Don't Lie to Me

            "Bellamy, it's me.  Open up!" Ronnie pounds on the hatch, her patience wearing thin. She's about to shout again when it swings open, revealing Bellamy's unimpressed face.

            "Finally come to yell at me again?" He leans against the entrance, arms crossed.

            Ronnie's eyes narrow. "Maybe, if you test me enough." She grumbles, pulling herself up into the room. She doesn't spare him a second glance as she strides toward the workstation where she and Monty had worked on the wristbands.

            She can feel Bellamy's gaze on her, watching. Judging. "Stop looking at me," she snaps, throwing a pointed glance his way. "Just so you know, we're connected to the Ark again."

            Bellamy tenses immediately. "I'm not taking to him." His voice is sharp- he doesn't even have to say Jaha's name for Ronnie to know who he's referring to.

            She raises an eyebrow. "Did I say you had to?"

            He gives her a pointed look, and she exhales, shaking her head. "I got what I needed. I'll get out of your hair." Without waiting for a response, she grips the edge of the hatch and drops down, landing lightly on the lower level.

            Bellamy watches her go, his jaw tight, before turning his attention back to the grounder.

            Ronnie sets her tool belt in the corner of the drop ship, fishes out her pliers, and strides outside. "Raven!" she calls, tossing the tool through the air. Raven catches it with ease, throwing a playful wink in thanks before getting back to work. Ronnie turns her attention to Monty and Jasper, who, instead of sorting rations, are attempting to toss nuts into each other's mouths- and failing miserably.

            "Hit me!" Ronnie grins, and Monty shifts his attention to her, grabbing a nut and tossing it her way. She moves to catch it with her mouth- but it bounces off her forehead. "What kind of throw was that?" she demands, and Monty just shrugs. "Here, this is how you do it." She expertly flicks a nut toward Jasper, who snags it mid-air with a victorious grin.

            "See? That's how it's done." Jasper laughs, giving her a high five. But the lighthearted moment fades when Jasper shifts the conversation. "What do you think they're gonna do with the grounder?"

            Ronnie's smile falters. She glances toward the drop ship, her eyes immediately locking with Bellamy's as he steps through the doorway. He looks at her, but neither of them holds the gaze for long. "I'd rather not think bout it," she mutters, turning back to the boys.

            Jasper, unfazed, continues. "It's been days since Bellamy captured him. How long until his friends come looking?"

            Monty smirks, trying to lighten the mood. "Cheer up. In that time, we'll all be dead from hypothermia."

            Jasper snorts, and the two resume their ridiculous game, but Ronnie remains distracted- especially when she feels a presence beside her. A firm hand rests on her shoulder. She turns to find Bellamy standing closer than she expected, his deep brown eyes meeting hers.

            "Clarke and I are checking out an old bunker. Seeing if there's anything useful." His voice is calm, but there's an underlying weight to his words. "We should be back later tonight."

            Ronnie blinks in surprise. "Do you need me to come with?" She can't hide the confusion in her tone. Why was he telling her this? After days of avoiding each other, after everything that's happened, why now? Did he think she was trying to extend an olive branch just because she spoke to him in the drop ship moments ago?

            Bellamy shakes his head. "No. I just wanted to make sure someone responsible is here to watch camp while we're gone."

            Ronnie rolls her eyes. "Of course. Still telling me what to do."

            Bellamy doesn't reply- just walks off, presumably to find Clarke. Ronnie watches him go before muttering under her breath. "I hope he knows I'm only staying because I don't want to be near him."

            Shaking her head, she returns to sorting rations with Jasper and Monty, falling into easy conversation and laughter. But when Bellamy returns, filling his pack with supplies, Ronnie immediately notices how many rations he's taking. "Don't you think that's a lot?" she questions, smacking his hand away before he can grab another handful. "I thought this was just a day trip?"

            Bellamy doesn't hesitate with his response. "I'm preparing for the worst."

            Ronnie's stomach twists. She knows a lie when she hears one. Her voice drops, barely above a whisper. "You're leaving, aren't you?"

            Bellamy doesn't answer. He doesn't have to. She sees it in his eyes, in the way his shoulders tense, in the way he won't meet her gaze. Bellamy takes her elbow and leads her a few steps away from the boys' prying ears.

            Ronnie shakes her head, the disbelief morphing into something sharper. "Taking the coward's way out. Leaving us to deal with whatever is going to happen from you abducting the grounder." She scoffs, stepping back and pulling her arm from his grip. "You're a lot of things, Bellamy, but I didn't think you were a coward."

            She turns to walk away, but he catches her arm, stopping her in place. "No, Ron-"

            She cuts him off, voice low and venomous. "Leave, Bellamy, if you really want to. I'm not holding you captive. Just go."

            The words hit their mark. His grip loosens, his expression unreadable- but there's hurt there. She sees it before he masks it.

            Clarke approaches, her eyes flicking between them, sensing the tension. Before she can say anything Ronnie beats her to it.

            "Come back safe, Clarke." She pulls the blonde into a quick hug before turning away, returning to her spot with Monty and Jasper. She grabs a handful of nuts and tosses them into a bag, forcing herself to focus on the task at hand. She refuses to watch him leave. But when she hears the gates open, she glances up anyway- just in time to see Bellamy disappear into the trees.

