Once the hatch was open Nathan jumped down to the floor nimbly. First he grabbed Bellamy in a quick hug and then Clarke followed by Bellamy again. This time in a deeper hug with an almost painful squeeze at the end. "It's Bellamy and Clarke!" He yelled up. More boots hit the rungs as Sinclair began to climb down.

"How did you find us?" Bellamy asked as Sinclair hit the floor and David Miller's face peered into the hatch above before disappearing. Sinclair looked around the bunker for a moment and then walked to the farthest wall.

"We saw the rope when we were tracking up the river looking for your body!" Miller said stabbing Bellamy in the chest with his finger. Before Bellamy could ask Miller continued. "We found Ben strapped into that makeshift raft thing. It kept him afloat." Then his face had clouded over and he put his hand on Bellamy's shoulder. "I'm sorry, the others didn't make it."

Disbelief and elation filled Bellamy at the same time. He was sure Miller was confused by the broad smile that was threatening to stretch across his face. Everyone had plummeted to their death when the rope snapped but now.. "Ben's Alive! How?" Bellamy asked. He couldn't believe it.

A low whirring noise filled the room as panels in the ceiling filled the room with a pale cold light. Bellamy and Clarke whirled to face Sinclair, who had opened a panel in the wall and pulled a lever, springing the room into life. He closed the panel and turned to them smiling. "This is a TK3000." He said, as if they should know what it meant. Everyone looked at him blankly. Not for the first time that day Sinclair wished Raven had been well enough to come with them. Maybe he should have overruled Jackson and let her come anyway. But no, he shook his head before telling them "This is the ultimate bug out module. They became very popular with Doomsdayers in the last few decades before the war. This thing was built to last for centuries."

Miller wasn't convinced. "I'd go crazy within a few weeks in a space this small, the mountain was bad enough." He said, looking around. His eyes falling onto the single messed up bed and automatically giving Bellamy a "Score Bro" Look before he could stop himself.

Bellamy had to agree, even with just himself and Clarke the place had been too small, he couldn't imagine if they'd tried to raise kids in here too. That thought pulled him up short, he was done with kids, but he looked at Clarke sideways. He was pretty sure she could talk anyone into anything.

Sinclair touched another panel back near the ladder, one that looked identical to all the others but a creaking noise filled the room and they had to jump back as the floor beneath them opened into a spiral staircase. "This is just the lobby, a decoy if you will." Sinclair declared heading down the stairs.

He was stopped by Bellamy who grabbed his arm angrily. "If there are people down there you just killed them all." Sinclair glared at Bellamy and shook his arm free easily. There was a steel beneath the quiet engineer that Bellamy hadn't expected to find in one of the privileged. But then his idea of who they were had changed so much since he hit the ground he wasn't really that surprised anymore. Had things really changed so much, or had they always been this way.

Clarke and Bellamy followed Sinclair down. Below there was a brightly lit lobby. With a door and intercom at one end. It was very surreal. Sinclair pressed the buzzer. There was no response. He tried the door but it was locked.

"Can you open it?" Clarke asked her mind clearly whirring with the possibilities of what might lie behind it.

Sinclair shook his head. "Not right now. Like Bellamy said we need to make sure there is no one in there first. We can leave guards. But right now the priority is to get you two back to Camp Jaha.

Clarke looked back at the door several times as they ascended the spiral. Bellamy thought he understood why. This could be their second chance. A chance to make allies, to find people who were more like them than the Grounders. But the door was stark and uninviting and the whole idea that there had been people below them the entire time, maybe even watching them gave him the heebee jeebees.

They packed quickly and he was glad to finally leave the bunker behind and step into the crisp cold daylight. Sinclair returned the bunker to it's decoy configuration and they sealed the hatch behind them hiding their location as best they could. Miller senior was on the radio by the tree as they approached him, with Nathan bringing up the rear. Once he had finished talking he untied the rope and started hauling it to the top.

