"Babe! Do you know where my diamond earrings are?!" Clarke called from the spare room of the downtown penthouse.
"Woof" Murphy responded to the loud noise.
"Not you pup." Clarke said scratching the large dog's head.
"They're in the bathroom, next to the hair ties." Lexa called from Raven and Anya's bedroom. Clarke went to retrieve her earrings from the bathroom quickly, knowing that the family was running late for the opening night of her exhibit.
"Lil, you gotta get dressed babe. We're running late." Lexa said to the three year old who was adamant about not leaving her new best friend Sinclair.
"Puppy come with us?" Lily asked her arms wrapped around the dogs neck as she cuddled him.
"No... Puppy is not coming with us. He'll be here when you get back babe, I promise. I'll even let him sleep in here with you tonight? Sound good?"
"Okay.." Lily said as she removed her body from the dog, standing up to let Lexa put the dress on her.
"How do you want your hair babe? Just a pony? Or do you want braids like momma?" Clarke said now dressed and trying to help get the children ready.
"Braids... Please..." Lily pointed to Lexa's hair that was braided at the top but fell down past her shoulders into waves.
"Okay, turn around babe." Clarke said as she sat on the bed wrapping Lily's long brown hair around itself into braids similar to Lexa's. "Aden honey, you doing okay in there?" Clarke called as she was finishing Lily's hair.
"Yeah, just a minute." Aden called out. Lexa had left to finish getting dressed so Clarke knew the boy was probably having difficulty. "When will Linc be here?" Aden called.
"Few minutes Bub, do you need help with your tie?" Clarke asked at the door.
"Um.. Yeah.." Aden responded in a deflated tone.
"Open up Bubs, let me help you." Aden slowly opened the door with the tie knotted around his neck unceremoniously.
"Let me show you a trick" Clarke spoke as she untied the knotted tie. "If you do it like this, you can just slip it off without untying it." Clarke loosened the knot she made and slipped it from around Aden's neck. "See, now just put it under your collar and pull the shorter side." Aden did so successfully and smiled wide to himself.
"How'd you learn that... You're a girl..." Aden asked.
"Excuse me mister, what did we say about things like that?" Referring to his mention that boys can do certain things girls can't.
"Girls can do anything boys can do, and boys can do anything girls can do... Sorry mom." Aden apologized.
"Thank you babe, and I learned it from my dad. Remember how I told you he went to heaven like your mommy and daddy? Well, before he went to heaven he showed me when I was about your age."
"Do you still miss your Dad?" Aden asked in a solemn tone.
"Everyday Bubs, it's okay to miss your parents Aden. I think about my Dad everyday, but I know he's always right here in my heart. Right?"
"Right." Aden agreed, his tone lifting a little more.
"Are you okay babe?" Clarke asked.
"Yeah, let's do the dang thing." He said giving Clarke a high five.
"Hah alright kid. Let's go find Linc."
"Little man!?" Linc called from the door.
"Hi, Uncle Linc" Aden called running into the large man's chest.
"Hey dude, looking good as always I see?"
"Heck yeah, and mom taught me a trick with my tie." He spoke proudly.
"Very cool dude. You ready to roll?" Aden nodded happily.
"Where's by baby girl at?" Lincoln asked to the room.
"Here!" Lily said sprinting to her uncle to which she was swiftly lifted into a bear hug. Lincoln held Lily on his hip as he waited for Clarke and Lexa to grab their things before leaving.
"Hi Linc." Lexa greeted. "No Octavia?"
"She'll meet us there, she was running late at the gym, so she said she'd just take a cab over. Miller is downstairs if we're all ready?" Everyone nodded. "Let's rock and roll."
