I apologize for the wait! I know I'm terrible! I will try much harder to update more often. I'm hoping to have at least one chapter a week from here on out. Thank you for all your comments!

This is the beginning of the missing two days between 2x05 and 2x06.

I don't own anything.

Thanks for reading!

-KJ

Clarke

Clarke, Bellamy and Octavia walked in the early morning light as a giant statue of a man sitting appeared. Clarke looked around for any evidence of a village. There was none. She shared a confused look with Bellamy when Clarke saw the sadness in Octavia's eyes. Octavia broke down and told them how she couldn't save Lincoln. Bellamy pulled his sister into his arms and comforted her. Clarke's heart ached for the girl. Feeling helpless is the worst feeling Clarke could think of. Bellamy kept rubbing Octavia's back whispering kind words in her ear. Clarke felt as though she was intruding on their moment so took a few steps giving them space. She thought back to Bellamy when they first landed and the one in front of her didn't compute. She was glad that he really wasn't the guy he had tried so hard to be. He had a heart. Octavia was lucky to have him. Bellamy saw himself as a monster but with moments like this how could he believe that? Clarke wanted to convince him that he was worth it. She just had no idea how.

Octavia composed herself and directed them towards the village.

"It's not too far this way." Octavia had quickly replaced the sadness on her face with determination.

Within seconds of them walking again they heard gunshots. Clarke had a sickening feeling wash over her. Nothing good came from gunshots. The three of them ran towards the noise. The small village emerged through the trees. Bellamy and Octavia stopped ahead of her at the tree line. Clarke stepped between them following their eyes when she saw the massacre in front of them. The cold sickening feeling returned tenfold and punched her in the stomach. She found Finn standing there shooting. When he looked up the shooting stopped. There were bodies lying every so feet leading to him. Clarke felt her feet moving but had no control. She approached slowly trying to make sense of the scene. As she got closer she had hoped that these would be vicious warriors attacking Finn and Murphy but they weren't. They were too old or too young to be soldiers. She looked in a pen-like area where women and children cowering in fear and crying. Octavia ran past her kneeling with a grounder that looked as though he recognized her. A young boy with lifeless eyes laid in the man's hands.

Clarke finally brought her eyes to meet Finn's. She almost didn't recognize him. He looked crazed and yet peaceful at the same time. He took a step towards her and she stepped back.

"I found you." Finn said as if he had just rescued her from some danger.

Clarke shook her head. This couldn't be happening. Maybe Murphy had done this, but no she had seen it with her own eyes. Finn killed these people. She felt Bellamy at her side. Finn took another step towards her pleading.

"Clarke."

Bellamy stepped in front of her to block his path.

"Finn stop." He held a hand up. He wasn't his usual harsh self with orders. Even Bellamy was in shock at what had happened. Maybe he feared what Finn might do to them. Bellamy slowly took the gun from his hands. Keeping him at arm's length from Clarke.

Clarke's mind went in overdrive. If this happened because of one of them they had to do something. She ignored Finn's pleas and checked the injured. The boy with the man and Octavia was cold to the touch. She checked his pulse anyway. Nothing. He was dead. She shook her head to Octavia and moved to the next body.

Clarke didn't know how long she spent tending to the injured but it felt like a really bad dream. No matter what she did she felt like there was no winning. There were five dead in total. Several others injured. She worked together with the man Octavia knew, the village's healer Nyko, on a small child. Clarke couldn't keep her hands from shaking as she tried to remove the bullet from the young girl's leg. They got lucky. The bullet was deep in her thigh but missed her femoral artery. Clarke had no idea if the wound would be able to stay clean as she healed or what permanent damage had been done.

