Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was an average day in Arkadia, nothing out of the ordinary insight as Octavia Blake walked from home and to the bus stop where she awaited to go to school. Her schedule is the same every day, nothing new. However today felt different, and yet Octavia couldn't quite put her finger on what felt wrong. Feeling the eerie feeling creeping up on her neck she looks around the bus stop and then down to her phone for the time; the bus was late. 

She wouldn't be so skeptical seeing as it happens every once in awhile when there's an accident or more officers in the neighborhood than normal, than the bus takes longer to get to her stop. In cases like this, Octavia would simply text her brother and ask for a ride, but for the last several months that hasn't been an option. Not since Bellamy graduated from the police academy and became an officer with his best friend Miller, who helped Bellamy get on the force. Octavia's brother has a strict work schedule, it's one that he can't get out of most days. Seeing as he was still relatively new to the job, there was no way for him to be late constantly. 

Bellamy gave almost all of his life for his little sister Octavia. Especially after their mother died. But ever since then Octavia has tried to step up and be more independent, to help her brother start a life of his own. And that first step was making a career for himself. The only way for him to keep that career was to not screw it up, stay consistent, and on time. Which meant that Octavia would stay and wait at the bus stop even when it ran late. 

It wasn't fair for Bellamy to keep his life on pause, not any longer. And if that meant Octavia had to stand around for an extra 10 minutes for a bus ride to school then she was willing to take that chance. Bellamy gave up a lot for his sister, too much in her opinion, And that's only other things that she knows he's done. 

And so she waits.

As the young Blake stands to the side and awaits for the bus she scrolls through apps on her phone, smiling at the grumpy cat memes that fill her page. The fluffy feline and it's famous grumpy face never failed to fully grab Octavia's attention, just as the bright blue butterflies in their backyard. She was always fascinated and mesmerized. Every ounce of her attention zeroed in on the little screen in her hand as she stared down at the fluffy animal.

With her eyes glued to her screen and on the furry she doesn't notice anything or anythobe else in her immediate surroundings. That is to say until a strong force drags her from behind as a cloth coves her nose and lips. 

Before the young teen could think or act, her entire world spun and turned black.

She isn't sure how much time had passed, nor was she aware of where she was. Everything around her was dark, the air cold, and her wrist bound. She feels the rope dig into her skin as she sits up from her position on the concrete floor. It digs and digs as she tries to remove it but it was no use, the rope was too tight. 

Panic began to set in as she took in her surroundings more- Octavia was far from home.

The darkness made it difficult to see anything but a call sliver of light from afar lit up just enough for her to scan her immediate surroundings. The ropr around her wrist was tied to a steel pipe outside the small bars that trapped her inside. There were old newspapers and a rusted toilet in the corner to her right, but what she finds on her left was the most shocking of all- another girl. She appeared older than Octavia but not by much, and from her physical appearance it was clear that she has been here for a very long time. 

Her blonde hair was natted and dirty, her clothes withered, torn, and covered in stains. From dirt or blood Octavia couldn't be sure. The only thing she was certain was her pale skin was discolored with a variety of bruises and scars. Markings she didn't want to know the origin of, but she could take am educated guess that it wasn't anything good.

Her blood runs cold as the possibilities and scenarios run through her mind- each one worst than the last. It was with each thought that Octavia began to fight against her restaurants and attempt to free herself. Octavia wasn't sure how long she was sitting and pulling at the top until a noise from above startled her. Quickly she looks to the other girl but finds her sound asleep still. Or was she alive at all?

With a gulp the young Blake stares at the other girl, looking for any sign of life, but she couldn't tell with her back turned. Not once did the girl move an inch or make a sound. The young Blake couldn't help but wonder if she was taken and left in a cha with a corpse. 

Octavia's attention is suddenly drawn away from the blonde stranger asleep next to her as a lock clicking echoes in the cold room. There standing at the door was a man with dark hair wearing what appeared to be a business suit. But what stood out most was the scar going down his lip, the horrid scar sending shivers up her spine as he grins a wolfish smile. He unlocks the door and shuts it behind him before making his way slowly towards the brunette and kneeling down beside her. The hairs on her skin stand and she knows it's not from the cold. 

"Welcome home." He whispers with that same spine shivering grin as he caresses her cheek. His rough skin felt like nails on a chalkboard as it touched her skin.

Octavia was never an emotional person, Not even as a child. Fair was not something that she gave in very often so much so that it often worried her older brother. But she reassured him that she was strong and capable of handling more than he knew. Bellamy protected Octavia from a lot when they were growing up but he couldn't protect her from everything. 

Before their mother was diagnosed with cancer and grew ill, between juggling multiple jobs to raise both of her children, Aurora Blake had many failed relationships. Some of whom she brought home. The fighting and yelling and consistent trauma of being home and watching as her mother struggled under the pressure of a man was something that Octavia never forgot. She always remembered the menontra that her mother instilled in her mind from a very young age- Fear is a demon and the only one who could slay the demon was yourself.

With every shout and then free pound of a fist hammering on a wall Octavia held on strong for her mother. As Octavia was shoved into a closet or under her bed in Aurora's attempt to keep her youngest child safe, Octavia with sea glimpses of the fighting and hear the loud shouts from whatever room she was put in. But that didn't stop the young Blake from finding a phone somewhere in the house and calling 911. Octavia knew it was only thing to do, something that her older brother had taught her in case of an emergency. And seeing her mother being shout round by another man? That was always an emergency. 

Fear was never something that Octavia gave into, It was something that never took control of her life even as a child. But sitting in this dark room with this stranger looming over her in the darkness and cold, Octavia felt nothing but the demon of fear. Best time she wasn't sure she could fight him away no matter how strong of a facade she tried to keep. This was real and she knew that Bellany may never be able to save her. 

Not this time.

Most people cry or shut down as they face fear and face, but not Octavia Blake. If fear digs it's menacing claws into her soul she stares back in the face of anger. Fighting away the tears that swelling her eyes Octavia spews spit into the man's face, causing him to back away.

"You shouldn't have done that." He growls deeply before lunging forward, his right hand clutching tightly around her neck as he squeezes the oxygen from her lungs. The brunette struggles and fights as her legs kick beneath her but his strength is too much. She couldn't escape.

"No! Please let her go!! Please!" Octavia faintly hears before the tight pressure is released and she can breathe again.

Her kidnappers gaze is no longer upon her but rather to the blonde instead. Briefly Octavia wonders just how long she's been awake, But by the startled look she had in her eyes she must have just woken up. Not only surprised by the presence of another young girl, But horrified to see the man strangling the life from her body.

Octavia gasps softly as she finds her breath and looks between the two strangers. The girl, those stunned, faces the man confidently even as his eyes do not meet her own. But rather they trail down her chest in the rest of her body instead, his interest very clearly now that she's made her presence known in the conversation with him.

"Take me. I won't fight I swear just please. Take me."

The young Blake gulps over the forming lump in her throat as she watches her kidnapper walk away from her and towards the other girl. She takes note of how the girl tenses and flinches as he steps closer but her eyes never leave his. From experience Octavia can see that the girl is fighting the demon of fear. Looking around, being here, Octavia can only imagine how long she's had to keep up her fight. Both against the man and fear itself.

"You're lucky I'm too tired for new meat." He says in Octavia's direction before reaching down and taking hold of the blonde. 

Octavia flinches as she hears the young girl whimper slightly, whether it's from the pain of being moved or from his touch she isn't sure. All she knows is that this girl, this stranger, may have just saved her life.

"Let's go." He pulls her by her hair and out of the caged door , never once loosening his grip. He moves her around as if she was an object or a doll rather than a human being as he shoves her through the door and locks it behind him again, before they both say into the darkness.

Octavia watches in horror as the man drags the girl up a staircase and through a door, light shining down on them briefly before it closes, leaving Octavia in the dark. From the looks of the staircase in the light of the door it was as if it were the exit from a basement. With that thought in mind the young Blake takes another look at her surroundings; however, it was far too dark to anything clearly except what was in the cage with her And then now they get space for the only other girl used to be. 

A shiver runs up her spine as she gulps down rising bile surfacing to her throat. This is really happening, Octavia was kidnapped. 

It was unexpected and so sudden she could barely wrap her head around how it all happened. Was she being stalked? Targeted? Or was she simply at the wrong place at the wrong time? Did he chose her for a reason or was she simply a random victim and a convenient target because she was alone?

The room reeked with the stench of death as the air was filled with the harsh cold staying of ice. There were no lights or windows, nor were there any signs of life. Nothing but the rusted metal bars that kept her in caged in the little room that she now was trapped in. Alone. 

Was the blonde girl the only one here? Were there others trapped somewhere else? Or did they meet and unfortunate fate that they couldn't escape? 

One look at the blonde was enough for Octavia to know that she was here for longer than she could ever imagine. The discoloration of her skin, The deterioration her muscles, Her knotted hair and bruised skin. Scars covering every inch of her arms and legs as they travel to places that even Octavia couldn't see. 

How long has she been here? What kind of torment has she endeared? And above all... What did she just save Octavia from?

There were so many questions storming through her mind that a headache began to brew. Nothing made sense anymore but one thing was for certain- Octavia was now in hell.

Chapter Text

It felt like hours had passed before the man returned. The loud creaking of a door opening startles Octavia awake from her anxious sleep making her jump and look to the only light that shines down in the basement she was trapped in. They were heavy footsteps and light ones, But the only steps that were consistent were those belonging to the man. Octavia didn't understand until she saw the state the young blonde girl was in. Her hair was more of a mess and there were bruises all along her throat, arms and legs, the fresh bruising already beginning to darken.

Distracted by the shocking new stage the other girl was in Octavia didn't notice the man unlocking the door until it slammed closed. The hair on her neck stood as good bumps arose on the surface of her skin. Something was wrong- she could feel it.

He was rough with the blonde as he tied her back to the rope before he left once more, the lock clicking being the only sound that echoed through the basement until he was gone.

"What's your name?" Octavia startles at the sudden voice disrupting the eerie silence , jumping slightly as her head turns to the girl, but she isn't looking back. 

"Octavia. Octavia Blake." She finally says and the blonde nods slowly with a wince. 

The girl is beyond tired and clearly in a lot of pain. Guilt washes over the young Blake, knowing that if she hadn't provoked their kidnapper then maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't have hurt the girl next to her. And yet she didn't seem angry or upset- just tired. But she still had the strength to step in and save Octavia from whether the man was intending to do to her, and for that she was eternally grateful. 

"What's yours?" She tries to ask. A stranger saved her life and she wanted to know her name. Besides, from the looks of their surroundings they were going to be here for a while. At least Octavia- hoped it wouldn't be too long. 

The girl shakes her head and continues to stare ahead into the darkness, her thin body curled in on itself as she speaks.

"Doesn't matter." Octavia gulps at the sound of defeat in her voice. 

Just how long has this girl been trapped here? Has she no hope left? Has this man stripped away every ounce of will in her life that remained? The girls may be restrained and held captive against their will with no freedom, but their names are the very last thing they own and have for themselves. To Octavia it is important. 

"It does to me." 

The blonde looks at her for the first time and it takes everything in Octavia not to gasp. There were fresh bruises along her neck and cheek, including fresh blood trickling down her temple still. Not only were the bruises and blood offsetting, but her skin was notably paler, if at all possible. Being trapped in a basement with barley a sliver of light would make anyone's complexion lighter, but Octavia could tell it wasn't just the absence of UV rays and natural lighting that caused this girls unnatural paleness. As they sit in the cold unforgiving darkness, Octavia watches as the other girl sits in silence with her arms wrapped around her knees, squeezing them to her chest.

"Clarke." She mutters, her voice but a slither above a whisper. Octavia waits for more but after a few moments she knows that's all she would get out of her on this subject.

"Clarke. How-" The young Blake gulps as she glances into the darkness, her eyes straining to see the door she now knows is above the stairs. "How long have you been here?" The blonde scoffs as shakes her head looking up, but not above where the door leads- no- but to the ceiling bared above them.

"Depends. What year is it?" 

Again Octavia is stunned to silence. At first she thinks that Clark is making a bad joke, that she couldn't possibly be serious. It was clear that she had been here for some time but was it really possible for her to be here for years? The only way to know was to answer a question- And so she does.

"It's 2018." After hearing this the blonde's eyes close tightly, as she releases a shattered breath.

"Six years then." She mutters, her voice more defeated than before. 

"Six years!?" Octavia outbursts in shock, earning a look from Clarke. "How old are you?"

"Eighteen I guess. Depends on the month." She answered, trying to reflect having to give a direct answer.

"Well when's your birthday?" Clarke shakes her head while her body tenses. 

There was no sense in pushing Clarke when she didn't want to answer. From where they were sitting there was plenty of time to get to know one another. Even if Bellamy has received a call from her school, he would still need to do an investigation and, get approval to assemble a team, report missing person, and find a suspect or lead to hunt her down. Realistically that could take a few days, maybe even a week or so. 

That really hits Octavia hard on the chest leaving her breathless. A week at least they would be here still, living in this cold, dark, empty hell. Octavia looks over at Clarke before turning away. If she can survive six years Octavia is sure she can survive a week. She's a Blake, and they never back down from a challenge, nor from fear.

"How old are you, Octavia?"

"Sixteen." Clarke nods slowly with a soft scoff, making Octavia look in her direction.

"He's going older then." Octavia furrows her brow. 

"What'd you mean he's going older?" But rather than answering Clarke shuts down and curls in on herself. "Clarke, come on. Please, say something."

"The first was only ten when he took her. The next few were between eight and thirteen." Clarke hesitates as she answers, gulping down the anxiety that crept further, making her shiver. "I was twelve." She croaks.

Every muscle in Octavia's body freezes instantaneously. Clarke, the young woman sitting next to her has been here for years was taken, kidnapped, when she was only a child. Along with who knew how many others.But if what Clarke said was true, why was the cell empty aside from the two of them? The cage contained a few things, but there was no other sign of life anywhere near them.  

"If there are others then... Where are they now?" 

"Dead." Is all Clarke could say before turning away. "Do as he says and try not to fight so much. It makes it easier." 

"What?" Octavia exclaims, "No! There's no way in hell he's touching me!" Clarke makes a noise but says nothing. "Clarke, listen to me, we're gonna get out of here. My brother... My brother's a cop. My school should have called him by now, told him I didn't show up. He'll look for me."

"I'm glad you have someone who loves you, Octavia. But he can't help you now. No one can."

"There has to be a way out!" Clarke sits up abruptly as her head turns in the direction of the door, her eyes bulging forward with fear. 

"There isn't, okay? Now stop yelling before he comes back." Octavia scoffs with a shake of her head before attempting to free herself from the ropes binding her wrists. She wasn't going to wait a week for Bellamy's rescue or anyone else. If Octavia Blake was going to escape this prison she was going to save herself. "You'll cut your artery before you break free."

"Maybe." The brunette replies but her efforts refuse to cease. "But I can't stay here. I won't!"

"Octavia!" Clarke scolds. "I won't be able to  keep him away from you if he comes back tonight so please..." The sudden change from annoyance to pleading causes Octavia to stop. With a single look she can see the horror in Clarke's blue eyes, unshed tears pooling and threatening to spill. "Please be quiet."

Ever since Clarke's returned from upstairs she's been different. Octavia's only seen her appearances and heard her speak for a few moments but there was a very distinctive and visible change. It wasn't only in her hair that was matted further, or the bruises on her face and neck that were already darkening, there was also the blood on her head. Although it's slowed down it wasn't a good sign. Not only was the blood a concern but as was her physique. She seemed smaller, more fragile, like a glass figurine sitting on the edge of a table. Just one wrong move and she could fall and shatter.  Whatever their kidnapper had done to Clarke it was clear he didn't hold back. 

"What did he do to you?" She dares ask, but the only response she gets is Clarke looking away 

"Something I hope he never does to you." Clarke mutters under her breath as she leans against the wall, her face hidden away by her knotted hair.

"Clarke-"

"Try to rest." She mumbles. "And pray he doesn't come back in the morning."

Chapter Text

When Bellamy arrives at the police station it seemed like an average day. Officers were stationed at their desk filing out paperwork, the secretary was at the entrance taking calls, and the chief was in his office. A normal day with nothing too exciting or catastrophic to be concerned about. Only hours into his shift at his desk does he get a phone call from Arkadia High that his day shifts like a rug pulled from beneath him. Normally if he gets a call from Octavia' s high school that either meant she missed a class, was late, or caught doing something mischievously with her delinquent friends. Either way it was never good and left Bellamy's day to go from normal to a pain in the neck.

Bellamy loves his little sister dearly but that didn't mean she couldn't be a handful sometimes.

With a heavy sigh Bellamy answers the call and leans back in his chair. Whatever news they were giving him this time he knew he ought to prepare himself. With Octavia he just never knew the kind of trouble she would have gotten herself into this time. Only he never expects the following words to leave the principal's mouth.

"Hello Mr. Blake. I'm calling in regards to  your sister Octavia." Bellamy bites back a sigh as he human. "She never showed up today."

Without missing a beat Bellamy's feet fall from his desk, the abrupt motion making him use his left hand to catch onto the desk.  Octavia was a lot of things but a school skipper wasn't one of them. Bellamy has had innumerable conversations with his sister on how important school was, to have an education for people like them. It was more than just important to have a good job or a good life. It was their escape.

People who grew up in situations like theirs and have to fight for what they want more than those born and raised into wealthy and middle class families. Education as the first step. Octavia was always annoyed and irritated when they had the conversation but he knew that she understood. It's why she's always had a perfect attendance in all of her schools from elementary to middle school. When she entered High School her attendance wasn't perfect but that didn't mean she missed a whole day. Sure she was late sometimes or missed a class here and there, but never an entire day.

And now she wasn't at school.

It wasn't like her to just not show up, if she was sick or not feeling well then she would have given Bellamy a call or shot him a quick text to let him know, but none of that happened.

His heart beat pounded in his chest as he sits still in his chair, every horrid scenario running through his mind.

"Mr. Blake?"

"Uh, yeah... I-I'm here." The principal asks his routine questions but Bellamy simple doesn't have the answers. "I'll go home and check on her myself and give you an update on how she is. Thank you for the call."

As the call ends with a click Bellamy a hand claps his shoulders from behind making him jump.

"Hey man, what's wrong?" With a sigh Bellamy relaxes some of the tension in his shoulders as he hears Miller's voice

"It's O. She's missing."

"Missing? What'd you mean she's missing?"

"I just got off the phone with her principal. She never made it to school this morning." Miller curses under his breath. "I'll make a few calls before I start to worry."

"I'll do the same. Let me know before you leave. I'll come with."

With a curt nod Bellamy gets to work on calling Octavia first, first her cell then her friends and their homes. If she was unwell then her friends would know. But with each call he makes his heart falls further into his chest.  With every call the hope he had left crumbled further.

"Miller!" Bellamy calls as he grabs his jacket and badge heading towards the door.

Miller joins Bellamy and hops into the passenger side of the car, his door closing just as Bellamy pulls in reverse and drives away from the station. On a normal day it would take almost 20 minutes to drive from the station to the Blake residence, but Bellamy make sure to drive it in less than 10 with his sirens blaring, echoing through each street he turns on.

Bellamy wastes no time throwing his car into park before jumping out of the vehicle and rushing into his home. He and Miller split up to cover each part of the house and initially cutting their work in half. But both men come up empty handed. It was clear she didn't stay home given her backpack, book, and phone were missing. They retrace Octavia s steps to the bus stop where none other than her phone was left lying on the ground.

Panicked Bellamy picks up the phone and takes note of the cracked screen, one that wasn't there before. Octavia took good care of every technological device she owned, especially her phone. She would never leave it lying on the ground, face down, cracked.

"Bellamy." Miller mutters, trying to grab his partners attention. "Don't go there yet, alright? We'll split up and check around the block, see if you're neighbors saw anything. Then we'll worry."

Without a word Bellamy takes off to the right and Miller to the left. Each went door to door asking questions but each home was as useless as the last. An hour passes and Bellamy's frustration begins to morph into panic.

"Miller, there's no sign of her anywhere." Bellamy huffs. His partner takes a moment and gathers his thoughts before making a call. "What-"

"Chief we got a problem. We have a missing person's case." Bellamy gives his friend a nod as they make their way to the car. "Bellamy's little sister."

If they can't find her alone they'll have to gather a team and make it official. Octavia Blake was missing.

When Bellamy and Miller arrive at the station nothing seems to be different. Normally when a missing persons case is opened all hands are on deck to find them. In the small town of Arkadia it was rare for any real, horrible, crimes to occurred. If any horrid crimes to happen it is taken seriously with the full force of Arkadia PD. And yet when the partners arrived back at the station no one seemed to be taking action.

Confused and rather frustrated Bellamy storms through the bullpen and into the Chiefs office where the man of the hour was sitting in his office chair, leaned back, reading over a file. Typical Charles Pike.

"Chief," Bellamy's voice booms through the small office, immediately grabbing his supervisor's attention. "Whats going on?"

"What'd you mean, Blake?"

Bellamy fixes the man with a look and glances over his shoulder toward Miller before turning back around. "What do I mean?" He scoffs. "My sister's missing. We have a missing person case open and no one seems to be doing anything!"

Pike sits straighter in his chair with a heavy sigh and sets down the file in his hand. "Blake, I'm sorry to hear about your sister, really I am. But we don't have the man power to launch a full investigation. With the election coming up and local protests popping up down town... We can't spare anyone. Besides, you know a person has to be missing for 24 hours before an official report can be made and you can't be on the case at all because it's personal."

"Chief you can't seriously expect me to sit this one out. My sister is missing!"

"I'm aware." Pike says calmly, unphased by Bellamy's temper. "I set up a small team, just three people, who'll look into her disappearance when the 24 hour mark hits. But without evidence we have nothing to go on."

"But-" Bellamy tries to argue but Pike raises a hand to silence him.

"Miller informed me of everything. You have no witnesses and no physical evidence besides a cracked phone you found on the sidewalk by the bus stop. That's not a lot to go on."

"We can still run testing on the phone for trace evidence. DNA, residue of some kind." Pike raises a brow at that but Bellamy refuses to back down. "We can't just set this aside because of the lack of evidence, it's called an investigation for a reason. To investigate."

"You're right, but to investigate you need clues, evidence. Something which you don't have. Until then this discussion is over." Bellamy clenches his fist and parts his lips but Pike cuts him off. "And if you want to keep your job I suggest you drop this."

Without another word Bellamy storms out of Pikes office, anger rolling off of him in waves. Octavia wouldn't just leave without telling him which meant she was taken a against her will. His baby sister was kidnapped, in broad daylight, with no witnesses and no evidence to make a lead except a phone which was being analyzed now. If they were lucky something would come back, but Bellamy has a deep gutted feeling that nothing concrete would stick.

The very thing they needed to make a solid case would slip through their fingers and Octavia's disappearance wouldn't be taken seriously. Just the thought made Bellamy's stomach twist in knots.

Where was she being held? Was she hurt? Scared?

Bellamy scoffs at the thought. Octavia Blake was many things but afraid was never one. Whoever took her must not have known who they were dealing with. Bellamy wouldn't be surprised if his sister either talked her kidnappers ear off into freeing her or she escapes herself and kills them with her own hands for pissing her off too early in the morning.

Octavia was always a fiery child growing up and that fire burned brighter within her as she grew older. Bellamy knows that Octavia can fend for herself when she needs to that's exactly why he enrolled her in karate as a preteen. But that didn't mean that she could fight off a blitz attack either. A desperate and cowardly approach to taking victims that Bellamy knows many criminals use. And if anything from her phone comes back he know sit will confirm his suspension - his sister was taken by surprise. Both quickly and efficiently which could only mean one thing.... This was professionally done.

Not wanting to sit around and do nothing Bellamy stands and goes to the tile room in the basement to dig through any cases he can find on missing people that resemble Octavia's case.

He spends hours and hours combing through the files. His findings not what he hoped to discover. Sure enough there were at least a dozen other cases similar to Octavia's. Young girls taken without a trace, and no witnesses to testify or identify any suspects. Looking at the dates Bellamy's heart clenches tightly in his chest. Several of these cases were nearly a decade old and still unsolved.

"Bellamy, we got something." Miller says from the stairs.

Bellamy follows his partner through the station and into the analysis room where the Departments Forensic scientist and intern stood.  Monty, the intern and Forensic Scientist's son, hands over the report of their discoveries. From what they've gathered there was no DNA anywhere on the device besides Octavia's own; however, there were traces of chloroform on the screen. Their hypothesis being she was grabbed from behind and she used her hands to try and free herself from her attackers  grip and the phone got traces of the drug on it before she lost consciousness and dropped her phone.

As far as they could see with the little evidence they have, Octavia not only was taken against her will, but her kidnapper was someone she likely didn't know given the blitz attack.

Bellamy huffs in frustration as they reach a dead end in the case. Even against Pikes instructions, over the next few weeks both miller and Bellamy continue investigating Octavia disappearance. And each time they try they reach a dead end; her case grows colder by the day. They split the case loads between the two of them as they read similar cases to Octavia's, but each case is another dead end. No witnesses and no physical evidence. It was as if the girls vanished into thin air because not a single trace of evidence were left behind.