The five of them entered the large black SUV that miller had outfitted with car seats for the two young children and they were on their way. Lexa wasn't sure what to expect press wise, but she shortly found out as the five of them were bombarded with flashes and yells once they exited the vehicle. Clarke held Lily as they walked through the swarm and Lexa carried Aden so neither children would get lost. Lincoln tried to make a path for the family as much as one man could, but that still left little room between the strangers and the young children. Lily was crying after a few seconds of the loud yells and camera flashes. Clarke tried to sooth her to no avail. Once they made it to the blocked off red carpet Lexa put down Aden who was frightened but remaining composed. This was Clarke's night, so she grabbed Lily from her girlfriend and started softly soothing her daughter. Once Lily had settled Lexa, Aden and their daughter made there way a few feet to where Clarke was being interviewed. Lincoln remained on guard at all times, he had only broken up a few altercations in being Lexa's bodyguard, but all of them had happened on or near red carpet events like this one.
"So, Miss Griffin, what can we expect from today's viewing?" The interviewer asked her as Aden grabbed her hand to hold.
"Well, these pieces came from a very genuine place. They are emotional, and of totally mixed genres which is normally something I don't do."
"Miss Woods, pleasure to see you here. Is it safe to say that New Yorkers everywhere are getting their second chance at the Clexa relationship?" The interviewer asked as if he was telling a secret.
"Clarke and I are back together. Yes; but tonight is about her art, not about our relationship." Lexa answered coldly as was her general tone for public events.
"May I ask who these adorable children belong to?" The interviewer questioned looking at Lily on Lexa's hip and Aden between the two women, holding hands with his mother."
"These are our children. Aden and Lily. We're in the process of adopting them." Clarke answered shortly.
"I apologize for staying on this subject Miss Griffin, but the suddenness of this is overwhelming. Not 6 months ago you were engaged to Matt Hubbard, and now you have a family so to speak with Miss Woods. How did this all happen so fast?"
Clarke knew exactly what she wanted to say, but held off for Lexa and the children's sake. "No comment." Clarke said as she walked away with her family.
The remaining interviews went on that way, initially asking about Clarke's work, then questioning the two children with her. Aden was getting impatient and Lily was long past it by the time they got into the gallery. Once inside Lexa had Lincoln take the kids to the back of the gallery to get a snack and unwind for a little. Once they had calmed themselves about an hour later, Lincoln made his way back out to Clarke's area of the exhibit where he found Lexa and Clarke hand in hand explaining pieces of Clarke's work. They were standing in front of a realism piece that focused on Lily picking flowers in the back yard.
"Momma!" Lily ran out from Lincoln's grip on her small hand into the arms of Clarke who was in the middle of a sentence.
"Ump-Hi babe." Clarke addressed her daughter quickly and quietly. Lexa tried to take their daughter from Clarke to allow her to finish the interview but Lily was not having it. Clarke nodded to Lexa saying it was okay.
"Momma, Linc-y let us play on his phone, we talked to RaeRae and Yaya and Tavi." Lily said excitedly to her mother who now was giving her full attention to the little girl.
"That's great Lil, is it okay if I talk to these nice people for a little bit? You can stay right here with me." Clarke questioned the young girl who simply nodded.
Clarke went about her interview with only small interruptions from Lily who was clung to the girl's side. Lincoln now had Aden who was getting lost in the large crowd on his shoulders as to not let the little boy get trampled by the press.
Without a word, Lincoln abruptly handed off Aden to Lexa, and keyed into his radio that was in his ear. Lincoln had set up a man at the entrance after he found out about the email that led to no one just as a security precaution. What he heard shocked him, though he didn't show it on his face. He quickly turned to Lexa whispering in her ear.
"Keep them close, I'll be right back." With that he made his way through the large crowd to the lobby of the building.
"What was that about?" Clarke whispered into Lexa's ear.
"No idea, just stay close, that's all he said." Lexa responded. Lexa had Aden on her hip who was getting restless.
"Mom can I go with Lincoln?" Aden begged after the man hadn't come back for more than 10 minutes.
"No right now babe. Lincoln is working, remember?" Lexa tried to be calm but everything in her was telling her something was wrong. She pulled herself closer to Clarke and Lily, one arm holding her son, the other protectively wrapped around Clarke's waist.
