I finished the sandwich Gally brought. It did make me feel better. I was still angry but not blinding white hot angry. Maybe I do get hangery. I set the plate aside and went back to washing and scrubbing.

Just like he said, Gally returned and sat down heavily. Without saying anything he grabbed something out of the pile and got to work beside me.

"I didn't know Keepers stooped to Slopper level." I asked with a bit of money thrown behind my words.

"I was running out of clean shirts." He grumbled.

"Uh huh." I said slowly.

There was more to this. First Fred and now Gally. I peeked out if the corner of my eye as I scrubbed another blood stained towel. His eyes were downcast and his face was set. His arm muscles strained and flexed as he scrubbed. I felt my face heat up and I quickly focused on my own washing.

It was another hour later when he huffed and threw the towel in his hands down.

"Womens work too hard for you, Gally?" I asked, my voice dropping with sarcasm.

"How the shuck did you get the blood stains out of the towels and bed sheets?" He asked pointing to the now drying row of clean sheets.

I smiled evilly at him. "Woman have been getting blood stains out of things for centuries. Why do you think you never see many woman serial killers? We know how to clean up blood."

He froze and his eyes went wide, but then narrowed. I just smiled sweetly at him and went back to my work.

"That's not funny."

"It is."

"No. It's not."

"Look ya oaf." I finally snapped, throwing my own wet laundry down and turned to him.

"Every single shucken month females bleed. And more often than not, we have to clean up blood. So don't even start with me!" I snapped.

He growled and clenched his jaw, but I saw his eyes flicker in surprise and understand and his cheeks flushed a light pink.

I went back to washing. There was a commotion in front of me across the glade, I looked up and noticed Alby and Newt were storming over to the work station and shouting at the guys. They all hung their heads. They spun around and stormed off to the next station doing the same thing. I was too far away to hear what was being said. But they looked pissed. Gally followed them with his eyes too.

"What's that all about?" I asked.

"Don't know." He snapped and went back to helping me.

"Uh huh." I said slowly. Something was up, and I knew Gally knew, but I wasn't going to push it.

With Gally's help the afternoon went faster. The laundry pile disappeared. And with him beside me the other guys steared clear. I didn't really mind his quiet and brooding company. I wasn't in much of a talking mood. I hung up the last sheet as the supper bell rang.

"Thank you, Gally for your help. And Fred's. I appreciate it." I nodded my head.

He nodded and grunted in response. He stomped off towards the dinning area. I picked up the basket of clean folded dish rags and towels and brought it with me to the Kitchen.

"Here you go Fry. Clean and folded." I handed the basket over the counter to a smiling Fry.

"These are the cleanest towels I've ever seen! Thanks lil Lady!"

He handed me a plate of food and I turned to find the guys I usually sit with. When I turned I saw a few heads turn back around. It was almost silent in the dinning area. Every head was down, eyes on their plates. I noticed a few guys glance up but look back to their plates quickly.

What the heck was going on? I stood awkward for a moment. I noticed Newt and Alby deep in conversation with Minho and Fred. I made my way through the tables. I could feel the stolen glances at my back when I paced. I slammed my tray plate down making them jump.

"What's going on?" I snapped.

"Whatever do you mean, Love?" Newt asked.

I narrowed my eyes, glarring at them.

"I think you know exactly what I mean."

"We had a word with some Gladers about their behaviour." Alby finally said.

I rounded on him, my hands on my fists.

"You realize now I have a target on my back? I can handle myself thank you. All I had to do was get through one day. And I was doing just fine ignoring them. But now! Now! They all think I can't hack it and have babysitters! Shuck it guys! Come on!"

"To be fare Tiger, I wasn't here!" Minho piped up.

I huffed and rolled my eyes, "Thank you Minho for that astute observation! Didn't realize you weren't here all day."

He threw his hands in the air in a defensive gesture, "just sayin'."

"Ya, and I ain't mad at you. It's these baffoons."

"Charlie! They were throwing their dirty underwear in your face!" Fred cried.

"I'd take that over them tryin' to smack my ass! If that's the worst of it, fine. But I'm sure I have more skills than a slopper, so really it was one shucken day!"

The guys all frowned. Newt was tapping his fork on the table. Gally and a few other keepers had sat down.

"Wouldn't you want us to say something? Keep them off your back?" He finally asked.

"No! Do you do that to any other guy? If their are throwin' dirty clothes and being priks to another Glader, do you jump into every single squable?"

"No." He said slowly.

"Then why'd you do it for me?" I demanded.

"Sheesh Charlie! 'Cause your a bloody girl!"

My blood boiled. I hated that they used that as an excuse for everything. Because I am a girl. I slammed my hands down on the table and stood up. Glarring dangers at everyone at the table listening.

"You put a shuck target on my back now. Made me look weak and helpless. Just because I have a uterus and boobs means absolutely NOTHING. I can probably do most of these jobs better than most of you! Don't do it again. I can fight my own battles. And if I end up in the Slammer again for knocking sense into some dingbat, then fine. But back the shuck off!" I yelled at them.

The table sat stunned in silence. Minho however, had an ammused look on his face. He gave me a slight wink.

"You tell 'em Tiger."

Gally, I noticed, looked angry. Why the heck would he be angry? Whatever, I didn't care at the moment. I was too angry, I spun away and stormed back to the Homestead. And slammed the bedroom door closed. I changed out of my sweaty clothes and threw myself into the bed.

What a shucked up few days.

I rolled over and tried to fall asleep. I lay in bed watching the room get progressively darker. It was a while later when Newt came to bed, I heard him putter around and then the groan and creek of the bed. And then it was quiet. I finally feel asleep.

