Chapter 12
“Lexa,” Clarke’s voice came out, just above a whisper as her finger tips traced down the center of Lexa's abdomen.
Lexa inhaled deeply. “Clarke,” she opened her eyes. They were dark with desire, with need.
Blue met green and every question was answered. It was okay.
Both of them were burning for release and it was okay. It was okay to give into it. It was okay to let themselves be engulfed by it until their aching hunger was sated. It was safe. Safe, because they knew. They knew what the other thought and how they felt - what they wanted and needed. Something simple, something that left them free and something that calmed the beast within.
Lexa's right hand reached forward, her fingers slipping around the back of Clarke’s neck and tangling lightly within her hair. Her grip was soft, but strong as she pulled Clarke to her, their lips..
Clarke’s eyes snapped open as she bolted upright with her chest heaving. What the fuck? She knew what it was, she remembered it well. But, where the hell did it come from?
“Hey,” Lincoln called lightly from the chair by the door. “You good?”
Clarke blinked and gave him a nod. “Where is everyone?”
“Bell and O went to see if they could find us some coffee,” he answered. “Lexa’s out in the hall, talking to her girl.”
Clarke felt her eyes narrow slightly. “Cosita’s here?”
Lincoln nodded and redirected his attention back to his book.
Not a moment later Bellamy and Octavia walked in carrying several cups of vending machine coffee. “Here we go,” Bellamy said as he handed them out.
“You two are awesome,” Clarke said as she quickly sipped hers.
Bellamy grinned widely. “We know,” he quipped, shaking the dark locks from his forehead.
Clarke smiled and then turned her attention to Octavia. “Any word yet?”
Octavia shook her head. “Nothing.”
Clarke sighed as she walked out into the hall. She knew that all of them were thinking the same thing. They just wanted Raven to wake up. Just wake up and be okay. Be okay and just crack that classic shit eating grin as she told them how foolish they’d been for worrying. Down the hall she could see Lexa and Costia talking, her feet carried her forward without much thought.
“Hey,” Clarke said as she reached Lexa’s side.
“Hi,” Lexa replied as she motioned to Costia. “Clarke, this is Costia.”
Clarke nodded politely, taking the sight of Costia in. Damn, she really was beautiful.
“Costia,” Lexa said quickly and jerked her head, “Clarke.”
A pleasant, but slick smile crept across Costia’s face. “I’ve heard a lot about you,” she said as she moved and looped her arm with Lexa’s.
Something in Costia’s voice instantly put Clarke on her guard. “Lexa,” she said as she redirected her glance, “Bellamy and Octavia brought back some coffee from the vending machine, if you want some.”
“Oh,” Costia spoke up quickly. “I actually brought coffee. It’s from the café around the corner,” she said as she lifted a tray from the chair, revealing several cups of coffee. "I'm sure it's way better than that stuff," she held the tray out.
“I’m good,” Clarke said as she held up her cup. “Thanks.”
“Vending machine coffee?” Lexa asked, looking skeptical. Everyone knew how much Clarke enjoyed her coffee.
“I hardly think that qualifies as coffee,” Costia smirked with a humored look in her eyes.
“Looks like coffee,” Clarke shrugged as she took a sip. “Even tastes like coffee,” It didn’t really. Not at all. In fact, it was awful, absolutely awful.
Something flickered in Costia’s eye. Something calculating and quick.
Fabulous. Yep, Clarke was sure. She did not trust this woman.
“Lexa! Clarke!” Abby’s voice rang down the hall.
Clarke turned and saw her mother waving them back to the room. “It was nice meeting you, Costia,” she said and gave Lexa’s sleeve a light tug. “Coming?”
Lexa nodded and looked at Costia. “I’ll text you,” she placed a quick kiss on her lips. “Thank you, for the coffee.”
“Of course,” Costia smiled.
Clarke was already a few steps ahead, but Lexa caught up with her easy enough. “What was that?”
“What?” Clarke asked absently.
“You’d really prefer vending machine coffee?” Lexa queried as she pointed at her up.
“I don’t care for the coffee from that café.” Clarke shrugged.
“Have you actually had it?” Lexa smirked lightly.
“Of course,” Clarke insisted quickly.
It was true Clarke had tried their coffee before and it wasn’t anything to brag about. Granted. it was better than the vending machine coffee, but she wasn’t about to admit that.
As they turned into the room they saw that Abby was smiling. “She’s awake,” she told them quickly and the room erupted in relief as tears flowed from everyone's eyes.
“When can we see her?” Octavia asked standing up.
