Dividing Lines
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this.
Clarke quickly went over the layout of the camp in her head, trying to calculate the best way to get to the hidden exit. She had been gone so long that her knowledge was a little rusty. She also knew that they had to get out of the medical bay first. Chris was clinging to her leg and shaking. Clarke ran a hand through his hair to give some momentary comfort. The shouting from outside got louder and closer, until Clarke started to wonder about kicking through the back panels of the drop ship to get out.
The curtain moved suddenly and Clarke pushed Chris behind a table, her heart hammering in her chest. But she let out a breath when she saw Kane standing there.
"Clarke? What the hell is going on?"
She grabbed Chris' hand and hurried towards the curtain. Passed Kane's shoulder she could see the guards running around the main area. "I will explain everything, I promise," she said, "But right now, can you distract those guards long enough to get Chris and I out of here?"
Kane looked down at the shaking boy; his little hand gripping Clarke's so hard that his fingers were white. "They're going to hurt him if they find him," she whispered and Kane's face turned determined.
"Alright, go to the left and I'll send them right," he said before spinning around and marching towards the guards.
Clarke watched through the crack in the curtains; Kane gathered the guards together before the group hurried away to the right side of camp. Clarke burst through the curtain and pulled Chris after her, the two of them practically sprinting through the trails. She didn't care that people were staring because Chris was the focus.
She had some use to Diana despite her questioning her authority. But the orphans were non-existent to her. She made Chris run ahead of her when they reached the wall of the camp, her fingers pulling back the metal until they could both fit through. Chris paused as soon as he stepping out into the forest, his eyes getting wide at the sight of trees and flowers and open space.
But Clarke didn't have the time for him to admire anything until he was a safe distance away. "Go, quickly run!" she hissed and they scrambled down the hill with dirt and stones crunching under their boots.
Chris turned his head around to look back at Clarke but then he bounced back when he hit something. Finding his feet again, Chris craned his head all the way up to look at the dark haired man in front of him. The man smiled, despite the kid running into his legs and said, "You must be Chris."
"Bellamy!" Clarke gasped and Chris looked between them in shock.
That was Bellamy Blake. He was much taller in person.
"What the hell is going on?" Bellamy asked, "I could hear the shouting from a mile away."
Clarke grasped his arm and exclaimed, "I was right, Diana has something in her quarters. Chris saw it but the guards saw him and now they're after him. You have to take him and go back to the 100 Camp."
"Not without you!" Bellamy and Chris chorused. They looked at each other in surprise but Clarke just grinned.
"I'll be fine."
"But they want to hurt you Clarke!" Chris insisted, "I heard them."
Clarke grabbed him in a hug but turned to Bellamy. "This is exactly what I needed. Diana is worried that the others are starting to doubt her; that's why she wants me quiet. We don't need a war to end this; we need to undermine her power with the campers. I have to go back in and build a defence against her. Come back tomorrow night and we can both meet my mom and Kane; they'll help, I know they will."
Bellamy shook his head at the noise coming from the camp and was annoyed at the little time they had. "The last thing I want to do is have you in there on your own with a target on your back."
"Trust me; I can take care of myself. But you need to look after Chris first."
The boy pouted but let go of Clarke. He also scrunched up his face when Clarke kissed Bellamy goodbye-grownups were so gross sometimes. Clarke disappeared around the trees and up the hill again until they could see her no longer.
Chris looked up at Bellamy who managed to grin at him. For some reason, because of Clarke really, the two of them felt no awkwardness or distance. Bellamy had heard of Chris and Chris had heard of Bellamy.
"Looks like you're free kid," he said, "Ready to go home?"
Chris' face lit up and he nodded happily. Bellamy took his small hand and they walked in the direction of the 100 Camp. Or at least, they tried to. Chris kept getting distracted by birds and butterflies, the moss and the leaves.
At one point he tried to climb a tree to grab an apple which nearly made him fall, which nearly made Bellamy have a heart attack.
By the time they reached the river, Bellamy was sure that Chris was all out of wonder and awe. But the kid's jaw dropped when he saw the water and Bellamy couldn't help the grin that worked its way onto his own face. He let Chris dip his hands in the running water for a few minutes but then said, "Alright, that's enough. It'll take us forever to get home at this rate."
They went to the stones but Bellamy saw the uncertain look on Chris' face. "It's alright; we're just going to jump across them."
Chris still looked nervous so Bellamy picked him up and sat him on his shoulders. "Now you can look out for any wild animals," Bellamy added and he stepped his way across the wet stones.
