Sacrifice and Survival

The Companions

She sat just outside the shelter, leaning comfortably against a big oak tree watching the stars come out, one by one they grow brighter as the sky grows darker and the night wears on.

They had been here for a few days, taking shelter in this old and abandoned building that sat on the top of a mountain with a view of the valley below. They had been lying low, using some of the places she found after Mt Weather when she couldn't return to the ark, caves mostly and the occasional shelter such as this.

She was finally able to travel after almost 2 weeks of resting her ribs, so they kept on the move. She wasn't really sure when it happened, but somehow in that time she had gotten to depend on Murphy, 'she never wanted that' she thought to herself as she looked back into the shelter to see him sleeping. She smiled to herself 'if you had told me a year ago that my life would depend on John Murphy, I would have laughed in your face'...

***"come on Clarke wake up" Murphy shook her shoulder "Come on Clark."

Clarke suddenly bolted upright letting out a cry, her eyes wide open with tears flowing down her cheeks and her breathing ragged "No No Bellamy, Please...." Clarke grabbed Murphy by the front of his shirt and pulled him close "Whoa princess, it's me, let go girl" Murphy said taking hold of her hands as gently as he could trying to untangling them from his shirt.

Clarke's breathing began to stabilize as she realized who was in front of her "Oh god murphy I'm sorry" She said as she let go and fell back against the furs she had been resting on only to let out a cry of pain.

Murphy shook his head "Damnit" he muttered "Let me see."

She shook her head and put her hands out "No, its fine. I'm fine."

"Like hell" he said putting his knee on her right hand and holding her left hand as she reached up to grab at him. He lifted her shirt "Shit!" he exclaimed as his face turned grim and looked at her "I'm not the doctor here but even I can tell they're broken" he rolled her gently on her left side to get a closer look.

The bruising was extensive; it ran from the bottom ribs, in the front all the way to the back. "You need a doctor, Clarke, not me. You've been binding them since we got here two days ago and I think it's gotten worse. You can hardly breathe and you don't move without screaming ...and you know I don't do well with people screaming in pain." Murphy walked over to the water bucket and got her a cup and held it to her mouth, she sipped it quietly.

"Tell me what to do Clarke. You're not dying on me here, I have enough blood on my hands and besides Bellamy will have my head on a spike if I let you die."

Clarke lay back on the furs her breath shallow "Pretty sure he wouldn't" she groaned a bit "might even give you a medal" she tried to smile and sighed "And you're right I need help" she grimaced as she tried to find a comfortable position "But You're not going to like it"

~~~

"Seriously, this is your brilliant idea"

They came to edge of a dark forest and rested just inside the tree line, out of sight for the moment, the sun was beginning to set and there were still a few people walking in the village ahead.

"It's my only idea, and you don't have to come any farther I can make it the rest of the way on my own."

Murphy looked at her smirking in disbelief and let go of her arm "Go for it..... go ahead."

Clarke took about two steps before stumbling and groaning as she fell into Murphy's arms and she looked up "sorry...Ok I need your help, is that what you want to hear, that I Clarke Griffin need John Murphy's help!"