I woke covered in sweat and breathing heavily. I sat bolt up right trying to figure out where I was. I had a creepy unsettling feeling in my gut. Those weird whispering voices repeated the same thing in my dreams. Weird distorted disembodied voices, whispering wicked is good.

There was another voice too. I didn't recognize it. It wasn't as deep as the one I heard in the cage whispering in my ear. This voice was a tenner, and it was smooth.

It was garbled, but it was yelling at me, "Charlie! Be careful! I'll be there soon! Hang on!"

I leaned against the wall, panting hard, my head hurt. It felt like it was pulsing still. A sharp pain in the middle of my forhead. I placed my head in my hands and used the palm of my hand to rub my forehead. It was a weird dream.

But, was it a dream? Was it a memory? What about that voice? Again more weird stuff just bringitup more questions.

With a groan I knew I wasn't going to fall back asleep. My mind was racing. I quietly slid out of bed and changed. Newt was sprawled on his back. He looked at peace, sound asleep, and younger. I slipped out of our room and slowly made my way down the hall, trying to be as quiet as the squeaky floor boards would let me.

Stepping out into the early morning light, I was glad I grabbed the hoodie Gally gave me. Early mornings were chilly in the Glade. I made my way to the kitchen, with the intent on making coffee. The back door was locked. Huffing I walked around to the front and pulled myself up onto the counter and swung myself over and dropped to the ground.

Flicking the light on, I rummaged around, and found what I needed to make coffee. I pressed the on button and my stomach growled. I forgot I didn't eat supper. Sighing I figured Fry wouldn't mind if I made breakfast. Glancing at the clock I knew the keepers and runners would be up earlier. Figured I could make extra for them.

Rummaging around the cupboards and drawers I found the bowls and utensils and ingredients. Turning the stove on waiting for it to heat up I cut up some of the veggies and and left over ham and bacon I tossed it into a bowl with the beat eggs. Making an ommlet type scrambled egg. I had just slid the pan of bread into the oven, making a surplus of toast when there was a loud cough from behind me.

"What do ya think your doing?"

I spun around, feeling a little sheepish.

"Making breakfast. Clearly."

Frypan was standing in the back doorway of the kitchen, a hand on his chest, his eyes were wide and he was whipping his head back and forth. He looked thunderstruck.

"What... how..? Who...?" He sputtered.

"Dude. It's just breakfast. Relax. Here," I grabbed a mug and poured a big cup of fresh coffee anf shoved it in his hands, "fresh coffee."

I turned back to the stove. The eggs were done. I removed the pan, grabbed a plate from the cupboard, and took a big scoop and put it on a plate, taking out the pan of now toasted bread, slathered it in butter and held it out for Fry to take. He stoop still, holding the cup of coffee mouth open and eyes wide. In total shock and disbelief.

"Uhhh Fry?" I asked nervously.

"No one...no one touches ...my kitchen..." He sputtered.

"Ops?" I shrugged. I stood holding the plate out still, waiting for him to take it. He didn't move. I growled. Putting the plate on the counter, I grabbed his arm and pulled him over to the counter and roughly shoved him onto the stool. Sliding the plate over to him and shoving a fork into his hands.

"Eat."

He still sat stairing at me like I had just broken the most coveted rule. I rolled my eyes. I turned and played myself some breakfast. My stomach hadn't stopped grumbling the whole time I was cooking.

"Do I need to spoon feed you?" I snapped. When I turned back and saw he hadn't touched it.

I sat down on the other stool.

"I promise I didn't poison it! Just maybe Gally's and Dug's."

I shived a fork full of fluffy eggs into my mouth. The fresh veggies and meat added that little extra to it.

"Mmmm." I hummed in satisfaction.

Frypan finally looked down at his steaming plate.

"You made breakfast...alone...in my kitchen!"

"Yes. And I didn't even burn it down! Or chop off a finger!"

I grinned and held up my hands, wiggling all my fingers. He slowly let a smile show on his face. He shoveled a few fork fulls into his mouth. His eyes went wide. He forced his stuffed mouth to swallow and gapped at me.

"Charlie!" He shreaked. "This is delicious!"

I grinned at him.

"What's delicious? It smells delicious!' Minho asked, he was leaning on the counter, taking big inhales. I smirked and hoped off my stool. He came around to the back door and leaned against the counter beside Frypan. I plated him some breakfast and handed it to him along with a mug of coffee.

"Dig in!"

And he did, he inhaled the plate of eggs so fast I swear he didn't chew! He went for a second helping.

"This is better than Fry's slip!" He said shoveling another forkful of food into his mouth

"Hey! You would have starved without me!" Fry pointed his own form at Minho.

"What's better than his slop?" Alby had poked his head in the door.

"Tiger can also cook apparently!" Minho chuckled.

"Why do you sound so shocked? I told you all yesterday I was better than most of you!" I rolled my eyes.

I stood up and grabbed another plate from the cupboard. Scooping the last of the eggs from the pan and buttering the last two pieces of toast I had made and handed the plate to Alby. I turned and grabbed a mug filling it up, handing that to him too. He had pulled himself up into the counter.

"Man Snips! This is good!"

"It's rude to talk with your mouth full!" I snapped, but the corner of my mouth lifted into a smile.

The guys just laughed.

"I think you'll skipp BrickNick with Steve and work with Fry today!" Alby said after swallowing another bite.

"Fine with me!" Fry beamed at me.

"Good...that?" I said unsure if I used the term right.

"Good that!" Alby, Minho and Fry said in unison.

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