Lexa was completely keyed out of the conversation Clarke was having and instead she was scanning the crowd for threats. She saw Lincoln across the room scanning the crowd as well until her thoughts were broken by a foreign voice.
"What an adorable family you have..." Lexa's eyes snapped to attention.
"Finn.." Lincoln spotted what was happening and nearly ran through the crowd of people to get to his 'family'. He made it there almost before Lexa had finished saying his name. "Get them out of here, now!" Lexa said harshly to Lincoln who already had a curious Aden in his arms. He grabbed Lily without a word from Clarke who was just now aware of who was talking to Lexa. Lincoln walked as fast as he could while talking into his radio to have his back up man go to the two women. Finn was dangerous, and only Lexa and Lincoln knew how dangerous.
"Pleased to see you Miss Woods, Clarke." Finn tried to play off as if he were a friend.
"Why are you here Finn?" Lexa asked coldly but now wanting to cause a scene.
"Same reason as you, to see beautiful art." Finn said sarcastically. "Where'd those little kids go? Aden and.. Lily? Right?"
Lexa leaned in so that only Finn could hear her. "If you ever speak about my children or my family again, I will lock you in a hole so deep and dark you'll beg for death."
"Is that a... A threat Lexa?" Finn said with a laughing tone just as Lexa's other security man was making his way to the scene.
"You're going to turn around and walk out of here now. We're giving you the choice, in ten seconds that choice will be ours to make." Nyko, Lincoln's second in command said curtly.
"Woah woah, calm down Rambo, I was just leaving. Just wanted to tell the happy couple congratulations on their new family."
Nyko stepped between Lexa and Finn now, which annoyed Lexa but she knew it was his job to do. Nyko was a big man, larger than Lincoln and frankly more intimidating. He grabbed Finn by the arm, pushing him backwards until Finn relented and continued walking on his own with Nyko following close behind. Octavia had made her way to the two girls, having no idea what had happened in the last 5 minutes.
"Hey guys, where are my munchkins?" Octavia asked merrily.
"Lincoln took them, Finn was just here." Clarke said simply.
"What the fuck? Where is he?" Octavia was fuming in moments. Lexa placed a hand on the girls forearm to calm her.
"Nyko took him outside, they'll follow him, it's protocol. Nyko knows what to do." Lexa was calm but still angry at the altercation that happened.
"Okay, where did the Lincoln take the kids?" Octavia asked.
"Not sure, they won't be coming back here though. Can you and Lincoln take them back to Raven and Anya's? Please, O? Lincoln will say he's not leaving us, but I need you guys to get the kids somewhere safe."
"Okay, just you guys be safe too." Octavia said before kissing both Clarke and Lexa on the cheek with a hug.
The rest of the night was uneventful. Clarke and Lexa stayed for an hour more then left with Miller. Nyko had followed Finn until he lost him in downtown traffic. Octavia and Lincoln had taken Aden and Lily back to the penthouse and put them to bed, explaining that their moms would be home later. Clarke and Lexa got back to the penthouse at nearly midnight.
"Hey, kids are asleep." Octavia said as she hugged her friend.
"Thank you." Lexa said sweetly to Octavia. "What's the status on Finn?" Lexa said coldly to Lincoln.
"Nyko lost him in the tunnel. We got the make, model and plate number so I'm having it ran. I'm sure it's not under his name."
"How the fuck did you guys lose him Lincoln?!" Lexa was pissed, the man who threatened her family, who hurt her friends was free roaming around New York. "Pack your things Clarke, we're leaving tonight."
"Dude, chill.. What the fuck is wrong with you? It's not Lincoln's fault, he was with the kids-"
"Stop, O." Lincoln said quietly. "It is my fault, it's my responsibility." Lincoln knew that anything his men did wrong or right hinged on him.
"I'll go pack the kids." Clarke said somberly. She knew why Lexa was mad and she knew not to question her right now. Things were different, they had children, they had a family and Lexa was the protector of that family. "O, can you help with our stuff please? Just throw it into the suitcase, I'll be in there in a few minutes.." Clarke walked towards the room the children were staying in before Octavia could object.
