Gally

It had been about three months since Zayn and Sophie picked him up. He had learned the names of The Resistance members at this warehouse, he had earned his place. It helped that Zayn vouched for him, insisting Gally come with him and Sophie on missions. Insisting Gally be his number two.

There were no real ranks in The Resistance, but Zayn seemed to be pretty high in the peeking order, even though he was young, he was maybe 21, 22 at most. So when he said Gally came or that the group listened to Gally they did without question. Gally took the leadership roll with ease.

"You seem to know how to lead a group of guys." Sophie said as they were packing up the truck for another humanitarian mission into Crank city.

"Why do you always sound so surprised, Soph? I was a Keeper back in the Glade." He rolled his eyes, but added "Keeper was a leader," at seeing her scrunched face.

Her face made an "oh" and then grinned and shrugged.

"I was one of the originals sent up. I was a Keeper and on the council."

"Yeah...but that doesn't count!"

He slowly turned to look at her and raised an eyebrow, his face impassive.

"How does that not count?" He asked quietly.

She threw her hands in the air and huffed.

"I don't know. Seems more like a boy scout club!"

"Boy scout? And yeah sure a club to survive! We built a system from the ground up. I've seen more bloody and grousum death in my first month there then I've been here. And we've shot cranks point blank."

"Yeah but-"

"No. Sophie, I like you, but sometimes that mouth runs wild. You gotta stop talking about things you don't understand alright? Stop making light of the horrible shit I had to go through for three years."

She just closed her mouth, her blue eyes looking up at him. She blinked a few times and then sighed.

"You're right. I'm sorry Gally. But...you do make a good leader."

She laid her hand on Gally's arm, and smiled up at him for a second before turning away to grab another bag of food and blankets. Gally was very aware of where her hand had just been. He shook his head, running a hand through his long hair. He scolded himself. Charlie had only been gone three months. He still had issues he was working on. No. He was going to focus on him, and his own issues.

They loaded the truck and Zayn spun some keys around his finger and then tossed them to Gally.

"You drive."

Zayn had been teaching him how to drive. Yet again, something Gally had no idea about. Having your memory erased and then being stuck inside WICKED and a maze... sometimes made you feel like a toddler discovering the outside world again. The last three months had been eye opening for sure. His first trip into Crank city sent him reeling. He was one of the few immunes in The Resistance, so they usually had the jobs of close interaction with the more Gone Cranks.

Today however, was supposed to be a straight forward humanitarian mission. Find out some information, pick up some supplies and hand out and help the struggling families where they could.

Their group piled out of the truck, each grabbing one gun, throwing the strap over their shoulders and starting to set up. The morning went as usual. Handing out clothes and blankets. They helped hand out bowls of soup to those who were struggling to find food. Gally felt awful there wasn't anything more they could really do. They didn't have a lot of financial means or aid from any of the ruling governments...which was WICKED; they took what they wanted and discarding the rest of the world, leaving it in ruin and chaos. It was a fend for yourself, dog eat dog world, survival of the fittest.

He was handing a bowl of soup to a child when someone in line bumped into someone else which started pushing and shoving and yelling. Sophie who was closer, jumped up trying to break up the scuffle. The one guy, Gally could see had some black veins webbing over his bare arms.

"Shuck! He's infected!"

"What?" Zayn spun around panicking. Him and Sophie weren't immunes, if they got infected they were done.

"Stay here. I got it." Gally said and jumped over the table towards the fight.

The infected one had grabbed Sophie by the hair, and was leering at her.

"Ain't you a pretty one!"

"Enough!" Gally bellowed, he had thrown the other guy who had started the fight onto the ground where Zayn and another Resistance member held him.

The infected froze and looked up at Gally, wild eyes that reminded him slightly of Ben when he had escaped his bindings. That was  months ago and those eyes still haunted his dreams.

"I said enough." Gally demanded.

He put all his authority into his voice. He could feel all his muscles tensing. Preparing for a fight. He knew Cranks didn't listen to reason very well, and he also knew that he couldn't put Sophie in any more danger. Even a claw mark from this guy would transfer enough of the disease into her blood system.

The guy sneered at Gally.

"Oh yeah? This your pretty little girlfriend? Would be a shame if I took her for myself."

Gally didn't say anything, his eyes flashing in anger. He felt quite protective over her. He ignored the Crank and looked at Sophie still being held.

"You okay Soph?" He asked.

"Could be better."

