CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

"Ugh! Uh the amount of second-hand pain I feel right now is excruciating!"

***

The heat resonating from the knife in my hand was enough to make my eyes water. Raven was hunched in front of us, groaning in pain, and sweating. The bullet didn't go through, meaning that it was still stuck in her, but right now, the main thing we can do is stop the external bleeding before she loses anymore blood. 

 I was voted to be the doctors assistant. One: Because I have the second-most amount of medical knowledge, even if it isn't a lot, and two: I am the only one with a knife big enough. 

 "Nate," Clarke held out her hand, and I carefully handed the blade to her, feeling like I was giving my one possession away. Clarke firmly pressed the blade to the cut, making the skin sizzle and eliciting a scream from Raven. 

 "Ugh," I grimaced, turning around and closing my eyes, wincing so hard it hurt, "the amount of second-hand pain I am feeling right now is excruciating!" 

 Finn pressed a wet rag to the spot just above Raven's hip, as Octavia awkwardly patted my shoulder, confused at the way I reacted. Times like this are when I really wished Monty were here. 

 "I don't understand," Finn began as I walked over to softly cover the tender skin with a bandage, her entire body was coated in sweat, and I honestly don't think I looked much better. For someone who spent half his childhood in a doctors wing, I don't like seeing wounds. Especially other peoples. I get hurt to much to not be able to see mine. "How did Murphy get a gun?" 

 Bellamy and I shared a look, "it's a long story," was the vague response they received. 

"We got lucky," Raven gasped, her voice wasn't weak... I don't think Raven Reyes was capable of being weak, but it was shaky, "if Murphy hit the fuel tank instead of me, we'd all be dead." 

 I smiled, of course Raven found the good part of her being shot. 

 "Wait, there's rocket fuel down there?" 

 I rolled my eyes, "no, Clarke, the Drop Ship runs off of the power of love."

 There was a long pause. 

 "Of course there's rocket fuel!" 

 "Enough to build a bomb?" Clarke asked Raven, while I shook my head and mentally contemplated how Clarke was smarter than me. That thing literally hurled us through space, if there wasn't rocket fuel, I would be concerned. 

 "Enough to build a hundred bombs," was the reply, and Raven sighed deeply, "if we had any gunpowder left." 

Bellamy cleared his throat and held up a sketchbook that I assumed came from Lincoln, inside, there was a detailed drawing of a hulking man, dressed in furs, with piercings all over his face, a scary scowl-grin painted on his lips, and tattoos covered majority of his body, swirling up his arms, and snaking across his face. I pulled a face. "Can we get back to the Reapers? Maybe they'll help us."

 "Yeah, this guy looks super helpful," I muttered, coming up behind Bellamy and pointing to what looked like blood leaking from the corner of the drawings mouth. "Let's invite them to lunch first, though."

"Well, I guess," Bellamy mumbled, his cheeks reddening ever so slightly, "but the enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?" 

Clarke and Finn shared a look, both of them re-playing their little adventure in their heads no doubt, "not this enemy." Clarke answered, her face grave and pale, "we saw them. It's not an option." She turned to stare directly into my eyes, "trust me." 

 Finn turned to Clarke, muttering something I couldn't make out, and then turning back, his eyes shifting over to me, "can she walk?" 

 "Oh hell no." I walked over to the two, "the bullet's stuck inside of her, we can't risk moving her, or the bullet might shift and cause even more damage. It could go deeper, it could cause internal bleeding... we'd have to carry her." 

 "Like hell you do," Raven tried to stand, her face screwing in pain, "I'm fine." She tried to assure, but the tears in her eyes convinced me otherwise. 

 "Hey, no-" my voice was much more stern than I anticipated, and I saw Bellamy's eyes widen slightly, obviously not expecting doctor Nate to make an appearance today, "listen carefully, Raven," I began, still not sounding exactly like myself. Hey, this could kill Raven, and that is not what I want. "I know you usually want blood to be inside of you, but not this way. If by some miracle there is no internal bleeding, it might hold until we get somewhere safe... but it won't if you walk, so you aren't. Got that?" 

Raven lowered her head, muttering a barely audible, "yeah." 

