Chapter 16

The infirmary, the Ark.

Raven decides to stay as Murphy recovers - he needs a friend - she decides. His head is bandaged up and he sleeps peacefully. Abby had said that she needed to wake him up every two hours. It seems cruel but she knew it was necessary. "Murphy, you with me" She gently nudges him. "Just say yes, and that you know who you are, where you are, and then you can sleep"

He opens his eyes and gives her a loopy smile. "Do you know who you are?"

Ok, so the painkillers are working, Abby had explained about that "Just go back to sleep Murphy" Raven surprises herself by stroking his hair as he drifted off.

Raven´s workshop

Clarke and Bellamy decide to avoid the crowds and head to Raven´s workshop. She would be with Murphy and they knew she wouldn´t mind. They both welcome the quiet. They sit next to each other, fingers almost touching. Clarke decides to talk shop before this gets out of hand. "So, what do you think about collaborating with the grounders?" The question comes out of nowhere. Bellamy´s mind had been somewhere completely different; something about warm skin and blonde hair. He looks at her before he answers. She shivers.

"I think it is our best option. We have the same goal. They have the manpower and we have the weapons. Win-win"

He doesn´t sound like he thinks it´s a win though. He takes her hand and she doesn´t remove it. "We´ll make it" she says and kisses him on the cheek. The air feels electric.

Olivia had noticed them sneaking away from the crowd and is secretly pleased. Clarke was just what her brother needs.

2 days later, the Ark.

Murphy has recovered quickly and is already up and about. The catch. He is under strict orders from Abby to take it easy. He is pleased to discover that since their trip to Mount Weather most of the survivors seemed to have warmed to him. For once, people actually talked to him. He could get used to this. Without noticing he was having whole conversations without a single sarcastic remark. That was new.

He and Raven had been seeing a lot of each other. He really enjoyed the mechanics´ company. She had accepted his apology for shooting her and it hadn´t been a topic since. He still felt guilty about it, but for now he just wanted to enjoy his new found popularity and Raven´s attention. Her looks had not escaped him but it was her wit and sense of humour he really liked.

Murphy almost felt back to his old self, or even better. Felt good to not hurt anywhere for once. But every time he saw his own reflection the scars were a constant reminder of what he had done. Raven didn´t seem to mind though. They actually laughed together. He couldn't remember the last time he laughed.

Bellamy is pleased. Murphy and Raven is a good match. Their sarcasm and outlook on life bounced well off each other. Lately they also seemed to connect on a deeper level. He always thought Finn was too earnest for her. That boy could out-earnest the best of them. Honestly, Bellamy had always found him a bit boring. At least you couldn´t call Murphy boring.

The next day

It had been decided that Octavia and Lincoln would take a group to negotiate with the grounders about collaborating against the mountain men. Bellamy and Clarke, who had emerged as the de facto leaders of the survivors – Abby was OK with that – would head the group, while Murphy, Raven and Monroe would join them.

OK, here we go again, Murphy thought as the small group left the Ark and ventured into the wood

The Woods

Lincoln has explained that Lexa´s camp is a two-day trek away. They have walked for about half a day when Murphy asks for a break. "Hey, I thought you were cleared from medical for this trip" Monroe looks at him accusingly.

"Give him a break, we could all use a breather" Raven replies before Murphy gets a chance to. "20 minutes" Clarke decides, "let´s all eat some of the provisions, we all need some energy"

The rest of the day is relentless. Raven can see that Murphy is struggling with the pace but he is not complaining. She decides to let it rest. They will camp soon anyway.

Bellamy spots a clearing next to a creek and they set up camp. Bellamy and Monroe have gone off to gather firewood. She has no idea where Octavia and Lincoln are. They had been keeping to themselves all day.

Raven and Murphy sit away from the fire, Clarke can see them talking quietly. They look close. She doesn´t want to stare, but there is nothing else to look at.

She can hear that they suddenly stop talking and she can´t look away as Murphy tilts Raven´s head and leans in for a kiss. Clarke decides enough is enough and leaves to find Bellamy.

Bellamy and Monroe are both balancing a bundle of newly cut wood as they head back to camp. They had been chatting amiably the whole time, Monroe seems in a good mood. Bellamy decides to chance it. "So, how come you still dislike Murphy so much, you have history or something?"

Monroe stops and drops her bundle on the ground "Who told you!?"

"No one. Doesn´t take a genius to figure out something is up"

Monroe looks straight at Bellamy, her face determined. "OK…." Her voice falters a bit then gains strength. "We knew each other on the Ark, before the sky box. Both of us were orphans. I met him after I was kidnapped by one of my moms old buddies" Monroe takes a breath. "Murphy was the leader of a team of children, trained for the pit fights. He was the one who trained me to fight. Even if he only was 3 years older than me, there was no child left in him, believe me. I haven´t forgotten how he treated me"

Bellamy is shocked at this new information. He had heard rumours of these pit fights. He could almost see a young Murphy sneering in the ring. It explained so much. But they all had a past. And no one came out on top of a grudge.

"And no one is asking you to forget. But he has changed. I´m sure you´ve noticed too. I´m sorry that happened to you and I´m sure he deserves your hate. But if he can try to change maybe you can too"

Bellamy´s voice is steady. He likes the big brother role. After all he had some practice. He gives her a long hug and Monroe seems to be in deep thought.

Just then Clarke turns up looking a bit bemused at the situation. Bellamy just smiles at her and shakes his head.

Lexa´s village

The group enters the grounder village around sundown the next day. The trek had been exhausting but now the real struggle started. They had been expecting a rough welcome but when the villagers recognise Lincoln no one touches them. Lincoln asks if they can see the commander.

Well, at least no one touches them until Tristan arrives - he was still alive? - and sees Murphy. Tristan had not forgotten that the boy had provided the false information that had caused his son´s death. He had wanted to kill him then, but Anya had stopped him. So they had just left him tied to a tree. Not to mention the second time! Well, that was then, this time he would get his chance.

Tristan knew that Lexa had cared for his son, almost as much as he did. This would be easy.

"Murderer" he cries out as Lexa walks up to them, two seconds in tow. He points to a confused Murphy "He killed my son."

Not again, Murphy thinks. He looks terrified. Raven grabs his arm.

"When we were at battle he didn't tell us about the mines. Those mines killed my boy. I told you about this, Commander!"

"Indeed you did" Lexa looks sternly at the group "You said Anya let him go. Well, now that he is here he has to pay for his crime. Put him in our jail, we will decide his fate later"

"Can I do the honour, you honour" Tristan sports a frightening smile. Lexa nods.

Tristan knocks Murphy out with one punch and carries him to a fortified hut at the back of the village.

Great start to the negotiations, team! Clarke sighs to herself.