Bellamy pulled into Clarke's driveway a week later and tiredly walked up the front steps. He'd been pulling double shifts all week ever since the flu had started it's way around the precinct. First Miller then Harper and finally it took Mrs. Philips down. She was their 911 operator and general office manager. She kept all of them in check and they'd been a mess while she was out for three days. Bellamy was doing everything he could not to get sick. Thankfully, he had the next two days off. It was the Fourth of July and Mrs. Philips had insisted on giving all three of them the day off. As she said, they were only a phone call away if needed. She offered to man the phones during the holiday as long as she was allowed to have her husband sit with her for the day. Bellamy was more than happy to oblige.
"Hey Bell," Clarke greeted him when he let himself into her house. She was dressed in a pair of jean shorts and red tank top. Her blonde hair was up in a ponytail and sandals were on her feet. He sighed when she wrapped her arms around him. Clarke chuckled and rubbed his back. "You look exhausted. Are you ok?"
"Yea," Bellamy pulled back and kissed her forehead. "I'd kiss you, but I'm afraid of flu germs. I don't feel sick, but it's taken everyone else at the precinct down. I'm bound to be next."
"I've been elbow deep in flu germs this week at the clinic," Clark shrugged and placed her hand gently against his cheek. "I can take it."
Bellamy smiled and kissed her lips with his hands cradling her jaw. She wrapped her arms around his waist and let him slip his tongue in her mouth. When she pulled back, rather reluctantly, Bellamy was smiling at her with clear arousal in his eyes.
"You know I'd love to, but we'd better get going or we'll be late," Clarke pulled back and grabbed her purse from the entry table and followed him out to his car.
They drove to the nearby city park and pulled into the already crowded parking lot. It was a tradition among their group of friends to spend the day at the park then they'd watch the fireworks that the city shot off. Bellamy grabbed the case of beer from Clarke's hands and they made their way to the table Octavia had saved.
"I could have carried that you know," Clarke narrowed her eyes at Bellamy. "Are you sure you're ok?"
"I'm good Princess," Bellamy smiled at her. "Just need some rest I think."
Clarke didn't quite believe him, but she wasn't planning on leaving his side for the next two days so she'd keep an eye on him. Lincoln and Wick were already putting burgers on the grill next to their table. Octavia was sitting on the table with a beer in hand talking to Raven and Harper. Miller was throwing a football with Monty and Jasper.
"Hey guys. You can put the beers in there Bell," Octavia gestured to the nearby cooler and Bellamy set it down to start putting the beers in. "What's wrong with him?"
"He says he's fine," Clarke crossed her arms and watched as Bellamy sluggishly put the beers in the cooler. "He's either burned out from a week of doubles or the flu finally caught up with him."
"My money's on both," Raven replied. "He looks like shit."
"Don't worry. As soon as the fireworks are over I'll put him to bed," Clarke took the beer Bellamy offered to her before he went over to halfheartedly join the game of catch.
"Ew Clarke," Octavia scrunched her nose. "I'm happy for you guys, but I don't need the mental picture."
Clarke smacked her playfully on the arm.
"So how are things going with you two?" Harper asked.
"Good," Clarke smiled. "It's been a long time since I've been this happy."
"Well I can assure you that my brother has not smiled this much in a long time. Maybe ever," Octavia jumped down from the table and ran out to intercept the football Monty had just thrown.
Raven and Harper followed her and it quickly became a game of keep the ball away from the boys. Clarke giggled when Raven jumped in front of Jasper to grab the ball. She really was being truthful when she said she'd never been this happy before. Her life in New York was good, despite what had happened, but it wasn't anything like this. Here she had a group of people who cared about her rather than a few and she had a home that was hers rather than just an apartment. And she couldn't ignore the best reason - Bellamy. She'd never connected with another person the way she did with him.
Clarke smiled as Bellamy approached. She wrapped her arms around his waist as one of his wrapped around her back. "Gave up huh?"
"It's not as much fun when you're not involved," He ran his thumb along her jaw and kissed her.
Try as she could, Clarke couldn't stop her heart from fluttering in her chest. She knew she was falling in love with this man. While she wanted to stop the descent out of fear of the consequences, she was powerless to prevent it. He was everything she'd ever wanted.
After eating lunch, they split up and played football again like they had at Octavia's. Only this time they made sure to separate Clarke and Raven. What ensued was the most competitive game they'd ever played. After about two hours they decided to call it quits. Both girls would score on every possession resulting in a perpetually tied game.
"Maybe splitting them up wasn't the best idea," Lincoln said.