"The mobile unit will meet us at the Drop Ship." He informed Sinclair, hoisting the rope over his shoulder. Sinclair nodded looking up at the clear blue sky.

Clarke's eyes raced to Bellamy's in question, but he wasn't surprised. Asserting ground superiority had been a priority when he left. To do that they needed to get the vehicles and the weapons they could carry operational. Nathan Miller took point as they headed out, gun poised, looking less like a delinquent and more like a professional soldier, until he looked backed at them and grinned his crooked smile. Bellamy watched Clarke smile back, it felt good to see them so relaxed and happy. He would try to cling to moments like these when his demons plagued his sleep. He hoped Clarke could learn to do the same.

Mr Miller fell into step between them for several strides before speaking. "Thank you for getting my son out." He said simply, but his voice was thick with emotion. He kept his eyes forward watching his son's back. Clarke and Bellamy shared a glance across him, and then he moved forward to walk with his son, scanning the tree's for danger. "Look up too." They heard Nathan advise his dad, who followed his lead. The world around them squelched as melt water continued to drip into the undergrowth. Their boots leaving tracks that would be easy to follow, but for now they had the forest to themselves.

It was always hard for Bellamy to return to the Drop Ship, a place that for a brief crazy moment in time had felt more like home than any other place ever had. He braced himself for the sight of the burnt skeletons, some of them his own friends, but they were gone. When had that happened? The rest of the site looked untouched. It was eerily like a ghost town.

Clarke gasped as they rounded the barricade. Bellamy had known what to expect but he was still impressed. The mobile unit was a lightly armored truck with large wheels. Small enough to weave it's way through the trees but big enough to carry a nasty looking gun on the top. It looked even more formidable out here than it had done parked in the underground bunker.

Sinclair grinned and leaned in as he saw Bellamy eyeing it. He whispered gleefully. "We haven't found any ammo for the gun yet, but for now it seems to be scaring the Grounders away." Bellamy looked sideways at the engineer. He was having way too much fun with his new toys but his enthusiasm and maybe, was it optimism, was infectious.

"How is Raven?" Bellamy asked, as she popped into his head.

Sinclair shook his head once, "She'll be glad to see you, and Clarke I think. News of Wick's death it her hard." He paused for a moment as if considering something. "Did you know?" He asked, eyebrow raised quizzically. Bellamy nodded, anyone who had watched Wick carry Raven knew.

That trek back from the Mountain had been a hard slog with so many injured. They'd taken turns carrying stretchers, but in the end they didn't have enough. Raven ever too independent insisted she didn't need one, but she couldn't walk more than a couple of steps without sweat pouring from her body and the blood draining from her face. When she had passed out Bellamy hoiked her over his shoulder and carried her fireman style. But when she woke up she always wanted Wick and he always carried her in his arms, her face buried in the crook of his neck, breathing through her pain. Taking turns between them, that was how they'd got Raven back to camp.

"Let's go home" Sinclair declared swinging open the heavy door at the back. Nathan and Sinclair climbed into the dark opening with Clarke and Bellamy. The jerk as the engine shuddered into life took Clarke by surprise and she grabbed hold of the bench she sat on to steady herself. Bellamy's eyes quickly adjusted to the dim light of the interior, lit only by a narrow horizontal window on each side. He shot her a reassuring glance and resisted the urge to sit next to her. Later as the gates to Camp Jaha swung open to receive them he regretted it. The color had drained from her face and she had clutched at her seat so hard her knuckles had turned white as bone.

The camp was virtually deserted of civilians but guards dotted the wall every hundred meters or so. They drove up to the main structure. "Get as close as you can." Clarke commanded. "I want to try to get inside without anyone seeing me." Sinclair raised his eyebrow at her but nodded when the driver looked to him for confirmation. Then he swung the vehicle around and drove to the rear where a large opening in the wreckage allowed him to drive the van completely inside what had once been a cargo bay, it's contents lost to space or the atmosphere on descent.