But Bellamy refuses to give up.

He may drink more heavily each day as he stays awake far into the night researching the dozen cases including his sister's. It was exhausting, and quite frankly draining, but Pike left him no other choice. There was no way, not in any universe, that Bellamy would not look into the disappearance of his little sister. Never.

And if Bellamy didn't know any better he'd say Pike was afraid of what they'd find.
Leaving Bellamy with no other choice but to investigate not only Octavia's disappearance but his bosses' deepest secrets.

No matter the cost Bellamy wasn't going to give up on finding his sister.

Chapter Text

It took everything Octavia had to force herself to fall asleep. The chill grew colder as the eerie feeling became overwhelming but against all odds she finally gave into her body's cry of exhaustion. It went against all of her survival instincts but she knew she needed the rest, especially if she was going to try and find a way to escape. Looking over at Clarke the hope that was burning deep within her depleted, but the young Blake knew she couldn't give up. Bellamy would find her eventually, she knew that. All she had to do was stay alive long enough for him to do so. It was with this thought in mind that her body finally drifted off into sleep.

The following morning seemed to rise far faster than she expected. Either she stayed awake late into the night or her sleep was deeper than she realized because before she knew it the sound of keys and footsteps shook her awake and the rattling of the cage door forced her eyes wide open. Quickly the brunette glances in Clarke's direction but the other girl doesn't move. Was she breathing? Octavia couldn't tell. It was as if she mastered the ability to hide whether or not she was alive in her sleep, to fall and stay still like a solid rock.

A survival instinct she must have learned no doubt. How long it took her to learn and why Octavia's sure she doesn't want to know. All she does want to know, however, is how to escape this hell. Realistically she knows she can't do it alone, not without Clarke's help. To get that Clarke needs a little hope herself.

As the cage door opens and slams shut Clarke sits up slowly, a wince painted on her face that she masks quickly when he sets down their food. A small portion of oatmeal, two slices of toast, and two plastic bottles of orange juice. Not exactly what Octavia was expecting but far better than her worst fears.

She waits a few moments but their kidnapper never leaves, instead he sits down and watches over them carefully, making Octavia lose her appetite. Clarke throws her a look, glancing between Octavia and the food before looking away, making it clear she had to eat. And yet Octavia couldn't eat it. Did he put anything in it? Will he drug them? Poison them? Clarke's lived this long but what's to stop him from starting now?

A million questions run through her mind in seconds as her mind thinks of the worst scenarios. Only a deep noise breaks her out of her panic.

"Not hungry I see." The man says. "Well maybe your in the mood for something else."

Not sure what he meant Octavia looks up to see him much closer than before. Panicked she tried to back away, only to hit the metal bars behind her. His hand is rough as it glides over her cheek and down towards her neck. Further and further down it travels the more Octavia's stomach turns.  She tries to move away, to kick at his body to give her space, but it was no use. Her body froze.

Just before he could go any further a sound forces him to stop and turn towards Clarke. At first it seemed she was just coughing but her pale skin was turning blue and it was then Octavia knew she was choking.

With a huff of annoyance their kidnapper moves from Octavia and wraps his arms around Clarke from behind, forcing her to breath again. She spits out the bread she was choking on and flinches away from his touch, but she want fast enough from his hand.

"What'd I keep telling you? Take things slow, there's no rush." Clarke bites down on her lower lip and shields her face away but her small nod seemed enough of a response for the man to accept. "Now I'm not in the mood." He proclaims as he stands. Only he doesn't leave without yanking Clarke from her hair and forcing her gaze upwards.

He doesn't say anything and Clarke doesn't make a single noise as his grip tightens. Octavia shivers at the scene, gulping down her fear until he pulls yanks back and leaves, mumbling curses under his breath as he goes.

"Clarke?" Octavia whispers. "Clarke are you okay?!"

"I'm used to it." She says plainly before turning to look over her shoulder. Looking Octavia over for injuries no doubt. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." With that Clarke nods and slides her food away and curls in on herself in the corner. Her silence is more terrifying than anything Octavia's seen this far.

Everyday like clockwork the man with the scar on his lips brings them breakfast, lingers as they eat, and leaves. Sometimes he sits close to Clarke as his hands brush her hair away from her face and grazes against the skin of her neck. Other times it's Octavia. However, his affections towards the brunette never grew too bold with Clarke in the cage. She does what she can to protect the other girl and keep her away from him by any means necessary, even at the cost of her own sake.

But one day his impatience grew into frustration. While Clark slept on the far end of the cage, their captor crept in the cage and went directly towards Octavia. No food was offered nor anything else as he entered. Instead he made his intentions clear as he yanked her hands by the rope and pushed her down onto the ground. The Young Blake tried to fight back, her legs kicking beneath her in an attempt to escape his grip, but it was no use. He was everywhere as he straddled her waist and tried to keep her still.

Octavia groans and tries to move away, but fear takes hold of her as realization dawns on her that she cannot escape nor do anything to fight against what her kidnapper intends. It was the noises that she made that woke Clarke from her sleep.

Ignorant to the blonde's consciousness the man continues on with his full attention focused on the girl underneath him. That is until he hears Clarke's protest to his right. All it takes is one look from him for her to look away. The fear in her eyes grew exponentially, causing her to turn away. Given her experience she knows what he would do to her if she continued to speak.

Clarke keeps her eyes invaded from the scene next to her, but I deep gnawing inside her stomach turns as her heart pounds in her chest. So many girls have been hurt, their lives taken, because the very man in the cage beside her was not pleased. What would he do to Octavia when he realizes her fighting spirit would not be broken without a fight? Her life would end much quicker than any other girl before her. This Clarke knows for a fact.

She catches a glimpse of his hand maneuvering under the young girl's shirt before she closes her eyes, pushing down the rising bile and her throat at the quick glance of the scene. And this she knows is only the beginning. The beginning of endless torment, pain, and misery. A life that Octavia neither deserved nor should ever experience.

"You can't! She's bleeding." With a flinch the man jumps away from Octavia and swivels his head in Clarke's direction, a sneer pulling at his lips in disgust. "She's on her period. Just started this morning." Clarke lies easily, sending Octavia a quick glance just before the man looks down on her. That was her cue to agree, and she did.

Without warning he growls in frustration as he moves further away from Octavia and lunges in Clarke's direction, making Octavia flinch. What surprised her is that Clarke doesn't move an inch. Instead she holds her chin high to look in his eyes

"And you?" He sneers down at Clarke. But the girl doesn't move an inch as she mutters a single word.

"No."

"Good." He grumbles before grabbing a fist full of her hair and dragging her out of the cage and upstairs.

Octavia gasps quietly, her breathing quickly morphing into silent cries. Whether they were tears of fear or relief she wasn't sure. All she knew was she was thankful for Clarke. But what will he do when he finds out Clarke lied?

With every moment that passes Octavia stares at the door Clarke was dragged through. Even in the darkness she knows exactly where the white door stood; separating Octavia from from both freedom and further misery. Whatever the man does upstairs she could never fathom. All she knew was Clarke suffered dearly and returned more broken, battered, and bruised than when she left. Considering it's been nearly a week since he's taken her upstairs, Octavia can only imagine the torment he will inflict on Clarke now. And now that he couldn't get what he wanted because of Clarke's lie, Octavia feared for the blondes life.

She stared at the door for what felt like hours before it opened again, the stream of light from above cascading down into the darkness around her. It was like a ray of hope blocked by a looming evil that was dragging a weakened young woman down into the darkness.

Clarke doesn't blink or flinch or make so much as a sound as he tosses her inside the cage with a plastic bag thrown in soon after her.

"Looks like it's your lucky week." he grumbles as he turns around. Not even bothering to tie her hands again as he locked them in to ascend back into the light. His dark silhouette fades into the beaming light before the door shuts and returns the cold room back to darkness.

Without missing a beat Octavia rushes to scoot over in direction. Her skin was paler, if at all possible, and covered with more bruises and scratches that bled. What worried her the most was how Clarke struggled to sit up straight, and in the process she moaned in pain. There was only so much Octavia could do with her hands bound but Clarke didn't seem to be at all phased by her physical state. So much so she shrugs Octavia hands away from her back and unties the rope.

"Take off your underwear and switch them out with the new ones "

"What?"

"Just do it." Clarke croaks as she reaches over for the bag that was thrown in with them.

Octavia shakes her head stubbornly, not wanting to do what Clarke instructed. But as the blonde throws her a look Octavia swallows her pride and does as Clarke says. She's survived years in the little hole of hell they are trapped in, if Clarke has any idea of what to do to keep surviving Octavia knew it was best to follow her instructions. Thought never one to be a follower she did so with hesitation.

"Clarke he's gonna know you lied. I'm not- "

"Tavia... Just trust me. Please." She cuts the brunette off, sounding out of breath. 

The young Blake puts the new panties on in haste before setting her old ones aside. Glancing over as she dresses she sees Clarke take Octavia's old ones and sets them by her ankle.  Something that doesn't go unnoticed by Octavia.

"Uh...Clarke? What the hell are you-"

She stops mid sentence as she watches Clarke not only reopen but enlarge a wound on her lower calf. The fresh blood flows downwards onto the fabric below. At first Octavia was sure Clarke was losing her mind until realization dawns that this was her plan. This was how they fooled their kidnapper into believing their lie. This is how they survive and keep Octavia safe from his grasp a little while longer.

"I've been here long enough to learn a thing or two." 

"Will he really believe that?" 

"Does every time." Clarke mumbles, her wound slowly trickling down her leg. A wound that Octavia worries will be noticed sooner rather than later.

"But won't he get suspicious of your open wound?" Octavia voices, but the only response she receives for several long moments was a scoff followed by silence.

"He doesn't even notice I have them. He's too busy making new ones to care." Clarke states, venom underlying her tone. 

Octavia shudders at the thought of what this man could possibly be doing to Clarke to be so distracted as to not notice the state her body was in. Nearly every part of her body was bruised, scratched or cut, and covered with scars. All along her arms were marks from being handled, her wrists burned from the tightness of the rope, and her legs... too many shapes and shades of color to know where the new bruises started and the old ones ended.

 "If it comes time, and he separate us, cut yourself somewhere using the rope. Dig yourself raw if you have to and do this. He won't come near you if he thinks you're menstruating." 

At hearing this Octavia's green eyes widen. Her gaze pulled away from Clarke's wounds and up to her blue eyes. This wasn't up for discussion of any kind. If Octavia wanted to survive here, to last longer than any of the other girls long enough to live, let alone escape, she needed to be careful and do everything in her power to survive. Even if that meant tricking her kidnapper into keeping his distance. If she was determined to keep his hands away then Octavia needed to take cautious measures whenever possible for as long as she could. If the natural cycle of being a woman could help her do that, she was all for fooling the creep who took them.

 "If you know this then why not do it yourself?"  She suddenly asks as the thought comes to her mind. If Clarke knows this trick to keep him away then why not use it herself? It was obvious she needed the break and yet she continues to put herself in his hands and ultimately risk her life. 

"He knows my cycle. It's like clock work." Clarke says solemnly. "He took me when I was young for multiple reasons. Waiting for me to become a woman... being able to predict when I start, was definitely one of them. Makes it easier for him to plan what he does and who he does it with whenever he wants." 

That's when more pieces of the odd puzzle begin to fit for Octavia. It's one of the reasons why he keeps two girls instead of one.  Not only does he have a select variety to chose from for his pleasure, but when one is indisposed he can do as he pleases with the other.

"When it's my time you'll say you're on yours. It'll keep him at bay as much as possible." Clarke continues speaking while addressing the wound on her leg.  And since you're new and under a lot of stress it's going to be unpredictable for a few months. It'll keep him fooled." 

"It won't be forever Clarke." Octavia reasons, her voice cracking at the mere thought of what he would do to her when he picks the right moment. 

"I know but it'll help. Trust me, when he can't have me..." Clarke trials off suddenly and refuses to meet Octavia's eye. "Let's just say he's more rough and wild.  Sometimes unpredictable. The other girls are proof of that." 

It was the last statement Clarke made that churned the wheels in Octavia's mind. Only days ago when the pair had met Clarke confess that the others were dead; however, their bodies were nowhere to be seen in the basement. Which left one conclusion- he took them upstairs and out of the house to dispose of them. Innocent girls taken from their homes and families were dragged to this cold empty cell where the rest of their lives were short lived; the only thing they knew before death was pain and misery. Who knew how many innocent lives were taken simply because the criminal who took them couldn't have what he wanted? Pure innocence snuffled away like the fire of a candle because a man could not handle his anger. And now here Octavia was at risk of being next.

"How many?" Confused by the sudden question Clarke looks  towards Octavia with a furrowed brow. "How many before he took me?" Just as quickly as she looked up, the blonde turned away. Her shoulders falling more, whether from defeat or exhaustion Octavia wasn't sure. The one thing she is sure of, is it wasn't anything good.

"Too many." Is all she says before ripping her shirt and pressing against her leg to cover the wound. "Get some sleep Octavia. You're safe for now." 

"What about you?" 

The other girl stiffens in response but refuses to look anywhere but the ground. She may have given up hope of ever escaping to freedom but that didn't mean her fighting spirit to live had burnout out just yet. 

"I'll survive. I always do."

Chapter Text

Days turn into weeks as weeks turn into months and Bellamy is still no closer to finding her or figuring out what happened that day.Councilman Dante Wallace's reelection should not dictate the ability to investigate a missing teen, particularly a family member of Ardadia PD's own officer. And yet the Chief of police was set on not investigating whatsoever. There were too many factors that didn't add up to Bellamy. All he does know is that Pike not only lied about having a team investigate her disappearance, but has been secretly having all evidence of other cases destroyed. If that wasn't reason enough for Bellamy's suspicion to grow, his sudden and random disappearances during the day was.

As discreetly as they could, both Miller and Bellamy not only continue their investigation into Octavia's disappearance, but into the suspicious behaviors of their boss.

Their first steps? Finding out exactly where Pike disappears throughout the day. Both take turns failing Pike when he leaves the office, making sure the other is at the office for cover and a story. Who knows just how deep there rot in Arkadia PD truly goes? Who knows how many of their fellow officers in arms are under Pikes influence.

They stick to tailing Pike whenever he leaves while the other stays behind. For days its small meager places and tasks such as running errands. But just once it was all they needed to catch him in the wrong place at the right time. It seemed like maybe they were wrong. Maybe Pike wasn't dirty after all but just your average control freak of a boss who was stretched too thin. But even with their doubts they continue on keeping their tail on their boss.

Another week passes with nothing new or suspicious going on when it comes to Pike. It was Miller's day today and halfway through Pikes errand runs he nearly turns the rover around to return to the station. Except something changes his mind as soon as you recognize the buildings in which Pike was turning on. They were driving in the slums of the town, parts of the city that not even the poorest of a poor would ever dare enter. These streets will run by criminals and gang members only. No ordinary citizen would in their right mind enter this part of town.

So why was Charles Pike willingly driving in this direction?

With his interest peaked, Miller slows down but keeps the tail on the chief of police. Even with the distance between them it was clear exactly where they were headed- To Paxton McCreary's warehouse. Sure enough as Miller parks the Rover discretely on the side of the street with several deserted cars he pulls out his camera to zoom in on his view of Pike. Before he could leave his view Miller takes several shots of the man exiting the car and entering the building. But once inside the view that Miller had is gone.

"Shit." He curses.

Even with the few photos he has it wasn't enough. Pike could give any number of excuses as to why he was in McCreary's warehouse. In any case it would reflect horribly on Miller and Bellamy for following Pike from the start with refutable evidence and theories with no evidence at all. To nail Pike for anything they needed more than flimsy evidence. But to gain what was required there was only one thing Miller could do- go inside.

Both Bellamy and Miller agreed to not do anything reckless or jump into action without thinking. It was the safest and most effective way to ensure their investigation not only stays secret but concrete. The less errors they have the better their chances are of creating a solid case against Pike and those under his influence. Without more evidence to go on, it wouldn't just be their lives at stake but Octavia's life. If they don't put an end to Pike's corruption and find Octavia soon, she may not have much time left. And given the amount of cases similar to hers, who knew how many others lives were at stake. They needed the evidence no matter the costs.

With the decision made Miller grabs his camera and places the strap around his chest before slipping out of the rover and quickly across the street towards the warehouse. Even with taking a big risk of being seen, his end goal was to gather evidence and slip away unnoticed. To make that happen his only way into the building was from above. Rushing to the side of the building, Miller climbs the fire escape ladder to the highest window available and climbs through, careful to keep the camera safe and his movements quiet.

Once inside he keeps his steps slow and wide. Seeing as he wasn't sure where he was going, he silently followed the sound of voices echoing further through the building. Miller keeps low as he can and out of sight as he clears out a path towards the voices, most of which he didn't recognize but there were a select few he did. Pike and McCreary among them.

Miller crouches down and looks down at the ground of the warehouse where nearly a dozen men stood. on one side was Paxton McCreary and his men, the other side Charmaine Diyoza with hers, and last, but not least, was Pike standing alone to by the entrance. Each leader from their side stood in the middle of the room with Pike, their conversation too far to make out; however, it was very clear that Pike was not there undercover nor arresting the criminals- he was one of them. Grabbing his camera, Miller snaps several photos of the meeting and zooms in when McCreary pulls out a yellow envelope he passes on to Pike. Miller increases the zoom as far as he can to see the contents as Pike opens it. Sure enough the package contained wades of cash.

If Pike truly were here on business as a police Chief, why would he be accepting blood money from the most wanted criminals in the State?

He wouldn't. At the very least not without having an informant or someone else with him. Going deep undercover with criminals such as Diyoza and McCreary require more than one operative, but Pike was here alone. This was not an investigation, this was a collaboration. Pike was dirty.

Once Miller gathers as many pictures as he could, he quickly, but quietly, slips outside and down the fire escape unnoticed. He hurries across the street and dives into his vehicle, mindful of the camera strapped to his body. Only moments after sitting in the drivers seat, Miller grabs his phone and calls his partner.

"Bellamy, You will not believe this."

"Miller, you got something?"

"More than you'll believe, I'm on my way now." He pauses, looking over at the camera with a smirk. "We got Pike."

With that said Miller hangs up the phone and pulls out of the street as he heads into the direction of the discrete meeting apart that the two men had agreed upon from the beginning. It was far too dangerous to meet and discuss their investigation at the station, or anywhere familiar to them and their routines such as their homes. As far as they knew their fellow officers in arms were involved with the very same activities as their boss. With that in mind the partners agreed on an area just outside of Arkadia away from their station and their town.

Miller makes sure to park the rover discreetly in a hidden location before he slips inside the building through the back. He makes his way through the busy kitchen and around several cooks before bumping into one- John Murphy.

"You know the drill. Password?"

"Murphy this is serious. I don't have time for your games." Miller huffs as he tries to move around the man blocking his view, but it was no use. Murphy stepped in both directions to keep Miller from walking any further.

"I know. Now password or you leave the way you came." Before Miller could argue Murphy beats him to the punch. "My restaurant, my rules." Irritated Miller rolls his eyes but mutters under his breath.

"Cockroach."

"Password accepted. They're in the office." Murphy smirks smugly as Miller storms off through the kitchen doors and into the office, ducking his head to avoid being seen by anyone outside.

When he enters the room he raises his hands and voices his presence, alerting Bellamy inside to lower his weapon. And he does. Both Bellamy and Monty relax at Miller's presence and go back to their positions as before.

"Miller."

"We don't have much time, I need to head back to the station soon. Here," He sets down the camera in front of Monty and says, "It's all yours. Do your thing Green."

Not daring to waste another moment Monty grabs hold of the camera and attaches it to his laptop, immediately downloading every image on the hard drive. Once loaded he blows the images up to full screen, the images as clear as day. Several photos showed in grave detail Charles Pike standing with Paxton McCreary and exchanging a package. Their interaction clearly was not only one of many conversations between them but an alliance.

A fiery itch grows like wind to a flame, feeding the anger that burns deep inside Bellamy. All the evidence they needed was in the palm of their hands. All they had to do was take down the mole in their division to be one step closer to finding Octavia, and that was what kept Bellamy going. It's been weeks since her disappearance and not once did they get a single lead. Not to a possible location nor clue as to who kidnapped her. If there was Pike saw to it that it was destroyed.

Finding a missing person after the 48 hour mark was rare and unlikely to lead to any good news, and they hit the 6 week mark on Monday. As little as it was Bellamy still held hope that his sister was alive. The first steps to finding her was to take down the corruption within Ardadia PD. Ans Pike was just the beginning.

Looking to Monty, the young apprentice prints out dozens of physical copies of the pictures, including downloading them to multiple hard-drives and attaching them to different emails for distribution.

"Send it all." Per Bellamy's statement Monty attaches the files in a group email to all news outlets not only in Arkadia but the state of Washington. With a single click of a button the damage was done.

Charles Pike was exposed.

Within a week's time the news spread nationwide of the scandal brewing within Arkadia and its police department. Charles Pike was not only stripped of his title and fired from Arkadia PD, but arrested. A full blown investigation is enforced soon after the media publishes the photos and pushes out scandals theories surrounding not only Charles Pike but Arkadia PD itself. The division as a whole is shut down as the staff is investigated and questioned individually to root out what was true and what was not.

How many knew of Pike's involvement with Paxton McCreary? Was anyone else in Arkadia PD involved? If so, how many?

Round and round the state officials go with their investigation but find more dead ends than leads; all except two. Bellamy and Miller. The two officers who worked together to gather the evidence needed to bring the secret criminal alliance to light. The partners are separated in the beginning for interrogation before the state officials dig deeper into what not only drove them to investigate their Chief but how they went about it. And it all circled back to Octavia Blake's disappearance; including dozens of others.

They knew something was wrong immediately after he refused to look into a fellow officer's missing family member, and used the local elections as an excuse. He instructed them to let the matter be, but they couldn't ignore the sudden strange disappearance of a local minor and relative of a fellow officer of Arkadia. As they went against their Chiefs instructions they discovered dozens of others related to her disappearance. Which ultimately led to the investigation of Pike himself.

After their interrogations both Bellamy and Miller are released and sent home.

They wait for the news on what's to come before they get the call. Pike bargains for a plea deal to lessen his sentence in exchange for information on the other moles hidden within Arkadia PD. The judge takes the deal, much to Bellamy and Miller's disappointment, and Pike is taken to prison after his trial.

When Arkadia PD is reopened officially Belly and Miller expect to have jurisdiction and clearance to investigate and research Octavia case and the dozens of others. What they didn't expect were promotions to detectives. But in the end it came together. The two officers who brought down one of the most infamous crime scandals in Arkadia we're not only promoted, but given extra eyes and ears to investigate the missing minors.

They use their new ranks and titles as well as they can to finally get to the bottom of the sudden and horrific kidnapping of Octavia Blake.

They work day and night tirelessly investigating every ounce of evidence available at their disposal. Bellamy hardly leaves his office days at a time. It isn't until Miller and their friends haul Bellamy out the doors themselves and to their favorite bar Grounders. Bellamy notices Murphy and his girlfriend Emori, as well as their friend Raven all at their usual spot with a beer in each hand as they wait. Clearly this was planned further than he thought.

"Aha! There's the big G men!" Murphy exclaims from his seat as they gain closer.

"Guys was this really necessary?" Bellamy exasperates as he takes his seats, and flagging down the bartender for his usual.

"Necessary? You've been locked away in you new office, enjoying your new position and power, without celebrating once. I think this," Murphy points out, "Is way overdue."

"Cockroach has a point man. We became detectives and haven't stopped working since." Miller redirects the conversation. "We deserve this. And you," he points at his friends chest. "Need this."

Bellamy caves with a heavy side as his friends were saying heavily into his chest. Ever since Octavia's disappearance he hasn't been able to breathe properly since. There's always been a wait heavy, and deep, pulling him down with the weight of guilt and vengeance. Whoever took his sister not only had a plan, but the tools and time to take her. This couldn't have been just a random attack, nor was a possible for the other similar cases. There was a serial kidnapper at large in Arkadia and Bellamy was going to find them.

"So now what big detective? Gonna bring down some more big criminal empires or what?"

"John!" Emori scolds Murphy with a sleep upside the head while the others laugh and look at Bellamy's all awaiting his answer.

"Now I find my sister. Whatever it takes." He says drinking his glass as his friends raise theirs.

Octavia Blake was alive and Bellamy was going to find her. No matter what it takes. She was his sister and his responsibility, and he was going to bring her home.

Chapter Text

Weeks turn into months and time begins so slow the longer Octavia is trapped in the cage with Clarke. She has no way of knowing just how much time passes by until one day she asks her herself. The blonde tries to ignore her question and sit in silence in the corner, waiting for their captor to return. Octavia won't be ignored so easily. The first time she asked 4 months passed, then it was 9. Soon after that she stopped wondering. But today it felt different. Today she needed to know. Sitting in the cold dark cell everyday and night with nothing to do and nowhere to go was driving the brunette insane. How Clark has done this for over 6 years Octavia will never understand. But she was thankful for the blondes existence all the same.

