Minho, Thomas and I were sitting in the middle of the large gathering room, the Keepers sitting all smug in there chairs in a half circle facing us and the rest of the Gladers were piled in around their keepers, in the back. I knew I did nothing wrong, but I still felt apprehensive. This seemed a bit extreme, but I knew Newt wasn't one for big formalities, so...hopefully this wouldn't take long. Newt came strolling into the room, his hands shoved into his pockets. I looked grim, and frustrated already. He stopped beside a pole that supported the roof, and leaned on it. 

"In place of our leader, sick in bed, I declare this Gathering begun," he said, with a subtle roll of his eyes as if he hated anything regarding formality. "As you all know, the last few days have been bloody crazy, and quite a bit seems centered around our Greenbean, Tommy, seated before us, and our One and Onl' Lass." 

Newt waved his hand around, and gestured to us. Minho yawned, really loud and obnoxiously. I snorted, trying to keep my over tired giggles to myself. It didn't work. Minho started, and it made me giggle more, but I did, I tried so hard to stop. A few of the Keepers were looking disapprovingly at us. Thomas looked slightly pale, and worried, which only made me giggle harder. I nudged Minho and nodded my head in his direction, and then nodded to the few Keepers who were angry. 

"I don't think they like us, Mouse." I whispered. 

Minho snorted. "They never liked you, Tiger." He whispered back. 

I sat up straight, the giggles gone, I had a stone face, and pointed a finger gun at Minho. "Fact."

We both burst into giggles again. I stopped giggling the second Gally stood up, arms crossed.

"He's not the Greenie anymore," Gally said calmly, "He's just a rule breaker now."

"Gally, Tommy has been here for a few days! He's defiantly still a Greenie!" I frowned at him and folded my arms. 

"Gally! Minho and Charlie!" Newt said, "lets try to keep some buggin' order, here. If you're gonna blabber your shuck mouth every time I say something, you can go ahead and bloody leave." Gally sat down heavily, glaring at Newt and Thomas. 

Newt went on to scold us, "and if you two" he pointed at Minho and myself, "can't keep yourselves together, you will be kicked out! 'Cause I'm not in a very cheerful mood." 

In unison Minho and I rolled our eyes, we had to purposefully look away because we both burst into giggles. 

"Don't piss off Mama Newt, MinMin! He's already cranky!" I whispered, making him snort harder, Thomas elbowed me. 

Newt pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath, and ignored us. 

"Tommy, Snips and Min, you keep your traps shut until I ask you. Every Keeper will have their turn. Now." He nodded to Gally, "What are you dyin' to say?"

"Things are changing. There's no denying that. First, Charlie is stung and Fred is killed in broad day light, then another comes and kills Jax, Ben gets stung in daylight. And then Alby. And now our GREENIE, here, has taken it upon himself... to go into the maze. Which is a violation of our here!" 

"Yeah but Charlie and him and Minho saved Alby's life.." Winston volunteered. 

"Actually-" Minho started, but Gally cut him off.

"Did they?" He rounded on Winston.

"They've ... changed things. Now we know we can survive out there, and that we can beat the Grievers." Frypan added.

"Guys!" Newt yelled, pushing off the pole, "Sit down! We will all have a bloody chance to have our shuken say." 

Gally, Winston and Frypan sat down. I wasn't sure what Gally's real problem was. I knew he didn't like, but what's with the hostility? I thought I made it very clear where I stand on our relationship. I frowned at him, all the giggles were gone. I kept my eyes glued to him, he was purposefully ignoring me.  

"Oh, give me a break," Dug spurted. "I bet Minho's the one who actually got rid of the stupid things."

"Everyone shut your bloody holes!" Newt yelled storming into the center, "I'm the bloody Chair right now, and if I hear one more buggin' word out of turn from anyone, I'll be arrangin' another Banishing." 

"Man, Mama Newt must be PMSing." Minho leaned in and whispered. 

Despite my anxious and confused feelings about Gally, I couldn't help but snicker. I heard Thomas exhale loudly threw his nose. Newt turned and pointed to Frypan.

"Your opinion right now?"

"Greenie Shank's got more guts than I've fried up from every pig and cow in the last year." He paused, as if expecting a laugh, but none came, he sighed and threw his flour coated hands into the air. "And Snips? We all know she's a tough cookie, and has delt with more klunk in her year than all ya'll combined. How stupid is this—he saves Alby's life, kills a couple of Grievers, and we're sitting here yappin' about what to do with him. And what about the other two? Why are they up there like its a disciplinary hearing?  As Chuck would say, this is a pile of klunk."

I smiled fondly at Fry. He always had a way of making me feel settled. He smiled back at me. 

"What's your recommendation Fry?" Newt sighed.

"Put 'em both on the council and have them train us on what they did different out there!" 

There was an instant uproar for the Gladers and the Keepers. Newt stormed up and down the line of Keepers, yelling at everyone to sit down and shut their holes. Once he finally got everyone settled, he pointed to Russ, the Keeper of the Baggers. I had never really talked to the kid. He was quiet, kind of creepy, but kept to himself.

"I think he should be punished. No offense, Greenie, but Newt, you're the one always harping about order. If we don't punish him, we'll set a bad example. He broke our Number One Rule. And as far as Charlie...she's fine. She didn't break a rule, she's a runner." he shrugged.

Huh I thought, the kid actually has some brains, minus the whole punishment thing. 

"Your recommendation is?" 

He shrugged again. "A few days in the slammer, nothin' but bread and water. I don't know." 