He scrambled quickly out of the Van after Miller so that he could turn to offer Clarke his hand, but she was already at the door and leapt out after him. She looked around, her face determined. He could almost see the cogs in her mind whirring. She turned to Sinclair as he followed her. "How many of these do you have working." She asked.

He looked at her quizzically as if trying to work her out. Their paths hadn't crossed much on the Ark, he didn't have much to do with medicine. In truth he wasn't very good with the sight of blood or illness. Given the option he would always assign someone else to repairs in the medical bay. "How many do you need?" He said finally.

"Two, I think." she said. "But first I need to speak with my mom. You too!." She said to Sinclair.

"Radio's this way." He said and Clarke fell in step beside him. "Kane was acting chancellor when I left, but I've no idea who will be in charge when we get back, we've had some visitors." Clarke nodded absently as if she wasn't really listening.

Half way across the floor she turned to Bellamy and Miller who were stood by the van watching them leave. "I'll see you later, I've just got some details to sort out." Then she was gone, walking quickly out of earshot.

Miller who had been watching Bellamy punched him in the arm playfully. "What was that about?"

"She's got a plan for keeping Octavia safe from the Grounders." Bellamy said, still watching the sway of her steps as she left deep in animated conversation with Sinclair.

"That's not what I meant." Miller began, but in response to Bellamy's blank I have no idea what you're talking about face he just threw his hands in the air. "None of my business. Come on I'll take you to Ben."

Bellamy followed. He didn't know how he was going to face the man he had tried to cut loose to fall to his death. The man who's best friend he had killed. Guilt churned beneath his skin, but he would not run from this even if he could. He owed Ben that much. He owed him more.

The large man filled his bed completely. His head and face were a swathe of bandages. His arms hidden beneath the bedding. In his mouth there was a tube helping him breath. When Bellamy had arrived at the Medical Bay Jackson had still been there checking Ben's dressings and hanging the fluids that were keeping him alive. The shock on his face when Bellamy had walked through the room was priceless. Obviously no one had told him that he was alive. Sinclair told them that Ben was in an induced coma and that they had stabilized him enough for transport to the mountain. That would happen later today.

Jackson rushed away after briefing them. He wanted to make sure Abby knew that Clarke was safe. Watching Ben silently, listening to the rhythmic noises of the machines, Bellamy wondered where Octavia was. He trusted Lincoln to keep her safe, but even Lincoln hadn't seen that the coming storm would be as severe as it became.

When Jackson returned his face lighter than before but it darkened when Bellamy asked to be shown the bodies of his friends. Miller had placed his hand on his shoulder then and told him that he didn't have to do that, but Bellamy needed to see them. Miller just nodded and walked beside him as Jackson led them into an anteroom further down the corridor.

The icy blast of air as he walked through the door made his skin prickle. Four bodies were laid out on tables, each covered in a grey cloth. Jackson walked over to the closest of the tables and began to pull back the fabric.

"Wait!" Bellamy said his voice panicked. "Did you.. Did you perform a… I mean are they…"

Jackson understood his discomfort immediately. His voice was low and reassuring. "You don't have to do this Bellamy. No I didn't do an autopsy. Cause of death was pretty evident and besides we really don't have the resources or the time for that right now." He watched has Bellamy's adam's apple bobbed up and down. "Do you want me to stop?" Bellamy shook his head and Jackson pulled the cover back.

Montgomery Green Senior looked pale and peaceful. This was not the horror of violent death that Bellamy had come to know and expect. His friend almost looked like he was sleeping. Almost.

"Did he drown?" Bellamy asked dragging his eyes away from the man's face and looking up at Jackson. His eyes stung and watered from the cold air in the room.

The young doctor shook his head and indicated to Mr Monty's head without moving it. "There was massive trauma. His head hit something hard like a rock. He was dead before he entered the water. It was probably instantaneous."

Bellamy nodded thinking of the overhang Clarke and he had climbed around. He wiped away the tears that were threatening to fall with the back of his hand.