            She knows only one of them is coming back. And it won't be him.

~*~

            "Yo, Sinclair. Your turn!" Raven calls out.

            Ronnie glances up from the rations she just finished packing with Jasper and Monty. A grin spreads across her face. Finally- she gets to talk to her dad. She snaps a pack of nuts for a snack and heads into the tent, settling in front of the monitor. The second her father's face appears, warmth floods her chest.

            "My baby girl." Sinclair beams at her, his expression unwavering. "I'm so proud of you."

            Ronnie's smile falters just slightly. If only you knew the whole story...

            "How are you holding up?" Sinclair asks, eyes scanning her face. Then, before she can respond, he quickly adds, "-and don't lie to me."

            Ronnie exhales, leaning forward on her elbows. "I'm surviving."

            It's the truth. She isn't living- not in the way she used to. She's just trying to stay afloat in a world that's constantly trying to drown her.

            Sinclair studies her through the screen, concern deepening the lines on his face. "Okay, well... keep surviving, please. I'm gonna want a long hug from the daughter when we make it to the ground."

            That gets a small, genuine smile out of her.

            They slip into easy conversation- like they used to on the Ark- laughing, joking. For a little while, things feel normal. Ronnie pops a handful of nuts into her mouth as they talk. Then-

            "Ronnie, you need to see this." Ronnie's head snaps toward the tent entrance. Octavia. She blinks in surprise. They haven't spoken in days- not since that night.

            Swallowing the lump in her throat, she clears her throat. "Sorry, Dad. Duty calls."

            "Okay. Stay safe." The screen disconnects, and Ronnie steps outside- only to be met with absolute chaos. Her brows knit together. "What the hell happened?"

            She barely has time to register everything before her eyes land on Raven- wrapped around some random delinquent, rubbing his back like a mother comforting a child. "You are the most beautiful broom in a broom closet of brooms," Raven coos. Ronnie's confusion grows. Then, when she seems Raven's completely dazed expression, she snorts. Raven finally lets go of the guy and stumbles toward Ronnie and Octavia.

            "Question for you," Octavia says, turning to Ronnie. "Did you eat any of the nuts?"

            Ronnie frowns. "Yeah, I snacked on some while talking to my dad. Why?"

            "Shit-" Octavia runs a frustrated hand through her hair.

            Raven snorts. "Well, they're bad. People are hallucinating."

            Ronnie barely has time to register that information before- pain. A sharp headache booms behind her eyes, and the world tilts. She glances at Octavia- except it isn't Octavia standing there anymore.

            Her breath catches. Atom. Ronnie stumbles back.

            His face is twisted with anger. His voice is cold. "Ronnie Sinclair."

            She can't move. She can't breathe.

            The burns appear on his body first- boils erupting across his skin. "Why didn't you save me?" Atom takes a step closer, and instinctively, she takes one back. "You left me behind to die."

            Ronnie's throat tightens. "I- I wanted to help you, but I couldn't. Atom, I'm so sorry-"

            Blood begins to pour from his neck. The same place she'd plunged her knife. "You were selfish," Atom hisses, eyes dark with accusation. "You only cared about yourself."

            Ronnie shakes her head furiously. "No- no, that's not true! I was going to help you, but Bellamy held me back! If I had gone after you, I would've ended up just like you!" She keeps retreating until her foot catches on something- She falls backward.

            Atom steps closer and with a cough, he's falling toward her-

            Ronnie squeezes her eyes shut- but the impact never comes. Instead, when she opens them, a new figure stands where Atom was. Her breath catches. "Wells?" She scrambles to her feet, launching herself into his arms.

            His warm, familiar laugh reaches her ears. "Hey, Ron."

            She clings to him, inhaling his scent. For the first time in days, she feels safe. "How are you here?" she whispers.

            Wells just gives her a soft smile. "Guess your head through you needed a friendly face."

            Ronnie pulls back just enough to look at him. "I miss you so much." Her voice wavers. "You deserved so much better. I wish you were still here, because- I need you, Wells. I need my best friend."

            Wells' expression is gentle as he wipes away the few tears that have escaped down her cheeks. "I'm always with you, Ronnie. Stay strong." His voice is firm. "And use that smart brain of yours."

            She barely has time to respond before- "Ronnie." The voice is different. Hands grip her shoulders. She blinks- and Wells is gone. Raven is in front of her instead, eyes filled with concern.

            Ronnie's breath comes out unsteady. "What the hell?"

            Raven sighs in relief. "Yeah, you were kinda high there for a bit."

            Ronnie groans, rubbing a hand down her face. "Okay. Yeah. Totally feeling it now." The pounding in her skull intensifies, and the world still tilts slightly. "I need to sit down." She lowers herself onto the ground, squeezing a pressure point on her hand to help with the pain.

            Raven pats her on the back. "Stay put. I need to find Monty- I think he's eating a pinecone."

            Ronnie lets out a weak laugh as Raven runs off. But as she stares at the empty space where Wells had stood- she realizes she wasn't ready to say goodbye again.