"Clarke please. You have to know."

"It's been two years, O." The blonde doesn't look up at her friend as she mutters these four words. Four simple words that strike pain through her heart. "Two years last week to be exact." 

Just before Octavia could say anything further the slam of the door above startles both girls. The only sound being a soft whimper from Octavia, her hair falling over her face as she moves away from the door. All the while Clarke's jaw clenches as her gaze stares into the darkness, awaiting for his figure to come into view.

No matter how long the girls have been held captive the sound of the door slamming as his heavy footsteps descends the stairs never ceases to frighten them, especially Clarke. Over the last two years she has helped keep Octavia safe as much as possible, even if it meant her beatings were far worse than the previous years. But it kept Octavia from ever feeling their captor violate her body the way he has with Clarke. No matter how hard Clarke fought to keep her safe and untouched, it was only a matter of time before he took what he wanted from the brunette; however, Clarke was relieved that his body never once invaded Octavia's, that is to say not every part of him. 

It was impossible to keep her safe forever but it never stopped Clarke from trying. Far too many girls have suffered by this man's hand. Far too many tortured and killed by his hand. Clarke used every ounce of energy left in her body, day and night, to make sure Octavia wasn't the next. The blonde always intervenes in some way or another if he pays too much attention to Octavia, even when he's too drunk to see clearly. Those were the worst days.

But Clarke bore the pain so Octavia didn't have to.

She took the beatings and she took the pain. She wore the scars and bore the wounds of his hands and body as he invaded hers. She took it all knowing Octavia was safer. Even when they were separated Clarke made noise from the bedroom while their captor tried to spend time alone with Octavia. Every attempt he made to separate them resulted in Clarke causing a disturbance of any kind that she could. Whether it be dropping an object and breaking it or simply fighting her restraints on the bed post to rattle the ground beneath her- she always stole his attention away from the brunette. Always.

But with each day it grew more difficult to do so.

Something changed their captors routine, something tragic enough to alter his behavior as well. He reeks of alcohol day in and day out. He's sloppy when he's drunk, and much more violent. It's easy to tell when he's sober or not simply but the heaviness of his footsteps as he walks down the stairs. It's those very sounds from his feet that startle Clarke awake. They're slow but heavy, and altogether out of beat. This man prides himself with confidence and an ego as tall as mountains to match. But when he's drunk... He's not at all himself nor of sound mind. He is the personification of hell.

The sound of the door creaking open awakens Octavia immediately. Having been trapped here for two long years she's learned what certain sounds make and what they mean, including how to respond. The door was certainly one of them. Normally this early in the morning meant breakfast, but food was not the appetite he craved to fill. His eyes dropped low as he scanned over each of the girls, their faces hidden beneath their hair as it cascades down their cheeks as if it were a curtain hiding away the faces beneath. 

But he wasn't looking for faces this time, only the closest one.

As he reaches for Octavia she moves to turn away, only her movements weren't quick enough. His hand grabs at her, his fingers twiddling with the ends for several moments in silence. Octavia holds her breath and looks to Clarke but the blonde is just as confused. Both girls don't dare move again until the man shoves Octavia away, his movements abrupt and forceful. Clarke gasps quietly, her lips parted to make sure she was alright, but stops when she feels his gaze turn on her. A soft whimper leaves her lips as he drags his feet in her direction. The noise she makes urges him further making him pick up speed and drop to his knees in front of her. 

(WARNING R*PE TRIGGER!)

She expects her restraints to be removed and taken upstairs like any other day. But when he reaches for his buckle and looms over her she knows he intends to do no such thing. As he reaches over for her, Clarke mewls as she tries to move away. And yet he was too fast. His hand grabs her hair and prevents her from moving away any further.

"No. Don't- Please not here- Please! No!" Clarke screams as he grips her hair in his hand and slams her head down to the ground. 

For a single moment the world goes black as stars dance across her vision. The throbbing pain in her head numbs as a new pain takes over, the suffocating strike of his hand around her throat while the other moves down to shift her clothing. Clarke gasps for air and chokes as his grip tightens. With each wheeze for air a small whiff of booze flooded her nose. He was drunk, too drunk, and too strong. She tries to move from under him, her body thrashing and wiggling to be free but each attempt was feeble. He was going to take what he wanted and there was nothing Clarke could do.

With tears swelling in her eyes she turns away and finds Octavia in the corner shaking with her knees pulled to her chest and eyes wide. He's never hurt her like this in front of Octavia, not once. But something was different this time. Whether he was too drunk to notice or care she couldn't tell. Either way Clarke couldn't protect Octavia from the horror of his capabilities- not this time.

"Clarke." Octavia croaks, her own tears flowing down her cheeks. 

She gasps in between her tears as she tries to speak again but Clarke gives her a subtle but firm shake of her head. The only thing it would do is make matters worse. There was no stopping this, only looking away. Octavia plugs her ears and shields her eyes as she hides her face in her knees, unable to witness the torture of her friend.

(WARNING over. At least for some of the worst bits)

Clarke's own tears fall silently as her mind drifts from her body, away from pain their captor was inflicting. A trick she's learned over the years to escape the torment- running away inside her own mind. It's kept her alive and sane for almost a decade, but today was different. Today her best friend was in the same room, trapped in the corner, trying to hide herself away from what was happening. Knowing Octavia was there made all the difference.

If he was like this now, Clarke hated to imagine how much worse it would soon become. 

The tears never stop even when their captor pushes away from Clarke, she knew it wasn't over. He undoes her ropes and grabs hold of her right wrist as he opens the caged door. The worst was yet to come. 

"No " She whimpers, digging her heels into the ground to find friction. But her bare feet slid across the concrete. Clarke's left hand reaches for the door to hold but her fingers glide across the metal. She was too far away. "No!" She cries, her body aches endlessly and her head pounds. 

There was only so much more her body could take, and at this rate there was no telling if she'd be conscious for days after he was done. Her legs collapse under her as he reaches the stairs, her feeble attempt to stay. The cage was cold, confined, and filled with horrid filth and shame; but it was far safer than being upstairs. With everything she has she tries to hold onto the railing of the stairs, but her skin simply slides up the metal pole as he drags her further and further until they reach the door.

"Clarke? Clarke!" Octavia shouts, finally realizing her friend was no longer in the cage. "Stop! Please just let her go! CLARKE!"

Instead of acknowledging the brunette in any way the man slams the basement door shut, drowning out the sounds of Octavia's cries. 

Clarke kicks and throttles the entire way through the hall, fighting with everything she has. Its been years since she's put this much effort into resisting him, not only because she knew she would never escape but the beatings that followed were excruciating. Her recovery took weeks at a time after each session. It didn't take long for Clarke to learn to not resist but after what happened downstairs everything felt different. Strange even for him. There was no telling what triggered his behavior but Clarke knew it would make their lives much worse to live, and much harder to survive.

He throws Clarke on the bed face first and cuffs her hands to the headboard, her stomach lying flat on the mattress as he bounds her hands. She twists her body in every direction she possibly could. And yet it was no use. Nothing she did was enough. All she could do was wait until he fell asleep- and that's what she does. Clarke escapes into her mind once again, ignoring the hot tears as they roll down her cheeks. Waiting until she feels the mattress dip with his weight as her cue to return to reality.

She isn't sure how much time passes by but when her eyes flutter open the sun has begun to set, and the day rolls over into night. With a sharp breath she looks over and sees that the man not only was fast sleep but in his haze one of her restraints had broken. It could be a trick as he's done before but it also could be her chance.

There was no telling just how much worse this life could be for her and Octavia. If he continued at this rate they would both be dead very, very, soon. Whether it be from his recklessness or his temper she didn't know. All she knew was it was time to flee. No more pain, no more misery, and certainly no more hell. Octavia deserved to see her other again and be free of what was to come next. And Clarke? Whether or not she would be able to escape was not a priority for her. All that mattered was one of them leaving, and she was certain it had to be Octavia. 

It was only a matter of time before he turned his full attention to her and forever the brunette to feel his wrath one way or another. Clarke would be damned before she lets that happen. For two long years she's done all she can to prevent Octavia and now she must protect her permanently.

They need to escape.

She struggles greatly with her restraints, her wrist tearing away at the rough metal before she is able to break free. Gently, and quietly, she steps off of the mattress and onto the floor, careful of the boards that creak under her feet. With a shaky breath she unlocks the bedroom door and squeezes through the small gap before softly closing it back. There was no telling how much time they had. All she knew was that the clock was ticking and they needed to run.

Quickly Clarke dashes towards the basement door and down the stairs, making sure to grab the keys to the cage before descending into the darkness. Her hands fumble for the right one as her heart pounds rapidly in her chest. Thumping loud as it echoes in her ears.

Ignoring the anxiety that runs through her body Clarke unlocks the door and throws it open in her haste towards Octavia. The blonde drops to her knees and grabs the brunettes arms as she tugs against the rope. Freeing Octavia for the first time in two years.

"Come on, we have to go." She ushers, pulling the girl to her feet and guiding her up the stairs. 

Octavia is shaky at first but keeps up the pace as they get to the door. She asks what Clarke was planning to do but Clarke doesn't answer her friend's question as she slowly cracks the door and peers inside the house. Once she's sure they're in the clear her hand tightens around Octavia's as she bolts towards down the hall, through the kitchen, and towards the back door. Which of course was locked.

"Clarke, I don't think you thought this through." Octavia murmurs. With a smirk Clarke scoffs and goes to the drawer of a desk in the hall where she's seen him place a single key once before. He didn't know she was awake and conscious, watching his every move, but she was.

"You underestimate me, O." Clarke replies as she inserts the key into the lock and twists. It takes several tries before the lock clicks successfully to open the door. Octavia's eyes widen as her brows sky rocket. For the first time in two years she could leave this house of horrors once and for all. 

"We don't have much time, we need to get you home." 

"Me?" She snaps suddenly looking up at Clarke. "What about you?" 

Rather than answer her question Clarke gently shoves Octavia outside and closes the door behind them. The air bursts against their skin as the fresh air fills their lungs. Both girls stop for just a moment as they breath in the natural air around them. This was only a taste of freedom. For them to truly be free they needed to flee this property and run far, far, away from their captor.

And so they run.

Their legs carry them far across the yard, the air in their lungs burning deep within their chests as they flee for freedom. Just before they reach the fence a loud shout from behind them grabs their attention. He was awake. Clarke gasps as her legs slow down. He darts across the yard in their direction at lightning speed. Gaining on them much faster than they could get away. But he was only one man and there were two of them. 

"Octavia run!!!" 

Clarke pushes Octavia forward, trying as she might to keep up with her friend's pace. But the more Clarke runs the more her body begins to crumble. Years and years of torture  and abuse had taken a toll on her body. And even now with the adrenaline pumping in her veins it simply wasn't enough- she wasn't fast enough. She cries out when a force takes grip of her hair and forces her back, a single arm reaches around her chest to keep her from flinging her arms around to fight. Her shout grew Octavia's attention from the fence, her face morphing into fear.  

"RUN!" Clarke shouts just before he clamps a hand over her mouth. 

With deep strain in her heart Octavia listens to Clarke's cries and runs as fast as her legs could possibly carry her. She runs and runs as far and fast as she could with no destination in mind. All she knew was she needed to be as far from that house as she could get. However, not paying attention to where her legs were leading her, Octavia tumbles down a small hill and lands in the middle of a road. The rough gravel tears away at her delicate skin as she tumbles and rolls until she lies onto the ground.

Her body aches and shutters at the wind blowing in the air around her. Her body shakes as the burning in her legs and lungs grows. And yet she continues to fight against all pain, against all aches. Octavia stands with shaking legs as she takes in her surroundings. A sound from afar grows louder as it draws closer. Her head turns in the duration of the sound and tumbles backwards to the ground as a car comes to a stop several feet in front of her. Gassing for her breath Octavia grabs her chest as her vision blurs. Only when a hand grasping at her shoulders brings her back to reality, causing her to jump away at the strangers contact. Panic takes over for just a moment before Octavia gaze lands on a woman.

"Miss? Are you hurt? What happened?" Octavia gasps for breath as she looks both ways, finally they land on the very woman's whos' car had nearly run her over. 

"I need your help. Take me to Arkadia PD." The woman nods rapidly and carefully reaches out to help Octavia into the car as much as she could without causing her anymore harm.

It takes the pair less than twenty minutes to arrive at the stations. As soon as the woman shifts her gear to park Octavia thanks her for her help and is out of her seat and running in the direction of the entrance. She throws the door open with all her might and dashes inside. Not seeing where she was going her body collides with another. She tenses under a set of hands as they touch her arms to turn her around and swivels away from their grasp, immediately gasping for breath.

"Ma'am what seems to be the probl-" a man's voice begins to ask just before Octavia turns to find his gaze. "Octavia?!" 

"Miller?" The deep sense of dread falls away as she wraps her arms tightly around her old friend. For once the touch of a man did not repulse her in disgust or fear. For once she felt safe and at home. 

Home... 

The house. Clarke was still in danger.

Without warning Octavia rips herself from Miller's embrace and grabs hold of his arms in haste, her eyes wide with frantic panic as the urgency of reality pulls her back down from her joyous high form her small reunion.

 "We- we have to go back! You gotta help save her. Miller please he'll kill her!" 

"Who? O, calm down okay. Take a deep breath and focus."

"We don't have time! He'll kill her!!" 

"Hey! What's going on in here?!" A sudden voice calls out from the bullpen echoes over the panicked shouts coming from Octavia.

Both Miller and Octavia turn from one another and into the direction of the bullpen area. Several heads have turned in their direction only to look away to the third individual who walked through the station and in their direction. Once his presence comes into view and his eyes land on the very cause of the disruptive shouting he stumbles quickly before his feet plant firmly on the ground. His entire body freezing still on the spot.

 "O?" 

"Bell." Octavia cries gently as she rushes forward, her arms flinging around Bellamy's neck and wrapping around his shoulders tightly as her face is buried in the crook of his neck. 

Now this, this felt like coming home.

The young Blake held onto tightly to her brother with everything her body could withstand. Only when her legs begin to sway do they part as he tries to give her support and  keep her standing. Her legs still burned from the amount of running she had done from escaping. But she knew this burn was nothing compared to what Clarke had gone through earlier today. Nor what she may be going through now- if she's still alive.

"Bell we need to-" She starts, having been drawn back to the moment as they break apart, but when they do her eyes are drawn to his uniform, or rather lack there of. Instead he wore more casual, yet professional clothing. "You... You made detective?" Bellamy grins from ear to ear as he nods and keeps hold of his sister's shoulders, not quite believing she was still here.

"Yeah, I did. I had to to find you." He proclaims, his smile lingering on his lips before his words catch up with his mind. 

Even with his promotion he was never able to find Octavia s location not the person who took her in the first place. So how was she here now? He furrows his brow as he takes a step back to truly examine his little sister. She stood before him in clothes filled with stains and filth, her hair matted and sticking out every which way. And her skin? Bruised with several cuts scattered around. Her wrists being the worst injury of all.

"O what happened? Who did this to you?" His voice lowers and deepens in anger. 

"I don't know his name. All I know is he'll kill her if we don't go back. Bell please! You have to save her."

"Save who?"

"Her name is Clarke." Octavia mutters, pushing down the tears that threaten to spill further. "She helped me escape but... before we could both get away he grabbed her. Bellamy you don't know what he's capable of but I do. Clarke is as good as dead if we don't get to her first. Bellamy please."

With a heavy sigh Bellamy nods his head in agreeance with his sister's plea. Even though they should get her checked out medically he knows she would refuse. Instead of sourcing her hand Bellamy decides to do all he can to help Octavia find her friend.

"Okay, O, where did he keep you?" Octavia shakes her head.

"I-I don't know. Out of town. The drive here took maybe twenty minutes." 

"If we brought in a sketch artist do you think you'd be able to identify him?" 

Octavia nods sternly as Bellamy glances in Miller's direction and notes his partners nod. Their communication nonverbal but in agreement. Gently Bellamy leads his sister away from the entrance of the station and into his office to discuss further while Miller goes to his own office to make a few calls. As Miller leaves Bellamy ushers for his sister to sit down but the younger Blake refuses.  

"I don't want to sit down!" She exclaims. "I need to know if Clarke's okay." 

"O, I'm doing all I can here." he says gently. "I've got everyone available searching where you came from." 

Logically Octavia knows there' isn't much more to be done than to find the house he kept her in to find him and Clarke. At the very least if they were no longer there then Bellamy's people could find a trial to follow. But deep down she knew it wasn't enough. Her irritation grows, as does her impatience. The longer it took to find Clarke the less likely the chances of finding her alive. 

To distract his sister Bellamy suggests taking her to the hospital to get checked out, but of course she argues back.

"No! Not until I know." 

"Octavia please. We'll find this... Clarke eventually. But right now you are my priority." 

"And Clarke is mine! She saved my life, Bell. Over and over again. Without her he would have..." She stops abruptly with a shake of her head. Unwilling to utter the words of the vile, disgusting, things he has done to her friend. "You have no idea the things he's done to her! The things she's protected me from." Octavia quiver as tears cascade down her cheeks. 

There in her mind's eye were images, flashes, for what the man had done to Clarke only hours before. He didn't even try to take Clarke away, he simply did as he pleased without a care in the world no matter what Octavia heard or witnessed. He simply had taken what he wanted and nothing more. Had it not been for Clarke's quick thinking and interruptions who's to say Octavia wouldn't have been next? Who's to say he hadn't intended to hurt her in the same manner, only he couldn't with Clarke always intervening. Just the thought of what he has done to her friend repulsed her, bile rose to her throat at the very images she caught before turning away. Octavia could only imagine just how worse it was for Clarke behind closed doors.

"I can't let her die. Not for me." She croaks. "Not anymore. Not after I left her behind." 

Bellamy senses his sister's distress and guilt. The feeling mirrored his own as he too felt responsible for his own sister's pain. He wasn't there to protect her when he should have been and look what happened. But he knows that what happened to this girl Octavia speaks of is not his sister's doing. She has no logical reason to feel guilt, she did the right thing and found the help she needed. At the moment that was all she could do. He places a soft hand on her shoulders as he speaks, his worse soft and slow.

"O, I'm sure it wasn't your fault. If she protected you from him, I'm sure she wanted you to be free. Even if it meant she wasn't." Octavia shakes her head vigorously, her denial certain. 

"You don't get it. He's had her for eight years now! Eight years! She can't take much more. Clarke can't keep living like this." She pleads as her tears falling begin to flow freely. "Please Bell. Find her."

Bellamy gives his word to Octavia that he will do his best no matter what. In the meantime He suggest that they take her to a hospital or call for a doctor to give her a proper exam. But of course Octavia refuses. She sits in Bellamy's office in silence until he breaks it. Gently moving small conversation into discussing The events of what has happened over the years. 

For the first time since her return home Octavia smiles. She continues to do so until the sketch artist arrives at the station. Bellamy begins to stand and leave his office to give Octavia privacy but stops when she reaches out and grasps a stronghold on his hand. Her light green eyes pleading with him to stay- And so he does. 

Bellamy stays with his sister for the duration of the sketch and long after the artist leaves. He tries to talk with her about anything that comes to mind, But after a while he notices that she begins to close up. Something that she never used to do before. However that was two years ago, two very long years ago.

He isn't sure how long they sit in silence until Miller returns in the office with the news. They have reason to believe that they may have found the house not Octavia had escaped from. If not the exact house, it was in the same area. What made it more interesting? They found something.

Abruptly, and at the same time, both Blake's stand from their chairs at the news. 

"O, what're you doing?"

"I'm coming with you." Both Miller and Bellamy blink.in surprise at Octavia proclamation before coming to their senses.

"No you're not."

"Either arrest me and lock me in a cell or grab your keys so we can go." Octavia keeps her shoulders squared as she stares down her brother and his best friend. "I need to know. So I'm going."

With her statement final Octavia slips past Miller and through the doors of Bellamy's office and stands near the exit as she waits. If there was one thing about Octavia that hasn't changed it was surely stubbornness of her Blake genes.

To ensure that nothing would be at all to triggering or even dangerous for Octavia, Bellamy sends several officers to the house in advance to ensure a perimeter is set and evidence collected. Once the crime scene is secure and the situation deemed not dangerous, Bellamy, Octavia, and Miller ride to the house they suspect Octavia was held in.

Bellamy delays the drive to the house as long as he could without arousing any suspicion Octavia. But of course after 30 minutes past she knew what Bellamy was doing. And of course the young Blake demanded that the game her brother was playing to end and for them to drive in the direction of the house. Octavia knew her brother well even with 2 years apart he hasn't changed.

With a side Bellamy turns the Rover around as Miller pulls up the direction in which they are meant to go. It takes 45 minutes to finally arrive at the destination thanks to the long winding back roads that Bellamy deliberately took. When they do finally arrive The scene is not only secure but there was yellow tape as far as the eye could see.

"What the hell?" Miller voices aloud as Bellamy pulls in on the dirt road.

Bellamy takes a quick glance in the rear view mirror as he catches a glimpse of his sisters face, Her expression morphing from annoyance to worry in a flash. 

"O are you sure you wanna do this? No one will blame you for staying in the car."

"No. No. I wanna go. I need to know." She repeats as she removes her seat belt and steps door outside. "This isn't it." BEllamy give shis sister an odd look and she elaborates. "This isn't the house." 

Just before Bellamy could ask if she was sure, Atom, one of the most promising officers in the station, was one of the first to arrive on the scene and gather and secure as much evidence as possible before their arrival. He guides the detectives and Octavia to the backyard where the yellow tape stretches far further than they imagined it could. Ground beneath them having been dug up with dozens of holes uncovering multiple bodies buried below. 

Octavia gasps softly and takes a single step back as she takes in the scene. Graves beyond graves as far as the eye could see. 

Atom fills in Bellamy and Miller of their finds by giving as much detail as he could. The house was secured first and all inside. There was no sign or anyone inside or on the land. The hounds they brought to search for anyone in the area drew their attention away from the house and outside where they discovered dozens of bodies buried beneath the ground. Leading them to begin digging.

"Are any of the bodies new?" Octavia voices quietly, her eyes glued to the yellow tape before them. "Or with blonde hair? Blue eyes."

"No." Atom declares, though wary seeing as Octavia was not technically cleared to be at the crime scene. "All bodies are decayed."

Octavia sighs in relief. And for just a moment the weights of fear and guilt is lifted from her chest. But it only lasted for a single moment until it returned 10-fold when she realized that even though Clarke's body was not buried here it did not mean that there was no body to find. He simply could have taken her to a different location and done much worse there.

Bellamy dismisses Atom and thanks him for the update on the current investigation at hand. The Young officer takes his leave and hurries off to continue his work with the others while leaving Octavia and the two detectives on their own. Every turn there seems to be another body or area sectioned off with yellow tape, the black words crime scene flashing in black bold lettering against the bright yellow tape. 

Miller takes a walk about the grounds to get a closer look and understand just what they were dealing with here. It takes him less than 5 minutes before he returns to the Blake siblings with an uncomfortable expression placed upon his face. There was only so much they can do now with their investigation with the amount of evidence they not only had to gather, but pull together for an official investigation. The magnitude of this crime scene was beyond what Arkadia PD was used to handle. What they needed was reinforcements, and so Miller suggests calling in the feds, and immediately Bellamy agrees. This was beyond their jurisdiction to investigate alone.

Arkadia has a serial killer. 

While Miller leaves the scene and makes the call Bellamy sticks close to his sister, who was at the moment wrapping her arms around her body rightly. Her arms covered in goosebumps while her skinny paled. He couldn't begin to fathom nor imagine the things that had happened on this land and on the house behind them. And he never wanted to know, because with every detail his mind retains the more his anger will take control of how he proceeds with his investigation. An emotion that is taking the reigns at this very moment, and is only calmed when he near his sister. Comforting her, he knows, is the best thing he could do until this. Clarke girl was found.

"We'll catch him, O. I promise. Even if it's the last thing I do"

Chapter Text

With such intense cases revolving around Octavia's kidnapping and return, assistance from a higher division is called in- The FBI. A small team from Virginia is sent and arrives within hours. Surprised by their quick arrival Bellamy has a room set up for them to work soon after they arrive. The case of the kidnappings, though local, has grown outside of their district as they uncover more bodies by the hour. Several bodies have been identified already and connected to several of the other cases Bellamy and Miller were investigating themselves when Octavia first disappeared. However the more bodies they uncover and are identified the more they discover this very case goes beyond Arkadia Washington. The cases Bellamy and Miller researched of the other missing girls goes as far as three states over and exceeds over a dozen.

According to Octavia only one girl was with her- Clarke, but she doesn't have a last name to give. All the young Blake could give was a first name and a description detailed enough for a sketch artist to make out her face as well as their kidnappers. Though the sketches were accurate, it still wasn't enough to go on. Without full names they were picking through needles in a stack of needles.

Clarke was not a very common name for a girl but there have been hundreds of cases with such a girl gone missing. And given Arkadia's limited amount of technological resources, they needed to call in the big guns from VA. Miller was displeased with the idea entirely, even if it was his own. The Feds were never useful in any domestic cases that weren't their own, but Bellamy knew he had to make the call. Their local PD couldn't make certain calls and moves as efficiently or as quickly as the FBI. As refutable as it was, they needed them. If what Bellamy's sister told them was correct then they were dealing with more than just Clarke's disappearance, but dozens of murders as well.