Gally could hear the tremor of fear in her voice, but as always putting on the brave defiance face.

"Let her go and we won't have a problem. Everyone here just wants some food."

The crowd that had come for the food The Resistance handed out had backed away, leaving Gally, Sophie and the Crank in the middle of the circle.

"Yeah? Me too! And now this pretty thing landed in my lap. She just threw herself at me!"

"Last time in going to say this. Let-her-go."

"Or what kid? I'm a Crank! I can feel it in my brain! I can feel it taking over! And for the remainder of my miserable life I could have some fun!" The Crank spat, spit flying from his mouth.

He had shaken his fist full of Sophie's bleached blond hair, making her head shake. Gally's eyes flicked down to Sophie, her face had paled and he swore she whimpered. Gally could feel his blood boiling. He would fight if he had to.

"And that's unfortunate, it really is. I'm sorry you're going through that." Gally said.

His arm held out in a passive gesture, while slowly taking a few slow steps towards him. If Gally could keep the Crank's attention and keep him talking he could surprise him and get her free.

"Yeah! And there's nothing you can do! So I'm going to take what I want when I want!" He shrieked.

"I can't let you do that. It's not fair to her." Gally said taking another step.

"Fair? You want to talk to me about fair?!" The crank spat, more spit and now some kind of black mucus dribbled from his chin.

"You need to let her go." Gally said again, he was now within arms reach. His eyes flicked to Sophie's, her fearful blue eyes watched him, Gally gave her the slightest of nods.

"No!" Screamed the crank.

Without warning Gally threw his fist into the side of the cranks head. He dropped, out cold. Sophie fell to the ground with the Crank. Gally quickly stepped over to her and crouched, pulling her away, and scooping her up carrying her back to the Resistance group.

A few of the civilians who were familiar with The Resistance and helped out with them every week, stepped forward and pulled the Crank away. Gally crouched back down and placed her on the ground, beside the truck. Zayn came running over.

"Are you okay?" Gally asked, his intense eyes staring into her blue ones.

She nodded, blinking quickly.

"Are you sure? He didn't scratch you? Puncture your skin? Dammit Sophie! Why would you do that?" Zayn paniced.

He was always the quiet none talkative one, Gally knew he was panicking.

"Yes. Zee I'm okay. Promise. Just...need a minute okay?" She forced a smile, reached out and squeezed his hand. "Stop worrying about me, I would think you kinda liked me around."

"Ya, you annoying sister!" He rolled his eyes, but his normal dark broody face came back, his eyes narrowed, "are you sure your okay?"

"Yes."

He sighed and got up, going to help with the food again and the now tense crowd. Gally stayed crouched in front of Sophie.

"I think your lying. I can clearly see you aren't." Gally said quietly.

Sophie scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"You boys sure fuss over me!" She threw her hands into the air. "I'm fine." She forced a small smile.

"Your tears say otherwise." Gally indicated with his head.

"What tears?" She asked, avoiding his gaze, "I'm part of The Resistant, I grew up with Cranks and guns and chaos. I don't cry."

Gally slowly reached out and ran a thumb gently over her cheek bone, and then rested his elbow on his knee.

"These tears." He stated gently. Hold his hand out to show her.

Sophie blinked a few times and looked at him. He could see her chin tremble just slightly. She looked away quickly.

"Okay. You win." She whispered.

"It's okay. Do you want to go back? I'm sure Zayn and the others can handle it here."

Sophie was quiet and still for a moment and then nodded. Gally nodded and stood up turning towards the table.

"Hey Zee? I'm going to take Sophie back, she's not as okay as she claims." Gally said quietly to his friend.

"She infected?" His eyes paniced.

"No. Just emotional. I'll take her back, make sure she eats and stuff." Gally reassured him.

Zayn's dark eyes flicked from Sophie huddled on the ground by the truck to Gally. He nodded.

"Take care of her."

Gally nodded. He walked back to the girl and picked her up and placed her in the truck. Gally hopped in and backed up and made their way back into the nain road. The drive was quiet. Sophie sat huddled in the passenger seat, her head resting on the window. Gally could see a tear slid down her cheek. He didn't say anything through. If she wanted to talk she would. He kept his eyes on the road.

"If you want to talk I'm here. If you don't want to, that's okay too. But I'm here." He said quietly.

He heard a sniff. And then a quiet sigh.

"It's not what happened. It's that...it reminds me of...what happened to my dad and...sister."