It was late afternoon when Clarke finally stopped and took a breath. It almost hurt to breath and not because of her ribs this time. Nausea swept over her violently and she immediately ran behind the hut she had exited. She retched behind a tree until her throat was raw. Clarke spit blood. Her retching turned into screaming. She screamed out in anger letting all her frustrations out as tears started to burn her eyes. She screamed until she couldn't any longer. She fell to her knees in exhaustion and wiped her mouth with her sleeve. She heard footsteps praying that it wouldn't be one person in particular. She crawled away from the tree where she left her stomach contents and settled back sitting with her arms resting on her knees. She looked up and saw it was Bellamy walking towards her. Clarke was relieved. He didn't say anything but sat down next her and handed her his canteen. Clarke poured water in her mouth careful not to touch the mouthpiece. She swished water around in her mouth and leaned over away from Bellamy to spit the bile taste out of her mouth. She greedily drank the water the second time. It felt like ice on her hot raw throat. She then poured some on her hands in a halfhearted attempt to wash away the blood from the villagers.

Clarke slowly caught her breath. "Thank you." She almost whispered her voice was weak.

Bellamy nodded but kept silent.

"Where is he?" Clarke asked and wondered who was with him.

"He's tied up to a tree over there." Bellamy gestured to another side of the village. "Murphy is with him."

Clarke had such a hard time swallowing everything. She was angry. No she was pissed.

"This is so fucked up!"

She couldn't hold her anger anymore. It wasn't directed at Bellamy but she needed to vent because she didn't know how she would react with Finn.

"He killed innocent people! Just fucking shot them! I don't understand."

Clarke put her head in her hands grabbing her hair.

"All because he was looking for me."

Clarke popped up and found Bellamy's eyes.

"And he had the fucking nerve to say 'I found you'. Um excuse me asshole we found you. Shooting people! Fucking piece of shit. He has some gall. Like I can't even wrap my head around his thinking. But…" Clarke paused deflating a bit.

"It's all my fault." Clarke didn't have time to look back down because Bellamy's hands held her face. He looked at her fiercely.

"This is not your fault you hear me? Finn pulled the trigger, I'm the one who gave him the guns and let him go. There is no part where you did anything wrong." Bellamy was angry too.

"You had no idea he would do something like this." Clarke said reaching up to hold one of his hands on her face, which he tried to drop but Clarke kept a firm grasp on his hand.

"But I saw him unraveling. He shot the grounder in the bunk. I knew he was changing. Different." Clarke saw guilt and sadness in his brown eyes.

"Finn pulled the trigger." Clarke said to him but also to herself. They had no way of stopping this tragedy but it still didn't make her feel better.

Bellamy nodded but Clarke knew he wasn't letting anything go. Bellamy stood up and helped Clarke get to her feet. She was woozy and swayed a bit. One of his hands grounded her by holding her waist. Clarke grabbed his arms to remain sturdy. But her hands landed on his biceps. She felt heat in her body immediately and she was lightheaded again but for totally different reasons.

"You okay?" Bellamy looked at her with concern.

Clarke straightened up and took control of her body.

"I'm good." She broke the embrace and started to walk back through the village. Bellamy caught up to her quickly.

"We need to leave." Bellamy said quietly.

Clarke looked around. There was nothing else to be done. Bellamy was right they needed to leave. It was dangerous to stay, others from the village could return any moment and take revenge.

Clarke walked to the healer Nyko.

"I wish there was more I could do, but we have to go now."

The healer kept guarded eyes and simply nodded. Clarke continued.

"We understand that what Finn has done cannot be fixed but we will deal with him. We have more people. He will be held responsible for his actions. There will be justice." Clarke tried to sound strong but she knew she sounded questionable at best.

When it looked like the healer wasn't going to say anything in return Clarke turned to leave but he caught her arm.

"Thank you." He paused. "For your help. The young girl wouldn't have made it without you. I have never performed such an act." He said quietly referring to Clarke performing makeshift surgery retrieving the bullet.

Clarke nodded and tried to blink away the tears that threatened to fall.

"I'm so sorry." She hoped he understood that this was not what any of them wanted, even Finn.