The lead on the FBI's team is Special Agent Marcus Kane. His team consists of four people and an additional woman who has no professional reason for coming along, but rather a personal one. A reason that Bellamy doesn't question seeing as they were running out of time as is trying to locate Clarke.

Kane informs Bellamy of what they have so far and the similar cases that they've discovered over several states while the woman walked around the room and towards the evidence board. She gasps softly at the sketch of Clarke and gently pulls the pin from the board softly to hold the image in her hands, her thin fingers brush over the charcoal that made the shape of her face. Every detail is so different yet so similar.

"Marcus." She croaks quietly as silent tears fall down her cheek. "It's her. Marcus its' her."

The conversation between Bellamy and Kane falls quickly as the woman speaks. Both men turn in the woman's direction and look as she holds she sketch close to her chest, her tears dripping down. Confused, Bellamy glances in Kane's direction. Not only is this woman, who isn't a professional addition to the team, addressing Kane by his first name, but she was also holding the sketch of their missing victim as tears steamed down her face. Clearly Bellamy was missing something.

"Detective Blake this is Abigail Griffin. Her daughter Clarke went missing eight years ago. Unfortunately her case went cold months after she was taken."

Shocked Bellamy looks at the woman and then down to the very sketch she held in her arms. It wasn't surprising for her to still want her daughter found, not in the least. But it was unorthodox for her to be in Washington with the FBI as they investigated her daughters disappearance. Normally family members await news and updates from their homes as they go about their daily lives, especially with so much time having passed since her daughters kidnapped. But Bellamy has no room to say as such when he allowed his sister, one of the victims, to enter the very crime scene she not only was a part of, but escaped. Even if it was secured first, it was still a risk.

"Hey! Put that back." Bellamy turns and moves swiftly to keep his sister from running up on the older woman who was gently holding Clarke's sketch. Quickly he steps in front of his sister's path and tries to calm her down, but this was Octavia Blake. She doesn't calm down until she wants to.

"O, not right now."

"Why does she have Clarke's picture!" Upon hearing the name Abby looks up sharply.

"You know my daughter?" Octavia's tense demeanor shifts immediately as her eyes find the older woman's.

"Abby?" Abby's jaw slacks while Kane observes silently, the only one to break the silence was Bellamy himself.

"How-"

"Clarke told me her mom's name is Abby. Her dad's name is Jake." The younger Blake takes a look about the room but finds no sight of an additional Griffin. As if reading the girls mind Abby glances in Kane's direction with her head down.

"He's not around anymore." Kane answers casually looking down before lifting his gaze once more. The Blake siblings share looks of their own as the air shits suddenly with tension.

"So Clarke, she's alive?" Abby asks, interrupting the odd feel in the room. "You saw her?"

She holds the picture close to her chest as she inquires about her daughter's life. Surely Octavia must have seen her if this sketch existed. But that didn't mean she was alive right now, right? Anything could happen in a day. Only Abby had continued to hold onto hope as she held the only viable sign her daughter was alive in her hands.

"She was."

"Was?!" Abby cries.

"She helped me escape, but before she could get away he grabbed her from behind. I-" She takes a moment to catch her breath and push down the rising sorrow that rose to the surface. "I wanted to help her but she told me to run. She protected me. Saved life more than once"

Octavia felt like a broken record repeating herself over and over again but her words couldn't have been further from the truth. For two years Clarke has put her self in harms path, risking her life to keep Octavia alive. Helping her survive no matter the cost, even at her life's expense. Remembering the last moment they saw each other Octavia fears Clarke's mission to save Octavia's life may have finally cost her her own.

"From the looks of it, you weren't the only one she tried to save." Kane says as he looks at the board. "All these bodies." he says turning to look at them. He shakes his head and pockets his hands as the room goes silent. "She couldn't save them all. But she made sure to save you." He proclaims as he looks at Octavia. The young Blake in turn turns away as her shoulders fall.

Attempting to break some of the tension suffocating everyone in the room, Bellamy continues on the conversation on a more informative basis.

He explains their discovery of an abandoned house in the same area Octavia escaped from. It wasn't the exact house or land she was kept in but what they found was beyond anything they've yet to see in their small town. Dozens of bodies buried and unmarked. Had it not been for the hounds it would have been impossible to know they were there. The title to the estate they searched belonged to a dummy cooperation, leaving them with only a sketch for a suspect.

Kane nods at the new information he's given and turns about the room to observe the evidence board. Particularly the sketch of the suspect gaining his full attention. Curious he takes the sketch down and looks over at Abby, who in return gives him a quizzical look. He turns the page over for her to see and nods in confirmation as she gasps. If his suspension wasn't enough to to go by Abby just confirmed them. If anyone knew exactly who this man was it was her.

No one else in Arkadia or the state of Washington had such close Business ties with the Wallace family as Abby Griffin herself.

"What?" Bellamy asks, breaking the odd silence now blanketing the room. "You know who he is?"

"I'm afraid I may have a suspicion." Kane answers as Abby stares at the piece of paper. A roller coaster of emotions falling down on her with each passing second. Shock and anger the most evident.

Kane pulls out his phone and pulls a picture up on the screen, politely asking Octavia if she recognized the man. The young Blake pales and steps behind her brother, the image of the man on the screen bringing everything back all at once. To assure his sister Bellamy lightly takes her hand in his with a gentle squeeze. Grounding her to this room and this moment. She was safe and free. This man couldn't hurt her anymore. She was home.

"That's him." She mutters, her fear quickly turning into anger.

"Are you sure? Take your time if you need to-"

"No. I don't need to think. That's him!" she gulps "It's the same face I had to see almost everyday for two years. It's him." Bellamy clenches his fist but nods, making Kane set his phone down.

"Who is he?" He voices, anger dripping like venom in his tone.

"Cage Wallace. Better known as Dante Wallace's son."

Everyone in the room is stunned at Kane's answer. This person who took Bellamy sister, who they believe had kidnapped and murdered dozens of other innocent girls was Cage Wallace. The mayor's own son. Not only were they investigating multiple homicides and hunting down a missing person, but now they had to find a way to convict and arrest someone in one of the most powerful families in the country.

The Wallace's were well known by name and nothing more. To put it simply the family was made of ghosts. They had influence, wealth, and power above all. They ran one of the most notorious oil manufacturing companies in America alone. However, even with so much light on them, the family was very private. They stuck to the shadows and worked in plain sight.

Not many people knew who the Wallace's were, let alone what they looked like until they researched it online. Especially those that lived in small towns. Large city businessmen were hardly any concern of theirs, therefore, why bother knowing what they looked like or who they were? But as everyone stands in the room a heavier weight than before tugs at each person.

"What properties do the Wallace's own? He would need to a quiet place, secluded to..." Bellamy gulps down the rest of his sentence but by the looks of agreement the others understood his fallen words.

"You're right." Kane puts in. "But the amount of properties they own are innumerable. Not to mention the red tape we'd have to go through to get warrants for each one. But even then I don't think looking into their properties would matter. They're smart, and having a property title connected to their name would make it easy to tie them to the crimes. It would need to be under a false identity or cooperation."

With a frustrated sigh Bellamy runs a hand through his hair and thinks. How could they possibly go about this investigation without doing more damage? Not only did they need to bring down this criminal but find and save another victim before she, too, was put into the ground. If they caught the man in the act or discovered his DNA and other physical ties of evidence they would bring him in and hold him for 48 hours, per the law. It would give them ample time to think of a plan and bring him down. But first they needed to save the Griffin girl.

He voices aloud how difficult it would be to take the girl far from wherever he kept her and Octavia. If her injuries are extensive, and he's assuming she is from protecting Octavia, then he wouldn't be able to take her far without consequences.

"He would need to take her somewhere near his last location."

"If she's still alive." Octavia mutters, angered as she stares at the sketch of Cage Wallace. Her green eyes darken as her lips turn up in a sneer. So much hate, anger, and disgust filled Octavia, making her blood boil.

"Hey Chief, we got some bad news." Everyone turns to the office door as Atom makes an entrance, his face grim and filled with bad news. "Two girls were reported missing. It's Harper and Maya."

"A brunette and a blonde." Bellamy mutters under his breath before a single hand runs through his dark curls, his fingers pull tightly while he turns to stare at the board before them. Just when they thought things couldn't get any worse- they do.

"But Clarke's blonde. Why would he need another?" Octavia asks frantically.

Bellamy and Miller had discovered early on in their investigation that the man they were looking for always kept a pair of girls, one blonde and one brunette, at a time. When he was finished with one he would replace her with another. Whether it be a brunette or blonde, he always had both; and now two new girls were missing that fit the exact description he looked for in his victims.

"Why would he take one of each if he has Clarke? He should only need a brunette right? Bell!?" Octavia pushes, looking from Kane and Abby to her brother. But even he couldn't make himself say what they all knew out loud.

"Ms. Blake, I'm sorry but if what officer Atom says is true then Clarke is-" Kane tries to explain, but Abby cuts him off, her voice sharp like a knife.

"No! Clarke is alive I can feel it."

"Abby-" He tries to reason but the mother refuses to hear another word.

"Until I see her body she is alive to me." She exclaims, her fiery defiance makes Kane back down. "Now find my daughter."

With the woman's final statement the officers and agents in the room put their heads together to think of a solution, and fast. Just because they couldn't find anything at the last house that was discovered in the countryside but that didn't mean that Bellamy pulled all his officers away from that area. He sends Miller to check in on the officers that were still searching the countryside for any further updates. Whether it was more bodies, more evidence, or even the actual house that the girls were kept in, they needed more to go on.

The clock ticks by as each minute passes but there was really nothing they could do but toss ideas and wait. Waiting on time that they didn't have much of. With each hour passing by it was less likely that they would find the young woman alive. A fact that was looming over each every one of them as more time passed. Just as the third hour mark hit the clock everyone's anxiety began to skyrocket as their minds started to fear the worst the phone rings in Bellamy's office- it was Atom.

They found another house. The house.

They don't waste another moment as they haul themselves into their vehicles and drive to their destination that they needed to investigate. And just as before Octavia insists on tagging along. They hesitate on bringing her at first but she argues her case with how could they possibly know for sure if they had the right house? Logically Bellamy knew that they could use DNA evidence to confirm the location but Agent Kane knew it would be best to take her along for an immediate confirmation. As soon as they know they have the right house the sooner they can gather evidence against Cage Wallace and convict the notorious criminal. Aside from needing the quick confirmation, Kane assures Bellamy that they could still use the evidence in court as long as the scene is secured and cataloged before Octavia sets foot on the property.

It takes an hour before they discover a small farm house on the outskirts of town. Hidden in secrecy of large privacy trees planted throughout a large property owned by small cooperation with heavy times to the Wallace family.

Bellamy wastes no time in throwing the Rover in park before jumping out and entering the grounds of the house. Yellow tape littered the property as officers and the forensic scientist were wrapping up their supplies. Aside from the official tape from forensics nothing seems out of the ordinary in the barn, front or backyard, nor inside the house. That is to say until he goes downstairs to the basement. Octavia hesitates when it comes to going inside and decides she's been in there long enough after Bellamy opens the basement door. Once she confirms this was where she was held she leaves and is given a ride back to the station by a trusted officer, not at all noticing the disgust and anger boiling in her brother's blood as he looks around the lower level of the home.

The restraints we're still attached to the heater, the floor covered in old blood and stains from other origins Bellamy feared to know about. The filth of the room felt as if it were crawling on his skin. Not wanting to bat another look at the place he ascends the stairs and slams the basement door shut. This home may be beautiful and inviting on the outside, but deep down it held horrific secrets.

"Bellamy! Come check this out."

Following the sound of his partner's voice Bellamy enters a small bedroom on the other side of the house. In the bedroom was blood, and town women clothing. But under a floorboard was a journal filled with names in women's writing. Clarke's hand writing.

"What the hell?" Bellamy asks under his breath.

He reads through the pages, flipping through each one with a curious eye. Each few pages were different, as if it's not just Clarke writing, but from his previous victims as well. However the names each had a mark beside them. The only names not marked were Clarke and Octavia's, leaving them to believe the others were the names of the deceased.

"These are the names of his victims." Bellamy grumbles as he tosses it on the bed.

"But it's not in his writing." Miller points out.

Kane enters the room and finds the two detectives with the journal. He looks over the shoulders and assesses the new evidence at hand. Of course it wasn't in Cage's handwriting; therefore, I couldn't have been him keeping the record. But it could have been the victims themselves. A tradition passed down between the girls to know each other's names and write it down. It appears Cage had favorites, and he took those girls to this room.

The ones he hurt the most and did the worst too many have helped get justice for themselves and others. To be able to write down the names they must have written names down to keep a record as he slept or was away during the day.

"A record for what?" Miller asks as he looks between the journal and his partner.

"Evidence." Bellamy answers as Kane nods to his side.

"Exactly."

If the girls couldn't be saved or even save themselves, they wanted insurance to make sure their kidnapper and killer was taken down. Giving them the justice they deserved.

Just as the pieces begin to come together officer Atom enters the room in haste. There was another property 20 miles from their current location owned by another corporation allied with the Wallace family. The only reason it took so long to find was because the ties were buried deep. Had it not been for Monty hacking into certain databases they may have never found the connection. The house was flagged at first to be cleared, but once Monty discovered the connection it seemed it was the only place the girl could be. If there was anywhere close by that Cage would take the Griffin girl, it would be there.

"Let's go." As the detectives and Agents leave the house Bellamy prays that they make it in time.

Chapter Text

Clarke struggled as long as she could to watch as Octavia ran for freedom. After eight long and dreary years of living in constant pain and hell, she was able to save one life. For Clarke that's all that mattered. At least someone was able to escape. For the first time in a long time she fought against the man that took her away as a child. Away from her friends, her family, and her home. Far away from any resemblance of safety and love. As far as Clarke knew her parents could be dead or long forgotten about her. But Octavia? Her brother was still out there looking for her, Clarke could feel it. Octavia still had someone in her corner rooting for her to come home, praying for safe return. As did the many other girls that came before her. Even though Clarke couldn't save any of them she made sure that Octavia made it out alive.

She kicks and pulls with as much strength as she could muster as she fights against her assailant. But he was much stronger. Eventually he overpowers Clarke, kicking her legs from under her, and drags her back into the house. His skin was red hot with rage but she could see in his eyes he was also panicking. For the first time ever he had a live witness that he couldn't get rid of.

"You're gonna pay for this " He sneers as he yanks a chunk of her blonde hair back to the ground with a loud thud. Her body collapses onto the hardwood floor in caves in on itself when she feels the rough leather of his shoes pounding into her abdomen.

She thinks that this is it, he'll finally get it over with. Better yet if he leaves her for just a moment she could end it herself. The thought crossed her mind more times than she could account, but deep down she knew that there would always be others to replace them. With Clarke around the other girls had a chance to survive, to be free, even if she never could. It was this thought in mind that kept her alive and fighting to survive. But with Octavia now gone and free Clarke knew that it sealed her fate. Whether it be by his hand or her own one thing was for certain- this was the day that Clarke Griffin dies.

She expects him to drag it out, or maybe if she was lucky it would have been quick.

Clarke tried to escape in her mind, far away from the physical afflictions now tormenting her body. The immense pain and misery plaguing every thought and feeling that passed over her as the world around her blurred away.  Just as the world began to fade into black and every nerve buzzing in her body started to numb. But just as the light of freedom was in her grasp, Clarke is abruptly  forced off the ground and dragged by her blonde locks down a set of stairs and into the trunk of a car.

He binds her wrists and ankles tightly before slamming the door shut, encasing Clarke to darkness. A void she was no doubt used to but the feel of the rough road beneath them was entirely different. 

Time escapes her with each passing minute. She finds calm in the motion of the drive and the lone darkness surrounding her. For just a moment she closes her eyes in hopes to sleep. But her rest is abruptly interrupted when the car comes to a stop. Her heart pounds against her chest and echoes in her ears as sh waits the trunk to open.

The blindingly light that hits her last for only a second until his silhouette covers it as he hovers over her body.

"Let's go." He yanks Clarke out of the trunk and drags her into a new house and down towards another basement.

Of all the years that Clarke has endured the torment from this man, fear was an emotion she's learned to show less of. Fear was one of the things she knew drove him further, so, she tried to refrain from showing it. But as she was dragged down the stairs and her arms lifted to be tied she felt her heart pounding in her ears as fear returned in such a force she hadn't felt since she was first taken.

Clarke knew that fighting was useless but she'll be damned if she didn't try. He was bound to kill her anyways, why shouldn't she try? For the first time since she was 12 years old she felt freedom- hope. The adrenaline rush that coursed through her body was the best feeling she had felt since she was a child. And for once in her life Clarke saw a way out. A way to live instead of praying to die.

As he lifted her arms in the air Clarke thrusts her head into his own and knees his groin with every fiber of strength she could muster. He falls over on himself and cries out from the blow. Clarke takes his distracted pain to her advantage and grabs the restraint from above and hoists her body in the air to use both legs and kick the man down to the ground. He falls with a heavy this from her kick and his imbalance. Not only pained but stunned.

Clarke takes advantage of her opportunity and runs for the stairs, trying to keep her balance with her bound wrists. She makes it half way up before her ankle is grabbed, forcing her down. She pushes out her hands to break her fall and groans as her side crashes down onto the edges of the wooden stairs. A small crack watching though the quiet room.

Without thinking and ignoring the burning pain in her ribs, she kicks and kicks at the arms now pulling her down. But luck wasn't on her side- not this time. A sharp pain serves in her leg, making her cry out and give shim the leverage he needed to force her back down to the ground. Using his leverage he forces her back down the ground level and lifts her arms in the air and bounds them to rope.

Not wanting to waste another moment he leaves Clarke alone in the dark for hours. Her toes barely touching the ground beneath her as the blood flows from her hands down to her lower body. Her hands and arms numbing to the loss of regular flow.

Her captor is gone far too long for her liking, making her anxiety grow with each passing moment. Was he looking for Octavia? Or finding a better location to kill her in? The drive didn't last long, meaning they were close to the last house. Their escape was last second planning, which meant he had to improvises in several ways. Covering his tracks being one of them; and killing Clarke and Octavia was one way.

Clarke started to doze off as the hours passed, her worrying never receding as she began to lose consciousness. However when she heard the familiar creaking of a door her head snapped in its direction. There, now, descending the stairs was her captor and he wants alone. Lying unconscious and thrown over his shoulder was a young brunette. One he carried beyond where Clarke was string up. She heard the loud slam of a door before he returned upstairs. Only to descend again with a blonde.

This was it. He was going to kill her.

He always made sure to have a replacement ready or taken before he disposed of his 'used goods'. And now he was going out hunting for new prey just as he'd always done.

Clarke isn't sure how long he's gone before she hears his footsteps return, this time heavier than before. Her head lulls to the side as she attempts to lift it, her eyes catch a glance at a new brunette lying unconscious over his shoulder. Before long a small blonde follows.

Tears fall silently down her snow paled cheeks as she dangles in the air and awaits her fate. Only she didn't have to wait long as he locked away his new prizes. Clarke feels her hair yanked from behind lifting her chin to the ceiling. She expects it to be quick, for him to get it over and done with but it seemed he had other ideas in mind. Clarke groans and folds in on herself as a sudden strike to her abdomen makes contact. She bites down on the cloth between her lips to keep her noises to a minimum but the torture had only just begun.

She gulps down the rising bile in her dry throat as he yanks the cloth from her lips and caresses his rough hand down her cheek.

"You were fun while it lasted." He mutters, his quiet words echoing through the empty room.

The weight of his words caused a chill to run up her spine, only for it to run deeper as her eye catches the shimmer of an object in his hand. Before she could comprehend the shape a sharp pain surged through her abdomen. It wasn't a small cut or even a slice-no. It was a stab. Slowly he twists the blade inside her body earning a small cry from her lips. Only it didn't last long as she held her lips closed. This man has given her years of endless torment and misery, he didn't deserve to hear her cries. A single tear fall down her cheeks as another surge of pain invades her body but this time she contains her scream.

Clarke can feel the warmth seeping down her skin and dropping to the ground. The sound helping her phase in and out of the harsh reality she now is trapped in. The veil between reality and her mind slowly begins to fade.  Just as she feels another pain charging through her body a faint noise from afar. She thinks nothing of it, figuring it was a part of her mind's tricks to distract her. However her captor seems to have heard it given his sudden reaction to dropping the knife and stepping away from her. Clarke's head lulls to the side as she tries to understand what was happening but it was no use. Her legs give out beneath her as her body goes limp with exhaustion.

She doesn't hear the numeral footsteps coming and fleeing, nor does she see the sudden lights shining down in her direction from the stairs. However she does feel a set of hands against her cheeks, their skin new and strange. Far from the horrific hands that abused her for years, no, these hands were different. But that didn't stop her from flinching at the sudden contact.

"Clarke? Clarke Griffin? Can you hear me?" Odd she thinks. Who knows her full name?

The last she's ever heard her name uttered fully was when she was a child. Long long ago. No one knew her name as far as she knew so who was this stranger? It certainly wasn't her captor. He's never so soft, his voice only raspy and full of want. But this new voice was different, better. Comforting even. She looks up as much as she can with the help of this strangers hand and shivers at his touch.

Was this real? She could feel the warmth of his skin as it gently touched hers. And as her eyes flutter open they meet a set of warm brown. The hand in which he lifts her cheek is rough, yes, but the gesture is soft with good intent, not wicked. When she looks into his eyes she doesn't see danger or harm. Only worry.

"You're gonna be okay, I promise. Just stay with me. Hey! Eyes open princess." She furrows her brow and falls as her legs give to the ground, only to be caught and collapse into this stranger's arms. His arms wrap around her, firm but gentle, as he lifts her from the ground. "I got you."

Even as her body screams from pain Clarke continues to move. This man was gentle and kind but she knew she was a lost cause. There were others whom could be in far worse conditions than she. They needed to be attended to, not her. For their sake Clarke shakes her head stubbornly and tries to move out of his arms as she points in the direction the other girls were being held. They needed help more than she.

"Your safe now, don't worry. I'm gonna get you help just don't move alright."

"No." She mumbles, her head falling to the side as her strength weakens. "Help... Them. Not... me." Clarke tries to use her last bit of strength she could muster to move but the arms holding her tighten. Not forcefully, protectively.

"Don't worry about them, they're safe." His deep voice speaks softly in her ear as his eyes look in the direction she was pointing towards. "My people will get them out. Right now you we need to get you to a hospital."

Try as hard as she might Clarke's consciousness slowly gives way no matter how hard she fought to stay.

When she finally regains consciousness her surroundings were much brighter, the light strained her eyes so she tried to make out the room that she was now in. Everything was white above her shine right in her eyes making her squint and turn her head away as she tried to make out the shapes of the surrounding objects around her. There were wires attached to her arms and machine right light that began to beep the more she began to panic.

"Clarke! It's okay, your safe. Clarke!" Clarke gasps in spurts as her eyes try to find the source of the voice. To her right was a familiar brunette with sharp features. As her eyes focus in on the figure they begin to tear up and looks around. Octavia is by her side.

"'Tavia?" She croaks but smiles as her friend beams and throws her arms around her.

For the first time in two years the girls were able to embrace one another. Free from their restraints and pain. They were free. Clarke sighs quietly but the sigh morphs into a strangled groan as the pain in her body surges through her. Octavia pulls back immediately but doesn't move far.

"You're alive." Clarke mutters, still not believing her eyes. Octavia scoffs with a roll of her eyes, but the smile pulling at her lips was a giveaway she was clearly not irritated.

"Because of you. God Clarke. I thought you were-" The Young Blake stops mid sentence and moves to sit next to her best friend, holding her hand on her own. "I'm glad you're okay."

Clarke smiles gently but furrows her brow as she looks around the room. "O? What's going on?"

"You're in a hospital. Got hurt pretty bad." Even with Octavia's answers it didn't put an end to the endless questions that continued to flood her mind.

"But what happened? Why- How-" Clarke struggles to find the words as he thoughts crash into each other like waves.

"My brother's a badass." 

Stopping her raging thoughts and concerns Clarke looks to her best friend as she tries to contemplate her words.  Only Octavia isn't looking at her, she's looking towards the door where a man stands. He leans against the door frame with ease as he crosses his arms over his chest, making his biceps bulge through his blue Henley. His had dark curly hair and olive toned skin with a dorky smile. His dark chocolate eyes warm and inviting as he watched the girls closely, hanging by the door to keep them safe and give them space.

"You." Clarke croaks, squinting her eyes at the man. She remembers his face faintly before she blacks out. He was the one who took her away from her captor. Who rescued her from eternal hell.

"You okay there princess?" Confused she looks him up and down then to Octavia but revives no answer there.

"Who?" Octavia rolls her eyes and laughs lightly as she throws a pillow in the man's direction.