It was a bit more difficult as the stones were slippery and Chris' added weight slightly threw him off. It was especially difficult when Chris saw something swimming through the water and yelled, "FISH!"
That only caused Bellamy to nearly overbalance and almost sent them both into the water. Once they were steady again, Chris turned so he was looking at Bellamy upside down.
"Sorry," he said bashfully, "I've never seen a live one before."
Bellamy laughed and jumped onto the bank. He didn't take Chris off his shoulders, figuring that they would get home faster this way. Chris kept chatting away about everything he was seeing and Bellamy was once again reminded of the beauty of Earth. It was a good thing to see someone be in awe of every tree and flower again.
Chris fell silent as they approached the walls of the 100 Camp, his eyes taking in the tall walls and guards walking around the top of them. "Welcome home kid," Bellamy said as he placed him back down on the ground.
Chris looked scared again and took Bellamy's hand. The gates opened and they walked through, just in time for dinner. Chris' head was spinning around, looking back and forth as he took everything in. Bellamy spotted the other kids before Chris did and Luke and Jennifer skidded to a stop in front of him. Chris jumped and hid behind Bellamy's leg.
"Who is that?" Luke asked but Jennifer was bouncing up and down with excitement. "That's Chris isn't it? He's finally come to play with us!"
Chris peeked out at them but Bellamy looked at the kids sternly. "Chris is new here and needs time to get used to everyone. Go have your dinner and maybe tomorrow you can play."
They scampered off with a "Bye Chris!"
He watched them go but Bellamy walked him over to the main fire. Octavia and Raven were standing there with fresh plates of food and they spotted them quickly. "Look who has come to stay live with us," Bellamy said and Octavia lit up. She guessed exactly who he was.
"Hi Chris! We've heard so much about you. Do you want some dinner?"
Chris nodded and Bellamy knew that the kid was going to be ok; especially when he practically inhaled the food he was given. People were curious about him of course, but they also knew to give him space.
They had also been curious at Clarke's sudden disappearance but with Bellamy storming around like a mad bull, they knew better than to ask. They trusted their leaders to make the decisions for now.
Eventually, Bellamy had to stop Chris from eating an entire chicken by himself. The kid was not used to so much food at once and Bellamy was worried he would get sick. As it got darker, more campers started to wave and greet Chris. In the time it took for them to cross the camp to their house, Chris had been given a new jacket, some new trousers and had his hair ruffled so much that it stuck up. Finally Bellamy and Octavia got him settled in Clarke's room-Chris' room.
"Can I read you a bedtime story?" Octavia asked as she held out a colourful children's book. Chris could only nod and together they sat against the headboard to read. Bellamy folded Chris' new things and put them away; he turned back to see Chris very interested in the pictures.
"Goodnight, you two," he said but Chris stopped him.
"Bellamy? When is Clarke coming?"
Octavia looked up at her brother, biting her lip. Their little group had been filled in about Chris' sudden appearance at camp but they were all worried about Clarke.
Bellamy glanced at Chris again, all tucked up in a warm bed for perhaps the first time in his life. "Clarke has some very important jobs to do and then, we're all going to be together. But she needs a bit of time."
Chris nodded his head and turned back to the story book. Octavia smiled at her brother but could see the concern behind his eyes. She had been giving him that look at lot in the past few days since Clarke had gone.
Clarke counted the green leaves in her hands; dirt caked under her fingers nails. She tucked them inside her jacket as she made her way calmly across the camp again. The guards hadn't said a word to her and Diana had been notably absent ever since Chris had disappeared. Once they couldn't find him, it was like they just gave up. Or more likely, they had retreated for the moment. Diana would probably not like people asking questions.
Clarke had her section in sight when Kane stepped out from its front door. He spotted her and glanced backwards, obviously telling her mother. Clarke squared her shoulders and walked purposely forward, only nodding to Kane as she passed him in the doorway. He shut the door after them with a click, leaving the room in fading light from the one small window. Her mother sat on a rickety stool, giving Clarke the look of a very pissed off woman.
"I think it's time you tell us the full story Clarke because you've been leaving out some important facts." Abby's voice was cold; exhausted even. Kane stood beside her and Clarke could only run a hand over her tiered face. She wasn't a child; she didn't need to be scolded for doing the right thing.
But since she also knew that Kane and Abby had little information, Clarke took in a deep breath and began.