Gally glanced at her. She never talked about her past before The Resistance.

"My mom died a few years after my younger sister was born. Unrelated to the Flair. Dad, was a single dad with two young girls. He moved back into my grandparents house. Grandma died. So it was Emma and me, dad and grandpa. Dad got sick." She said quietly.

She was nervously twirling a piece of hair between her fingers. Gally was quiet, waiting for her to continue.

"He slowly got more angry and irritable. He started throwing things and trashing the house. One night...he grabbed Emma by the hair, like that other crank back there in line."

She took a shuddering breath. And another sniff.

"Grandpa tried to talk him down, but...but he was wild. He didn't listen. He got hold of a knife somehow....that was the first time I saw someone die."

"Shuck. Sophie I'm so sorry you had to see that!" Gally whispered. He could feel his heart soften, that story was a punch in the gut.

"I was 8 when I watched my dad murder my sister...Emma was only 5. Grandpa grabbed me and we fled. He had prepacked bags in the truck. Emma was dead and Dad was crazy. Grandpa fled to the mountains and we found a safe villiage. Met Zayn. We were safe for two years. Then WICKED showed up one night ...well that was the last time I saw my grandpa. He stayed to try to defend the kids."

"Shuck."

Was all Gally could say. He reached a hand out towards her, she grabbed onto it like a life line.

"Just brings back memories."

"Understandable."

The rest of the ride was quiet. Gally parked the truck and escorted her back to her bunk. He made her some tea and a snack and brought it to her. Sitting down beside her, he passed her the hot mug of tea.

She clutched it between her hands.

"You're a good guy Gally." Sophie gave him a small smile.

He just grunted and shrugged. He had been trying. He had been trying to change for the better, be less angry and closed off.

"A sweet caretaker. Thank you."

Gally just shrugged, feeling a little warm and awkward. It was nothing he figured someone else wouldn't do. They sat in silence for a bit, she sipped her tea. It got to the point where Gally was feeling really uncomfortable. He stood up suddenly.

"I should go tell Sarg were back." He said, his back to her. He ran a hand through his hair and down to his neck.

He walked over to the door when he heard his name. It was quiet and hesitant. He stopped. He heard quiet footsteps and then a warm hand on his back. His muscles tensed. He closed his eyes for a second. He didn't know what was happening. Charlie was dead, and gone. His heart was picking up.

"Gally?" She asked again, so quietly.

He slowly turned to face Sophie. Her big baby blue eyes stared up at him. She had a cute little nose and a cheeky smile, freckles splashed across her cheeks and nose.

"Thank you. You're really sweet, and kind and compassionate." She whispered.

She somehow was toe to toe with him. Gally's eyes flicked all over her face. His mouth was dry and he felt weird. Her hand was on his arm and another one was placed gently on his chest. Without his brain thinking, his arm moved. It moved and slipped around her back. She was then pressed against him, his other hand slid into her bleached blond hair. Her hands slid up to his neck and they pulled each other closer.

He kissed her like he was drowning, like he was trying to forget his past. His hand slowly slid down to her jaw. She pressed closer, making them stumble back into the wall behind them.

He twisted them around so he was pressing her against the wall. He slid his tongue into her mouth. He heard Charlie moan quietly. Her hands slid down his sides and under the hem of his shirt. Whenever Charlie did that he could hardly control himself. He growled. She broke the kiss to breath, tipping her head back against the wall. Gally's hand slid down to her hip, the other still burried in Charlie's hair. His head was full of fog. He kissed down her jaw and then to her neck. He heard Charlie moan quietly again.

He went back to her lips, forcing her mouth open. With a small growl he kissed her like it was their last.

He broke their kiss, his forehead on hers, breathing heavily.

"I love you Charlie." He whispered.

"What?"

Gally's eyes flew open, blue eyes stared back at him, but they weren't Charlie's bright crystal blue ones. He ripped away and stumbled backwards, in panic.

Sophie was leaning against the wall, panting hard, her face flushed and messy hair. It was Sophie and not Charlie. He had been kissing Charlie....

Reality hit like a slap to the face. Charlie was dead. He wasn't kissing her, it was someone else. He had kissed Sophie how he wished he could kiss Charlie.

Anger, sadness, guilt, confusion all battled to take control. Sophie was looking at him with  the same mix of emotions.

"I'm not Charlie."

"Shuck shuck shuck! I'm sorry...I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Gally stumbled over the words, in his panic he ripped the door open and fled down the hall.