"Did he have anything on him, a wallet? It has a photo of his family?" Bellamy asked, his throat felt closed and forcing the words out was difficult.

Jackson nodded. "We've got his personal stuff boxed up to give to his son. There was a letter from his mother in there too."

Bellamy gulped. "I'd like to give it to his son personally please?" Bellamy asked. "If that's okay?"

Jackson looked uncomfortable, he glanced between Miller and Bellamy. "I'm sorry I can't do that. This is my job. When people die I look after them, I make sure they're okay and I.." He paused as if trying to find the right words, ".. it is important to me that I make sure their personal belongings make it into the hands of their loved ones." Jackson shifted in his stance clearly uncomfortable but not willing to back down.

"Just make sure they do!" Bellamy said, his voice gruffer than he intended.

"Do you want to see Sergeant Ben now?" Jackson asked changing the subject and moving over to another table.

Bellamy nodded, but Miller grabbed his arm. "You don't have to do this. You don't have to see him like this"

Bellamy just looked at him. "Yes I do."

Jackson lifted the white cloth keeping his eyes on Bellamy.

Bellamy fell forward onto his knees once more and retched, but nothing else remained. He sat back and leaned against the cold metal walls of the Ark. It burned painfully into his back. He should have listened to Miller. Bellamy wished he could picture Bill in his head as he had been alive, but all he could see was the mangle of a human flesh that lay on the slab. They had found his body still clutching on to Ben by the banks of the icy cold river, protecting this friend even in death. There were deep gashes on his arms and back where he'd slammed into jagged rocks. But there was no doubt he'd been alive long enough to push both of them to shore. He'd used the last of the heat in his body to keep his friend warm and even after death he'd provide a distraction for the bear that Miller's shotgun had chased away when they'd found the bodies.

He heard footsteps heading his way and scrubbed the tears that had yet to fall with the back of his hand. Sinclair stood before him silhouetted in the afternoon sun. "Come on it's time to get going." His voice was matter of fact and he held out his hand to Bellamy, helping him rise.

"Where?" Bellamy asked.

"Back to our new home." He said nodding slightly in the direction of the mountain.

A panic took over Bellamy as he looked up at the small group gathered near the truck. Clarke was not there. "She's inside." Sinclair said as if reading his mind.

Bellamy followed him to what was actually a small convoy of trucks. When he opened the door and Clarke wasn't there he looked at Sinclair in confusion. "She's in the ambulance with Ben and Jackson." Sinclair said, gently shoving the reluctant Bellamy into the back of the truck to sit shoulder to shoulder with Miller.

The journey was uneventful, if somewhat bumpy. Bellamy didn't see how or where they got back into the mountain he was just aware of the sudden blackness outside as the mountain swallowed them. Miller was discussing rotations with one of the other guards but Bellamy zoned it out. He'd left the Mountain with six people now most of them were dead. Some leader he was going to be.

The corridors of Mt Weather teamed with life as Bellamy made his way through it towards Raven's quarters. He'd left Clarke in the infirmary with her mother. Their re-union was painful to watch. The thank you her mother had mouthed at him over her daughter's shoulder had felt like a dagger in his gut. Everywhere around him people bustled, busy making a new life for themselves here in the grave of the Mountain Men. His pace quickened, but he stopped himself from running. When Raven opened her door, he practically threw himself in and slammed the it closed.

Raven's clear brown eyes looked up at him in concern. She stood before him leaning heavily on a pair of crutches, again. As he stared at her face her eyes moistened and a tear escaped towards her trembling lips. His hand moved instinctively to brush it away, but her own fingers got there first, and then they moved to his face and wiped away the tears that were flowing down his own cheeks. "I'm so sorry.' He whispered.

