On the Ground

Day after The 48.

It must have been 2 in the morning when I woke up screaming. Murphy quieted me quickly, covering me up with one of the blankets. Jackson still came running in. He was probably in the medical tent. "What's wrong?" He asked, looking around. I was breathing heavily and starting to cry. "It was just a nightmare." Murphy said, trying to get Jackson to leave. Jackson left and came back a minute later with water. He sat it down near me and left. Murphy wrapped his arms around me. I cried for a few minutes before he spoke. "What did you see?" He asked. I pulled back. "They were dead. All of them. Miller, Monty, Clarke and Jasper. All of them. It was my fault. I could have done something." I cried. Murphy shushed me and hugged me again. " You were thrown, knocked unconscious. There was nothing you could have done. We don't know that they are dead. They are fine." He said. I pulled back again. "I could have stayed and fought with them." I said. Murphy looked at me like I'd grown a second head. "You would be with them then. Look, it's not your fault." Murphy promised me. He looked concerned still. For me and most likely my sanity. I missed them. I missed sitting with Miller on the wall. I missed Monty and Jasper making Moonshine or helping repair something. Life sucked but we worked through it. If I had fought with them, I would have never found Murphy again. He would have thought I was dead. I looked at him. "John, I'm so... I didn't mean... I'm sorry." I hugged him tightly, regretting what I said now. "I know, you're scared for them." Murphy mumbled. He kissed my neck. "Just go back to sleep babe." He suggested. Murphy looked exhausted. I nodded and scooted down. We had been given a small single person bed but we managed. He wrapped his arms around me as I fell asleep against his chest.
When I woke up, it was light. Murphy was lightly shaking my shoulder. "You need to wake up." Murphy said. I looked around. "Why? What's wrong?" I asked him. "Doctor was just in here. She said she needed your help." Murphy told me. I got up and clothes, yanking them on. I waited for Murphy to get up and dressed then helped him into medical. Jackson took over as I went to find Abby. "Abby!" I yelled, when I saw her. She looked unhappy. "Good, you're here. It's Bellamy. He refuses to cooperate with us." She informed me. I stopped her from walking towards the Ark. "Abby, he's not going to listen to me. Bellamy wants to go find our people, not just sit here." I told her. "Guards are going out tomorrow to look for them and the other Ark stations." She told me. "Why not now? They could be dead by now!" I said, turning and walking away. I wanted to talk to Captain Miller. His son is out there, my friend. I found Byrne, she was one of the top guards. "Where is Captain Miller?" I asked, faking a smile. She didn't trust those of us who came back because we were criminals. Most people didn't trust us. "He is talking with the prisoner." She said, montioning towards the drop ship. "Bellamy. His name is Bellamy and he is not a bad person." I said, glaring at her. "Is there a problem here?" She asked, standing closer. "There you are." I heard. Jackson came up behind me and put his hands on my arms. "Is there an issue?" He asked, Byrne. She raised an eyebrow at me. "No." She faked a smile and walked away. Jackson pulled me away. "Are you trying to get yourself in trouble? Not to mention Murphy?" Jackson asked. I looked at him. "Wait, what? What about Murphy?" I asked. Jackson looked around and continued walking. "Once he is healed, he will be locked up like Bellamy Blake." He whispered. "What?!" I yelled. Jackson hushed me. "Bellamy told Kane that he killed two of your people." He explained. "Does he know? Murphy I mean." I asked Jackson. He nodded and frowned and me slightly. I made my way into the medical tent. Finn was standing outside Raven's area. "Hey, you okay?" I asked him. I hugged him and he barely smiled. "Raven needs surgery, tomorrow probably." Finn told me. "They are stitching up Murphy's leg right now I think." Finn pointed at where Murphy was. I pushed back the curtain. Abby was just about to start. "You don't need to be here." A nurse said, trying to push me out. "Hey! She's my girlfriend, get off her." Murphy said, glaring at the nurse. His hand was reaching for me. I ran to his side. He kissed my hand and held on to it tightly. Abby grabbed the needle and started closing the cut. Murphy kept his mouth closed but he was clenching his teeth. Murphy's leg moved a bit and the nurse held him down. "John, you can't move." Abby warned. Murphy closed his eyes and scrunched up his face. "John, look at me." I said, trying to distract him. Without meds, this was a lot of pain probably. This is what Raven would have to go through, but worse. He looked me in the eyes. "Tell me about when we first met. What do you remember?" I asked, wanting to distract him. He groaned in pain. "Uh.. when I was pushed from my cell on the Ark. I saw you, I knew then that you were perfect, I had to meet you. I blacked out and when I woke, we were in the drop ship. You were next to me, unconscious. Princess was across from us. When we landed you got stuck in your seat and you had asked me for help. I never helped anyone but I helped you." Murphy smirked but cried out when Abby pulled on the string. "Sorry!" She said. Murphy gripped my hand and glared at her. "John, continue talking. About anything." I suggested. "The first night on the ground. You agreed to share a tent with me. It rained that night and I had stayed out, you kept me from getting sick. We had shared a bed." He laughed. I smiled remembering that morning. He had kissed me. "Almost done." Abby said. Murphy looked at me. "I was happy because usually I had you, and I love you. Then Wells was killed and I got blamed. I