"Clarke this is my idiot brother Bellamy. Bell this is Clarke. Shes the one who save my life." The blonde rolls her eyes in return but Octavia doesn't stand for it. "You did so don't try and shrug it off."

"O." Bellamy warns. 

It's best not to push her on anything right now, even if it's accepting her own heroics. For now they need to make everything as easy as possible. The less stress Clare was under, the better. For them both, really. Bellamy hasn't let Octavia out of his sight since she's been home. Not even when she was checked out by the doctors in the hospital. A visit Bellamy had to insist on while they were waiting for Clarke to awaken. And convincing his little sister without causing stress was the definition of difficult. Nonetheless it was done. Now it was Clarke's turn.

A small knock behind Bellamy brings everyone's attention to it. Clarke's most of all. She tenses immediately and looks around the room for an escape, but doesn't get too ahead of herself before Octavia give her hand a gentle squeeze and speaks softly.

"Hey, Clarke. We're kind of not the only ones here to see you."

"What?" Octavia stands up slowly but keeps hold of her friend's hand to keep her as relaxed as possible while Bellamy turns to open the door. "Tavia?" Clarke pushes but doesn't get an answer from her friend. Instead an old familiar voice calls out her name.

"Clarke." Upon hearing her name the blonde looks over towards the door and gasps. Shock takes over as she stares at the newcomer standing in the doorway.

"Mom?" Her lip quivers as the older woman rushes forward and kneels on Clarke's other side.

"Oh Clarke! Thank God!"

Clarke flinches for a moment as her mother's hands touch her face, but forces herself to relax and lets her mother reach out to her. She smells different, feels different too. Shes skinnier and more tense, but it was still Abby Griffin. Her mother. Clarke smiles and looks into her mother's dark eyes as she holds her daughters cheeks. Both women's cheeks flowed with tears but something was wrong- someone was missing. Briefly Clarke looks around with her brows furrowed before she pulls back. 

"Wait were's dad?" Abby tenses and casts her gaze down as she speaks.

"That's not important right now." Clarke leans away from her mother with her chin held high clearly not dropping the matter so quickly.

It's been eight years since she's seen her family. And to Clarke her father would have been the first in the room, not her mother. As much as Clarke did care for her mother, the two women were never close. Abby had a stern and cold shoulder that Clarke grew to understand was just a part of who her mother was. But her father was nurturing, kind, and warm. He was there for Clarke throughout every nightmare as a child, every thunder storm, and every illness. Jake Griffin was the parent that kept both feet planted in her life, not Abby.

Clarke understood from a young age that Abby's career was important to her, she never resented her for that. But what she didn't understand at this moment was the whereabouts of the very person she knew would want to see her first. The only person Clarke dreams of finding her, and taking her away from the horror that she was forced into. Even though every part of her body screamed that she was alone, that no one was looking for her, a tiny part of her held hope that her father was looking. 

"Mom, where's dad?"

"Gone." No explanation and no emotion. Just a simple word to end the conversation. Typical Abby Griffin.

"What?"

"He's gone, Clarke. I'm sorry." Abby tries to soothe, as she moves closer to her daughter but Clarke backs away. Her eyes now down caster towards her arms. "Clarke are you okay?"

"I'm tired." She says not bothering to look up. "I think you should go."

"Clarke-"

"Mrs. Griffin," All three women look to Bellamy as his voice breaks through the tension in the room. "I think it's best if we leave your daughter to rest. After every thing she's been through..  she needs as much as she can get."

Abby hesitates reluctantly, Not wanting to leave so soon after she arrived. It's been 8 long years since she last saw her daughter alive and well. And she didn't want to leave so soon already. But logically she knew that it was the best option to give Clarke space. So much has changed in her absence and right now she needed to rest and heal before she could absorb and understand her new reality.

Bellamy waits by the door and sees both Abby and Octavia outside before he gives Clarke a reassuring smile. He begins to walk out of the room when he hears her soft little voice from behind.

"Thank you." She mutters. It's so quiet that he almost doesn't hear, had it not done for the small smile gracing her lips He would have thought it was in his head. But looking at her now he knows it wasn't.

"No problem. Get some rest, Princess. If you need anything just grab that button by your side, alright?"

A stray blonde hair falls around the frame of her face I should dips her head down for a nod. He wanted to reach out and tuck it away but he knew it wouldn't be right. For now she needed space and time. And for once in her life she had the choice to use them.

Chapter Text

Days pass after Clarke was rescued. Her physical health was improving far batter than the doctors had hoped; however, her mind was not nearly as recovered as her body. Since her mother was the only relative Clarke had around Abby made as many executive decisions as she could on her daughters behalf. Even with Clarke being of age to make her own decisions her mentality was not in the right place for the doctors to heed anything the young Griffin said.

Her night terrors alone worried the doctors more than her physical injuries. Far too many times the nurses have had to sedate Clarke when a nightmare took control of her mental state. More than once Abby has had to call in for assistance to keep her daughter from hurting anyone around her, or herself. It was due to this worry that Abby and the doctor agreed to restrict any visitations after Clarke's first episode.

That was nearly a week ago.

With each passing day Octavia worry grew to high stakes. She and Clarke fought tooth and nail to survive, keeping each other alive for 2 years. And if it wasn't for Clarke herself Octavia may have very well been killed dozens of times over. It was the blonde that helped her escape and survived and in return Octavia helped her brother find Clarke just in time. She deserve to see her best friend and yet there were still heavy restrictions on getting a glimpse of the blonde young woman still lie in the hospital bed. Alone.

And being alone was more dangerous than being over crowded by people wanting to see her. A small crowd would be overwhelming, yes, but it was also a reminder that there were people who cared. It was a reminder that she was free and finally escaped the horrific prison of hell that she had to fight and survive in for nearly a decade. Being alone would drive Clarke mad, and Octavia feared what she would do if she were to get trapped too far in her mind.

It was due to this fear that the young Blake asked her brother to gain access to Clarke's room and check on her well being. If anyone would understand what it's like being left alone after escaping their prison it was Octavia. She knew most of all what Clarke has been through, what they both have. And Clarke shouldn't be left alone, not yet. Not so soon.

Bellamy does as his sister asks for two reason: Firstly because his sister had asked him, and secondly because he too was worried about the young woman he helped rescue. The moment her eyes looked into his own he knew something was different about her. She was strong, selfless, and too stubborn for her own good. She had a good heart, and it was beaten and bruised. But no matter the horrible things done to her she still kept fighting to help the others. Damning the consequences she herself had to face. Clarke was strong and what she and his sister went through was unimaginable. He could only worry what the damage of being alone was doing to her mind.

Being held against her will and left alone for hours, sometimes even days, can traumatize anyone. But being set free and left to the relive that trauma was an entirely different nightmare.

From the moment his eyes landed on the girl hanging by her limbs as she bled, Bellamy felt something. He wasn't sure what it was. All he knew was he needed to protect her and keep her safe. His instincts kick into overdrive as he sets foot into the hospital to see her. Instincts that he hasn't felt this strongly since Octavia was born. It was a natural defense to protect what was his, what was family. While Clarke was neither to him yet he knew she was different. He knew and felt in his bones that she was his to protect.

As much as Bellamy was grateful for his promotion he didn't like to flash his badge to get his way, but for Clarke he made the exception without hesitating. All it takes is a single look at his badge for the nurse at the station to guard him into the hallway to speak with Clarke's doctor on her current condition. While not many detectives and official officers would be so involved in a patient's life after a rescue, Bellamy knew Clarke and Octavia's case was different. Not only because Octavia was his sister, but because this case wasn't over. The man they were after had many powerful friends in high places, and the girls needed to be watched and protected at all costs. A plausible reason for which Bellamy gives if anyone questions his close involvement with the victims in the case. A reason in which he had to use to explain to Clarke's doctor in order to get the information he needed the first time they met. 

Doctor Eric Jackson was a good doctor and an even better man. The men crossed paths many times over the years, even more so when Jackson became involved with Bellamy's partner last spring. But even with their personal connections, Bellamy needed to keep their interactions professional and unbiased. Hence the reason for giving Jackson an explanation in the first place.But once the air was clearer Jackson immediately knew what Bellamy wanted when he saw the man in the hallway.

"Blake, I wasn't expecting to see you today." The men shake hands and share pleasantries while the nurse returns to her station.

"Yeah, well, I heard about the Griffin girl. Came by to see how she was doing since visitation has been restricted." Jackson's smile falls then and he sighs softly. He should have expected Bellamy to come in and bring up the matter. 

"Trust me it wasn't my idea. Abby's worried about Clarke and doesn't want a bunch of strangers around her daughter right now."

"I get that, I do. But O isn't a stranger. Hell she probably knows Clarke better than her own mother." Bellamy points out, and judging by Jackson's expression the other man doesn't disagree. "And we both know she shouldn't be alone. You weren't there, Jackson but I was. She needs people around her more than ever right now. I know you're the one with the degree here but..."

"I know. You're right. It's just... Abby and I go way back and she is Clarke's legal guardian. With her unable to make her own medical decisions in her condition its' up to her mother."

"But you also have a say in her treatments don't you?"

"Technically speaking I don't make the official calls but I can highly suggest certain treatments and methods to treat Clarke." Bellamy nods his head with content but frowns as Jackson goes on. "But Abby used to be a doctor. She doesn't want to listen to another medical professional. Even without her license she thinks she knows what's best."

"And keeping her daughter isolated like her kidnapper is what's best?"

Jackson closes his eyes and flinches at the man's words. The sting of the truth pained him more than he would have liked to admit. No matter how horrible it sounded Jackson knew Bellamy was right. Being alone would only trigger more episodes and keep her anxiety at high levels. To help her mind heal Clarke needed people around her for support. To help her heal and adjust to her new life.People that extended further than her own mother. And yet the decision wasn't up to them to make. At  the end of the day it all depended on what Abby Griffin wanted. 

A nurse comes up to the men and pulls Jackson aside, and Bellamy knows immediately that he has to tend to another patient. When Jackson returns he gives Bellamy a sympathetic look but nods in the direction of the young woman's room. "Look, Clarke's asleep right now but you can go see her for a few hours if you want. Abby won't be in until late tonight." 

"Thank you." With that Bellamy takes off to room 319 and leans against the door frame as his eyes fall on the sleeping blonde.

She was so still, her skin pale as the blankets that were laying over her. For a moment Bellamy wondered if she was breathing, but the steady beat of the monitors and the rise and fall of her chest pushed his worries down. At least for a moment. But those same monitors that were beeping steadily with her heart begin to quicken at an alarming rate and emit a loud sound startling Bellamy. He rushed forward to Clarke as she whimpers, her breathing now unsteady and ragged. Bellamy kneels by her side and attempts to wake her but the moment his hand touches her arm she bolts away and begins to shake. It was then he realized she was reliving one of her worst memories.

"Clarke! Princess you're okay. Clarke-"

"Sir, I'm gonna need you to move out of the way!" A nurse calls from behind as she rushes in.

As Bellamy turns his head to see the nurse he notices she wasn't alone. Four more assistants and nurses flood in the room and begin to work on the machines and Clarke. Normally Bellamy would do as asked; however, the sight of two buckled restraints catches his eye and his feet plant themselves to the ground.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"Sir we need you to step out of the room now!" A nurse urges as she tries to remove Bellamy from the room but he plants his feet to the ground and shouts.

"No! Put those down!" The nurse huffs in annoyance and reaches for the phone to call for security but didn't get too far before Bellamy stops her. "Do you have any idea the hell she's been through?! Restraining her is only going to make it worse!"

"We need to help her before she hurts herself! Now either step out of the way or I will call security."

The nurse stares him in the eye awaiting his answer but breaks contact when Clarke'd monitors make an alarming sound. Without wasting another second Bellamy hurries to her side and reaches for her hands, forcing the nurses to move out of his way. All too stunned by Clarke's sudden change in demeanor to intervene.

As Bellamy leans his forehead against hers and gently cups her cheeks Clarke reaches out and grips his shirt tightly as she gasps, her cries falling silent as she calms down. For several long moments the room stays silent, all that could be heard was the shallow breaths of everyone as they awaited for the pin to drop. But it never comes. Instead of Clarke returning to panic and unhinged fear, she reaches out a hand for his face and blindly touches his face for recognition. Slowly Bellamy pulls back to give her room, understanding that she needed this. To feel before she could see. Her mind wasn't able to differentiate what was real and what wasn't. But her hands? They could.

"Bellamy?"

"Hey princess." She sobs quietly as she opens her eyes and finds his familiar dark eyes gazing down into her blues. Gently he grasps her hand in his before letting his head fall to hers, thankful when she grips his hand again. "You're safe I promise."

Bellamy isn't sure how long they stay this close. All he knows is.that she doesn't want him to stray far. Every time he does her grip tightens on his shirt. "Don't leave. Please." She whimpers.

"Ms. Griffin we need to check your vitals. Is that alright?" Clarke's eyes widen as she fully takes in the room. There are five nurses crowding around them, making her anxiety grow further. Unconsciously she caves in on herself and closer to Bellamy.

"It's okay, Princess. They won't hurt you. I'm right here." Clarke glances his way, shivering, but nods.

She looks away as the nurse touches her arm, her breathing quickens as her heart rate spikes again. Clarke jumps slightly as a hand touches her wrists, only to find the warmth welcoming as she finds it attached to the only person in the room she wanted there. She turns her hand over and intertwines their hands, holding tight until the nurse has finished their tests. Neither bother looking up as the room empties of people. All Clarke focuses on is the feeling of Bellamy's thumb gently caressing her hand as he grounds her to the present.

"You okay?" He asks softly, her only response was a gentle nod, but given her a situation that was better than nothing. Figuring he wasn't likely to say anything more and it would be better for her to get rest he stands to leave, only for a hand to reach out to his own with a harsh grip.

"Stay? Please." Bellamy stops immediately, surprised by both her question and physical contact. Quickly he side eyes the exit and then back towards the blonde still holding his hand.  "Just until I fall asleep."

He nods but doesn't move from his seat. A notion that doesn't go unnoticed by Clarke. She smiles shyly and moves over, gesturing to the now cleared spot beside her. Bellamy hesitates As he looks at the empty space, the look in her eyes just as unsure as he was.

"Are you sure about this Clarke?" She gulps quietly her eyes falling down to her hands but soon nods. Fighting the urge to pull away as she has been all week.

He gets in and wraps an arm around her shoulders gently. He asked his movements slow and stopped whenever he felt her flinch or tense, as well as being extra careful of her vial and wires attached to her. It took some adjusting but once he was sure she was comfortable Bellamy stopped moving and lay still on the thin hospital mattress. It wasn't until he felt her breath even out that he was sure she was asleep. And while he agreed to leave once she fell, he lingered to make sure she was safe.

And for the very first time since her rescue Clarke Griffin had slept through the night without a single nightmare or episode.

Chapter Text

The progress that Clarke makes is slow going, but it was progress nonetheless. Whatever win her doctors could take they would get. Her physical injuries healed steadily, but it was her mental state they worried them the most- especially her mother. After hearing of Bellamy refusing to follow the visitation restrictions she had put in place, she attempted to have him removed from the small list of people allowed to see Clarke all together, however that was where Jackson put his foot down. Had it not been for Bellamy intervening when he had Clarke's episode would have been much, much, worse. From one friend to another Jackson talked Abby down from revoking his visitations, and after a long, long, conversation, he was successful. Not without struggle of course.

As Clarke healed she became more aware of her surroundings which was astounding progress in her mental state of mind. Such progress led her to have certain power over her situation, leading Bellamy to visit whenever he pleased. The Griffin women fought about the issue for several days but eventually Abby caved and accepted her daughter's decision. It wouldn't do her any good to argue with Clarke so soon after her rescue. Their relationship was on thin ice already, and Abby had to be careful of what issues she did push before Clarke decided to have nothing to do with her at all.

It was this thought alone that the older woman moved on from the issue and let the  man into her daughter's hospital room. Not that she could stop him when he flashed his badge, but she did try in the beginning.

Each day passed with more hope for Clarke's recovery, not only making it easier for her to make her own medical decisions but for other important matters at hand. Once Jackson gave Bellamy the official all clear on her state of mind to be questioned he allowed a trusted officer to conduct a small interview. His questions focus solely on furthering their investigation against Cage Wallace.

While they had physical evidence of his crimes it wasn't enough to put him away for good. They needed more- a confession. And the witness statements from his victims would push their investigation in the right direction. Octavia gave Miller all the information she could over the last week. Although Bellamy was the lead detective on the case, he couldn't question his little sister. So he instructed his partner.

Miller questioned Octavia over a series of days, both for her convenience and to not push too far too soon. Something Bellamy worried about when it came to Clarke. According to his sister the blonde endured abuse far worse than she did, and for much longer. The scars left on Clarke's sanity and mind would affect her for years to come, if not the rest of her life. To question her not even a full week after her rescue may be too soon. But the more time they wasted, the more time Cage had to cover his tracks. Leaving Bellamy with few options but to approve the interview of questions. But only by an officer of his choosing. 

Officer Atom was one of the few Bellamy trusted and he was tasked not only to watch over Octavia but take shifts watching Clarke at the hospital as well. Which is why he was chosen; however, that didn't mean Clarke trusted him. For the last hour he has tried to talk to her and ask about what happened to her after she was taken. But every time she spoke she stuttered and struggled to speak in full sentences. Even with her mother by her side she couldn't open up about her experience.

"Ma'am I know this is hard but I need to know everything that happened in that house." Clarke bites down on her lower lip and taste the copper in her blood. Her sign to lighten up and turn away to fidget with her hands. A sign that doesn't go unnoticed by her Doctor mother.

"Maybe we should wait and try again tomorrow." Abby suggests but the officer sighs and bows his head with exhaustion.

"We need more information in the report. The investigation can go only so far with the evidence we've gathered but we need the victims to-"

"Clarke." Abby interrupts confusing the officer. "Her name is Clarke." His features soften as he glances over at the young woman and nods as he looks down in his book.

"We need Clarke's eye witness statement. It'll help when we catch the suspect and put him on trial "

Abby sighs frustrated as she looks to her daughter. It was clear she was struggling enough with this strangers presence so close in the room, let alone trying to answer his invading questions. Not only does she not know officer Atom, nor trust him, but the subjects in which he tries to bring up only cause her further anxiety. Just the thought of what she escaped has brought on panic attacks large enough for her to be sedated to be calmed. 

Of course that was when she first arrived, but it hasn't been long enough for her to not be as affected by the questions of her experience as it is now. Its too soon to think and relive the horrible past she's so recently escaped. But logically Abby knows that the officer is right. If they were to arrest Cage Wallace and put him on trial they needed every bit of evidence and information from a confession as they could from those he's hurt. But that didn't make it any easier on Clarke.

She was paler than she was this morning and her hands were shaking in her lap as she looked down. She was stuttering and struggling to find words to speak a single answer, which only caused more stress on her than necessary. Tears were silently falling and that was all it took for Abby to ask once more for a break. While she understood that they needed information, her daughter also needed time.

"Hey what's going on here?!" Both Griffin women jump at the sudden sound of another's voice, but only one relaxes at his presence. Bellamy takes notice of Clarke's state of distress immediately and moves to her side. "You alright princess?"

He looks at her quickly, curious and worried before looking at Abby. Clarke always looked up when he was in the room, at the very least relaxed a little. But not even the tension in her shoulders fell an inch. The woman sighs and gestures to the officer across from them. Bellamy knows the officer well, and knowing him did cause confusion as to the state Clarke was in. The young woman knew officers would come in to protect her and make sure she was stable, but the amount of stress she seemed to be under didn't make sense to Bellamy. That is to say until he sees the notebook in Atoms lap. With understanding finally falling on him Bellamy decides to take over.

"Atom, take five. I'll handle it from here." Not needing to be told twice the officer leaves, apologizing as he goes. He meant well but the situation was delicate and needed a touch more gentle and from someone the family already trusted. There was only one person it could be- Bellamy.

"Okay, let's starts small." He says sitting down in the chair Atom.once occupied. Only he moves it closer the bed by Clarke's side with an easy smile. "What's your name and how old are you?"

Confused Clarke looks Bellamy up and down then glanced in her mother's direction. Surely this wasn't the same interview the officer was trying to do? Abby simply shrugs her shoulders just her chin in Bellamy's direction, giving her daughter the okay to answer. It was very simple and had no ties to memories that would ultimately lead to any issues. So, Clarke answers.

She stutters a little bit after a few minutes of answers basic questions the tension eases away from her shoulders and she finally relaxed. Bellamy smiles softly when he notices and continues to ask the little things such as her favorite color is and what she liked to to do when she was a kid.

Answering those questions was a bit more difficult seeing as she doesn't remember much from her childhood. A block in her memory due to the trauma she endured. But with Abby's help she's able to remember. Clarke liked music, ballet, and drawing most of all. She used to have paintings and drawings scattered all over her room. Bellamy smiles again at that, he can see her being an artist. 

"Really? What was your favorite thing to draw?" Confused Clarke looks at her mother and the woman shrugs her shoulders. 

"Uh I didn't really have a favorite thing." Abby makes a noise at the back of her throat, grabbing both Bellamy and her daughters attention.Her raised brow amused.

 "Clarke, what did you draw more than everything else? Do you remember?" The blonde blinks and looks down as she thinks. A little frown creasing in her lips as she does.

"My friends I guess. You and dad." 

Bellamy smiles fondly and says, "Portraits, huh? I'm impressed. Not many artists like drawing those." Clarke shrugs while her mother chuckles. 

"You should have seen the actual drawings. I hung a few in my office. Everyone loved seeing them." 

Bellamy listened as Abby talked and glanced at Clarke from the corner of his eye as she smiled. But it falls suddenly, and quickly, when her mother mentions everyone of her coworkers commenting on Clarke's drawings at a work party. The woman was promoted and a small celebration was thrown. A party that changed everything. Soon after that comment Abby's mood shifts as well while Clarke caves in on herself making herself smaller. She takes in a deep shattered breath as she catches Bellamy's confusion before she mutters,

"That's when he took me." Bellamy sits straighter them and turns to Clarke fully. "At the party."

Her mother and father were mingling at the party and left Clarke to her own devices. She ate a lot of sugar and got an upset stomach after. Being the doctor she was, Abby gave Clarke some medicine and sent Clarke to the bathroom to get away from everyone and breathe, let the medicine kick in. She did as she was told and only came out when she was feeling a bit better.

But he was waiting for her outside.

Clarke remembers stepping outside into the hallway and walking back towards the party when a hand grabbed her from behind. Her little hands scrambling to remove it and fight back, to run away from the intruder, but it was no use. Her 12 year old body was too weak, too small. Before she knew it her whole world spun black and she was waking up on concrete ground surrounded by metal bars. However she wasn't alone. There was Another girl around 16 restrained. She was tall and slender with dark hair- Anya was her name.

Bellamy nods along as Clarke speaks. Her breathing had quickened, borderline on panic. But Bellamy reaches out a hand and rests it beside her own, waiting for her to calm. She allows her pinky to reach out to his own, the physical contact making her jump for a moment but it also calms her. Her eyes shut as she relives her past, but she knew she wasn't alone. It wasn't real.

He came and took Anya away for hours on end but that didn't mean he never paid attention to her. Cage wasn't as bold with his advances as he was with Anya, but he made advances all the same. Each year they became less innocent until one day he decided she was old enough.

"He groomed me at first." She croaks. "Touched me and... and" Abby looks away and blinks rapidly. Anger and sadness taking over. Thinking of her little girl being hurt, violated. It made her sick. "He waited till I was older before he-" Clarke shivers and bites her cheek. "Before he did more than touch. If we resisted or fought back he would punish us. Beat us until we couldn't fight anymore."

Bellamy's fist balls by, his anger rising as she spoke. Not towards her-No- towards the monster that put Clarke through the horrible trauma he had when she was only a child. Remembering himself he hides his hand and waits for her to continue, knowing such topics could be very difficult to discuss. It took a lot out of a person, and a lot of courage.

"He fed us once a day, twice if we were lucky. The rope was long enough for us to use the toilet that is sitting in the cage."

"You were tied up at all times?" Clarke nods.

"Okay, this is good information, your doing great princess."

Clarke glances up for a moment and looks down again. She was being very open and he knew that the vulnerability was scaring her. He also knew that it hurt her to speak about this, so he doesn't push. Instead he waits for her to speak on her own. But he also understands she doesn't need to tell him everything today. Just like Octavia, Clarke can be asked questions periodically over time and not all at once.

"One more question then we're done for today, okay? Can you do that for me?" Clarke nods but doesn't look up. "Do you know what happened to Anya?"

Time drives on as Clark stays silent. The clock tiking against the wall echoes through the quiet room as spelling me awaits her answer. He bites his lower lip and is about to tell her she doesn't have to answer, that they can be done for the day. But then she murmurs low under her breath. Had it not been for the complete silence of the room he wouldn't have been able to hear her speak.

"He killed her. Made me watch." Her voice is steady but low. The topic was clearly uncomfortable but a necessary evil she was pushing to prevail over. "He had his favorites and took them upstairs. Anya was his favorite at the time because I was too young to... Please him the way he wanted. But as I grew older he paid Anya less attention. She hated it." 