"Diana and her people-perhaps her puppets on the Council-have been making and planting bombs around Grounder Camps." Without letting the adults speak, Clarke continued. "They've killed innocent people in an attempt to get rid of their enemies. The bombs are being made in Diana's quarters, where Chris saw them yesterday by accident. That's why they were chasing him. Diana also threatened me, which Chris heard, because she thinks my time with the 100 has undermined her authority with the campers here. That's about it."
"Wait wait," Abby stuttered, "Are you sure? Absolutely-."
"I'm sure. I've spent time with the Grounders; the attacks on their villages were completely unprovoked!" Clarke's voice grew in desperation.
"Diana had built up a fear among you all that makes you want to stay cramped up behind these walls. Earth may be terrifying but there is so much to see and do and the 100 know this. Their camp is amazing and they will gladly let us all go there once Diana is stopped."
"How do you intend to stop her?" Kane asked, genuinely curious. "She was always a sly person but can she really think hurting the Grounders and the 100 will help her? What does she expect-that she'll be the one in charge in the end?"
"She's crazy and that's dangerous because she doesn't let others see it. I've been talking to the Grounders and the 100; I trust that they'll be our man power when we confront Diana. Hopefully, by undermining the campers' trust in her, we can avoid a fight."
Kane nodded his head, clearly thinking this out in his head. Clarke knew that he had met Diana before; they had worked together. He probably knew her well enough and Clarke wasn't taken aback that he was so ready to believe that she could do something like this.
"She's built a fear among you all? "You all"?"
Both Kane and Clarke looked at Abby who was just staring strangely at Clarke. She shook her head slightly and added, "Since when were you not included in this camp?"
Clarke licked her lips, feeling the comforting material of Bellamy's jacket on her arms. "Since I found a new one," she replied honestly, "My home."
Abby blinked in surprise and Kane suddenly looked like he wanted to be anywhere but in between those two women. "Your home? The 100 Camp is your home?! Not us, not your family?"
"I didn't say that Mom! You are my family but this camp isn't. Weren't you listening, we can all go live with the 100 when we stop Diana from killing people!"
"Quiet, someone will hear," Kane hissed at them.
By then, both Clarke and Abby were standing facing each other. Clarke let out a frustrated sigh and spoke again, more calmly this time. "What I am trying to say is that the 100 aren't the ones we need to fight, they are the ones welcoming us. Diana is keeping everyone trapped in here to keep them contained and weak so she can hurt others. We have to work with the 100 and the Grounders to stop her and then everyone can start a new life."
Abby was still, her arms folded. But even she couldn't deny that what Clarke was saying was true. "If I am to believe all of this, then I need to know one thing. How on earth have you been talking to Grounders and the 100? Where is Chris? How did you hide him in such a small camp?"
"That's more than one thing," a snarky voice that sounded so much like Octavia's spoke in Clarke's head but she paused. "Finn showed me a way out of camp a few days ago. That's how he managed to follow our group on that first day before winter. I got Chris through the exit and gave him to my friend who was waiting outside the walls for a meeting. I've been talking to others the same way."
Abby and Kane glanced at each other and her mother raised an eyebrow. Kane shrugged and replied with a cryptic look. Clarke scrunched her nose up and couldn't help but think, "Is this what it's like for other people to watch me and Bellamy?"
The two turned back to face her and Clarke glanced between them. "Can you set up a meeting with us? If we are going to do this Clarke, then we have to know who we are making deals with," Kane replied finally.
Clarke grinned and pulled out the green leaves from her jacket. She shook them slightly, the dirt falling in flakes to the ground. "Trust me-I am way ahead of you on that one."
Monty had always been a genius when it came to plants and Clarke had never been so grateful for it. His knowledge had helped her to remember that a certain plant grew in the shadow of certain tree roots and its leaves caused anyone who ate them to pass out for hours. Clarke had ground up the leaves and put them into a tea which was given out to the night guards under the guise of a gift. They were out in minutes. She even had a few leaves left over.
Thanks to the curfew and Diana's confidence with her guards, the camp was deserted. Clarke skidded through the trails until she was outside the walls again, the air hitting her face with the smell of dirt and rain. Every time she stepped into the open forest, she was struck by the possibility of just running for it. She could just go right back to the 100 Camp and be surrounded by her friends when she figured everything out. But she also knew that she couldn't possibly do that. This was her best shot of saving people, of helping the Grounders too. So Clarke just grit her teeth and kept going.
She spotted Bellamy quickly and once again just savoured a moment in his arms. He looked exhausted, with some stubble around his face. It wasn't exactly the best impression to make on her mother but Bellamy managed to pull it off anyway, the handsome idiot. "Come on," she said softly as she took his hand. "The guards are out for another few hours and Kane and my Mom need to meet you. They won't help if you don't."