And then they were wrapped in eachothers arms shaking and crying. He slid down the door in and she fell with him. They stayed that way for a time, even after the tears had stopped and their breathing had returned to normal. "Help me to the chair." Raven asked after a while, so Bellamy picked them both up and carried her over to a large three seater with soft cushions. Then he went back for her crutches and sat down next to her. They both stared at the blank TV for several minutes. "I have something for you." He said reaching into his pocket for the necklace. Raven held out her hand as he dropped the chain gently into her palm.

"I'm so sorry." Bellamy began again, gulping, but he was cut short by Raven who had her finger raised at him in warning, her blotchy face stern and brooking no nonsense. He couldn't help but half smile as she scolded him, "Don't start that again!" He nodded in compliance and waited while Raven rolled the chain between her fingers quiety.

Raven's quarters were larger than the ones he had found on the first night back. There were two bedrooms off the main living area that he could see. Raven watched his gaze as it took in the belongings of the dead family who had lived there. Children's toys sat on the shelves and through the open door he could see a crib in one of the rooms. His hands found his face, and Raven's palm found his back and began to trace soothing circles. "You tried to find another way Bellamy. I know you! I know you tried." His eyes raised to Raven's once again and he could see the trust in them.

She bit her lip briefly, hesitating. "Did he suffer? Was it quick?" Bellamy's mind flashed back to the moment at the table. The violence of Wick's reaction as he vomited up blood, the fear in his eyes as he fell. "It was quick." he said. "It was quick." Raven nodded. Raven rose from the chair, grabbing her crutches and headed to the bathroom. "Be right back." She said over her shoulder as she moved.

A knocking sound woke Bellamy. He'd fallen asleep and at some point Raven had placed a blanket over him. He looked around for her. At first he was alone, but then he heard her coughing in the bathroom. "Get that for me!" She yelled at him through the closed door.

Nathan stood there, at first surprised to see Bellamy, then walking in and looking around for Raven. "You ready?" He asked as Raven emerged from the bathroom. She had changed, done something with her hair. She looked nice. 'Yes, let's go." She said, then turning to Bellamy. "It's the big commemoration service tonight. For the Mountain Men." As Bellamy watched her limping out of the door, head held high, he was struck again by how strong she was. He knew the physical and emotional pain she was hiding, but the world never would.

The service was a solemn affair led by Marcus Kane. As he spoke Bellamy was reminded of his mother who had led many ceremonies herself on the ark. They stood in a opened up storage area. Someone had found a list of of all the people who had lived in the Mountain. Special thanks was given to all the people within the mountain who had helped save the forty eight. Nathan Miller stepped forward to say a few words about the delinquents who had died under the drill. As he spoke about Fox Bellamy could still feel her arms around him when he'd rescued her. She'd clung to him, and he'd clung to her too after a moment. Rage rose within him. Each of the captives was invited to light a candle on a metal tree to honor those who'd help keep them safe by hiding them. Miller went up first. He spoke for a few moments about the couple who'd hidden him. A few other who'd been hidden with him came up and lit their candles too. That's how it went for a while with little groups and individuals sharing the stories of the heroes who kept them safe. Know one had spoken about Maya and Jasper never came forward, Bellamy scanned the crowd, but he wasn't there. Monty was standing next to Harper, his face was tight and emotional. Across the crowded room Bellamy tried to catch his eye, but he never looked at him. Harper did once, and she shook her head just slightly. Bellamy felt like a heel. He should have gone to Monty straight after he spoke to Raven.

No one had still mentioned Maya yet. Jasper must not have come. He had just resolved to go up and speak for her when he felt a soft hand on his arm. Clarke looked up at him, her soft blonde curls glowing in the candlelight, her blue eyes glistening with the emotion only betrayed by the flush of her cheeks. "Together." She said, as if she had been reading his mind.