Abby gasps slightly before standing and moving to a corner. After everything she had explained Bellamy expected the conversation to be over for the day. After such significant trauma, both physical and mental, Clarke needed time to heal her body and her mind. Only she surprises him again when she continues.

"When he was finished with me and left, Anya was furious. She attacked me. Said I was ruining her chances of escaping. When I was, I guess 13? 14? He stopped taking Anya upstairs. That's when she knew he was getting tired of her." She pauses. "I was fresh meat."

Bellamy watches as her entire body not only tenses as she mutters her last two words but shivers as a tear rolls down her pale cheek. Being in the business he was for as many years as he has Bellamy knows those words weren't her own- they were his. And repeating them only hurt her more than she would ever admit. Slowly, and gently, Bellamy leans toward and rests a hand on her bed again. She said more than enough for the day, it would be cruel to ask her to continue.

"You don't have to do this. You've said a lot already. It's okay." Clarke shakes her head and keeps going, fighting the signals her body is shouting for her to stop.

"He came back shortly after Anya attacked and he was enraged. He stormed in and grabbed Anya by the neck." She croaks. "He squeezed so hard her eyes... They popped out of her head. When she was dead he left her there. For three days. I didn't understand why until the day he took her body away. Not even a few hours after a new girl was in Anya's place. Another brunette. Fox. She was 15 when he killed her too."

Clarke fiddles with the sheets beneath her hand as her mind comes and goes. Not long passes before her fingers dig into her palm and that's when Bellamy gently clasps her hand in his. She flinches for a moment but stops. He could see the pain in her eyes and knew it he didn't stop her, she would have hurt herself by digging too much. It was a tik, an action he knew people did with several anxiety as a way of distracting themselves. An attempt even to ground themselves until they feel the pain. Even then sometimes they don't. They're just numb.

Octavia had shown similar signs as a child when she was anxious. Digging at her palms or snapping her wrist band against her wrist when she was trying to control her anger or feel smaller. To escape the moment she was in and go to her own world until she calmed down. Bellamy knew the signs because he helped his little sister overcome them. It wasn't easy, and Octavia did see a therapist for a few months to help, but it worked. But in Clarke's experience it was different. It wasn't just anger and anxiety she was trying to handle, but real emotional and damaging trauma.

Now that his sister and Clarke have had to deal with this nightmare together Bellamy knows the signs will appear not only in Clarke but Octavia again. In Octavia's case Bellamy already knows how to help. But with Clarke he isn't so sure. He has a few ideas but they're not guaranteed to work. Only time will tell if he can help her, that is if her mother will allow him.

"After Anya was gone he started taking me upstairs. Even more when Fox came along. He didn't touch her often, at least I don't think he did. For a while he kept me upstairs. For days just... Just tied to the bed. Laying there until he wanted to use me."

It was with those words that Abby made a noise, a mix between a cry and a gag just before fleeing the room all together. Bellamy watches the woman leave while her daughter doesn't movie and inch. She was surprised her mother stayed for as long as she did. But with her mother no longer in the room it was easier to speak without the hovering feeling of guilt waving off from Abby.

"When he did leave me in the room sometimes he would be too drunk to tie the rope right. When he was in the basement with Fox I got loose." New tears form and fall as she keeps going. Her stutter returns as she shakes. "I could have... left, escaped. But I knew... I c-couldn't leave her behind. I was about to go back to the bed when... When I stepped on the floor. It made a weird noise. Under the carpet was a loose floorboard. Under it was a journal with names."

"His other victims" Bellamy realizes aloud but Clarke shakes her head.

"Not just his. Others like his father's, cousins, colleagues. It goes back further than you think."

"How do you know there was more than one person involved?" He asks, his inner detective kicking in.

"There were names in the first pages, last names I think. Anya told me about them before she... anyway. Said the girl before her tore them out. I don't know why she never really said. All I know for sure is there used to be two journals, but he found one and burned it." Bellamy furrows a brow at that as the wheels in his mind turn over and over.

"How?"

"I don't know. All I do know is I was punished when he found it." Bellamy looks away, his head down as he processes this information. Leaning back he fights the anger boiling up again at the thought of Cage hurting her.

"You should get some rest, Clarke. We'll pick this up another day."

"Not tomorrow?" He shakes his head, his floppy curls falling in front of his eyes. "You gave us more information then you needed to for one day. Rest."

Gently he takes her hand again, a gestures he notices she is starting to an inkling to. She flinches and hesitates less which was a reassuring sign. And a sign that was was taking the little comfort he was able to give.

With Octavia it's easier, she's his sister. He knows how to help her, he's done it all his life. But with Clarke it's different, she's- in all manner of speaking- a stranger. All he knows is a part of what she's been through and bits of her childhood from interviewing her just now. But something was pulling him to her. A force as strong as two magnets. An urge he couldn't fight that told him she needed his help. An urge Bellamy couldn't fight. For now he knows she needed to rest after reliving some of her worst memories.

Just as he stands and moves to leave, allowing her to rest, her grip tightens. A notion he knows all too well now. Bellamy looks up to find her gaze still in her lap as her head hangs down, but he knows what she wants.

She wants him to stay.

Gently he sits next to her and allows her to fall to his chest. Her blonde hair tickling his chin. He waits until she falls before he leaves. Once she's sure she's sadly asleep he removes himself and turns to the floor as it creaks open, revealing Octavia. The young brunette looks between her brother then to Clarke with a disappointed look but nods in understanding. Visitation was over for the day.

"Is she okay though?" Bellamy looks down at the blonde as she sleep, her face contorted with unease as her brows furrow. Even in sleep she couldn't find peace.

"As okay as she can be."

Chapter Text

Not long after leaving Clarke's room Bellamy makes a call to the office. He didn't expect her to give any important information at all so soon, let alone the amount of atrocious events that she had witnessed and was forced to be a part of. What happened to Clarke in the beginning was beyond horrible. Words could not describe how awful and sick Bellamy was to his stomach at the thought of what the blonde had gone through.

And this was before his own sister was taken. Bellamy didn't even want to imagine what Octavia has seen and been through herself. Just the thought of that man anywhere near his sister made his blood boil and his fists clenched tightly at his side as his knuckles turn white with rage.

Deep down Bellamy knows that they have barely scratched the surface of what fully happened in that house. Clarke had just begun to describe the first few years when she was alone, let alone the two years that she spent with Octavia. Bellamy didn't want to push her too far, knowing that we're living the past can sometimes be more traumatic than living them in the moment. She didn't deserve to go through the torture that she did all those years and it was unfair that he had to ask her to tell him about it. But they needed as much from Clarke as they could get as evidence.

A confession wouldn't be enough to put Cage Wallace away for good, but it would lead them in the right direction as they built their case.

Just as Bellamy leaves Clarke's room and heads to the station, Octavia appears for a visit with Clarke. She doesn't take no for an answer no matter how much Bellamy advises against it. Clarke had been through a lot today giving information. Now it would be best to leave her be for a few hours, but the young Blake heads in her friends room anyways. The only thing that could stop her is a call for security, and there was no need for such extreme measures. When she woke, and if Clarke didn't want visitors, Octavia would understand. Or be stubborn and sit by Clarke's side in silence. Either way Bellamy trusted his sister.

As Octavia entered the room Bellamy headed to the station, but not before ordering Atom to keep a close eye on Clarke's room. He's not to leave his spot until his sister is safely home and Clarke's room is secured. Once orders are made Bellamy leaves.

As he arrives at the Police station Miller had already set up am evidence board with Kane and his team. There wasn't a lot to go on, but with the new information Clarke had given him, they had more to go on. What she had confessed lined up with the evidence they had gathered so far and with the two names she's given they now know who two of their victims may potentially be. Names that Bellamy gives to forensics to run and have DNA run on the bodies to identify. Once he gives the order he finds Miller and Kane in the conference room, his grim expression giving him away before he utters a single word.

"How bad is it?"

"Bad." Is all Bellamy can say to answer his partner before telling the team what Clarke had confided in him about. All the while writing up a report to have it written down for official documentation. As he writes and divulges the information many emotions pass through the men's faces. Disgust and sorrow have the most impact on them all.

"And to think that's only the first few years before your sister was taken." Miller comments disgusted.

Bellamy shakes his head angrily as he clenches his hand by his aide. "Where are we at with finding this son of a bitch?" Kane sighs and leans away from the table.

"No where. The Wallace family has been on a, well, certain list for years. They're almost impossible to catch."

"We aren't struggling finding evidence, that we have" Bellamy points out as he looks at the board.

The board in question was littered with photographs of the bodies, house, and the missing persons reports they've gone through over the last two years. They had evidence and two witnesses. What they needed was a solid connection to Cage Wallace. The DNA being collected was coming back inconclusive, and taking far too long to analyze.

"What we need is a confession from Cage. Whether it's to the crimes or a connection to the house and girls. It'll seal his fate for good."

"Easier said than done. We need more."

"The people we're after are powerful and influential beyond imagination. They'll lawyer up as soon as we move in. We won't get a mile within any of their properties without being slammed by the press and higher ups in their pockets." Kane points out, exhaustion from the conversation already giving way It was as if they were on a merry-go-round with this case. Over and over they went with how to take down this one man. One man that was capable of far too much.

"Even more of a reason to take down their empire." Bellamy adds. "If Clarke. Is right and what they did to her and O had been going on for years..."  He stops himself ahead of time but the team fills in the blanks of his broken words."How many more have to die and be tortured before we can get enough footing to catch them?" Kane sighs and looks away.

"Dante Wallace is the head of the Wallace empire, making him untouchable."

"What about Cage?" Bellamy demands, his patients wearing thin.

"He's being groomed to take over but as far as we know he hasn't yet."

"Making him not as impossible to catch as his dad, right?" Miller asks, the wheels turning in his mind as he quietly shifts through the situation at hand.

"Yes but it won't be easy. As soon as Cage is in custody and charged his father will pull strings. Get him out. He's done it before." The room tenses as frustrations run high.

"Then let's get to work. We need to nail this bastard one way or another." Bellamy states. "Kane, you and your people should take lead, give us a leg up when we take this to court. Your forensics are still analyzing everything so when they get more results go through them. See what we can use."

"What're you gonna do?" Miller asks as he notices his friend's sudden shift towards the door.

"Take care of my sister and Clarke."

Miller and the team nod in understanding as Bellamy steps out of the room. This case had grown far more than a simple kidnapping. Much larger than anyone could have anticipated. A case that would need to go to court against one of the most powerful families in America. And Bellamy could t take the chance of his personal connection corrupting the case. He's had enough involvement as it is. All they needed was to find Cage and bring him in for questioning. To seal the final nail in Cage Wallace's coffin.

While the team gets to work, Bellamy heads to back to the hospital to find his sister. She messaged him while he was at the station her location and since it's been a long day for them both Bellamy figured it wouldn't hurt to take a day to themselves. He find his little sister in Clarke's room in the waiting chair half asleep next to her friend, their hands clasped tightly together.

As awful as it was what they went through, Bellamy was glad they had each other. He knows how strong his sister can be but sometimes she doesn't realize you don't have to go through everything alone. A trait Clark no doubt shares. Bellamy was glad they had each other's backs, kept each other alive. Deep down he knows he owes Clarke a debt he could never repay but helping his sister escape. Even though she would never admit it or accept anything from him, he knew he owed her more than just gratitude. She earned his deepest respect and if there is anything he could do to help her he will. Not just for helping his sister- no. But because shes a good person who doesn't deserve what happened to her.

Clarke was too young to have such weight on her shoulders. Something Bellamy understands all too well. While their circumstances were far, far, different the weight was the same. Their childhoods gone from the burden of protection others. Going above and beyond to help those around them all the while not thinking of themselves. It wasn't right, and it wasn't fair. But they did what they had to do in the moment and now they were free.

Octavia was grown and she could make many of her own decisions. Of course Bellamy would be there to help her along the way but he didn't need to hover it take control of too many things anymore. He can just be her brother and not her guardian. As for Clarke... She can live.

Hating to break apart the moment Bellamy forces his feet to enter the room and shake his sister awake. She jumps at the contact but relaxes when she realizes where she was and who was near. It angered him to think of why his sister would flinch at his touch. Infuriated his mind to image what that monster had done to his little sister. But one thing was for sure, Cage Wallace would never get away with it. Ever.

"Bell?"

"Hey sleepy head." She groans but moves around in her seat. "Come on, let's go grab lunch like old times. I think we deserve that, don't you?". Octavia smiles brightly then and for the first time since she was found he thinks she may be okay after all.

"Yeah I think so." She says as she stands but before she walks to the door her eyes drift to Clarke.

"She'll be okay, O. We'll be back before she wakes up."

"Promise?" Bellamy's heart constricts in his chest at the desperation in his sister's voice. The connection between her and Clarke was a bond like no other.

"I promise." Reluctantly Octavia leaves the room with her brother and gets inside his jeep as they exit the hospital.

Just before Bellamy himself opens the driver's side his phone rings. Curious he pulls it out of his jacket pocket to reveal the caller ID- Miller. If Miller was calling already it meant they had something. A part to Bellamy didn't want to answer for fear of being too involved in the case. But something inside screamed for him to answer, and so he did.

"Miller, You got something?"

"More than something. Someone." Bellamy all but freezes in his spot as he hears the deepness in his friends voice. "We caught him, Bellamy. Cage Wallace is in custody."

Chapter Text

It's been over a week since Clarke had been rescued and the only people coming to her room have been her mother, Octavia, and Bellamy. Even her Doctor, Jackson, hardly stepped foot in the room. Her stress levels rose exponentially with strangers in close proximity, even more so in Bellamy and Octavia weren't in sight. But what most found interesting was that Bellamy was a man, and yet Clarke didn't mind his presence compared to anyone else.

After her 'interview' with Bellamy on when she was taken and the events that followed, she seemed closer to him. More trusting. But when it came to coming forwards with her story she spoke with Bellamy and only Bellamy. Anytime another officer comes in her room to speak with her or check on her per Bellamy's request, she clams up. It was difficult enough to relive and speak about those horrible memories, let alone or living and telling them to someone she didn't know right back. But with Bellamy it was easier.

They took it slow, day by day, unraveling the events that unfolded. The trauma of what happened was far to fresh to divulge in telling it all so soon. Between their visits Bellamy makes sure to help Clarke clear her mind, distract her from the world around her. Being trapped in the hospital with police officers watching over her was hardly better than the hell she escaped. But Bellamy has made sure to bring her books and a sketch book with drawing supplies. Anything he could think of to allow her the little freedom she had while she healed.

Today was one of the resting days Clarke was given to herself. A time to indulge herself with sketching and reading before anyone visits her. Bellamy wasn't sure what books intrigued her so he lent her several of his own favorites. One of the first being the Iliad. When she woke and allowed the nurses to do their rounds, Clarke picked up where she left off. Only a few hours pass before goosebumps arise in her arms and a slight shiver runs down her spine, a sense her body has grown to learn when another was near. Trusting her body Clarke looks up from her book and turns towards the door of her room. The book falls closed as she gasps, the man standing at the door

"Dad?!" The man smiles through the tears that burst from his eyes as he surges forward , his arms quickly wrapping around her as she leaps forward and sobs into his shoulder. Sobs that quietly turn into a groan. Jake tries to pull away but his daughter keeps him close.

"Don't please." She cries. He nods at her request as he shifts to sit on the edge and holds her hands as they both relish in the moment.

Ten long years since the father and daughter have seen one another. Ten long years since they've heard each other's voices. When they pull apart he cups her cheek and she reaches out to his face.

"You grew a beard?" Griffin smiles as he dips his head. "You look like Grandpa." For the first time in years Jake Griffin laughs, his smile widening as he hears Clarke laugh along with him.

"I'm so sorry kiddo. I should have been there. I should have-"

"Stop." Clarke pulls away then and tightens her grip on her father's hands. "Dad... You didn't know." He looks her over, really looks her over and gulps down the emotions that were biking once more. His happiness fell into anger but was quickly being replaced by sadness. Pure and utter grief.

Here sitting before him was his long lost child. His little girl that was taken away, tortured, and hurt for years. Her childhood stolen from her, her hope and innocence gone. Not a single trace of light was left shining in her ocean blue eyes. All that was there, residing in her face, was exhaustion. It was a weight she held on her shoulders that no child should ever have to hold. But Clarke was no longer a child, she was a young woman now. And he missed it all.

"Dad."

"I'm okay." Clarke shakes her head in disbelief and reaches out but he holds her hand in his. "How do you feel honey?"

"I'm fine." He scoffs but chuckles to himself. "Bellamy saved me, brought me home."

"Bellamy?" He inquires curiously.

"He's a detective. He found me after.... and brought me here." Jake watches as his daughters eyes light up a shade, her ocean blues shimmering with more than just tears. "I'm okay now."

"Of course you are. My little girl isn't so little anymore."

Both Griffins weep as Clarke surges forward, wrapping her arms around her father's back as she folds into his embrace, her body shrinking as his larger one encases her. Her tears flow quickly down her cheek as she feels a feeling she hadn't since she was a child- safety. Being held by her father as she cried was one of the few things she never knew she found feel again, the nostalgia of what being safe felt like as a child came crashing down like waves in a tsunami as Jake held her tighter. Only the sound of her door opening brings her back to reality, the starling creak making them part.

"Sorry I just came to check on Clarke." The blonde smiles and while Bellamy tries to return the offer it doesn't meet his eyes. Not as he notices a strange man not only in her room but sitting close to her as tears fall down her cheeks. "Are you okay, princess?" She nods confidently but it wasn't enough to crunch the ball of nerves knotting in his stomach as he looked at this stranger. "Who are you?"

"It's okay, Bellamy. He's my dad." Bellamy blinks in surprise then as his head whips in the direction of the other man in the room. Who was, oddly enough, smiling at him now.

"You must be the man who saved my daughter. Jake Griffin." He extends his hand as he makes his way to Bellamy. At first Bellamy looks down at the offered hand, then the man it was attached to before hesitantly shaking the man's hand.

"Sir." He address. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were-"

It was at this moment he thought back to what Abby said. How Clarke's father was gone. To anyone that would make them assume the man was dead, not away. If Jake Griffin really was out of the country on work then why did it take him so long to return? Why would Clarke's mother not tell her daughter the truth instead of giving her an answer open for interpretation?

"It's been over a week since Clarke was found. Not to sound rude but, where have you been?" The older man smiles, not at all offended by Belly's line of questions.

"I was out of the country. For work. An old friend of mine called me yesterday and told me my daughter was found and I came as quickly as I could." Bellamy nods, accepting the man's answer, but the detective in him was not satisfied.

"Right. And your wife didn't tell you?" Jake's smile falls.

"Abby is uh... It's complicated."

"Dad?" Clarke peeps, looking between her father and Bellamy, with a furrowed brow. This was not at all how she was expecting her day to go, and it was leading into more questions than she could think to ask. "Why weren't you with mom?"

Jake sighs and turns to his daughter, having expected this question. He's silent for a few moments as he gathers his thoughts on how to answer the approach the metaphorical elephant in the room.

"Honey a lots happens since you were..." He stops as he clenches his jaw. The whole reason they were in this mess was surfacing again and Clarke can see her father's mind wandering back to her pain. "It's fine."

"Doesn't seem like it." She sasses. Bellamy looks between the family silently before trying to slip past the toward the door, but his actions don't go unnoticed by Clarke. "No, Bellamy. Stay. Dad." She looks at her father only for their conversation to be interrupted by a knock on the door. The head of Abby Griffin pops in momentarily before she enters fully.

"Clarke-" She smiles as she sees her daughter. However it doesn't take long for the woman to notice her daughter has another visitor in the room. Her calm smile drops into a cold expression as she exclaims, "Get out."

"No." Abby looks at Clarke, then to Bellamy before looking back at Clarke's father. 

"Jake..." she warns.

"Do you wanna tell her or should I?" Abby pales at the man's question before her skin flushes red with frustration.

"What the hell is going on?!" Clarke demands. Abby shakes her head quickly but puts on a smile as she says, 

"Nothing, honey. Your dad and I just need to have a talk. Outside. Now." She insists before she steps outside, leaving her ex-husband to stand alone in their daughter's room with the aftermath of her words.

"What the fuck was that?"

"Clarke, language." Jake scolds.

"What? No. What was that?" Jake sighs heavily as he rubs a hand over his face. It wasn't right and it wasn't fair to Clarke but in truth he wasn't expecting Abby to be at the hospital so soon either.

"I'll be right back."

With that her father leaves the room, stunning both Clarke and Bellamy. Normally Bellamy would mind his own business and stay out of family drama that wasn't his own, but with Clarke.it was different. She didn't need the stress of a broken home right now. She shouldn't have to think about her parents fighting outside the door or what it all means now that her father is alive. It was too much too soon and it wasn't fair for her.

He watched as she stares at the door. With a  sigh he moves and gestures to the bed. A movement he should have thought twice about, mentally he scolds himself when Clarke flinches at his hand sees his hand. But she composes herself as she takes a deep breath and nods. Her gaze still glued to the door as Bellamy lowly sits down next to her. Without a word he moved closer and she rests her head on his shoulder.

"You're right, it's been over a week." She mutters. "Why now?" She wonders to herself more than asking him

"I think your dad is the only one who can answer that princess." She nods but doesn't move away instead she snuggles closer. Bellamy dares to wrap arm around her shoulders. She tenses a little but soon enough relaxes again.

They stay like this until the door opens again revealing Abby, but the woman was alone. Clarke pulls away from Bellamy with her brow furrowed, her head tilted to the side as she speaks. "Wheres dad?"

Without answering her daughter's question the woman sits on the edge of the bed by her Clark's foot and bows her head. "Clarke's there's something you need to know." And that's how it all started.

Soon after Clark disappeared there was a manhunt into her disappearance. The longer she was gone the more Jake Griffin pulled away. He used every asset at his disposal in his force, went against direct orders, and broke many laws trying to find his daughter. He went rogue on several missions and his last got his partner killed. After that Jake disappeared. All the while Abby was constantly in the hospital worrying not only about her daughter but then her husband.

Abby was alone and one thing led to another, leaving certain events to occur. Clarke squints and her mother's direction as she shakes her head. "Mom you didn't." With the woman's resigned sigh Clarke scoffs. "Seriously?! You cheated!"

"It's not that simple, Clarke."

"Right. You just slept with another guy while dad was looking for me. And, surprise, you were at work like nothing happened. Like always." Bellamy feels Clarke tense, her body emitting more heat than it should. Slowly, and gently he rests a hand next to hers. Inching it until she lets him hold her hand. He should relax when she holds his hand on return, but his worry only grows when her grip becomes not only solid but strong. She wasn't just upset she was angry.

Abby reels back as if Clarke had stopped her in the face. Her hazel eyes closing as regret and sorrow take hold.

"It was a mistake, hurting your father. Yes. But don't think I didn't care, Clarke. Because I did. We grieved in different ways."

"So you screw yourself silly with a random guy while dad goes stir crazy trying to find me? Sounds about right."

"Clarke Elizabeth Griffin!" Abby shouts, not noticing how her daughter flinches at her tone. "You will not speak to me like that ever again."

"Or what?" Clarke challenges, her eyes glassing over as her voice cracks, her body trembling as she looks into her  mother's eyes. "You can't do anything to me that he hasn't done already and then some!"

The room falls into such heavy silence you could cut the air with a knife as easily as soft butter. Clarke was shaking and Bellamy knew the arguing was only making things worse, but he also knew he had no place to intervene. This was a family matter and as much as he didn't agree with the argument it seemed the women needed to talk.

"What happened was a mistake, I know that. But don't think for a second I didn't grieve or try to find you, Clarke. Because I did."

"You don't grieve, Mom. You avoid feelings of any kind at all costs."

"I never gave up on you! Ask Marcus. Ask anyone!" She gestures to Bellamy but Clarke ignores it. "I never-"

"Marcus? As in Marcus Kane?!" Abby sighs in frustration as her daughter ignores her words and focuses on the small, unimportant information. "Wow, mom. That's low even for you."

"Clarke-"

"And you're still seeing him aren't you?" When her mother doesn't answer Clarke rolls her eyes. "Or course you are. Explains why dad wasn't even in the country."

Clarke was being childish, she knows. But to return after a decade from hell to her family torn apart and separated not only by law but by continents hurt. Her own mother was seeing her father's best friend from childhood, sneaking around, while Clarke was being groomed as a new play thing for her old colleague. A man she knew but never suspected. A man that Clarke has told her mother numerous times she didn't feel comfortable around but let her go off on her own anyway. It was too much and it hurt dammit.

"Your father and I love you Clarke, we do. But we don't work. We grieved in our own ways but we never stopped having hope that you were alive! We never gave up on you."

Bellamy bites his lower lip and tries to remove his hand from Clarke's to leave the women be, but it seemed Clarke had other ideas. Her grip tightening on his hand, if possible, and jerked him closer. If Abby noticed she didn't show it. But he figured the other woman was too engrossed in the argument with her daughter to care or see. An argument Bellamy knows can't be good for Clarke. Her heart monitors were going up and he could feel her pulse spiking under his fingers. He tries to soothe her, to stroke her hand with his thumb, but even that wasn't working. Clarke was too riled to care.