Bellamy huffed but followed her anyway. She could tell that he was wary, especially since she hadn't mentioned the knocking out the guards plan to him before. Truth was, she hadn't thought of it until both he and Chris had turned back to the 100 Camp. She trusted her friends to have welcomed Chris already.
Bellamy was tense as they slipped through the opening in the wall, his eyes darting around to every corner. To be safe, they kept to the edges of camp and were as careful as possible. Clarke nodded towards the door of her section and she felt Bellamy's hand on her lower back. She let out a breath and for the first time since landing, the Ark Camp didn't feel so lonely.
They hurried to the door and went inside, with Clarke shutting it behind them. She turned around to see her mother and Kane staring at Bellamy. He seemed far more relaxed than they were.
"Bellamy Blake!" Abby hissed, "Really?!"
"When I said I was speaking with the 100 Camp, I assumed you would figure out that I meant their leader," Clarke replied, slightly confused herself.
"Co-leader," Bellamy added which only made Abby's eyes dart back to him before staring at Clarke again.
"You want us to work with the man that shot Thelonious?"
Bellamy stiffened and Clarke automatically took a step forward. "Mom," she warned, "Don't."
Abby blinked in surprised and Kane cleared his throat. "Bellamy had shown himself to be a good leader-his camp isn't the one killing people for instance. Plus, it is about time communications opened up again. For that the past must stay in the past."
Abby paused but nodded curtly. Clarke let her shoulders drop and she subconsciously stepped closer to Bellamy. "I've filled them in about Diana and the Grounders as well as the bombs in her room. Right now, we all need to figure out how we're going to stop her for good."
"The first thing we need to do is check out those bombs and if she's planting anymore," Bellamy said but Kane was quick to answer.
"I've been keeping an eye on her quarters and nothing seems to have been moved from it."
"They could move it in pieces and put it together outside the walls," Abby said, "It would be more subtle."
"I think Diana's immediate focus is on getting me out of the way," Clarke grumbled, "She thinks I'm a threat."
"That's because you are Clarke. Your news that the 100 Camp can live comfortably and peacefully is making people want to jump ships more than you know," Kane said and Clarke wasn't that surprised.
"We've got your back Princess," Bellamy added, "Hunter and Caitlin said it would be a breeze to take over this place. They'd drop from the trees, take out the guards on the wall and from that vantage point, they could hit anyone who even aimed in their general direction. And you know they have the speed and strength to do it. If you get those gates open at that point, then my people can be on the ground as well."
"Sounds perfect but what about the bombs? What if she sets one off in the camp?"
"She wouldn't be that stupid," Abby said, "She wants this place to be her kingdom, why would she threaten it with a bomb?"
"The problem is that we can't just take over the camp; people wouldn't respond well to it. People need to want to leave this place without any thought to Diana."
Clarke pinched her nose and closed her eyes. This conversation was already exhausting. There were so many ways it could go wrong; one mistake and so many people could get hurt. She didn't want that on her shoulders. The best way to start was by taking small steps.
"Like I said before, we have to make people want to leave and be serious about it. I've already mentioned many of the benefits of the 100 Camp so I can keep doing that."
"I can grumble about the lack of equipment and plants to my patients when they visit," Abby offered carefully, "But we have to be subtle about this."
She gave Bellamy a pointed look and he shrugged. "Subtly isn't a trait of mine but that's not what I'm concerned with."
"And what is it exactly that you are concerned with?" Abby asked, a danger edging into her voice.
Bellamy didn't even pause. "Getting Clarke home safe and sound," he replied and Clarke smiled warmly at him, despite her mother's glare.
"You seem to have welcomed her so soon. We thought she was your prisoner."
"Yah, I tried it that way but Clarke said no."
He felt her punch his arm and knew that this wasn't the time for jokes.
"What he means is that we came to an agreement and then I...found a home at his camp. We can all find a home there." Clarke looked between Abby and Kane with hope and Kane managed to smile back.
"A home would be a wonderful thing Clarke but first we have to start the plan. Diana must be stopped before she can hurt anyone else."
"Tomorrow," Clarke blurted out, "We start first thing tomorrow."
She wanted out; she wanted to leave this place so badly. Clarke just wished to be surrounded by the welcoming cabins, warm fires and the freedom that came with them. She was even done with this conversation, especially with her mother being to tense and Bellamy being so awkward. She knew him too well; he was this far away from being offensive.
