor's shirt up, inspecting the wound herself.

"It is not bleeding" she said, tone tinted with relief and still a little breathless.

Taylor chuckled slightly, licking at her lips and still being a little dazed by what had just happened. Anya was definitely right though; she was so much attracted to the both of them.

The passions which had darkened the commander's eyes before, was replaced by a surprising gentleness "We shall continue this at a later time" she said in a slightly flirty tone, reaching out and trailing a pointer finger softly along one side of the doctor's face.

Taylor slightly leaned her head into the soft caress for a moment before she nodded in acknowledgement, still feeling her skin tingle.

She giggled just a bit when they were trying to find a comfortable sleeping position on the furs. Taylor had at first followed Lexa's example and lied down on her back with some distance between the both of them. She had not been able to fall asleep though and kept on turning her head around to face Lexa. The tent was not really illuminated well, but she could make up the commander's profile.

"You can come closer if you wish" Lexa suddenly offered in a low tone.

Taylor gave just a little jump, surprised that the commander must have caught her staring even in the near darkness. She did scoot closer though. She had always preferred to sleep on her side as well.

Carefully, Taylor sank down right next to the other woman, startled just a little when one of Lexa's arms snacked under her upper body and pulled her closer.

"Is this alright?" Lexa asked in a gentle tone, turning her face just a little towards the blonde doctor.

Taylor nodded in agreement, settling down. She placed her head on the brunette's collarbone and rested one hand flat on her stomach, feeling it rise and fall with each breath.

Taylor smiled brighter when she felt the commander bending her neck just a little placing a kiss on top of her head, whispering a "sleep well" before she lied down again as well. She fell asleep feeling the commander's heart beating and clouded by her alluring scent. Her head was still spinning a little by what had transpired between them.