"No you just gave up on each other. Which, if you haven't noticed, was one reason why he was able to take me so easily." She spews, her blue eyes glassing over as she fights her tears and let's her anger boil. "You were too busy fighting with dad about work to even notice I was sick! You weren't there for me when I needed you, Mom."

"Your father isn't a saint!" Abby tries to argue, but it was a losing battle.

"Neither are you! You're both always on call! The only difference was dad actually tried to make time to be in my life. He noticed I was sick. And I bet he was the one who realized I was missing because I was taking so long in the bathroom, right?" When Abby doesn't answer Clarke looks away, leaning back against the headboard of her bed. "Of course he was."

"Clarke, please."

Abby pleads but her daughter sits in silence. If there was one thing the Griffins all contained, it was strong will and stubbornness. If Clarke didn't want to talk she wasn't going to, leaving Abby no choice but to give e her daughter space and leave.

"Princess." Bellamy calls quietly. He tries to look a her but she keeps her face turned. Even from his angle he could see the tears falling down her cheek. "Hey." She sniffles and shakes her head before letting go of his hand.

"I'm sorry. You shouldn't have had to stay."

"You don't need to apologize to me, Princess." He says gently. Clarke looks at him with her baby blues and his head sinks. She's had so much pain and sadness in her life. She didn't deserve more. "What can I do? "

"Nothing."

"You sure? I think I can swipe a pudding or two from the cafeteria if I'm fast enough." Clarke's frown turns up in a smirk as a chuckle falls from her lips.

"I'm okay, really. Besides you're a cop. You can't exactly steal food." Bellamy smirks and nudges her shoulder with his.

"Says who? I'm the chief remember." Clarke shakes her head but her smile grows as she looks at him. "And as long as I don't get caught we're good."

"Bellamy!" She smiles a real smile and his heart flutters in his chest. He wonders when the last time she smiled like this was.

Clarke rests her forehead in his shoulder for a moment and nuzzles his shirt. He doesn't move but looks down at her cascading blonde hair falling around her face.

"I think I wanna sleep." She doesn't move away but Bellamy knows what she wants. So he stays until she falls. She lies down and he sits up nest to her while her head lays on his chest. Her ear above his heart. He waits until her breaths even out before he leaves.

Chapter Text

When Bellamy leaves Clarke's room he walks through the halls and runs into Jake Griffin. The older man was sitting in a waiting chair in the hall with his head down and shoulders slouched forward. A part of Bellamy felt sorry for the man. He lost his daughter years ago and in between them his marriage, and ultimately his family, was torn apart. His career went up in flames and he lost everything. Discovering his daughters rescue might have been the only good news he's received in years. But a part of Bellamy is also suspicious of him as well. Something was off with Jake Griffin but Bellamy couldn't quite put a finger on it.

"Mr. Griffin." he addresses. The blonde head of hair moves up and Bellamy meets the man's blue eyes. For a moment he's stunned at the resemblance between the man and Clarke. Not only were they close but it seemed Clarke had inherited a lot of genes from her father's side as well. Only Jake's hair was grayer and cut much shorter.

"She told her." Jake states as he stands, his eyes looking over Bellamy's shoulders in the direction of his daughters room. His gaze catching a glimpse of Bellamy nodding. "How did she take it?" Bellamy sighs and looks away but the older man's head hangs low in understanding. "Figured."

The hustle and bustle of the hospital buzzes around them not allowing much room for conversation. Not that Bellamy had much to comment on after the family troubles but that didn't mean the conversation was over with, at least not yet. However Jackson's presence keeps them from divulging too far into it. The young doctor smiles as he sees an old familiar face, though shocked, he was glad to see Jake nonetheless. He doesn't have much time for pleasantries so Jackson gets to the punch by asking Bellamy how Clarke's condition is. Seeing as Abby was no where to be found Bellamy was the next person to ask.

Jake looks between the doctor and detective for a moment as they talk, hardly noticing when the conversation ends. All he picks up on is Jackson asking Bellamy of all people how Clarke was fairing and updates on her condition.

When Jackson leaves the pair Jake turns to Bellamy with a curious eye before asking why the doctor is speaking to Bellamy about Clarke's condition and not her mother or going to check on the young woman himself. Bellamy brushes a hand though his hair as he looks at the man to his side. He shouldn't be surprised by his question, but a part of him was hoping to not bring up the subject.

He wasn't exactly sure what it was he had with Clarke. All he knew was that she trusted him more than anyone else besides Octavia, including her own mother. Something everyone in the hospital now knew but didn't talk about. It was a sensitive subject that wasn't pushed for unspoken reasons. And here Jake Griffin was ringing it into the light.

"Clarke doesn't like to be, uh, crowded around. She's closed off and doesn't let a lot of people near her." Bellamy summarizes quickly, but the older man doesn't but it. Not completely.

"Except you." Jake states with a raised brow.

"I was on the team that brought her home." He simplifies, but the older Griffin just smiles a knowing smile.

"She remembers you rescuing her. She trusts you."

Bellamy nods stiffly, expecting the exchange and conversation to be over. It was, to put it simply, uncomfortable. Not only because of the tender unspoken subject but because the person Bellamy was talking it over with was Clarke's father. And yet he didn't seem to be affronted or care. Instead Jake smiles and places a hand on Bellamy's shoulder.

"Treat her right, protect her. If not..." He trails off. "Let's just say you're not the only one here who knows people."

Bellamy gives the older man an estranged look but nods in understanding before he turns to leave. He only gets so far before Clarke's father asks where he was headed, noticing the direction wasn't towards Clarke's room. Bellamy gives him a quick run down on Clarke shutting everyone out right now. With so much that's happened today its best to leave her alone until she wants someone around. Until he gets the call from Jackson, Bellamy's heading back to the station. Though limited to what he can do there he's more help than he is right now at the hospital. Jake's smile falls immediately.

 "Mind if I tag along? I was a detective in my day. Pretty damn good I have to say. Maybe a fresh pair of eyes can help." 

Bellamy hesitates, looking at the man in front of him then to the clock on the wall. It was still early in the day, but that didn't mean they had much time to go over everything they needed down at the station. With Bellamy there it slowed down certain aspects of the case, seeing as he had a personal stake in this, but with Jake Griffin there it would slow it down even more. If anyone else had a more personal hand in this case it was him and his ex-wife. Which was why Abby is no longer allowed in certain parts of the station now that her daughter has been found. Bellamy half expects and hopes  that after telling Jake this he'll leave the situation alone. But he in fact does the opposite. Now Bellamy knows where Clarke gets her stubbornness from.

 "Trust me, you don't get to have a heart in this job and not take any case personally." 

If anyone knows how true this is, it was Bellamy. Working as a detective you see some of the worst things imaginable. Bellamy has heart and feelings. He feels bad for those killed and wronged. It's just who he was. A protector, provider. Not a killer. Killers were everything he never wanted to understand.With every case he's taken as a detective he's taken it to heart. The pain and suffering that the victims went through tore him to his core. Even to this day Bellamy has kept tabs on survivors on the cases he's solved. Checking in on their progress and well being. It's simply who he is, and by the sounds of it Jake Griffin wasn't so different.

"Look, you can come, alright. It's only fair since Abby was there." Jake straightens his shoulders as he listens, "But you can't touch anything! We need this as clean as possible to take down the man that did this."

Jake understood immediately that it would be a conflict of interest having him assist in investigating. It was with this understanding that he accepted the terms and conditions that Bellamy had set. It would be best to have multiple people in the room as witnesses to make sure Jake Griffin doesn't tamper with evidence. The last thing they needed was trouble fighting Cage Wallace with tampered evidence in court.

Bellamy text Miller the update and they head to the station. A part of Bellamy knew that this wasn't by the books, but neither was Kane bringing his girlfriend, aka the mother of one of their victims in this case. Abby being in the room could put a dent in their case seeing as she's only a civilian. But Jake on the other hand has experience. The only thing they need to make sure of is he doesn't see anything related to his daughter, which was what he had texted Miller about. Moving certain prices out of sight to ensure a compromise wasn't made during their investigation, same as evidence was set aside when involving Octavia if Bellamy was around. 

They need to catch the bastard that took those girls and tormented them for years. Lock him in a long forgotten hole, lost to the world for eternity. That's what he deserves after what he's done. But Bellamy knew it wasn't up to him what happened to Cage Wallace. It was up to the system. A system that needed piles of evidence to conjugate over before deciding if he was guilty or innocent. Their verdict would decide if Clark, Octavia, and every girl before them would get the justice they deserved.

Bellamy's blood pumps faster and faster the closer they get to their destination. He knows what's at the station or rather who. Just the thought of Cage Wallace made him sick to his stomach. Knowing he hurt the girls and then knowing exactly what happened to Clarke was different. It wasn't the same thinking they were violated than knowing in detail the torture they went through. It took fighting everything in his body to not burst through the interrogation door and beat the man until he was a vegetable. Cage Wallace needed more than a slap on the wrist and lived out his life behind bars. Clarke and Octavia deserved more than the system could give them.

He calms himself as they arrive at their destination enough to step out of the car and lead Jake inside. They legally had a right to hold Cage for 48 hours, and right now that was enough for Bellamy. Making the man sweat with worry. He's never had survivors except and live to tell their tale and Cage knew that it would implicate him. But it wasn't just Chase they were after-no. It was the entire Wallace Empire. Putting Cage away wouldn't store the ring, it would only slow it down. According to Clarke and the journal it went on far beyond their comprehension. And without setting their case up correctly, Cage could get away with it or be the only one they take down

Thanks to Atom running Cages prints in the system and flagging his plates they caught him before he could leave the state. But that didn't mean they could breath quite yet. They still needed to lock Cage away for good and bring down everything his family and business had built over the years.

As they reach the station Bellamy thinks of how to approach the situation at hand. Not only was Jake very close with the case, but Kane and Cage make the situation more difficult to navigate around. Kane was the man that split Jake and Abby's marriage, and Cage Wallace took Jake's daughter, tormenting her for years. It would be best to not have Jake at the station at all, but the older man refused to go anywhere else. However it would be best if Bellamy and Miller were there at the station to keep as much peace as possible rather than Jake Griffin taking out his own vengeance on either of the men.  With that thought in mind Bellamy reluctantly enters the conference room with the others, taking note of how Kane pales at the sight of Jake Griffin.

"Jake" The man ignores Kane and walks towards the wall. Bell and Miller follow his moves.

"He's here. Isn't he?" Jake asks as he stops in front of the sketch of Cage.

"He is." Bellamy confirms. Kane's eyes widen as he turns immediately to Bellamy, worry and warning flash in his eyes but the young man doesn't notice. Instead his focus was on Griffin.

"I wanna see him "

"Mr. Griffin-" Bellamy tries to argue, his mind catching up to what Jake Griffin has in mind.

"No one knows the Wallace family better than me." He states bluntly as he turns in Bellamy's direction. "Why do you think I was off the grid for so long? For some engineering work?" Jake scoffs. "I never retired, Blake. Never."

"You have information on Cage Wallace?" Miller asks, now intrigued.

"More than you can imagine. Most of it is on his father and their infamous empire. But Cage isn't innocent in the slightest, or ignorant to what his family does. If anything he's planning on making big changes." Kane asks what changes, clearly out of the loop, and Jake looks him dead in the eye. "Ones his father doesn't want him to make. If he does..." Griffin trails off as he crosses his arms over his chest. "You'll lose everything you have on the Wallace's empire and more."

"What'd we do?" Miller inquires.

"We take him down for what he did to my daughter," he looks at Bellamy, "Your sister. And every other girl that has been taken and murdered by the Wallace regime."

Chapter Text

Everyone gets to work immediately on a plan to take down the Wallace family. There wasn't much that anyone could use against the Wallace's seeing as they were one of the most powerful families in the country. They came from old money with connections to high power. If that wasn't enough, to add to complications, they owned over half of the United States's high end Corporations. Jake gives the detectives much more information on the Wallace family than they thought imaginable. But what they do with the new information he wasn't allowed to know.

Jake steps out of the room soon after divulging the dirty laundry of the Wallace's. He intends to walk away and see his daughter again, but two things forced his body still. One- Clarke was most likely still resting. Two- The very man that put her in this situation was only a few feet away behind a closed door. It was too good of and opportunity to pass up, and it wasn't as if it was impossible to find a way in.

Given the amount of time that's passed since Jake was last in Arkadia it was more of a challenge to find someone who had been at the station back when he himself was still a detective in his days. But once he finds that officer he uses those familiar strings to gain quick access to the interrogation room while the officer turns the other way. Not wanting to waste any precious time he enters the room without hesitating. Upon hearing the door open the man chained to the table glances in its direction only to fully turn when he sees who enters.

"Jacob, this is a surprise. What're you doing here?" Cage smirks, clearly surprises and amused by the circumstances now playing out.

"We both know why I'm here Wallace."

"Really? Last I heard you were in Spain beating down a friend of my father's. Gotta say, it's rude to be so cruel. For a cop I thought you'd have some kind of boundaries you wouldn't cross. But after seeing the mess you made of McCreary..." Cage clicks his tongue with a shake of his head. "Didn't know you had it in you."

"McCreary was nothing. You should worry about yourself and what I'm gonna do to you." Jake says coldly as he sits across from Cage. His right fist lying in front of him while his left was pocketed.

"Yeah? What's that?"

"You kidnapped, torture, and raped my daughter. My child!" He stands abruptly as his fist collides with the table. And yet Cage doesn't flinch a single muscle.

"No idea what your talking about Jacob. I've done nothing wrong."

"Then explain Mount Weather." Immediately Cage's cool collected composure shatters. Despite his best efforts to cover it up Jake knew he had Cage hanging on a thread. "Explain to me why you kept these girls, my daughter included, for yourself instead of taking them there with the others? Did precious daddy approve of this or is it your own little operation aside on the side like the Reapers program?"

For the first time since starting his investigation Jake Griffin watches Cage Wallace not only pale with petrified worry but stare in silence. If the Wallace's are known for anything else besides their power and wealth, it was their ability to talk anyone's ear off. But here they sat and Cage was silent as a mouse.

"You've got it all wrong, Jake." He mutters looking at the double mirrors behind them.

The older man smirks knowing no one else was done the other side but Cage didn't need to know that. In fact all cameras were down. The only people who knew about this conversation was the two men in the room. No one else.

"I do? Then please" he gestures widely, "Enlighten me."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Cage sneers with a cynicial smile following afterwards. "I have nothing more to say here, Jacob. Not without a lawyer present."

"Really? Now you want a lawyer? Did I hit a nerve there just now?" Cage says nothing in response as Jake elan's I've the table and looks him in the eye. "Fine. Have it your way.

"Oh and Jacob?" Jake stops and looks over his shoulder his fists clenching by his side as he fights every instinct in his body to squeeze the air from Cage's lungs as he says, "Say hello to little Clarkey for me. It's been too long."

Jake commands his feet to move before he loses control. Slamming the door shut he hurriedly leaves the room and heads towards the exit of the station. The older man keeps his head down but feels a certain set of eyes on him, making him look up for just a moment. The wrong moment it seemed because those very eye belonged to Bellamy Blake. Curing to himself Jake walks faster but Bellamy is quicker.

"What did you do?" He demands, catching up to Griffin in no time as he looks between him and the direction of the interrogation room. "Mr. Griffin -"

"I didn't lay a hand on him if that's what you're worried about." Bellamy groans and runs a hand over his face.

"But you went into the room." Jake says nothing but that was all Bellamy needed to know. "This could rip the case apart!" Bellamy sighs and lowers his voice, the lingering eyes from around the station making his anxiety rise. But Jake Griffin didn't seem phased by their surroundings. Instead his sole focus was on Bellamy.

"Don't talk to me about technicalities kid."

"We need this as clean as possible to take him and his family down or they walk!"

"I've been in the game longer than you, son. I know more than you could ever imagine."

"Then why jeopardize the case? Why put your daughter and my sisters kidnapped in a position where he could get away with it!?"

"He won't."

"And how are you so sure?" Jake smirks knowingly as he turns away, his words echoing as he walks away.

"Because I'm a father. That's how."

Bellamy stands rooted to his spot, astounded by the older man's actions and words. It didn't make any sense to put the case in jeopardy the way Jake Griffin had. Bringing Cage into custody was a miracle in itself and they were limited to the amount of time they had to keep him and nail him permanently. But Jake Griffin's actions may have just Fred the criminal completely.

No court would accept the case knowing a family member of one of the victims had been alone with the criminal responsible for torturing those girls. Especially if it was a father that had been alone with Wallace.

Bellamy himself had refused to go anywhere near the interrogation room knowing what would happen if he did. He wants justice for what happened to Octavia, and Clarke's and everyone other innocent girls who's life was tragically ripped away too soon because of the diabolical man sitting in that room. It was why Bellamy had stepped away from majority of the investigation entirely. But not Jake Griffin. Instead the older man deliberately went out of his way to be alone with Cage Wallace knowing fill well what the consequences would be. And Bellamy couldn't fathom why he would be okay with that happening.

He could keep what he saw to himself, but Bellamy knows that withholding information would only jeopardize the case further. Decisions to inform the rest of the team of the news, Bellamy leaves the bullpen and enters the office where the others were.

To say they were displeased and shocked would be an understatement. Miller and Kane were taken back most of all.

"Jake did what?" Kane asks for clarification but the look Bellamy give him was enough of an answer.

"That doesn't make any sense, man."Miller adds. "Why would he do that?"

"I don't know. But he went into that room alone with Cage and that's all we need to know."

Everyone's face drops in disappointment as they realize their case had possibly been shattered completely. Bellamy had a small amount of hope deep down that this would only be a dent into their plan instead of a head in collision, but house later that hop quickly crumbles into dust as noise from outside the office arises.

Quickly Bellamy, Miller, and Kane exit the office to find Abby Griffin shouting at a man in a suit while Cage Wallace was behind him with an officer releasing his handcuffs.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing?" Bellamy exclaims hurriedly as the officer uncuffs Cage Wallace.

"Orders from above. Seems your little station here doesn't have what it needs after all." Cage snarks with a smirk, rubbing his sore wrists.

Bellamy glares angrily in the man's direction before turning away and looking at a man on Cages left he's never seen before. He was dressed in a pressed suit and tie with a briefcase which only meant one thing- lawyer. Every fiber of Bellamy's being deflated and he knew it was over

"We haven't finished yet." He tries but even Bellamy knew his excuse was deflated.

"You have no foothold here when it comes to holding my client Detective."

"Actually we do. According to the law we gave a right to hold him for 48 hours."

"Not anymore." The lawyer argues. Bellamy clenches his fists by his side as he shakes his head. "You have no evidence here and-"

"No evidence?" Bellamy scoffs. "We have his DNA, witnesses to testify, and more!" He side eyes Cage knowing he couldn't refute just everything they had in him until court. "We have evidence and by law can keep him here for another 24 hours."

"With all due respect those witnesses are unreliable and your evidence circumstantial. If you have any questions please feel free to be in touch. Dante Wallace sends his best."

Bellamy visibly shivers at the man's name, irritated with the smirk on the lawyers face as he walks Cage out of the police station. He turns to find everyone working on the case astounded as the criminal responsible for everything that happened to those innocent girls walked free.

Kane turns around with a hand on his beard as he does he looks around the station, not able to watch any further. But as he does he recall as the conversation he and the others had with Bellamy about Jake Griffin, and slowly the wheels in Kane's mind began to turn. Without thinking further he asks the whereabouts of the other Griffin, his features quickly turning into a frown when Bellamy tells him that Jake Griffin had left the station earlier. Had it not been for the clear panic on Kane and Baby's face Bellamy would not have thought anything of it, but it was clear that something was very wrong.

"Marcus-"

"I know. We need to find him. Now." Kane pulls out his phone immediately and begins to dial a number, only confusing Bellamy more. If there's one thing Bellamy hated more than egotistical criminals, it was being out of the loop. Especially in one of his own cases.

"What's the problem?" Kane sighs heavily and places his hands on his waist as he slams his phone on the table nearby. Abby jumps slightly but relaxes soon after as she runs her hands over her face and turns away.

"He's gonna kill Wallace." Kane declares, leaving Bellamy stunned. "And we need to find him before he does."

"Wait how do you know Griffin would do this?" Kane glances over in Abby's direction as she stares out the station's window, her arms wrapped tightly over her chest as she stands.

"Because this was planned. He knew that going into that room would potentially ruin the case. And whatever he said to Wallace made him lawyer up very fast."

"But we already knew he was going to lawyer up." Miller interrupts as he looks between his friend and the fed.

"Yes, but we didn't anticipate Jake coming into town. He knew Cage would get away with this and-"

"And so he's taking matters into his own hands." Bellamy mutters under his breath, the pieces finally coming together as he remembers what Jake Griffin had said as he left the station. 'I'm a father that's how.'

Jake Griffin knew Cage Wallace wasn't going to get away with what he's done
because he was going to make sure of it personally.

Chapter Text

Jake waited outside the station inside his car keeping watch of the entrance and exit for several hours. Only when he sees a familiar face does he flip his engine on and follow the Black SUV that was picking the man up. Discreetly Jake turns his truck on and follows the vehicle from a distance. Having mastered tagging someone from his years of undercover work, Griffin keeps an eye on the house Cage was brought to and left at. He wasn't surprised with the amount of security placed around the building but Jake Griffin had broken into much, much, more complicated facilities. He sits right and watches the guards rotation all day and waits until sunset before breaching the home and taking what he came for- Cage Wallace.

What Jake said to Bellamy was true, Cage Wallace was never going to get away with what he had done. He could lawyer up all he wanted and use his father's influence and name to get out of any situation he needed. But that ended today.

It didn't matter how much evidence Bellamy and his team had gathered against the Wallace family. Their case could be airtight and follow the book sentence by sentence and Cage Wallace would still get away. The only way that the girls would ever get justice was outside the box thinking.

The world wasn't black and white, especially not the justice system. As long as there was enough power, money, an influence anyone could get away with anything. It doesn't matter if you were innocent or guilty. It all depended on who could sway a judge and counsel the most. That's it. And Jack Griffin understood that better than anyone else. All the years that he's worked as an officer and a detective of the law he's witnessed too many criminals walk free because the judges were swayed in their favor by an outside resource.

The Wallace's were no different.

No matter what Bellamy and his people did to secure a clean investigation Cage Wallace would always get away. But Jake Griffin wasn't going to let that happen. Not again.

Jake has studied every blueprint to every property owned by Cage and his father, each yard engraved in his mind. It was due to this that Jake found Cage in minutes, hiding away in his study nursing an old fashioned. Making quick work of those inside, Griffin shoots a tranquilizer dart to knock Cage down. He takes the man's unconscious body through the back and dumps him into the bed of the truck under a tarp before driving off to another location. A warehouse that Jake knew all too well from his days. 

He makes quick work of Cage by setting him up in a chair, the rope wrapping around his torso, wrists tied behind his back, and each of his legs tied to the legs of the chair itself. Griffin had to move fast. Once Cage' began to stir it was only a matter of time before he gained full consciousness leaving Jake little room to secure him properly. But with his experience in the military and undercover work with the police force, Jake ties Cage Wallace in no time at all before the man opens his eyes.

"What is this, Jacob? Really."

"This is your day of reckoning, Cage." Jake watches carefully as Cage smirks, clearly unphased by anything happening. That is for now. Griffin moves another chair from across the room and drags it in front of Wallace but he doesn't sit- no- he looms of Cage with a sneer. A small crack echoes through the warehouse as Jake's fist collides with Cage's face. "You took her. You hurt her." His fist clenches tighter as his knuckles turn white. But Cage isn't phased by the other man's anger. 

He smirks through the blood as it drips down his face. His eyes take in their surroundings, making quick of his assumption that they were alone. Of course at the station there were eyes and ears everywhere leaving Cage no choice but to call in for reinforcement. Seeing as Jake was bringing up matters the authorities should have no business in, Cage had no choice but to lawyer up. However, here they were alone. And Jake, it seemed, knew far more than Cage anticipated.

"It's only rape if she says no." He says at last the smirk on his face angering Jake further. "And after a while..." He chuckles deeply. "She learned to keep quiet. Well when I wanted her to be anyway."

Jake's vision turns red as he yanks Cage by his collar with his left hand while his right fist collides with his face. One punch turns into two, then three before the father loses count. The skin begins to blister and change colors from the force of his fists. Only when Cage sputters blood does Jake come to a stop. The blisters started to ooze against the darkening bruises while the slices across his face dropped red.

The blood flowed like the water of a river but even that wasn't enough to satisfy Jake Griffin's anger. Cage Wallace deserved more than a painful punishment. He needed to feel what he did to those girls tenfold.

"I gotta admit I should've tossed her years ago." Cage croaks, his voice raspy. "I have a policy to not keep em' more than a few months." His words come broken as he chokes on his blood. To keep talking he spews the blood in front of him, the crimson fluid coating Jake's shoes. "But that brunette... Octavia.... and then Clarke... Hmm. Couldn't resist keeping em' longer. Never had a real chance with the brunette though. Not that your little angle would let me."