So she nudged his arm and nodded towards the door. He frowned at her and rightly so-the guards would be out for hours but Clarke was practically pushing him out the door already. Yet he followed her lead and walked out of the section with one last nod to Kane and Abby. The two adults were left alone and Kane sighed heavily.
"Despite my reservations and memories of Blake, he actually seems to be quite a focused young man."
Abby just hummed and darted towards the closed door. "Wait, where are you going?!" Kane hissed and Abby shushed him as she snuck out of the room.
"Quiet, I'm following them."
"Why?"
"Why? Because there is clearly more going on here than those two plotting a camp take over."
Kane frowned at her, his hands thrown out in confusion. "How could you possibly know that?"
Abby turned back to him, taking her eyes away from her daughter's retreating shadow of a moment. Her face softened and she stated, "It's the way he said her name...and the way she smiled at him."
With that Abby was gone, sneaking after the younger duo. She found them easily enough; they were the only ones outside. They stopped at a small section of metal wall, stuck behind one of the drop ships. She stayed behind it, looking out behind a corner. The moon was out but it was hidden behind the trees so the light came down in patchworks along the ground.
Bellamy slid the loose sheet of metal aside but turned back to Clarke who had her hands stuck into her pockets. "Are you really sending me away so early Princess?" he asked, in a teasing voice that went with his grin.
Clarke smiled in return but it didn't reach her eyes. "I know that we have a few hours but my mom and Kane are just getting used to you as an ally. They probably don't want you stay around for a chat."
Abby knew her daughter; she knew that was Clarke's exhausted face and stressed tone of voice. But apparently, Bellamy knew her daughter pretty well too. He looked so concerned and stepped forward to take her arms.
"It's going to be ok Princess. We just have to wait this out a little longer." Clarke sighed and let her forehead rest against his chest.
"I am so tiered of missing you," Clarke mumbled and Bellamy pressed a kiss to her hair.
Abby almost wanted to look away. They seemed so intimate, so in tune with each other. Bellamy wrapped his arms all the way around Clarke, until she closed her eyes and dragged his jacket into her fists. Abby watched the worry and the anger melt from her daughter's face and she leaned against the wall of the drop ship.
Bellamy sighed and said, "Sometimes Princess, I just want to throw you over my shoulder and carry you home where no one can ever take you away again."
"No one took me away-I came back here myself. Just like how I went with you because I wanted to."
Bellamy chuckled and even Clarke grinned with him. "Yah, I suppose. So I have to ask nicely next time I kidnap you?"
Clarke opened her eyes and stared up at him, a strand of hair falling away from her cheek as she moved. "Bellamy Blake, you don't have to ask to keep me around; the only place I want to be is with you."
Before Abby could blink Bellamy had leaned down and kissed Clarke. She nearly gasped but managed to restrain herself. She also congratulated herself-a mother's instinct was always right.
Clarke pulled away from Bellamy only slightly; enough to mumble, "Besides, you are a really terrible kidnapper."
Bellamy laughed but Clarke quickly pressed her hands to his mouth to stifle it. That only caused her to giggle and Abby had to turn away finally. They were surrounded by misery and hopelessness and yet managed to look like two people on top of the world. Clarke looked so happy. She seemed ecstatic to be near Bellamy and never had her daughter ever, smiled so wide.
A few moments passed as they said their goodbyes and Abby heard the metal sheet being dragged closed again. Clarke's footsteps rounded the drop ship and she jumped when she saw her mother out of the corner of her eye.
"Mom!" she hissed, "What the hell are you doing?"
Abby just stared at her, tears almost welling up in her eyes. Clarke saw this and suddenly looked concerned again. "Mom, are you ok?" she asked but Abby just gently took her face in her hands.
"Do you love him?"
Clarke blinked and she then knew that her mother had seen everything. A blush came across her face and Abby almost chuckled at it. "Mom..."
"Just tell me...do you love him?"
She watched as so many emotions flittered through Clarke's eyes. There was concentration, worry, joy, understanding and then finally acceptance.
"Yes," she said firmly, her stare not wavering.
Abby nodded, tears actually falling at his point. "I still don't like him very much."
Clarke snorted but Abby hugged her away. "Give me time," she said, "If he loves you then I can like him."
Clarke hugged her mother back and sighed, giving one last look at the moon above. It had been nearly a week since she had left the 100 Camp and things were getting restless. Like she had told the other three back in their section, tomorrow was important. But for now, she could just concentrate on the fact that her mother didn't completely hate her boyfriend.