Newt nodded and pointed to a few other kids down the line. Most of them were unsure why I was there, but I noticed most of them wouldn't look me in the eye why Minho was there, it was back and forth with what to do with Thomas. I wasn't sure what was going on, but I sat, quiet, mouth closed, eyes narrowed and followed each conversation, intently. 

Newt finally, with a heavy sigh he turned to Gally. Newt nodded. Gally stood up, grinding his teeth. His large arms were crossed. He glared at Thomas for a moment, then his eyes finally slid to me. His steel blue eyes were troubled. I could see the storm behind them. My heart broke. He was trying so hard, but I knew his already broken mind was struggling. And I saw him give up the battle. He lost and his anger and bitterness from the Changing won.

"For 3 years, we have coexisted with things.
And now, Thomas ...and Charlie..." He choked my name out like he didn't want to say it, but had to. "They killed them. Who knows what that could mean for us!"

I knew he was scared of the maze and the Grievers...

"What do you suggest we do?" Newt asked, he also seemed to understand that Gally was struggling.

"He has to be punished! And Charlie..."

I raised an eyebrow at him. Was he suggesting I be punished because I killed Grievers in self defense? I tried really hard to understand his point of view, but I was struggling.

I stood up slowly, "Careful what you say next, Gally." I warned, not caring if Newt threw me out.

There was a tense silence in the Gathering room for a moment. He ran a hand through his hair and down to his neck.

"I don't know about Charlie." He finally said.

"Come on. They killed a few Grievers!" Frypan said, throwing a hand towards us.

Thomas was sitting still as a statue and white as a ghost. The only thing moving was his eyes, following the conversation. Minho was slouched over his elbows on his knees his head hanging down. He didn't move and or participate in the discussion, which was odd.

"Minho."

He didn't move. I nudged him and he picked his head up. He looked as exhausted as I felt.

Newt's face softened slightly looking at his friend.

"Minho. You're Charlie's Keeper, and you were there with both of them. What do you think?"

"I think..." He started. He sat up and leaned back, folding his arms and looking around the room at the other Keepers, very slowly and carefully.

Is he always this dramatic?

I mentally snorted and rolled my eyes.

You have no shucken clue Tommy...this is nothin'! Just wait.

"I think, in all the time we've been here...no one has ever killed a before."

"Very observant." Gally rolled his eyes.

Minho snapped his eyes to Gally. I knew this was going to be trouble. Maybe it was the fact I ran a straight 24 hours or almost bled to death or, Gally and I talked a bit in the shower room or I was at the point where I didn't give a klunk anymore I just stayed quiet. I sat in my chair, arms wrapped around myself.

"You got an oppion Captain Gally. Spit it out." Snapped Minho.

He stood back up, eyeing up all three of us, but his eyes came back to mine and it was like his brain and mouth needed to get this off his chest, it came blurting out of his mouth. Like he was trying to convince me.

"Just think about it," Gally began. "This slinthead comes up in the Box, acting all confused and scared. A few days later, he's running around the Maze with Grievers, acting like he owns the place."

He paused, his chest was heaving slightly.

"What're you tryin' to say, Gally?" I asked quietly.

I knew this was going somewhere, he was a smart guy, he was thoughtful and remembered details. He didn't just have theories like this without thinking it through. He took a deep breath, like he was bracing for the reaction.

"I think he's a spy from the people who put us here. We can't trust this shank," He stared.

I sat there, unmoving, blinking a few times, trying to process his theory.

I knew he didn't like me...but Man! The hell is this coming from?

I actually have no idea!

And you actually like this jerk?

Enough Tommy!

"You need to elaborate on that, Gally." I was surprised how calm I was, maybe it was the exhaustion. I just didn't have the energy to fight.

"Day after he shows up, a coma girl comes, clutching that freaky note. We find a dead Griever. Thomas conveniently finds himself in the Maze for the night, then tries to convince everyone he's a hero. How do we know it was the Greenie who tied Alby up there?"

I frowned.

"I was there Gally. The Griever wasn't dead. And I helped put Alby up in the vibes."

"What if he's I don't know blackmailing or forcing you to say those things?" He countered.

I raised an eyebrow at him. And crossed my arms

"You think I would cave to this guy? After all the klunk I've felt with, and you think my will is going to cave because this guy," I pointed to Thomas beside me, "is forcing me to lie?"

That was rude! Maybe I could force you too! Maybe I have dirt on you and you don't know!

Ya? Tell me something, what kind of dirt you got?

There was a silence, I felt my head buzzing and I felt his sigh in defeat.

I thought so. Now shush so I can try to convince my boyfriend you're not a spy and you're not in love with me.

What? Eww!

Rude. I happen to be very loveable.

... you're not uhh my type ...

I know.

What?! How?

Please.

I mentally rolled my eyes.

Now hush

I felt him go quiet, he didn't leave I felt his constant presence and I was thankful. I sighed and rubbed my forehead. I was surprised that Newt was allowing this, I glanced at him. He was once again leaning on the pole, arms and legs crossed. I raised an eyebrow at him and he nodded. I stood up and turned to the group. Crossing my arms I narrowed my eyes.

"I know more than half of you don't like me, whatever, I don't like you either. However, we have not been coexhisting with anything. We have not been living peacefully with each other." I looked back at Gally, "Gally you should know that better than anyone."

Gally was frowning his fists clenched tight.

"Minho? I want more of your bloody opinion." Newt said.

Minho sat up straight.

"I was Thomas to replace me as Keeper the Runners and I want Charlie as coKeeper."