"I'm sorry I let you down, Lexa.." Lincoln said with his eyes to the ground. "I take full responsibility for the mistakes tonight."
"Look at me Lincoln." Lexa prompted, her voice still harsh but less cold. She knew she overreacted, but ultimately the mistake did fall on Lincoln, he was head of security. "We will find him, but right now, I'm worried about my family, about your family, about all of us." She paused seeing the fear in his eyes as well. "Clarke doesn't know about everything that happened when we were gone, she doesn't know about Kylin she doesn't know what Finn did to him.." She paused again remembering the memory. "They may think I'm overreacting, but you know what he's capable of Linc. I need better from you, better from your team. This is my family, your family.." Lexa walked towards the bedroom to finish what Octavia started.
Once they had their things packed and ready, Octavia grabbed Sinclair and Murphy to load them into the Jeep. Lincoln decided it was better for Octavia to stay with the rest of the group at the lake house until they knew what was going on with Finn. Octavia would drive Lexa's Jeep with the dogs and Lincoln and Miller would take Lexa, Clarke and the children. It was 2am by the time they were on the road, both children still sleeping once they were placed in the car. Lexa sent a quick text to Anya letting her know they all were coming up, and sent a text to Bellamy to let him know about the night's events so he wouldn't worry.
"What the hell was that back there with Lexa?" Octavia asked Lincoln once they were in the Jeep.
"She was right in what she said O, please just drop it." Lincoln was tired of reliving his mistake.
"Since when do you just roll over for her when she's on a power trip? You look like a sad puppy..."
"Octavia, he killed a man! He killed one of my men! I'm not rolling over, I'm accepting that I just put everyone I care about in danger because me and my men couldn't do our job! I put you in danger! The kids!"
"What the fuck are you talking about? Killed a man? Who? How is he not in jail?!"
"Technically, he didn't do it.. He paid off a hit man to take Kylin when we were in South Africa last year. He was the youngest, the most vulnerable. Finn wanted Lexa to stop hunting him, he wanted her secrets, wanted the company for himself, I don't know. His motives at that point were purely sociopathic, he wanted to hurt Lexa for taking Clarke, that's all we could come up with. When Kylin disappeared we tracked them to an abandoned building on the outskirts of Cape Town but we were too late, it took us four days to find him, by that time he had been beaten, burned and tortured for at least 3 days straight, he died in the hospital the night we brought him in. The man responsible was arrested, but he never gave up Finn, that's why he's not in jail, it was never tied back to him." Lincoln had tears in his eyes retelling the story of his young apprentice. "Lexa is scared O, and so am I. If Finn is back he has a plan.." Lincoln was silent the rest of the 3 hour drive to the house and Octavia allowed him his own time in his head.
Both cars arrived to the lake house around the same time. They had taken different routes on the chance that Finn was following them. When they arrived the lights in the house were on and three similar black SUVs were in the driveway, Octavia knew these were the other 10 members of Lincoln's team. Lexa handed off Lily to Octavia and Clarke took Aden in to bed. Raven and Anya met them at the door to take the dogs, and help get their things into the house. Lexa stayed back with Lincoln to meet with the security team. They all assembled in a circle on the patio once Lincoln had directed them. The team consisted of many former military or police officers. There was Lincoln, Nyko, James, Munson, Matt, Leland, Dan, Klint, Smith, Wes and Trent.