He laughs cynically as he thinks back to when he had the girls kept away. For two long years that he kept Octavia Blake he never truly had a chance to do what he wanted. Clarke took every chance available to keep him distracted and away from the younger girl. It didn't take long for Cage to figure out what she was doing, but rather than punish her he played along with her game.

"I knew what she was doing of course." Cage stops and looks Jake in the eyes as he smiles.  "Deep down she wanted me for herself. Daddy's girl doesn't like to share." His smirk is quickly swiped away when a sharp blade slices across his face. "AHHH!"

The warmth of the blood drops down into her shirt soaking the material through and through. Jake jerks his head up as he swipes him again, only this time the sharp pain came from his stomach, not his cheek. Cage groans at the intrusion only to cry out as Jake twists the blade.

"You like that? No? Now you know how she felt." Jake removes the blade before plunging it into Cage again, this time in his thigh, smiling to himself as the other man struggles with pain

"What? No more big talk, huh? Can't handle the pain?" Jake taunts lowly. "I guess it is true what they say. Woman do have higher pain tolerance." Cage sneers as he spits more blood in Jake's direction, only it doesn't have much projection and falls to hiss lap instead.

"I doubt that." Jake laughs to himself at Wallace's comment, but not fully amused- no. It was the horrid irony of it all that allowed him to smirk.

"You can't handle a little pain for a few minutes. Imagine doing this every day for over ten years." Jake says as he looks Cage directly in the eye before thrusting the knife in Cage's left leg.

"AHHGG!!" Cage kicks at Jake but the father just laughs.

"Luckily for you we don't have that kind of time. But I'll be damned if you don't feel half of the pain you put those girls through."

Cage spews the blood from his lips in Jake's direction but the man isn't bothered. Instead he pulls a Glock from the waist band of his back pants and aims it at Cage. A part of him wanted to drag out his torment, to make him feel much, much worse than the glimpse of pain Clarke and the others had felt. But Griffin knew they were on a time crunch and if Cage Wallace was going to be brought down for what he's done it had to be Jake who executed that justice.

"This is for my daughter." With a single bang a bullet flies and hits it's target directly in his skull. Cage's head falls forwards as blood drips from his head.

Jake steps away and sits in the chair in front of him, waiting. Deep down he knew Cage didn't suffer enough for what he's done but a part of Griffin knew his daughter had justice. Those innocent girls were averaged, every last one. Cage could have suffered more, and Jake wanted to do exactly that. But he was short on time. The sounds of sirens echoing from a short distance confirm that.

Within a matter of seconds a swat team barges through the doors and surrounds him, but it was a familiar face that stood in front of him and looked between Jake and the dead body. Kane sighs heavily at the sight and has his team stand down

"He took my daughter. Tortured her for years." Jake says before looking up at Kane.

"This isn't justice, Jake. This is revenge." Kane tries to reason, but rather than look worried Jake smiles.

"I know."

Griffin stands, drops his gun, and willingly turns around and kneels with his hands in the air. There was no denying he committed cold-blooded murder, nor was there any reason to fight being arrested. Jake accepted his fate the moment he walked into that interrogation room, but it didn't matter. Cage Wallace was gone for good.

Kane has an agent take Jake outside while he and Miller deal with the scene inside. Several officers and agents eye Jake, some full of disgust and anger, others respect. But one gaze was full of remorse. 

"Why Jake?"

"The system is broken, Abby. Our little girl would never have gotten the justice she deserves. None of them would."

"Killing Cage only stops him. Not the others." Bellamy tries to reason, but it does nothing to phase the man. Instead Jake smiles like the cat that got the canary. Abby squints as she looks at her ex-husband in the eye. She's known him long enough to know what that smirk meant.

"What did you do?" Jake doesn't answer her questions but rather nods his head in her direction as he buds his farewell.

"Goodbye Abby." The Agent gets Griffin moving along and into the back of a vehicle while Kane arrives and assesses the scene. He looks at Abby oddly then to where the agent had put Jake away.

"He did something." She mutters, looking Kane in the eye. "He wouldn't have taken Cage just to get revenge he knows better." Kane sighs knowing what Abby was saying was right. Jake was too experienced to be so sloppy, but there wasn't anything they could do right now except wait and see.

"Something tells me the Wallace Empire is about to have a rude awakening." He concludes.

"He's right, Abby." Bellamy adds in, his voice filled with acceptance and defeat. "The system is broken. The Wallace's would have found a loop hole somewhere. Even if we found a way to keep Cage down, it wouldn't stop the others. Something tells me Jake had a back up plan and he's going through with it."

"And just how is he going to take down the Wallace's from prison?" She argues, but neither man had an answer to offer.

"Only he knows. Maybe it's best we let him take the reigns." Kane offers.

There was no right way to go about a situation such as this. Not when it comes to a family as powerful as the Wallace family. The law has fought to bring them down for decades with no success. It didn't help that they had no solid leads or information to begin with. But it seemed Jake Griffin did. Not only did he have information but he utilized it. By the look in his eye Cage was only the beginning.

It didn't matter how Jake planned on bringing down the Wallace Empire. All Kane knew was that a determined father was an impossible force to be reckoned with.

"You can't be serious!" Abby shouts but it was no use. She wasn't going to get through to Kane.

Bellamy takes a step back form the couple at the awkward argument they seem to have been having. While he understood where Baby was coming from, he understood Kane more. Bringing down Cage and his families regime was going to take measures beyond the law. And Jake was more than willing to do what it took. It didn't make what he did right but it did mean his daughter was safe, that her friend was safe. And all the young girls who've lost their lives because of Cage would finally be able to rest in peace knowing their killer was brought down.

It wasn't a happy ending by a long shot, but it was a form of justice that even Bellamy couldn't have argued with. Given the life Jake has had Bellamy isn't surprised he snapped. Had it not been for finding Octavia after only two years Bellamy knows that it would be easy to follow in Jake Griffin's footsteps. He lost everything when he's daughter was taken. One she was found again it broke him more to know the cruel things that happened to her. It was unbearable. While order may have not been the right course of action to take, Bellamy knows that Cage can never hurt Clarke and Octavia ever again. And for that he was grateful Jake had what it took to take matters into his own hands.

The human brain never knows what it's capable of until it snaps, and after seeing his daughter again? And knowing who did what? He snapped.

A snap that brought unlawful justice.

"The scenes been secured." Miller says as he appears. He takes in the faces of the small group and looks between Kane and Abby the most. "Something wrong?"

"No."

"Everything." Bellamy and Miller share a look as the couple speak at the same time, clearly on opposing sides on the matter. But it seemed Abby was in no mood to discuss further as she clenches her jaw and glares.

With the night over and case taken care of Bellamy turns on his heels with a short nod in Miller's direction before heading towards his jeep. Only to stop when he hears Kane.

"Where you headed now?"

"Someone has to tell the Clarke the bad news. Unless you" he turns to Abby, "were going to." The woman scoffs at his words.

"My daughter hasn't been able to look at me all week. I think it would be best to come from you."

Bellamy nods figuring as much. When it comes to Clarke she doesn't put much of a fight. She loves her daughter, Bellamy knows this. But she doesn't know how to connect with her. They've always been estranged and the 10 year gap has only made it worse. Clarke opens up to those she trusts, and right now her mother isn't on that list, leaving the task solely up to Bellamy.

It was hard enough having to break any kind of news to Clarke, whether it was lack of information about the case or where her mother was. Bellamy had to be the one to tell her. But to inform her that her father was arrested for murder was entirely different. Bellamy saw how close Clarke was with her dad the moment he saw them together. He was the only other person Clarke seems to trust besides Octavia and himself and now he was going away for a very long time.

This kind of news could break her.

Chapter Text

Bellamy makes it to the hospital in record time. It's late when he arrives, well past midnight, and definitely beyond visiting hours. But with his badge and the delicate situation with Clarke the nurses let him through without difficulty. Even with the great progress Clarke has made, it didn't mean she went without hard days. Luckily today she had a good one. If only Bellamy didn't have to break the news to her like this. He knew he had to tell her before news spread about her father in the morning. It was best to hear it first and from him than a news media outlet on television, or worse the nurses gossiping. 

With a deep breath Bellamy enters her room. At first hes surprised to find her awake, but then he understands it must be a hard night. She has her days where she's able to sleep through the night alone, and others where she's up and down and finding ways to occupy her time until she can sleep. Tonight was one of those nights it seemed. Clarke sets down her charcoal as she hears her door open and smiles when she sees who enters.

"Hey." She offers, a brow furrowed as she glances between him and the clock above the door.

"Hey Princess." He tries to smile, really he does, but the moment her own smile falters is when he knows he isn't convincing at all.

"What's wrong?" She asks immediately, her senses not once failing her. Clarke sets her sketch book aside as Bellamy comes to sit on the edge of her bed and rests his hand on the ledge, his head hung low. She waits for several moments but he says nothing. "Bellamy?" Again, no answer, but the pain and worry in his eyes reflects in his gaze, making her gasp. "Now you're scaring me." He looks up and reaches for her hands, his thumb running over her knuckles as she reaches back.

"That is the last thing I ever want you to feel from me." Clarke looks at their hands and wiggles her body to turn and face him fully. Her knee brushing his own as she sighs.

"Then tell me what's wrong, Bellamy. Somethings happened." She says as she gestures to his gear. Sighing and cursing himself for not changing before entering the hospital, Bellamy closes his eyes and takes a moment before speaking. He needed to say it before he lost his nerve.

"I need you to do something for me before I say anything else. Can you do that Princess?" She eyes him wearily but nods. "Don't hate your mother or Kane or me." Clarke immediately straightens up and tries to move her hands. But Bellamy is faster and moves his hand under hers in case she wants to not be near him.

"Now you're scaring the hell out of me. What happened?!" She demands. He offers his hand again and she looks down. He waits and she sighs. He holds her hand,really holds it with as much grip as he could without startling her, and looks into her eyes.

"Your father's been arrested for murder."

"What?!?" Bellamy keeps hold of her hand and moves closer to her, relieved when she doesn't move away. "What the hell happened?! Bellamy!" She cries looking at the door then to him.

"You can't see him yet. But I promise once he's settled and the paperwork is done I'll make sure you see him." 

"But- Why- who-" her brain short circuits and Bellamy gently tugs her arms, a hint she doesn't resist, instead she falls immediately into his arms as she scrambles to make sense of the information . "I-I don't understand!" 

Bellamy knew this was tearing her apart, but there wasn't anything he could do, and that hurt just as much. Clarke has been through hell and back, and the life she returned to was more broken and painful than anyone could have predicted it would be. And then the few pieces left shattered with the news of her father. And the confusion was only eating her up inside further.  It was because of this and this alone that be blurted out the name- his name.

"Cage." He mentally scolds himself when he sees her shiver, but the fear from his name doesn't last as the resisting fire in her eyes tries to return.

"No. Dad wouldn't... Bellamy..." She pleads. Tears fall like the flow of a river. He hated seeing her this distraught but she deserved the truth before it hit the news.

"Kane took him in, your mom was there too. She uh, she knew what your dad was planning and found out where he was gonna be." Clarke scoffs but shakes her head.

"But why would I hate you than? You didn't- did you-"

"I was there during the arrest." He says with a heavy sigh. He expects Clarke to reel back, to look away and never want to see him again, but he could have been more wrong.

"And you're sure it was my dad who killed him? Bellamy are you positive?"

"We found him in the room with murder weapon and the body." He watches as Clarke shivers again, his heart straining as she pulls away holding herself. She's silent for a long time, so long Bellamy wonders if it would be best to leave her alone to process. But as if reading his mind Clarke speaks and it wasn't at all what he expected.

"I don't hate you." She mutters as her eyes peek from her arm resting on her knee. "I trust you. If you say it was him then.. it was. I just wish I knew why."

Bellamy slowly reaches out to brush a stray hair away from her tear stained face, wipes away a stray tear as he looks into her eyes. Her body was tense again from the skin to skin context but it wasn't personal, it was an instinctual reaction. A reaction she's learning to deal with when around people she trusts. Bellamy being one of them.

"Your dad loves you, Clarke. And he knew the system wouldn't have given you and the others the justice you deserve. Cage would have found a way to get away with it. And your dad couldn't let that happen."

"But why stay?" She pushes, earning a look from Bellamy. So she elaborates. "He knew you would be on his trail so why not run?"

Bellamy sighs and thinks of how best to say what he knew was right. No one would truly know why Jake Griffin didn't run when he had the chance. There could be multiple reasons why he stayed. All Bellamy could give was a broad idea to an explanation, hoping that it was right. No one would ever really know besides Jake Griffin himself.

"Maybe he's done running, Princess."

Clarke takes a deep breath as she lets it all in, but her sight quickly turns into a heart wrenching sob. Without looking she reaches out to Bellamy and he moves to her side in the blink of an eye, his arms wrapping around her tight as she shrinks into his body. She was small in his arms but Bellamy knew that's what she wanted. To disappear in a safe, comforting, space. And right now that was his arms.

A place neither of them ever wanted to leave.

~~~

Ever since receiving the news of her father Clarke had been restless and irritable to see her father again. She's only seen her father once since she's returned and now she may never see him face to face again. Bellamy's done all he could to reassure her that he can have visitors but she won't be able to be close. They'll talk over the phone, but they can look at one another through the glass at the prison. The judge did grant access for him to have visitors but he wasn't liable for parole anytime soon, and given Clarke's condition she wasn't informed often on any updates with her father's case for fear of casing additional stress. 

Of course the blonde scoffs at the idea no matter how Bellamy tries to word it. But she knew that Bellamy had no control of what the court, her doctor, or her mother had decided for her. It seemed like every decision in her life would be made for her without consulting her first, even if it was her own life. It wasn't hers to choose what to do with it. She wasn't truly free. A realization she once admitted to feeling to Bellamy late at night as he visited her, staying later than he was meant to because he knew she needed to sleep. And the only thing that helped her relax enough to sleep was his presence.

Bellamy hated that she still felt trapped. Once she had made that late night confession he did everything in his power to get her a visitation pass to see her father. It took much longer than either of them would have liked but he made it happen. Once Jackson gave Clarke the all clear to travel such a long distance Bellamy drives the young Blonde to see her father. She shakes vigorously once inside, whether it was nerves to see her father again ofle being in a car Bellamy wasn't sure. All he knew was that he would do everything possible to make her comfortable and feel safe.

They arrive in record time and get through fastet then Bellamy thought they would. But then again this prison didn't get a lot of visitors for various reasons. Several of which were why Bellamy made sure to stay close to Clarke. It wasn't just the criminals that he had to be wary of but the staff as well. TonDc Penitentiary was infamous for it's corruption, no doubt why Jake Griffin was sent here in the first place. To be handled silently. But there was not thing Bellamy knew about Jake Griffin besides his undying love for his child, it was his unwavering stubbornness. They could do everything in their power to get rid of Jake Griffin but it was going to take much more than a corrupt prison.

"You shouldn't have done it." Clarke says the moment she's on the phone facing her father through the glass.

Jake puts hands on the glass for a moment, smiling as Clarke does the same. "If given the same choice I would do it over and over again. Because I'm a father, and you, honey, are my little girl." Tears roll down Clarke's cheek, matching her fathers as he speaks, as she bites back a sob hearing his words. "I wasn't there for you when you needed me the most, but I made damn sure he could never hurt you again." Clarke's hand slides down as her head falls forward, her blonde hair cascading around her face as she cries silently.

"Dad..." 

"I'm here, Clarke. Always." Their blue eyes meet through the glass as a hand gently falls to Clarke's shoulder, squeezing it lightly as she relaxes from the touch.

TonDc Penitentiary, while most famous for its ability to get away with crime, was also known for its incredibly short visitation. Five minutes was the maximum for an in-perosn visitation, no exceptions. That is unless the pockets were deep enough. But Bellamy didn't have the money, nor did anyone else he knew. And there was no way in hell Abby Griffin would pay such a thing even if it helped her daughter.

"We gotta go princess." Clarke sighs but gives Bellamy a short nod as he turns away for them to say goodbye. 

Gently Clarke presses her palm against the glass, smiling as her father does the same. She pushes down the tears threatening to spill as she feels his warmth through the barrier separating them. "I love you, dad." 

"I love you too kiddo"  With a heavy heart Clarke stands and forces her feet to walk away, knowing the tears would fall no matter how hard she tried to fight it. 

It wasn't fair, none of it was. When Clarke imagined her life after hell it was blank. A darkness into the afterlife. But when she could dream a long time ago, she would dream of home. If sitting on the counter top making a mess and laughing with her dad while he baked the brownies they mixed together, or staying up all night watching Disney movies and drawing in their sketch books. One hopeful night when Clarke would escape into her mind, during the early days of her kidnapping, she would imagine coming home to both her parents. Abby would leave the hospital at a reasonable hour and spend the evening with her husband and daughter, cherishing the little things she once took for granted.

But those were simply that- dreams. Clarke knew reality would be different. She knew her mother wouldn't have changed, but what she didn't expect was for her family to be torn apart and her father imprisoned for murdering the man who ruined their lives.

Running out of time Clarke forces herself to stand and walk away, gasping lightly as she goes to fight the emotional tornado swirling inside her mind. Bellamy sighs lowly as he turns to leave with her, but the small ping against the glass grabs his attention first. There on the other side was Jake waving his hand to be on Bellamy closer, his finger pointing in the direction of the phone soon after. Quickly Bellamy looks back to check on Clarke before he picks up on phone.

"Take care of her for me. Promise me." Bellamy agrees without hesitation, his gaze continuing to find where Clarke was standing. He almost sets up the phone but Jake wasn't done. "And Bellamy, Cage wasn't alone, you know that right?" Jake asks.

"I figured as much."

"It'll take time to take them all down, until then his father and... well, friends won't be happy that I- let's just say- illuminated a player in their game."

Bellamy looks down then as he takes in Jake's words. A small voice from behind catches his attention and he turns to find Clarke on the phone most likely with her mother given her tense stance. She looks at Bellamy and he smiles as she smiles in his direction before it quickly falls as she continues speaking on her phone. None the wiser to the serious conversation happening between her father and Bellamy. 

"What're you saying here Mr. Griffin?"

"I'm saying keep a close eye on my daughter and your sister. Even if you think they're safe, they might not be." A shiver runs up Bellamy's spine as Jake's words. The mere thought of anyone coming after this sister or Clarke made his blood run cold.

The plan Jake has in motion won't be easy or fast. And the Wallace Empire won't be happy with live witnesses walking around. Jake knows this and now so does Bellamy. The girls could still be in danger and with Jake contained it was up to Bellamy to protect them no matter the costs.

"Do you understand what I'm telling you, son?"

"I do." Jake nods and tries to spot his daughter. It's difficult given the angle but her blonde hair puts a smile on his face, to him that was enough. "I'll protect her with my life, same as Octavia. No one will hurt them again."

"Good man." Jake says before a guard comes and takes him away, putting an official end to the visitation for the day.  Hanging up the phone Bellamy leaves the cubicle and returns to Clarke, a very irritated one at that.

"How do you hang up again?"

Abby's voice shouts through the phone swearing as she says, "Clarke I swear to-"t

The blonde hangs Bellamy her cell phone and smiles as he presses the small red button on the screen and opens his arms for her to fall into. Her small mumbles thank you making him smirk in return.

"I take it your mom knows you're here now?"

"That obvious huh?" Clarke hides in his chest as he holds her protectively. The moment was just what she needed after the argument over the phone with her mother.  But it didn't last as long as she would have liked because the phone in Bellamy's pocket vibrates. Clarke groans as she pulls away glaring at the small box in his hand. "These things are annoying!" She mutters as he takes his phone out. 

"Don't worry grandma you'll get the hang of it eventually." She rolls her eyes but smiles when she sees the caller ID. "O, you're on speaker." He smiles looking at the now happy blonde by his side. "Clarke's with me." 

"Hey Clarke!" Octavia shouts  her excitement emitting through the phone, making her friend grin ear to ear.

"Hey Tavia'." Clarke beams at the little screen as she peers down at it and keeps herself tucked into Bellamy's side. Bellamy takes in their surroundings quickly as a chill travels up his spine. Sure enough several  guards were eyeing them oddly. Something wasn't right... Knowing his gut was never wrong Bellamy guides Clarke out of the building and into his jeep, letting Clarke talk to his sister until they are safely inside the vehicle.

"Did you need something, O?" He asks as he straps in. 

"Yeah I was wondering when you'd be home because, honestly I'm starving." The older Blake scoffs as he looks down at his phone. His sister couldn't be serious, right? But by the sound of her voice she was.

"You just ate before I left." 

Octavia argues immediately, bringing the kidnapped and starved card against Bellamy knowing he couldn't say no. It was understandable why Octavia wanted take out so much, it was food she was deprived of for years, and now she was free again. Even though Bellamy knew his sister was taking a bit of an advantage bringing up why she wanted the food, eh indulged her anyway. After surviving what she did, what both girls have been through, he never argued further. 

"Alright I can pick up something on the way home. Any preference?" 

"Starbucks!" Clarke laughs fully and nods frantically. 

"She's not wrong it does sound really good." 

"Not you too princess." Bellamy grumbles, his head leaning against the steering wheel as his sister laughs and sequels in excitement on the other end.

"Ha! Now you have two of us to handle" The Young Blake teases, enjoying her brother's grumpy grumble. Of course she knows he isn't really annoyed, she can already imagine the smile he's fighting off his face as he says,

"Okay Starbucks for dessert." He emphasizes. "What for dinner?" 

"What about Grounders?" Clarke suggests quietly, a little hesitant to bring up anything at all.

It was still a process trying to be more involved and open about wanting anything but with the Blake's it was easier to speak out. On the plus side she could try the new restaurant that was put up five years ago. Of course Octavia's had it already, her brother used to take her every weekend for her favorite burger and fries, extra fries if you will. When the brunette would visit her friend in the hospital she would go on and on about the restaurant and how good the food was. How could Clarke not want to try it out?

"YES! That! Grounders please! God a burger sounds so good right now." Bellamy throws a teasing glare Clarke's way but the amusement in his eyes makes her smile.

"What? She made me hungry!"

No matter how hard he fourth the smile just couldn't be stopped as he looked at the dooy grin on Clakres face, her smile contagios. It was rare for her to be so easy going, and to be as happy as she was given the last thirty minutes. Everything has been so hard for her since she's been back but she's adjusting fairly well, and it was Bellamy's job to not only help her transition into real life, but to help her be happy.

Life isn't just about loving, it's about the small things, the little moments you cherish with friends and family you make a long the way. And as far as Bellamy could see Clarke was forever an additional to the family. Not only because of her relationship with Octavia, but with himself as well. Bellamy couldn't quite put into words what they had but he'd bet his life it was something good. And hell be damned if he watches her go and live a miserable life. Not after what she went through. Not on his watch. It didn't matter what Belly had to do to keep that smile on her face. There was no limit to making the people he cared about happy. Never.

"Okay first stop is Grounders for Burgers and fries, then Starbucks for two chocolate fraps, six chocolate croissants, and two cake pops."

"You know us so well big brother." Bellamy shakes his head with a smile as he turns the jeep on and pulls out of the Prisoners parking lot. "Wait why 6? We only get two croissants each."

"You're not the only one craving something sweet, O."

"Ha! Clarke we got him addicted to Starbucks!

"I wouldn't go that far yet, Tavia. I think we still have a little ways to go." Clarke eyes glimmer with mischief as she speaks, smiling as the side eye from Bellamy is thrown her way.

"Don't worry by the end of summer he'll be taking us there every morning when really it's his cravings he trying to satisfy." Bellamy shakes his head side to side as the girls talk. It was obvious he was there but they were speaking as if he wasn't, which to Bellamy was very amsuing and heart warming. It was good how close they were, he hoped it stayed that way with years to come.

"You two done yet?"

"Nope!" He could hear the smile in his sister's voice as she cheeks, "but we'll talk more when you're home. Oh! And don't forget extra fries Bell!"

"As if I'd let him forget, Tavia."

"That's my girl!" Clarke laughs a full belly laugh, her head thrown back against the seat as her friend says her goodbye on the phone. "Love you guys! See ya when you get home. And be safe!"

"We love you too, O. And don't worry I'll bring Clarke back in one piece, I promise." Clarke smile is still plastered on her lips as Bellamy hangs up the phone, his own smile turning into a grin as he sets his right hand on the arm rest with his palm facing up. "Ready Princess?"

"I'm ready."

She takes his hand in her own without hesitating, his heart skipping a beat in his chest as he realizes she not only didn't hesitate but she didn't flinch at the contact. Not only that but she moves their joined hands to her lap, both her hands moving to cup his one and squeeze tight as she molds into her seat and leans into the left side, her head momentarily resting on Bellamy's shoulder as he drives.  Without thinking he turns his head and presses a gentle kiss stop her head, her blond r hair tickling his chin as he does. He realized too late what he had done but gets a reaction he never expected. Clarke holds him tighter and rests her forehead on his shoulder, a gentle touch of her lips there. It was faint but he felt it.

Maybe there was hope after all. Clarke would have a normal life yet so long as Bellamy was by her side. Always.