 "I'll get the stretcher," Finn volunteered, probably too weirded out by the news that I could be responsible. He jumps up to leave, but stops when he see's Bellamy's hard glare. 

 "Can't run away fast enough can you? Real brave." 

 I relaxed, feeling much more certain when I found out that Bellamy was on my side. Finn didn't feel the same way, "dying in a fight you can't win isn't brave, Bellamy. It's stupid." 

 "That sounds a lot like someone running from a fight would say," I spoke up, feeling a strange urge to defend Bellamy. Finn turned to direct his stare at me, and Bellamy nodded, walking over to stand by my side as we both glared at Finn. 

 "Stop it!" Clarke scolded, stepping in front of Finn, but turning so she could glare at Bellamy and I. "Now is not the time for arguing, if we leave, we need to leave now." 

 "What if they follow?" I demanded, stuck on my intent of not leaving camp, "it's a one hundred mile walk to the ocean." 

 How did I know that? I honestly do not know. 

 "We're wasting time!" Finn exclaimed, "if they want to stay, they can stay!" 

 "No they can't!" Clarke yelled, but her words fell to deaf ears, as Finn had already made his dramatic exit, storming out of the tent. I huffed once, turning to Clarke. 

 "You know he wouldn't leave me." 

 And with that, I turned and followed Finn's lead, pushing out of the tent and into the cool air, where campers were milling around, preparing to leave. I shook my head, pressing my lips together, I can't leave, I just can't. 

 "Hey, Nate." 

 I jumped as Fox popped up beside me, a large rifle looking out of place in her small hands, she smiled shyly, and I did my best to return the gesture as she held out the gun. "I know you don't want to leave Monty, but it's the safest thing for all of us." 

 "I don't know about that." I responded, tentatively taking the gun, and sudden feeling hyper-aware of the still-warm blade of the knife burning me through my pants. Fox tilted her head, her long dark hair falling over her shoulder like a waterfall. 

"We'll find him... we can look while we leave, and then once the Grounders are gone, we can look again." 

 "The Grounders will never be gone-" 

 "They won't be looking for us forever," she rolled her eyes, placing her hand on my bicep, "you know we can find Monty, and you know he would want you to do whats safest for you." 

 I blinked once, my only real interaction with Fox was when she was high on the hallucinogen, so hearing her give actual good advice is throwing me off, she was right. Monty wouldn't want me staying here and getting slaughtered by angry Grounders. "Huh?" 

 She laughed, lightly pushing my arm. I smiled against my will. That girl has a contagious laugh, I'll give her that. "See? You know I'm right." 

 "I didn't say that." I defending, lowering my head to try and hide my grin. I wasn't supposed to be smiling right now, it's ruining my image. Fox giggled again, "see? You're smiling." 

 "No I'm not-" 

 "I caught you, don't even try." 

 I laughed, lifting my chin and shifting the gun onto my back, "thanks, Fox." 

 She gave me a thumbs up in response, turning in response to her name being called, "no problem, see you later!" 

 I raised my hand in farewell, my mind still reeling. What just happened? And why was she right? Monty wouldn't want me to stay here, I could practically feel him slapping me if he knew I was willing to face Grounders to find him, he would say something along the lines of; "how are you still alive? You are so dumb sometimes." 

 Which I guess is the truth.

 Miller threw me a backpack, bulging with items, and I nodded my thanks. The campers began to file out the gates, until it was only Clarke, Bellamy, and I. 

 "You did good here, Bellamy." Clark sighed, trying to lift his spirits. 

 "Eighteen dead." 

 "Eighty-two alive." I reminded, nudging his shoulder to make him look up from the ground, he stared at me, his eyes full of varying emotion. "I think the statistics are pretty good... plus, you saved my life so many times it is beginning to get embarrassing. You did good, Blake." 

 He nodded once, bending down to pick up the bucket of water on the ground, stepping forward to douse the small flames that reached toward the sky. The smoke swirled upward, and I inhaled deeply, sweeping my eyes before we turned away and began walking to the woods. Bellamy in the middle, Clarke and I on either sides. In a straight line, as leaders. Equals. 

 Just how it will always be. 

  A/N: Hi, sorry this is short, but Nate and Fox are goals AF!

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