"Listen up, as all of you are aware, Finn Collins is back in the city. He approached Lexa, Clarke and the kids today at the gallery opening. We will have 24 hour surveillance and security on the Lake house as well as Mecha until we find him." Lincoln spoke proudly with no inflection. "I want pairs of two with the children at all times. No one is to go off alone. This is a huge property with many areas of cover. Finn is a coward, we all know that, he won't come on his own, he will send people to accomplish his goal. Anyone who is not one of us or the family will be apprehended on site. Is that clear?" The group nodded or grunted in acknowledgment. "There will be a pair on the driveway and front door at all times as well as the back. We'll go in 12 hour shifts. Nyko has recruited some of his old police buddies to take watch on Mecha. Our first priority is the children, followed by Lexa and Clarke and the remaining family. These are our friends boys, you know everyone on their own right, and to some of you.." Lincoln eyed Klint, Wes and Trent "They are your family. We protect our own with whatever force necessary." The group grunted in acknowledgment. Trent was Lincoln's younger brother, Klint was Anya's brother and Wes was Lexa and Anya's cousin from their father's side. "Anything you need to add Miss Woods?" Lincoln asked formally.
"No, you covered everything Lincoln, thank you." Lexa said. "Those of you on your rest periods may stay in the spare rooms in the boat house. There are only enough beds for 8 so you will need to share until we can solidify arrangements. Thank you all for all of this." Lexa finished and walked away into the house.
She would not let the appearance of Finn end in the way it did almost two years ago now, she would not disappear, she would protect her family with full disclosure. The rest of the adults were in the living room, everyone too tense or too confused to go back to sleep. It was already 6am by the time Lexa went to sit by her girlfriend and join the rest of her friends.
"I suspect you all want to know what this is about.. But before I tell you, I need you to know something. I won't disappear this time. I am here, Lincoln is here, we are all here to protect you." Lexa wrapped her arm around Clarke speaking directly to her. "I will never leave you again, I will never abandon you or our family..." Lexa focused her attention to the group again. "I'm sure you guys all know that we were approached by Finn today. I'm sure my reaction seems... Unorthodox.. But there is something you all need to know, something I didn't tell you all because it's a terrible story to retell..." Lexa started tearing up thinking about the memory. "When we were gone, Lincoln and I.. One of our team members was killed, murdered by a man who was sent by Finn. We don't know Finn's motives, we never have, but what we can come up with is that he worked with Nia initially to get to me... because I had Clarke. Everything after Nia disposed of him was solely directed to hurt Clarke or I. Kylin, the man that was murdered was targeted because he was the youngest, he was on his own one day and he was vulnerable. He was tortured for three days before we found him on the fourth day. By the time we found where he had been hidden it was too late, he died at the hospital that night. The man that Finn paid off was arrested but never gave up Finn. This is why Lincoln and I reacted so harshly tonight. We know what Finn is capable of, and we know he will stop at no lengths now that he is in the U.S... If the police find him, he will be arrested and charged based on all the evidence we have provided about his actions to you three. He will be facing up to 50 years in federal prison if he's caught. He wouldn't chance that if he didn't have a plan he believed would work." Lexa looked at Clarke, Raven and Octavia. Clarke leaned closer into Lexa, she wasn't mad the Lexa hadn't told her that story, she was sad instead knowing the weight that death must have felt on her.
"What do we do?" Raven asked, always the one to think of the logistics first, emotions second.
"We need you all to stay here. I've already notified Indra, and Octavia's boss. Clarke, I think you need to notify your mother, she was close with Finn when you were dating, if he can't get to us he'll go to her. I'm sending a car to pick her up once you give the word." Lincoln said walking in the door, stoic mask on.
"So... We all just abandon our jobs and lives because Finn MIGHT do something...?" Octavia chimed in only to get a stern look from her fiancé.
"You will do this Octavia, it is not a request." Lincoln said sternly. Octavia was clearly pissed, but wouldn't question Lincoln again, he had never been like this, and she trusted his judgment enough to abide by his wishes.
"I know this isn't ideal, but the safest place for us to be right now is right here, together." Lexa said to the group.
"Momma...?" Lily was at the foot of the stairs tears in her eyes.
"Come here baby." Clarke called to her, Lily walked past all her aunts and uncles straight into the arms of her mothers. "What's wrong Lil?" She asked only to get more tears from the girl.
"Scary man.." Lily looked to Nyko who was at the bottom of the stairs, clearly on kid watch.