“Soon. I promise.” Abby answered. “There's a few doctors in with her right now. They have to do some tests and explain some things, but as soon as they're done, you can go see her.”
Octavia nodded on every word, looking like she had just been given back years of her own life. Clarke moved quickly and wrapped her in a tight hug.
“I knew it,” Bellamy said, punching his right fist into his left palm. “I knew she’d pull through.”
“She has a long road ahead of her,” Abby reminded him.
“She’s strong,” Lexa stated firmly. “She's a fighter.”
Lincoln nodded and Abby smiled warmly. “I’ll come get you as soon as it's time,” she told them and left the room.
They feeling in the room had significantly changed. Raven was awake. She was okay. Whatever came next, they'd help her through it. They'd face it together, the same way they always had.
Clarke quickly pulled out her phone.
Clarke: Guess who's awake???
Jasper: Yes!
Monty: Finally!
Finn: Alright!
Anya: About damn time.
Clarke: They're going to let us know as soon as we can see her.
Clarke: I'll keep you posted but, get your asses back here.
Jasper: Finn, pick us up on your way.
Finn: You got it.
A few minutes later Anya came walking through the door.
“That was quick,” Clarke commented as she eyed her curiously. Really quick.
Anya nodded a reply as Lexa pulled out her phone.
Lexa: You never left, did you?
Anya: Shh.
An hour later Abby came back to get them.
“Listen to me, Octavia,” she said as they approached Raven’s room, “you need to be gentle. She's going to need a lot of time to recover.”
Octavia nodded quickly. “Got it.”
“Don't jump on her,” Clarke added quickly, knowing full well that she wouldn't have even thought about it.
Octavia's face fell a little. "Okay,” she replied quietly.
Clarke smiled sympathetically and shook her head. Called it.
They walked into the room expecting anything other than what they saw. Raven was on her back, her top half slightly elevate, the side of her face littered with cuts and bruising. Her left leg was heavily bandaged and sticking out from under the sheet. When her eyes opened everyone took notice of the deep red that was staining them and the moisture on her face. She looked at them, practically defeated, with her eyes searching for any glimmer of hope, something- anything that she could grab on to. Octavia stepped forward and took her right hand as Clarke rounded the bed and took her left. Tears built in Raven’s fierce dark eyes and then rolled out onto her cheeks.
“We’re right here with you,” Clarke said sternly.
“We’ve got you,” Octavia assured her.
Raven nodded her head and took a deep breath. “It's shit,” she said, motioning to her leg.
Lexa, Anya, Lincoln and Bellamy all lingered further back. They knew that Raven needed this moment with Clarke and Octavia. It was Abby who stepped forward next. “It’s not shit,” she told her firmly. “I'm not done with you yet, Raven. Do you understand? Not by a long shot.”
“They said…” Raven began.
“I know what they said.” Abby cut her off softly. “Just trust me, okay?”
Raven smiled weakly and nodded.
“It’s going to be hard and it'll never be what it was,” Abby’s eye showed truth, “but it won't be shit.”
Raven closed her eyes with something of relief appearing on her face.
A little while later the rest of their group arrived and Abby excused herself from the room.
Clarke followed her out. “Do you really have hope?” She asked.
Abby smiled. “Clarke, I started calling in favors the moment Raven got out of surgery,” she replied, looking utterly exhausted. “Some of the best surgeons I know are already making arrangements to come see her.”
Clarke smiled and pulled her mother into a hug. “Thank you.”
Abby replied with a tight squeeze. “Raven is strong and she has an amazing support system in all of you,” Abby said sternly. “We’ll get her there.”
Clarke gave her a small nod and smiled before making her way back to her friends.
Hours later Clarke found herself standing outside with Lexa, an odd silence had fallen between them.
“Will we be speaking tomorrow?” Clarke finally asked.
Lexa looked at her for a moment, her eyes weren’t searching for anything, just looking and finally, she nodded.
“I never meant to hurt you,” Clarke said softly. “I think I just…”
“Fucked up?” Lexa offered quickly.
Clarke instantly nodded. “I really did,” her eyes lingered briefly and then went to the ground. “So much so, that I’m not even sure if I know where or how to begin fixing it,” she added, shaking her head feebly.
Lexa released a small sigh.
For a moment there was nothing but silence.
“You just did,” Lexa finally responded.
Clarke's eyes shot up and she caught a glimpse of Lexa’s face, the corner of her mouth twitched slightly as she turned and walked away.
Clarke watched her go, feeling the sting of relieved and hopeful tears burning in her eyes. Maybe?
Maybe.