was hung and then banished." Murphy closed his eyes. "But you came back, like you promised you would. Then you got better and we were together. And I still love you." I smiled and him. Murphy smirked. I watched Abby cut the string and the nurse brought over a bandage. "This will need to be kept clean." Abby explained. Abby covered his leg with the blanket and left the room with the nurse. "Pants." Murphy said, pointing at a his pair at the end of the bed. I smirked. "No thanks." I smiled. I looked around and got up, leaning over him. I got on the bed, watching for his leg and kissed him. I heard someone talking and got up, jumped off quickly. "Pants!" Murphy urged. "Y/N?" Captain Miller asked. He stayed outside the tent. "One minute!" I said, helping Murphy he struggled into his pants. I pushed the curtain back and Captain Miller was waiting. "Byrne said you wanted to speak with me." He said, looking over at Murphy. I let him in the room. "Bellamy won't cooperate until you let him go look for our people." I stated. He looked apologetic. "Its not up to me. We can't just send out kids to their deaths." Miller said. "Why not? You all had no problem sending us to our deaths on the ground." Murphy said behind me. "I'm sorry. It's not up to me." Miller said again. He bowed his head and left quickly. I turned to Murphy. "Why didn't you tell me that they are locking you up when you get better?" I asked. Murphy knew he was in trouble. "I didn't want you to worry." He explained. I was about to argue but Finn stepped in. "Y/N, come with me." He said. I looked at Murphy and followed Finn out. "Once Raven has her surgery I'm leaving. I will go find them on my own if I have to." He whispered. The look on his face proved he was serious. I nodded, knowing I couldn't argue with him. Finn nodded and walked off. I headed to my tent. My jacket was still laying on the bed. I sat down on it and immediately regretted it. I had sat on something sharp. I moved and found the pocket on the inside. My knife. It was still in here. Someone barged into my tent, I had the knife at the ready. I turned and saw my mother. She saw the knife and put her hands up. I lowered the knife and put it in the waistband of my pants."Please just listen for a moment." She begged. I didn't move so she continued. "I'm sorry. It's just, this isn't the life I wanted for you. Criminals and death. Earth. I didn't want any of this for you." She said. "Maybe I did. Not the death but, the rest of it. The criminals, I found friends and someone who loves me. On Earth. I'm free." I explained to her. She looked almost, disgusted. I stood. "I'm sorry I'm not your perfect little princess anymore. I'm sorry that I've had to kill to protect myself and others. I'm sorry I got arrested. I'm sorry I have another family. I'm sorry I'm in love with a murderer.... Actually, I'm not sorry." I said, moving past her and leaving the tent.
I made my way back to medical. Thankfully my mother did not follow. Captain Miller was standing outside. "Chancellor is in." He told me. Murphy. Kane came for Murphy. I ran in, ignoring the protests of the guards. Murphy was sitting up and glaring at Kane. "I've been told by your people what you have done. Murder and attempted murder." Kane said. "Did they tell you that our people tried to kill him?" I asked. Kane turned and looked at me, surprised to see me. "I've heard." Kane responded. "You can't call him a murderer. All of us have killed." I told Kane. He looked surprised. "You should go stay with your parents." Kane told me, turning away. "No. I don't want to stay with them. I will stay with Murphy." I said sternly. Kane smirked and left. "Hes just going to come back." Murphy told me. "Once I'm healed, they will arrest me. Probably float me." He mumbled. "No. Stop now. Don't say stuff like that." I said, sitting by him. He grabbed my hand. "Lets get away from here." Murphy said. I kissed him. I heard someone clear their throat. I turned and saw Finn. He back away and motioned me to follow. I got up and went into the hall. "When I leave, I want you to stay behind with Raven." Finn told me. "What about the others?" I asked. Finn looked around. "Monroe and Sterling will be going. I have to get Bellamy out." He answered. Murphy would be locked up by then as well. "Take Murphy with you." I suggested. I hated the idea but it would be worse for him if he stayed. Finn looked at me. "Why?" Finn questioned. I pulled him away from Murphy's room. "They will arrest him and put him on trial. Or just float him. That can't happen. I've lost him too many times already." I begged Finn. He shook his head. "I don't know. I don't trust him. I'll think about it." Finn said. "He trusts you Finn." I said, before turning and going back to Murphy. Murphy was getting up. Or attempting to at least. "John!" I yelled. He fell onto one knee, holding his other leg. I grabbed his arms and pulled him up. "What are you doing?" I asked. "We need to get out of here. Go somewhere where we can be together." Murphy told me. I kissed him to shut him up. "John, you can't even walk. Just lay down, please." I begged him. Murphy tried to get up again. "I can walk. I just need to try." Murphy struggled and got up again. He was being so persistent. "Fine. Do what you want!" I told him, putting my hands up. Murphy huffed and limped towards me. He grabbed my arm to steady himself. "We can't trust these people. Lets go, get out of here. Find somewhere just for us." He smirked and pulled me against him. I walked him back towards the bed. He fell back on it and I smirked. "Stay here this time." I whispered. Murphy huffed and sat up on the bed. "Where are you going now?" He asked. "I am going to find my father. He was always on my side. I want him to be on my side now too." I said, yanking off my jacket and sitting it at the end of Murphy's bed.