"Jesus dude, take off the fucking war gear, you're here to protect them, not give them nightmares." Octavia said in the man's direction low enough that Lily couldn't hear. Lincoln nodded to Nyko, agreeing with his fiancé.
"It's okay baby, Nyko is a friend. He's just watching over you." Lexa said to the girl rubbing her back.
"Is he nice?" Lily asked, her tears slowing.
"He's very nice babe, just like Uncle Lincoln. Remember how you were scared of him? But now he's your best buddy, isn't he?" Clarke explained to the girl who nodded and smiled.
Lily wiped her tears and hopped down from her mother's lap, walking towards the big, burly man. Lily waved for him to come down to her level to which the man kneeled in front of her smiling. Still about a foot taller even on his knees. Lily reached for his face with both hands feeling his beard and making a funny face with how the material felt on her hands.
"Nee-ko" Lily tried out the name not able to pronounce the 'y' sound. She seemed pleased with herself even though she butchered it. "Do you play dolls like Linc-y?" Nyko smiled to the girl again and nodded. Lily had a way with making people do as she asked. "Good. We can play after breakfast. But I gotta eat all my breakfast." Lily said explaining the rules.
"I would love that, Miss Lily." Nyko replied as non-threatening as he could. Lily smiled and walked back to where the family was sitting. She crawled up between Anya and Raven, sitting on both of their laps.
"Hi Yaya, and RaeRae." Lily said sweetly.
"Hi babe." They said in unison, Raven kissing the girl on the top of her head. Lily pulled raven's t-shirt sleeve so she could whisper in her ear.
"Yes, Lil, you were the brave." Raven said in response to the question. Lily smiled, proud of overcoming her fear of Nyko.
"Can we have breakfast now?" Lily questioned to the group, which resulted in needed laughter from everyone. Lily climbed off of Anya and Raven to walk over to Octavia. "Hi Tavi." Lily said as she kissed her aunt.
"Hey princess." Octavia responded with a smile, bringing the girl into a hug. "What do you want for breakfast?"
"Ice cream." Lily said with a sweet smile hoping to get her way.
"Hah, not this early kiddo." Lexa commented from the opposite couch. "How about cereal?" Lily nodded in defeat as Octavia got up to pour the girl a bowl at the kitchen island.
"Uncle Linc-y?" Lily motioned her uncle over to where she was sitting. She grabbed both sides of his face like normal when she was trying to get her point across. "Nee-ko has more hair than you, here." She said rubbing her uncles cheeks. The group erupted in laughter even Nyko who had been growing his beard for years.
"Hah he sure does babe. You think I should grow a beard like his?" Lily nodded yes.
"Don't you even think about Lincoln James." Octavia called from the kitchen.
"Auntie O says I can't..." Lincoln said back to his niece who now looked deflated.
"Okay..." She responded. "Why you look so sad Linc-y?"
"How could I be sad with such a beautiful girl in front of me?" He responded pulling Lily into a bear hug and kiss to her forehead.
Aden was awake now making his way to sit next to his mothers.
"Hi moms." Aden said sleepily. "Who's that guy?" He said pointing to James.
"That's James, he's going to be hanging out with us for a few days." Lincoln answered for them. "And that's Nyko. We'll show you the rest of the gang when they wake up."
"Okay."
"Breakfast time guys." Octavia called to Lily and Aden.
The children were the only thing keeping the group awake. They were all exhausted with no sleep, but at least they were still laughing due to Lily's antics. Everyone sat down for breakfast and ate together. Bellamy showed up to the house around 10am with a bag he had packed. He didn't bring Echo, they were too new for him to involve her in all of the trouble. Since he was the only one that had slept he offered to play with the kids while the other adults took a nap. Everyone started waking up around 2 o'clock when they smelled the lunch Bellamy had cooked. Clarke had long since called her mom and Trent and Munson made the drive to pick her up. They'd be back after nightfall so Lexa set up the last available bedroom for her. Bellamy put Lily down for her nap right as lunch was finished. They all made their way to the kitchen still groggy and sleepy. 3 hours wasn't enough, but it would give them enough energy to get through until the night.