"We're just unstoppable," Raven shrugged unapologetically.
"It's going to get dark soon," Monty said as he checked his watch. "Should we start heading over to our spot?"
"You guys have a spot?" Clarke asked.
"Yep," Octavia jumped up on Lincoln's back and wrapped her arms around his neck. "We have for years and everyone in town steers clear of it for us."
"It's the best place to see the fireworks," Raven wrapped her arm around Wick's waist and started walking away from the table.
Bellamy grabbed Clarke's hand and twisted his fingers through hers. When they reached the spot Clarke could see why it was the best. It was at the top of a large hill and there was a break in the trees right in front of it. They'd be able to see the fireworks very clearly from here. Jasper and Miller, who'd been carrying blankets, started spreading them out. Bellamy took the one Miller offered then sank to the ground and pulled Clarke with him. She settled in between his outstretched legs and leaned her back against his chest.
"I'm going to try and stay awake Princess," He pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder then rested his forehead against the same spot.
"Bell we don't have to watch these if you're not feeling well," Clarke reached her arm behind her to gently run her fingernails across his scalp. "Besides your forehead feels a little hot. Are you sure you're not nauseous or anything."
"Not at the moment," Bellamy smiled against her shoulder. "I like that you care so much."
"I am a doctor you know," Clarke replied. They had just run around the park in the intense heat for two hours. Perhaps he was just overheated from that.
For the small town they were, the show was pretty good. It was clear the town cared about the holiday and it seemed like everyone who lived there was in the park to watch. When it was over, Clarke stood and stretched her legs then turned and helped Bellamy up. He looked utterly exhausted.
"Clarke, take my brother home," Octavia looked genuinely worried. "He looks worse than he did when he got here."
"You're right. I don't care what you say Bell," Clarke put her hand against his forehead again. "You are tired from working too much, but the fever you have right now tells me you also have the flu. Let's go home."
"Ok," Bellamy let himself be led back to their car, waving over his shoulder at the group.
Clarke managed to get him inside the car where he promptly fell asleep seconds after he'd buckled up. She drove back to her house and gently shook him awake to led him inside. She dropped her keys on the entry table and tossed her purse on the living room couch.
"Go lay down Bell," Clarke headed for the kitchen and grabbed a glass from the cabinet. "I'll be right there."
When she entered her bedroom with the glass of water in hand she found him sitting on the side of the bed with his shirt off and struggling to get his jeans off. Clarke set the glass down on the dresser and grabbed a pair of his gym shorts from one of the drawers. She was choosing to ignore the fact that his things were magically starting to appear in her home.
"Let me help baby," Clarke unbuttoned his jeans and knelt down to pull them off.
"If I wasn't so exhausted I'd be turned on right now," Bellamy smiled down at Clarke.
Clarke chuckled and helped him step into the shorts then stood. She spread her fingers through his hair as he settled his arms around her waist. She pressed her lips against his hot forehead.
"I care about you Bell. This is what you do for someone you care about," Clarke pressed another kiss to his temple then helped him climb into the bed.
Clarke settled next to Bellamy, at his own insistence, as he finally fell asleep. She lapsed into slumber as well until she was awoken two hours later by the sound of Bellamy retching in the bathroom. Climbing from the bed, she grabbed the glass of water from the dresser. He was hugging the toilet bowl when she entered. She set the glass of water on the counter, sat on the edge of the tub and rubbed his back gently.
"I hate that you're seeing me like this," Bellamy grabbed some toilet paper to wipe his mouth then leaned over to rest his forehead against her knee.
"It doesn't make you any less of man to me," Clarke gently ran her fingers through his hair. "The flu kicks everyone's ass."
Bellamy moaned and leaned away from her comforting arms to lean over the toilet again. After a few minutes he leaned back again and went back to her waiting arms. Clarke rubbed his shoulders and leaned down to press a kiss to the top of his head.
"I'm sorry I kissed you earlier," Bellamy murmured. "You'll probably get this next."
"I was bound to whether you'd kissed me or not. Like I said, I've been around the same germs all week," Clarke reassured him.
They spent a good majority of the night in the bathroom. Clarke made sure to keep him hydrated despite his protestations. Around 3 am his stomach finally felt settled enough for Clarke to lead him back to the bedroom where she helped him lay down. He fell into a very deep sleep and ended up sleeping all the way through to morning.
Clarke rolled over the next morning to find him still sound asleep. He still had a fever, but it wasn't as bad as it had been. The more she watched him the more she realized that she wasn't falling in love with him. She already was. And that scared the shit out of her.