A Fresh Start Chapter 22 Worth Saving
"Shouldn't he be waking up?" Octavia asked. She stood looking at her big brother, lying on his stomach.
Clarke sat next to him; her fingertips gently stroking his brow. "We'll get through this," she whispered.
"It's good that he's out," Abby said. "I can't believe I'm saying that," she mumbled to herself more than the others. "Just keep an eye on his breathing," she told Octavia.
Abby and Jackson both were working on his back; stitching what needed and cleaning everything.
"It's like putting a puzzle together," Jackson angrily mumbled.
"Stitch only the worst," Abby reminded him. "Infection's going to be the biggest concern."
"The worst," Jackson said "that's everything,"
Bellamy began to stir. His eyes squeezed tight, before opening slightly and seeing Clarke staring back at him. His mouth grimaced in pain, holding back a scream. His hair was plastered to the sweat beading on his forehead.
"Hey, hey…" Clarke said "You're going to be okay," she said softly. "You need to lie still."
He closed his eyes and a tear fell across the bridge of his nose. He began to shake and finally a scream escaped his mouth. He jerked from the pain.
"Clarke he needs to keep still," Jackson yelled.
Clarke tried to calm him. Octavia got in his face. "Bell," she yelled. "Bell, look at me," She demanded.
"Look at me, "she said again louder and with force.
"O," he said and then he looked at her, he calmed a little. Tears streamed down, from the pain. Octavia took his hand, and began talking calmly to him. She massaged the muscle in his hand between this thumb and forefinger. "It's going to be okay," she whispered. "Remember you used to read to me about Airmed, the goddess of healing," she said "Healing herbs grew from her tears," she said as she struggled to control her own tears. She kept massaging the pressure point in his hand as she talked to him.
He suddenly jerked again and screamed. The pain was too much. "Hold him," Abby yelled.
"Bell stop," Octavia told him and held his shoulders down.
All of a sudden he stopped and was out again. Octavia looked up and saw Abby holding a reaper stick.
"I hoped I wouldn't need that," Abby said
Jackson and Abby spent the next hours repairing the damage to his back.
Once they were done piecing his back together, they quickly started to move Bellamy to Octavia's room, but were stopped in the corridor outside of medical by three Albatross guards.
"What's the meaning of this?" Abby demanded
"We've been given orders to guard the prisoner," they said
"He's not a prisoner," Clarke said "The trial is over, and he's paid for what he did,"
"Orders are orders," the guards said
"We'll see about this," Abby hissed. She turned and stormed to her office
Abby got on the radio and called Marcus. Moments later he came down the corridor with Jaha in tow.
"Abby," he said looking from Bellamy, lying asleep on the gurney, to Octavia and Clarke, and then to Abby. He nodded and let Jaha address the guards.
"Gentlemen," Jaha said "What's the meaning of this. Mr. Blake is no longer a prisoner. The trial is over, we passed sentence, and he has paid for his crime," Jaha said.
"We had orders not to let him out of our sight. Colonel Rollins feels he could still be danger to the people in Arkadia, and as head of security he feels…" the guards was saying, but Octavia cut him off.
"A threat?" she yelled stepping towards them. One guard immediately pulled his shock stick. Marcus intervened before he could activate it; throwing his hands between the two.
"Now everyone relax," he said focusing on the two.
"He can't even move right now," Clarke stepped up. 'This is insane, your people nearly killed him, and He isn't even conscience." She argued.
"Look until Rollins say's otherwise, we have to follow orders," they said
"As chancellor, my order supersedes Col. Rollins," Jaha said. "Now let these people pass," he said with authority. "If Rollins has anything to say, have him come see me," Jaha said,
Abby, Clarke, and Octavia rolled the gurney to Octavia's room.
"He'll need to stay still for a few days, he won't feel much like moving anyway," Abby told Clarke and Octavia. "We'll need to clean and redress his back daily, and watch for any signs of infection," she said
"We'll take turns," Octavia said looking at Clarke.
"I'll take first watch," Clarke told Octavia "You can stay in my room."
Octavia didn't go to Clarke's room; instead she headed straight to the cantina. She knew everyone would be there.
"Murphy," Octavia said when she saw him sitting there with Monty and Ilian, "When did they let you out," She asked
"Right after they were finished with Bellamy," he said "Monty told me what happened," he said
"How's he doing?" Monty asked
"How do think he's doing?" Octavia asked "He passed out for a while, and woke up just long enough for Abby to knock him out again," she said. "Something has to be done about these people," she said
"Who? Rollin's people?" Ilian asked.
"Jaha's the Chancellor," Murphy said "He let that happen,"
"Rollins is up to something," Octavia said "He's out to get Bellamy."