It didn't take long to find my father. He was working with others to start a garden. At least, I think that's what it was. We had to try and do this without Farm Station. "Need any help?" I asked. He turned and saw me. "Uh.. not really." He responded. He turned away again. "Dad. Can we talk please?" I asked. He nodded and handed his papers to the woman near him. "What do you need?" He asked. "I know you are angry with me." I admitted. My father started to laugh. "What?" I asked. He looked down at me. "Your mother is the angry one. I've just accepted your change." He told me. We continued walking. "What change exactly?" I asked. He raised an eyebrow and looked over at me. "You've grown up. The wrong way, too quickly. You were sent down to the ground, to die. You all had to find a way to live. But, you saved our lives as well." My father explained. "And you fell in love... He is not what I had ever expected. They say he's a murderer. Is it true?" He asked. We had stopped walking and were now standing near the fence. I looked back towards the medical tent. "What he did... It was revenge. It wasn't right but, I would have done the same." I answered. "Revenge for what?" Dad asked. I sighed, I hated those memories. "For what they did to him. We had only been here for a little over a week when the chancellors son was murdered. Everyone had blamed Murphy but, it wasn't him. They stung him up and let him hang. The real murderer was a little girl. She confessed and Murphy was cut down. But, he just had to go after her, because she deserved it. Clarke and Bellamy banished him. The two he killed were the ones who hung him." I explained. I saw the horror on my fathers face. "Yes, they all hated me. They were scared of me." I answered the question I knew he would ask. He wrapped his arm around me and lightly hugged me. "After all we have been through, why can't you and mom just give him a chance? Stop calling him a criminal and a murderer." I begged. "I don't know about her, but I will. Can I speak with him?" He asked. I nodded. "Just don't be offended by what he says. Hes like that sometimes." I said as we walked back towards the med tent. I went in first and Murphy was messing with the sleeve of my jacket. "Hey, how did it go?" Murphy asked. I smirked. "He wants to talk. Just be nice, please." I told Murphy. I glared slightly but I walked away anyways. My father was waiting outside and I moved to let him in. "I'm going to check on Raven." I told him. He nodded. Please don't kill each other. I walked down to where Raven was. Finn was trying to get her to eat the mashed food in a cup he had. "I am not eating that." Raven told him over and over again. "Come on Raven. You need some food." Finn argued. "Yes I do, but not that." She said. I snuck out and went to the food storage not far from the tent. There were berries. A man handed me some and I headed back to Raven. "No!" She said again. "How about some berries then?" I asked. Finn turned and looked at me tiredly. "I guess." Raven agreed. I moved to her other side and handed them to Finn. Raven could barely move and looked sickly. "Wheres Murphy?" Finn asked. "Still in his room. My father wanted to talk to him finally." I explained. Finn slightly smiled. That was rare nowadays. "Whats it like having family here?" Raven asked. "Kinda sucks actually. I love them but I don't need their protection. I'm tired of hearing them say the word criminal too." I said. Raven tried to laugh but cried out in pain. "Lucky, I only had my mom. She sucked. After that I've only had Finn." She smiled over at him. "You will be okay." Finn promised. My father peeked in and cleared his throat. "Sorry." He said to Finn and Raven. "Its fine." Finn said, not looking behind him. "Hi, I'm Raven. Sorry if I've been dying loudly." She tried to joke. My dad smirked. "Don't you worry, Dr. Griffin will take care of you." He said. Raven smiled. I left with my father. "What happened to her?" He asked. "Murphy shot her. He didn't know it was her." I told him. "The guy was Finn." I said. "Collins right?" He asked. I nodded. "I remembered him from when you were in school." My father said. I stopped outside the med tent. "So how did it go? I don't see any blood or wounds." I said, checking his arms. "It went fine. Don't worry. Ill check on you later." He assured me. I smiled and went back into the med tent. Murphy sat up and was waiting for me. "Well.. that was weird." Murphy said. I sat on the edge of his bed again. "What did he say?" I asked. Murphy fiddled with the holes in his shirt. "He asked me if I loved you. If I would protect you, do anything for you." Murphy said. I looked at him as he looked up. "And?" I asked, even though I knew the answer. "Yes." He simply said.