Chapter 7

Lexa woke wide-eyed and in pain. She moaned as her body jerked, revealing her injuries.

"Don't move."

Lexa immediately froze as she recognized the voice. Clarke was okay. Lexa let out a painful sigh of relief, she's okay, she thought to herself. She searched out for the blonde she had to see for herself. Lexa turned her head to find Clarke not far from her, her blonde hair ablaze in the light beside the fire. She was lowering a stick with meat on it from where she had held it above the heat. She made her way to Lexa's side and looked down on her.

Lexa couldn't help but feel admiration to the blonde. She was incredible.

How could she not feel what she felt for Clarke. She was beautiful, strong, kind and courageous. She was perfection and imperfection all rolled into one. She was a force to be reckoned with. An equal. Clarke looked down on her with a serious face but Lexa did not miss the look of concern before it faded.

"You shouldn't have come here." Clarke said matter-of-factly. Sadness filled her expression and Lexa involuntarily winced. Clarke moved from her position, and crept closer to Lexa.

She stared into the deep ocean of blue that was Clarke's penetrating eyes. She couldn't help but feel like they always saw more than the commander, more than her injuries, more than Lexa herself. Clarke Griffin could see her soul. Lexa tried to break the eye contact but failed miserably. Did Clarke not understand why she came? Why she had to come? Lexa swallowed her reply and let the silence envelope them. Lexa pleaded wordlessly as she was locked in the blondes gaze, Clarke had to understand.

Clarke kept looking at her shrewdly before blinking and adjusting her concerned posture.

"You have a dislocated shoulder and what I'm fairly certain is a concussion." Clarke stated as she made a move to unbuckle the commander's armour. Lexa flinched, every movement hurt.

"I'm sorry" Clarke said, "But I have to take this off and pop your shoulder back in."

They made eye contact again and Lexa fell still, giving a slight nod. Clarke removed Lexa's gear tenderly trying not to cause any unnecessary discomfort. When the gear was off Clarke looked back to Lexa's eyes. "Okay, I have to pop it back in now. You ready?"

Lexa looked deep into her eyes. Getting lost in the blue again, she found her strength. She nodded and Clarke made her move.

POP

"Aaaargggghhh" Lexa exclaimed as the joint reset. Breathing heavily she felt Clarke's palm move from her arm to lay on her chest, her thumb rubbing soothing cirlces.

"Breathe," she whispered, "just breathe, it's over."

Lexa absorbed the moment. She felt everything, the pain in her shoulder, the bumps and bruises from the Pauna, the anguish of betraying Clarke, the soothing rubbing of Clarkes hand and calm comforting voice. She tried to speak and no words escaped her. She tried to thank Clarke, she tried to let her know she felt it all; both her and Clarke's pain but she couldn't the words wouldn't form, instead she found herself battling the darkness before she finally succumbed to it all. The pain and the emotions were too much and not enough. She lost consciousness looking into the deep blue eyes of the girl she loved, the girl she betrayed, the woman she left for dead at the mountain.

"Lexa," she heard an angelic voice whisper. "Lexa, wake up."

Lexa stirred slowly back to consciousness "Clarke?" escaped her lips in a half whisper half dry gurgle.

She felt gentle hands lift her head and a cool metal hit her lips. "Drink, you need to drink." Clarke's voice rang clear through the physical pain she was feeling. Lexa's eyes fluttered open as she tried to gulp down the offering at her lips. Swallowing the cool water in, she swallowed deep a couple times. She felt the canteen pulled away from her lips as Clarke then brought the back of her hand wipe the excess liquid from Lexa's mouth. She sputtered slightly as she let the blonde's hand guide her head back down. Lexa was surprised it did not hit the earth but instead the warmth of Clarke's thigh. Despite herself she let out a sift sigh in that fact. She looked up to find Clarke looking back at her. She couldn't decide if she looked more relieved or angry. She was surprised to find as she looked at her that there was genuine concern. The thought lifted Lexa's spirit there you are, she thought. Then it went black again.

When Lexa woke again she found herself with her head still propped on Clarke's thigh. She allowed herself a brief moment of appreciation for where she was currently lying. She was alive when she was certain death would have taken her. She was alive and in the presence of Clarke. This amazing being, one that was far too good for this earth, a girl who deserved more than just surviving. A pain hit Lexa's chest. Phsycial or emotional she couldn't tell anymore but she gasped none the less.

"Lexa?" Clarke stirred, concern filling her voice.

"I'm okay... sorry" Lexa said quietly trying to hide the pain.

She saw Clarke roll her eyes, "Stop moving." she said cooly, composure taking over her features. Lexa froze. "Well no, be comfy - but stop moving" Clarke said with the smallest hint of a smile but true authority in her voice. Lexa let her body relax and her head rest easily again against Clarke's leg. "Good." the blonde noted. Lexa felt her eyes on her. She felt exposed again but tried to shrug it off, this was Clarke after all. She could allow her to see her weak surely, couldn't she? She didn't have time to ponder the thought before the blondes hand found a stray hair and pulled it from Lexa's face. "I'll wake you again in a bit, it's okay. You can sleep again." She heard Clarke whisper. Lexa caught her eye again before succumbing to the blonde's words of comfort and black enveloped her again.