Raven came in and saw the three sitting at the table. "Octavia," she called
"How's Bellamy? They wouldn't let anyone near medical, Rollins had guards posted," Raven said
"Yea, Rollins still says Bells dangerous," Octavia said "We need to do something."
"What can you do? He has all the guards, the guns, all the power," Ilian said.
"Raven, you know something. What aren't you telling us?" Octavia asked.
"Look I'm on your side here," Raven said "But Rollin…I don't like him," she said "I've never trusted him, not really. I don't know what it is, but it's about Clarke," she said
"What do you mean about Clarke?" Octavia asked "wait…did Rollins and Clarke…?" she started to ask.
"No, she spent the days counting to when she could get back; we both did; but it wasn't like Rollin's didn't try," Raven added
"When we first got aboard the Albatross, he wanted every detail about Earth, the people, the history," she said "He was almost too interested,"
"Then why Bellamy?" Octavia asked
"Clarke, when she talks about Bellamy…well it's clear she has feelings for him," Raven said
"Come on," Murphy said "You're telling me Rollin's is going after Bellamy because he's jealous?"
"Rollin's didn't know it was Bellamy that killed those men," Ilian said.
"No, I think he just took advantage of the situation. He tried for death sentence, but if he couldn't get that…what he did…how's Bellamy going to come back from that?" Monty asked
Clarke sat quietly in Octavia's room, watching Bellamy. She was glad he was sleeping. At least he wasn't in pain. The worry he carried in his eyes was gone, and he looked so young. Except for the fading yellowish bruising that still covered half his face, he looked peaceful. She thought of all the worry, hurt and pain they both suffered the first two years they were on Earth, each moment a constant struggle to survive. Now she was back, and ready to start fresh, and rebuild a new world, together. She wondered if he would ever be free of pain and hurt.
There was a knock at the door and Clarke quickly jumped up to answer it so it wouldn't wake Bellamy.
She cracked open the door and Rollins pushed his way in.
"Mike," she said "What do you want?" she asked with a bite to her tone, yet still trying to keep her voice down. She glanced at Bellamy, hoping he was still sleeping.
"I heard you were here with him," he said in a condescending tone.
"What? Are you spying on me?" Clarke asked in a hushed hissing tone
"I have concerns about anyone being around him," Rollins said quietly yet with conviction. "Clarke I realize you have feelings for him, but he's a convicted murderer." Rollins said
"Get out," Clarke demanded with anger and she stepped to the door motioning for him to leave. She was shaking from the anger spewing inside. It took everything she had to control her temper.
Rollins looked from her to Bellamy. He looked back at her standing at the door with her arms folded.
Rollins walked up to Clarke on his way out and stopped in front of her. The small room, made him uncomfortably close, and she could feel the heat of his breath on her face. He was smiling. "I know how stubborn you can get when you're on a mission to save someone Clarke, but some people can't be saved. You said that to me once, remember?" he asked
Clarke met his stare. "Get out," she said
"We're not done Clarke," Rollins said "with his history; it's just a matter of time before he's back in lock up, and next time, it won't be lashes," Rollins said "I just hate to see you get hurt."
Clarke met his stare. "You don't know anything about him," she said
"All those years apart, people change. Do you still know him?" Rollins asked. "Just ask yourself that Clarke," Rollins said before he left.
Clarke shut the door behind her and turned. She took a deep breath and walked towards Bellamy where he lay with both arms resting over his head. Pulling up a chair, she sat next to him and laid the back of her hand against his cheek and then his temple. He was slightly feverish, but she expected that. His breathing was still rough, as if he couldn't get a deep breath, and she expected that too because he already had cracked ribs before he was strung up. The beating only made it worse.
Tears sprang to her eyes. "You don't need saving," she whispered. "You're perfect just the way you are."
She got up, went to the sink and came back with cool water and a cloth. She started cooling his brow with the damp cloth.
Bellamy could feel her there. He heard Rollins when he came in and felt guilty for listening to their conversation. Truth was he knew he was in no condition to face the man. He didn't want Rollins to have the satisfaction of seeing the pain he was in. He was too weak and couldn't get up anyway.
Bellamy reached over and touched Clarkes hand as she held the cloth. "Thank you," he whispered.
"How do you feel?" she asked him softly.
"Bad," was all he could say. He tried to turn over so he could see her, and he grimaced in pain and the tiniest movement.
"No don't," Clarke said "Lie still Bellamy," she said and she got down onto her knees so he could see her face. "I'm here," she said. "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."
Bellamy held her hand tighter and pulled it close to his face. Feeling her there near him was something he needed. Just her presence and her touch was everything.