~*~

            After a while, Ronnie's headache finally fades. She exhales, pushing herself up from the ground. Around camp, the aftermath of the nut-induced hallucinations is still unfolding- some delinquents are sprawled out, nursing headaches, while others are still caught in the last waves of their high. She turns to help one of the groaning campers when-

            She collides with someone. Ronnie stumbles back and looks up- her heart stops. Him. The grounder- that she tortured. Her body turns ice cold. Every muscle locks into place. The wounds she inflicted on him flash in her mind- the burns, the pain, the way he screamed- She can't move. Can't breathe.

            Then- "Go, Lincoln." Octavia's voice demands.

            Ronnie barely registers the girl pushing the grounder forward. Lincoln disappears into the trees, but Ronnie remains frozen. Octavia turns, expression shifting when she sees Ronnie's face- sees the recognition in her eyes.

            She grips Ronnie's shoulders, shaking her slightly. "Hey. Hey, Ronnie- you're fine. It's over." The words snap Ronnie back into reality. Her lungs drag in air.

            Ronnie blinks. "What the hell are you ding, Octavia? You know his name?"

            Octavia presses a finger to her lips. "Shh. Please, Ronnie, don't tell anyone. He saved my life. This was the least I could do."

            Ronnie clenches her jaw, mind running through every possible response, every consequence of this choice- Tell Bellamy or keep quiet? Finally, she exhales. "Okay."

            Relief floods Octavia's face.

            Ronnie steps forward and pulls her into a hug. "And I'm sorry about the other day," she murmurs. "What I did to him- I was wrong. I shouldn't have electrocuted him." She pulls back, eyes filled with regret. "I was just so worried about Raven, and what Finn's death would do to her, that I-"

            "Ronnie." Octavia cuts her off, voice gentle. "Thanks for the apology."

            They share a small, understanding smile before turning their focus back to camp. Together, they work to clean up the mess left in the wake of the nuts, helping delinquents get to their tents, making sure no one is about to start another fire or eat another pinecone. By the time the sun dips below the trees, the high has worn off for most, and those still suffering are finally quieting down.

            Ronnie throws the last of the nuts into the fire before joining Octavia in grabbing a shift at the fence. They stand side by side in silence. But Ronnie's mind isn't silent.

            Clarke still hasn't returned. Which means Bellamy is either with her or- Gone. For all she knows, he could have left Clarke to fend for herself. Her stomach twists at the thought.

            "Rough night?" Ronnie jumps slightly at Monty's voice. She turns to see him approaching, a tired but amused look on his face.

            She lets out a breath, offering a weak smile. "More like a rough day."

            Monty nods in understanding.

            "What about you?" she asks, already biting back a grin as she remembers Raven sprinting off after him, yelling something about a pinecone.

            Monty rubs his temple. "Pretty sure I ate a pinecone... because it told me to."

            The three of them genuinely laugh together before Monty turns to Octavia. "What about you?"

            Octavia shifts on her feet. "Yeah, my head is killing me."

            It's a lie. Ronnie doesn't call her on it. Then- "He's gone!" Miller's voice cuts through camp. The three of them whip around, watching as panic spreads like wildfire. "The grounder is gone!"

            Jasper rushes over to them, looking like he's about to have a heart attack. "What if he brings others back?"

           Ronnie doesn't hesitate. She steps forward, speaking before fear can take hold. "I'll be okay." She meets Jasper's wide eyes. "We'll work together and figure something out." A ripple of murmurs spreads through the delinquents- until a voice cuts through the noise.

           "Let the grounders come."

           Ronnie's breath catches. That voice. She turns to see Bellamy. He stands at the entrance of the gate, battle-worn but standing. And beside him is Clarke. Relief washes over her like a wave, so strong it nearly knocks her off balance.

            "We've been afraid of them for too long, and why?" Bellamy's voice is strong, steady. "Because of their knives and spears! I don't know about you, but I'm tired of being afraid." Then- he and Clarke reveal the guns.

            Gasps of astonishment ripple through camp.

            As Clarke explains their responsibility with the weapons, Ronnie barely hears her. Her focus is on him. He came back.

            The crowd eventually disperses, but Ronnie lingers near Octavia. They walk back to their spot at the fence, resuming their silent watch. But for once, the silence isn't tense. There's comfort in it.

            Then- a weight settles over her shoulders. She glances towards Octavia. A blanket. She and Octavia turn to look behind them at the same time.

            Bellamy stands behind them, gaze unreadable. "Look," he starts, voice quieter now. "I don't expect either of you to forgive me. But you'll have to find a way to live with me-" He takes a step back. "-because I'm not going anywhere."

            Ronnie exhales, and turns her gaze back to the forest without a word, but she can't stop the smile that creeps onto her face.

            From behind her, Bellamy catches her smile. It's subtle- barely there- but it's real. And for the first time in days, something inside him eases. He doesn't expect things to go back to the way they were- not immediately- but that small smile... it's enough.

            He lingers for a moment longer, watching the two girls stand side by side, wrapped in quiet strength. Then, without a word, he turns and disappears into the camp.