With her hand still on his arm they walked to the front, all eyes were upon them. Clarke took a long look at the wall of names that had been created. Bellamy felt her nails bite into his arm even through his jacket. They turned to face the gathered crowd. Both their faces were wet by the time they'd finished talking about the selfless young woman who had really been the salvation of them all. Without Maya or her dad none of them would be here. The air was still when they finished as if everyone was holding their breath, not wanting to be the first to break the spell that had descended on them. A loud wail filled the air and everyone's head turned as one. Norm and Ginger were stood near the front holding baby Maya who had chosen this moment to exercise her lungs. Monty leaned over to shush her gently, his face visibly softening.

Chancellor Griffin had moved to stand next to them at the front. She was leaning heavily on one crutch as she walked. She thanked everyone for their memories and then spoke a few words in closing and then the service was over.

Monty was bouncing Maya in his arms and chatting with Norm and Ginger as he left. Bellamy tried to follow but Harper stopped in front of him barring his path. "Not now Bellamy!" She said with a fierceness that Bellamy hadn't seen in her before. Bellamy looked over her shoulder at the dispersing crowd, but Monty was gone. He didn't need to ask her why, it was written in her eyes. "He blames me." Bellamy gulped out. She nodded once and placed a hand on his arm. "I'm sorry." She said and then turned as if to leave as well, but she stopped and flung her arms around his shoulders pulling him into a quick squeezing hug. The ground had made her strong. She kissed him briefly on the check and then said with tears in her eyes. "Thank you. I'm so sorry." Then she did turn and leave.

Bellamy stood still as departing crowd swirled around him. He couldn't cry not here. Not now. This wasn't his pain, it belonged to Monty. He didn't have the right to feel it. Monty was right it was his fault.

"It wasn't your fault" Clarke said beside him. He turned to look down at her, she cleaned up nice. It was distracting.

"Yes it was." He said and looked away. But she tugged on his sleeve.

"Hey! You didn't cause that storm." She insisted.

He shook his head not looking at her. "We should have gone straight back to the Mountain. If we had Monty's dad would still be alive and you would still be safe in the bunker"

Clarke let her hand fall from his sleeve.

He looked down at her then, cupping her cheek gently with his hand. "Clarke I.."

They were interrupted by her mother stepping up to her daughter and placing a hand on her shoulder. "Clarke I got Kane to agree to your idea in principle, will you be ready to present your idea before the council this afternoon." Clarke nodded. "Good, Sinclair is expecting you now in the garage" The Chancellor continued. "Come find my in the infirmary at 16:00 when you are done and we will go in together."

Then she turned to Bellamy. "You're coming with me Bellamy Blake, I need to debrief you and we have important council matters to discuss before the meeting." Then she turned and began to hobble away as quickly as her crutch would allow. Which was pretty quick. She looked over her shoulder after a few paces, "Well? Come on!"

Clarke squeezed his hand. "We'll talk later." She said, before heading in the opposite direction towards the garage.

Bellamy caught up with the Chancellor quickly and walked next to her in silence for a few minutes. "Have I done something wrong?" He asked finally, but Abby Griffin just looked at him and said, "It can wait till we get to my office."

Her office was the one the President had used. Bellamy took a seat as directed on the other side of the desk and watched as the Chancellor eased herself down into the big chair. She steepled her fingers as she looked at him across the desk.

"I understand you spent last night in Raven Reye's quarters." She half asked, but it was not a question.

Bellamy nodded.

"Then I presume you two had a chance to talk about everything." She said, but her tone confused him. It was almost like an accusation.

He spoke warily. "I returned Wick's necklace to her. I thought she'd want it."

The Chancellor looked at him blankly. "Why would Raven want his necklace?" Then the penny seemed to drop. "Oh!" She said, leaning back in her chair as if to give herself some space. "I didn't know. So did you two talk about anything else while you were there?" She asked.

Bellamy shook his head, bristling at all the questions but wanting to know where this path was leading.

She looked at him for a moment as if considering. Then when she spoke she picked her words carefully.

"Bellamy, tell me what you know about Octavia's conception?"

He looked at the Chancellor shocked. Never in a million years would he have thought their conversation was headed in this direction. Suddenly he was very nervous for his little sister.