**Trigger warning: Mental Health and mentions of suicided**

**Acoustic version of the song later in the chapter: Stand by You, by Rachel Platten**

**HAVE KLEENEX READY**

Third Person

Gally sat huddled in the corner of his room. He had stormed out of the Council room, he couldn't be there anymore. His heart had been beating so hard and fast during the whole thing, he felt his lungs restricting. Charlie was the only one who noticed how uncomfortable he was, how scared he actually was and how hard he had kept the panic shoved down. His hand started to shake, clenching his fists was the only way to hide it, but again, Charlie was the only one to notice and she threw Glade rules and tradition to the corner and came over. 

Even though through his hardly controlled panic, he felt his heart soften. She could see through his anger and mean exterior to the boy he wished he was. she had come over, in front of the entire Glade, and tried to give him any kind of support. He knew how hard that must have been, her unease and anxiety with crowds, and yet she did it anyways... for him. 

He knew these things, he knew she loved him, he KNEW she chose him. But Gally couldn't get those memories of Thomas out of his head. Her being held in Thomas's arms while she cried. Thomas kissing the top of her head, Thomas giving her comfort while she sobbed, while Gally was strapped to a chair and a Griever came at him from the dark, over and over. Thomas and Charlie...they were always working close together at computers and desks, whispering and staring at each other- like in the gathering, she had leaned over to whisper in his ear and they both chuckling...

Gally knew she loved him. He whispered it to himself, over and over. 

"Charlie chose me...Charlie said I was home..." 

They had even almost had a family...almost, but the Maze and the Grievers...they took that from them, from him. She had taken him to the Deadheads and shown him the cross she had made. With the help of the shucken Greenie. Of course it was him, to help her grieve over their baby. It should have been him, he should have been there. He should have thought of doing something like that for them, but no it was the hero of the glade, the shucken Greenie. 

And then he had to go and act even more heroic and run into the maze and then act like it was no big deal. Gally knew he should be thankful, he brought Charlie back. But he just couldn't get over how he looked at her, with soft caring eyes, it was more then just a friendship there. Charlie may claim she has no feelings for him, but he knew..he KNEW there was something else, something stronger. When the three of them came stumbling out of the dark gloom this morning, she was supported between the guys, she was hardly awake, covered in blood, grimy and sweaty, he had froze, like he did the night before when the doors slammed shut on him. 

He froze, his brain stopped working. He went hot and then cold with numb shock. He couldn't process that he watched the doors close on her and then open to find her stumbling and staggering towards him. The disperse and anger he felt all night, he had just about broke his fist punching the wall with heart wrenching sobs. Chuck told him to have hope, Thomas would help them- the little shank was right. Newt sat beside him, they both cried. Trying hard to hold onto that tiny dying spark that maybe Chuck was right. 

"Charlie loves me...Charlie said I was her home...Charlie loves me.."

"Yes. I do love you." 

He snapped his  head up, his eyes wild and searching. Charlie was standing in the doorway. Her hair tumbling down her shoulders in natural honey coloured waves, her crystal blue eyes fixed on him. It was like her eyes could pierce him, straight to his heart. She could see right through his stone wall exterior. Her blue eyes flicked between sorrow, exhaustion, love and understanding. Her full pink lips pulled down slightly at the corners, her eyebrows pulled together making her nose and forehead scrunch. She was leaning slightly to the one side, keeping her arm close to her side, where her stitches were. Gally saw the bags under her eyes and she looked slightly pale, and she was still thinner then she should be. 

"Gally..." 

Her voice was soft and gentle. It washed over him. Just the one word, his name from her lips was like a hug his broken heart needed. It broke him. He lowered his head back to his hands and clenched his jaw to try and keep the sobs quiet. He felt his body shaking. Charlie closed the door behind her and knelt down in front of him, just pulling him to her chest and held him. 

"I'm sorry!" He whispered in between sobs. 

He felt her take a shaky breath.

"I know Love, I know." 

"I'm sorry Charlie! I'm-"

"I don't blame you Gally. I don't!  I understand, I'm the only one..."

He knew she was refiring to The Changing and how it messed them both up.

She didn't say anything else, and just held his head to her chest while he cried, and finally let the anxiety out. He felt guilty for making her stay awake even longer. She didn't say anything, didn't complain, just sat with him on the floor gently running her hand through his hair. Once his hard crying subsided, she started singing. 

Hands, put your empty hands in mine
And scars show me all the scars you hide
And hey, if your wings are broken
Please take mine 'til yours can open too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you

Oh, tears make kaleidoscopes in your eyes
And hurt, I know you're hurting but so am I
And love, if your wings are broken
Borrow mine so yours can open too

'Cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we're breaking down
We can find a way to break through
Even if we can't find heaven
I'll walk through hell with you
Love, you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you

Even if we can't find heaven
I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find heaven
I'll walk through hell with you
Love, you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you

Yeah, you're all I never knew I needed
And the heart, sometimes it's unclear why it's beating
And love, if your wings are broken
We can brave through those emotions too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you

And oh, truth I guess truth is what you believe in
And faith, I think faith is having a reason
And I know, know love, if your wings are broken
Borrow mine so yours can open too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we're breaking down
We can find a way to break through
Even if we can't find heaven
I'll walk through hell with you
Love, you're not alone

I'll be your eyes 'til yours can shine
And I'll be your arms I'll be your steady satellite
And when you can't rise
Well, I'll crawl with you on hands and knees 'cause I
I'm gonna stand by you

Even if we're breaking down (Hey)

We can find a way to break through (Come on)
Even if we can't find heaven
I'll walk through hell with you
Love, you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find heaven (Hey)
I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find heaven
I'll walk through hell with you
Love you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you

Gally had stilled, listening to the words, closing his eyes, hearing her heart beat and know he almost lost her, he wrapped his arms around the only person who seemed to understand and accept him utterly and completely, even despite his broken mind. She really would and has walked through hell with him. 

They curled up with each other, arms tight around each other, holding onto each other, knowing life was short, harsh and unpredictable in the Glade. They were given a second chance, and they held tight to each other. Charlie was asleep within minutes. Gally just laid beside her, holding her tightly, gently running his fingers over the features of her face. Memorizing everything about her. Her freckles, her scars, her long eyelashes, her mix of blond and brown, honey coloured hair. He wished she would wake up, so he could selfishly look into her eyes again. Instead he just watched her breath, thankful to have her back in his arms. Last night he almost broke and did something he was too ashamed to say. If he had followed through...he wouldn't be here with her. 

Newt seemed to know what he was thinking, because the moment he got up from his crumpled heap on the ground he showed up with a hot cup of tea and blankets for the two of them. Stating he would stay with him, right here all night if he needed. And he did. Gally owed his life now to Newt. There were so many people in the Glade he owed his life to. He never really gave it much thought, but they were brothers...Charlie was right- as usual- when you go through something traumatic with someone it brings you closer. 

He finally fell asleep listening to Charlie breathing deeply, and watching her eyelashes flutter, he finally smiled. Charlie was his wings right now, even though hers were broken and bent. 

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**Short Filler Chapter**

**But Broken Gally nearly broke me writing this chapter.**