"Burgers and fries." Bellamy said as he started making up plates. Lincoln had debriefed him on everything Lexa and he had told the group earlier so he was caught up.
"Thank you for cooking Bell." Clarke said as she made her way to a barstool.
The group ate and talked and tried to pretend like things were normal for a while. Suddenly they heard one of the dogs barking from the dock area. Lincoln put his hand up to make sure everyone stayed put. He drew his pistol and made his way outside to where his two men would be posted. Clarke grabbed Aden and wrapped him in her arms tightly. Lexa ran upstairs to make sure Lily was okay still.
"False alarm, it was just a duck or something on the lake, Sinclair got excited." Lincoln said as he came back in his weapon already holstered.
Raven and Anya gave him a confused look, Sinclair was older than Murphy by two years and both dogs were trained guard dogs. They didn't usually bark for no reason.
"Are you sure...?" Raven asked getting up from the table to walk towards the backyard.
"Yeah, we checked everywhere, once the duck flew away he stopped." Lincoln responded following behind her.
"That's not like him." Anya said to the group after Raven and Lincoln were outside. Clarke didn't move, she continued to hold her son who was clearly confused.
"Sinclair." Raven called the dog over to her. He came immediately, sat and faced his back to his owner his eyes glued to the middle of the lake. "Something is out there Linc." Raven said pointing to where the dog was staring. "Murphy!" Raven called wondering where her other dog had gone. "Murphy!" She called again now worried when he didn't come immediately.
Lincoln made his way with Smith to two of the Jetskiis to investigate where the dog was staring. Once they got out a little farther they saw something moving in the water.
"Find Murphy." Raven gave the command to Sinclair who got up and started walking to the edge of the water. Once he got there he sat and started barking again. "What the fuck? Anya!" Raven yelled seeing the movement very far out on the lake. Raven didn't think, instead she sprinted to the dock and jumped on a jetskii, pulling it full throttle to where she saw the movement. She passed Lincoln and Smith quickly, ignoring their calls of her to slow down. No one knew what was out there but Raven had a sinking feeling it was her dog.
Anya ran outside along with the rest of the group to see what Raven was so hysterical about. Sinclair kept barking, sighting the water.
Raven made it far enough to see that the movement in the water was in fact Murphy. He was struggling to stay afloat. Raven jumped off the jetskii to swim to him. "Lincoln!" Raven was screaming tears filling her eyes, her screams could be heard all the way back at the house. Lincoln and Smith pulled up about 20 seconds after Raven. Trent had his weapon pulled, looking for any threats and Lincoln jumped in the get the dog out of the water onto the tow board at the back of the jetskii. Once on the tow board Raven saw the blood, she wasn't leaving her dog, instead she abandoned the jetski and held Murphy onto the tow board. Lincoln sped off as fast as he could without losing his two passengers. Smith tied the second jetskii to the back of his and towed it back to the house.
"Get some towels, and antiseptic!" Anya screamed to whoever would listen. Raven's screams still filling the air while they waited for them to return to shore. Octavia and Bellamy sprinted to the house to retrieve the needed items. "Oh my fucking God, what the fuck happened?" Anya was loosing her cool waiting.
"Take him back to the house, now!" Clarke screamed at one of the security men she didn't know the name of. They responded immediately by picking up Aden and carrying him unwillingly to the house.
"Help me get him off!" Lincoln yelled as he grounded the Jetskii on the shore.
"Clarke, please!" Raven was hysterical and the only one with medical experience was her best friend.
Clarke rushed into action before thinking. She knew human anatomy, but a dog was completely different. She assessed Murphy cleaning him off as much as she could to find where the bleeding was coming from. She realized the blood on his muzzle wasn't his own. "Someone is out there, this isn't his blood!" Clarke yelled while she continued her assessment.
"Everyone inside. Now!" Lincoln yelled and the group moved immediately. Lincoln and Bellamy carrying the tow board that held Murphy on it. "Take the kids upstairs! 3 men!" Lincoln was still yelling, Nyko got on his radio waking the men in the boat house.