At that they all packed up. Octavia talked to the healer but Clarke couldn't hear what was said but Octavia did hug him. Clarke assumed it had to do with Lincoln. Clarke swung her backpack on her back and slung her gun around her. She couldn't bring herself to hold it though. There had been enough killing that day.

Bellamy shouted orders.

"Okay we're headed back to the Ark camp. Murphy take the rear."

As they walked back to the Ark the sky darkened with the twilight but also with what looked like a nasty storm. The thunder rumbled closer and closer. Bellamy appeared next to Clarke.

"We won't make it before dark or before the storm."

Clarke couldn't stand sleeping near Finn tonight. Clarke felt nothing.

"We keep moving." Clarke barely recognized her own voice, it was dark and menacing.

Bellamy nodded. They kept moving.

Bellamy

The group got lucky. The rain was hard but the temperature didn't drop too much and the wind was moderate. They marched for hours back to the Ark camp. Bellamy knew that continuing the walk in the rain that someone was probably going to be sick or they could have gotten lost but he couldn't bring himself to tell Clarke no. When they returned to the camp Clarke and Bellamy decided to wait till the next day to discuss the situation with her mother but Murphy agreed to stay close to Finn. Bellamy couldn't believe that he was trusting Murphy but even Murphy was affected by what happened at the village. Clarke bee-lined for the latrines before he could say anything to her. After making sure Octavia and the others were settled he headed to his tent.

Bellamy had just shrugged off his jacket and was working on unlacing his boots when Clarke ducked inside. She stood there soaking wet but said nothing. Bellamy just stood up and pulled her into his arms. She held him for dear life. Bellamy held her as long as she needed. After several minutes Clarke slowly pulled away.

"Could I..?" She didn't finish her sentence but her eye's flickered to his bed. Bellamy followed her eyes.

"Of course. Whatever you need, Princess." Bellamy sat back down on his bed and continued to undress. Clarke sat beside him following suit. Clarke removed her jacket and her boots. Bellamy had removed his boots and his shirt. He stood to unbuckle his pants but paused finding Clarke's eyes. She nodded.

"Yeah we need to remove all our wet clothes so we don't get sick." Clarke said and then continued removing her clothes until she was only in a damp bra and underwear. Bellamy stripped to his boxers and slipped into the bed first. He stared at the tent ceiling while Clarke finished laying out their clothes to dry and turned off the lamp on the makeshift table. She then crawled next to Bellamy.

Bellamy didn't move for few moments but then Clarke shivered and he immediately rolled onto his side and held Clarke in his arms. She relaxed and snuggled back into him.

"Mmm you're warm." Clarke mumbled

Bellamy chuckled. His hands rubbed up and down her arms to create more warmth. Clarke felt like ice. One of his hands brushed something on the inside of her right arm. Clarke flinched slightly.

"I'm sorry." Bellamy paused but lightly brushed his fingers over the now forming scab. "What is this from?"

"Mt. Weather. Stupidly cut it on the glass when I broke of out the white room. It's probably going to scar worse because I ripped the stitches to get into medical."

"You ripped your own stitches out?"

"Had to get into medical some way and a fake headache wasn't going to cut it."

Bellamy couldn't believe how strong she was. She would absolutely do anything for their people. Bellamy squeezed her just a little tighter.

"Remind me never to mess with you again." Bellamy couldn't see but hoped that brought a smile to her face.

"That's right. Fear me."

Bellamy and Clarke both laughed. They fell into a comfortable silence listening to the rain outside. Bellamy was very aware that there were only a few articles of clothing between his body and Clarke's but for the first time maybe ever he put someone's feelings before his bodily reactions. Clarke needed him to just be there. Sex would complicate things and he was determined to be whatever she needed. Doesn't mean it didn't cross his mind a few times through the night.

Early morning shined through the tent causing Bellamy to stir. He felt something warm on his arm and he turned seeing Clarke curled up into his side. Her face was scrunched up in pain. Bellamy took his free hand brushed hair out of her face and held her to him. He wished he could take away her pain and worries. In the light he could see the bruises and cuts that covered her body. On her right arm the cut on her inside of her forearm and further up her arm the stitches from being shot by the guard when they thought she had been a grounder. The bruises on her side were turning a nasty yellow.