"There's been an attack. Everyone up now, armed and ready." Nyko's demeanor was more composed than Lincoln but still just as fierce. Almost immediately 6 of Lincoln's men with either a rifle or pistol were sprinting to the house getting in formation around the perimeter.
Clarke continued looking over Murphy finding the main source of bleeding was a stab wound on his side. The dog fought hard, she could tell based on the scratches to his neck and head. "It's a stab wound. I need gauze to pack it." Clarke kept her focus on the dog, not allowing her mind to drift to her children or girlfriend that she hadn't seen. Clarke packed the wound as best she could. Unbeknownst to her Nyko had already called an emergency Veterinarian to come to the house. He was not going to split anyone up, not now.
"How the fuck did he get to the middle of the lake with no one seeing him?" Raven asked, she had calmed since she first saw him.
"I saw him walking the shore a couple hours ago he must have found someone in the woods on the west side of the lake then fell in after he got stabbed." One of the men on the back house security said.
"3 men, perimeter check around the lake. Eyes sharp." Nyko spoke smoothly to the men surrounding the house. Three of the men went off in a jog while the remaining ones filled in the perimeter of the house.
Lincoln was on the phone with the local police department to alert them of their findings. They had a good relationship with this specific PD based on Lexa and how high profile she was. They allowed Lincoln and his men nearly free reign if a threat arouse which was unusual for the private sector. The police department would send an officer out to file a report.
Once the Vet arrived, and Nyko checked over her credentials multiple times, he allowed her in to tend to the dog. Clarke finally got a reprieve and made her way up to her children's room to find her family.
There was 1 man posted outside of the children's door when she went to open it. Her frown turned to a smile as she saw Lexa reading a story to two sleeping children. Lexa nodded at Clarke to let her know they were okay. 'Change your clothes' Lexa mouthed to her girlfriend who was oblivious to the blood soaked all over her. Clarke went down to where everyone was now sitting around the kitchen island.
"She said he's going to be okay." Raven spoke first.
"Good, I'm glad." Clarke said as she put her arm on her friend's shoulder. "Any news?"
"They found a trail of blood that led to tire tracks through the woods. Whoever was there is gone now. They're doing another sweep of the property and surrounding area." Octavia said.
"Okay.." Clarke said simply, not knowing what they were supposed to do now.
Clarke went to her bedroom and showered and changed her clothes while the rest of the family sat and talked with the Police Officer that had come to file the report. Lexa made her way downstairs once the children had woken up and the blood was cleaned off of the floor. The Vet had left instructions with Raven on how to care for Murphy and set up a check up for him in a couple of days to see how healing was going. When Aden came downstairs he went right to Raven asking if he could see Murphy.
"Come with me Bub, but we have to be very quiet and gentle with him okay?" Raven said as she took the boy to the bathroom that was attached to Anya and Raven's room.
"Is he going to be okay RaeRae?" Aden asked quietly.
"He'll be okay babe, he's just hurt right now so he needs to heal."
Murphy was laying on multiple towels sleeping due to the medication the vet had given him. Sinclair was laying next to him, guarding over him but slowly wagged his tail as he saw Aden. Aden crouched down on the floor sliding himself in front of Murphy to kiss the dog's head. Murphy opened one eye and gave a sweet lick to Aden's face. Aden gently pet his head for a few moments before Raven said they needed to go.
They all sat around the living room, talking quietly amongst one another. There had been no news of anyone else in the surrounding area of the house. Lexa had requested that there be a police officer manned at the house on rotating watches which was granted by the police chief. They all were very shaken, thankfully the children hadn't seen much of what happened to Murphy. Raven was the worst though, she wanted revenge, wanted restitution for hurting her beloved pet.
"Let's play a game, yeah?" Clarke initiated first.
"Yeah, yeah!" Lily
"Let's play connect four." Lexa said as she was making her way to the game drawer. They all sat the rest of the night, watching Lily's elated face every time she beat someone.