Clarke began to stir and Bellamy was afraid he had been caught staring. Clarke moaned as she slowly pulled herself up to a sitting position. Her eyes were still closed for few moments as she took deep breaths. Bellamy remained lying down entranced in her beauty in the morning light. Her golden curls were a mess down her back. Bellamy had to resist running his hands through the tangles. Clarke then became rigid and her eyes flew open. She looked panicked looking around the tent. Bellamy assumed that she didn't recognize where she was. He sat up and gently touched her shoulder.

"Hey you're okay. You slept here with me last night."

Clarke turned to him and her big beautiful eyes seemed to get bigger. She shook her head to say no and held a hand over her mouth. She turned from him and reached for a bucket that had been upside down used as a makeshift chair. She leaned over the edge of the cot and puked into the bucket.

Bellamy lightly rubbed her back as she continued to retch into the bucket. He crawled out of the cot careful not to bump her and found their water canteen which was empty.

"I'm going to go get you some water." Bellamy said as he quickly threw on his pants and boots and rushed out of the tent.

When he returned he found her lying down with an arm draped over her face. She spoke first.

"I am so sorry."

Bellamy was taken back.

"Why?"

"It's not pleasant to wake up to someone puking in your tent." Clarke peeked up at him from under her arm.

Bellamy scoffed.

"There are worse ways. Here drink some water."

After a few moments Bellamy finally asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine."

"Are you sick?"

Clarke touched her forehead with the back of her hand.

"I don't feel feverish. I doubt it. My body is just reacting to all the stress." She started to get off the cot but Bellamy stopped her with his hands on her shoulders. "What are you doing?" Clarke was confused.

"You need to rest."

"We need to deal with Finn."

"I can handle it. You need to take care of yourself first. Plus your mom will want talk to them too."

Clarke looked up at him with sad tired eyes but said nothing.

"We're partners remember?" Bellamy said as he cupped her face. "Now rest. That's an order." He said teasingly.

Clarke groaned but did lie back down and within a few moments she was fast asleep. Bellamy took the bucket, washed it out, and set it back by the cot just in case along with the water canteen. He took a few moments to watch her sleep. He tried to understand when exactly things had changed and how now his happiness depended on the girl before him. He had no idea how to handle this. He had never felt this way before. He never worried about other's feelings except for Octavia. He knew Clarke was battling many emotions and most of them pertaining to Finn. Bellamy knew that Finn and Clarke had grown close in the first few days and when he lied she pulled away. She wasn't the type to knowingly hurt someone and Bellamy saw the change when Raven arrived. But what Finn had done in the village Bellamy knew it was tearing her apart. She blamed herself and Bellamy wished he could take away her guilt for her. It wasn't her fault. Bellamy gave Finn the gun and let him go. He knew Finn was losing a grasp on who he was and would do anything to get Clarke back. Bellamy wanted to find Clarke and the others just as much but Clarke had become his conscience. He asked himself way too often in those days apart, 'What would Clarke do?'

Throughout that day he had run interference for Clarke so she could rest. He took the angry lectures from Abby and the angry blonde guard Byrne for leaving the camp against their orders. He explained what had happened in the village to Abby but told her that she should wait to discuss it with Clarke before doing anything. He told everyone that Clarke was exhausted and resting but left out the fact of her getting sick that morning. When he returned back to the tent later that afternoon she was up and getting dressed.

"Feeling any better?" Bellamy asked as she put her shirt on. He couldn't help looking at her stomach and hips as she pulled the shirt on over her head.

"Yeah I'm good. Thanks Bellamy." She answered softly and looked up at him. She weakly smiled at him and then her face hardened. She pulled her jacket on and walked towards him. "We've got work to do."

All Bellamy could do was nod and follow her out of the tent. Clarke was such a force and he would follow her anywhere.