I woke up for the second time in one day on the floor, except this time all I felt was hopeless. I looked up at Newt and saw he was still asleep, which suited me just fine because I had no words for him right now. I sighed, a little louder then normal, and buried my face in my hands.

"You alright there Thomas?" Minho startled me with a whisper. I forgot he was brought back only a little while ago. He looked terrible but was still his strong cocky self. I admired him at times for his refusal to give in.

I'd be lying if I told anyone I never thought about just going along with Wicked's plans. I thought about it a lot, but Minho never thought of it. He was important to me and knew me well, so him noticing I wasn't ok probably would have happened without my sigh.

"Ever wish you were just back in the Maze? At least when we ran we knew the dangers around us."

"Sometimes, and all the time. I was a runner for 2 years. It is the only thing I really know how to do. But if you think for one second I wouldn't try to escape all over again, you are wrong. Even knowing what we went through Thomas, you have doubts? We have to beat WICKED."

"I guess so. This cure though, I wonder if it really is possible?" I glanced up at Newt and frowned. Minho followed my gaze and his frustration at me turned immediately to sadness.

"I know how you care for him. I'd be suprised if he didn't know after your shutdown yesterday." I blush immediately and try to change the subject. Before I can get one word out though, he says something I didn't expect. "You may only have a short amount of time left while he is still him. You should really think about what you are gonna say when you are alone with him."

"What do you..." I started to stammer out but Minho at that moment began doubling over in pain and crying out, horrible screams that shot Newt our of bed immediately and had me scrambling to Minho's side.

He pulled me close just as the door was opening with guards to take him to medical care, I assumed, when he whispered in my ear, "You owe me one," followed by a wink as he was carried out.

I was stunned. Minho just faked immeasurable pain so that I could have time alone with Newt. I wish he gave me more time. I have no idea what to say to him. Newt looked lost and confused and the second he laid eyes on me i saw pain too.

"What happened? I was barely up before he was gone. Was he alright?" Newt spoke so fast I didn't even know if I heard him right, but I stood up and jumped up on the bed next to him and just sat there. He was about to lay back down and ignore me again but instinct made me grab his arm to stop him.

"Newt, I have to tell you something, and I need you to say nothing until I am done. Can you do that?" Newt nodded slightly and I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to collect my thoughts again.

I took his hand in mine, which immediately felt right, and pulled it close to me. I wanted to tell him that I couldn't live without him. I wanted to tell him that the thought of him losing himself was unbearable. I wanted to tell him that I would do everything in my power to stop his inevitable pain from ever coming. I wanted to say all that and more, but all I could do was burst into tears.

Newt seemed taken aback, but all his frustration in me seemed as unimportant as ever as he pulled me close for the second time and hugged me. i straightened up much faster this time. I have cried more in these past hours then I can ever remember, but I am not embarrassed. If this is how I am able to wokr through my pain and nerves, however selfish given Newt's condition, he shows no signs of annoyance and lets me do what I have to do.

Finally, I pull back and look him straight in the eyes. What I see now I never noticed before. Not only is there hurt and fear, there is also a light. A small light that shows how hopeful he is that I feel the same about him that he confessed to me. A light that pleads with me to finally be honest and give him the joy he will soon be deprived of.

I laugh, just a small one, but enough to confuse Newt even more. My emotional range these past days has been all over that place, and his confusion almost immediately turns to amusement as I playfully push him away and straighten up again.

"I know I haven't been exactly there for you since you found out about having the Flare. In fact, you have be comforting me so much that you must already know what I am about to tell you. I am just having a hard time voicing it to you, but Minho gave us alone time so it is now or ever."

He broke him promise to wait until I was done to yell, "Wait! Minho faked that! That slinthead, wait till I get my hands on him!"

"Hey! I said wait till I was done!" He apologized but said a silent thank you to Minho in his head.

"I felt something for you almost immediately in the Glade. I chalked it up to being alone and confused and you being the first person to be there for me. Then Theresa came along and I felt like I knew her. I felt like our connection was greater then friendship and I started to fall for her all over again. More times then not though, I found myself thinking of you instead of her and that scared me." I took a breath and looked into his eyes again to try and get some sort of reading as to how this was going. He kept a straight face and urged me to continue.

"When she warned me in the Scorch about what they were trying to do, I had no doubts she was on my side. But as we know, she played me for WICKED. And I know it is probably more their fault then hers, I cannot and do not feel anything for her anymore. I immediately wanted you while we were alone out there but then Brenda came along and I felt something for her too. Long story short, I guess, is that I was masking my feelings for you with them. I think I loved Theresa. I really do. But given the choice between her and you, even back in the Glade, it was always you."

I did something then that even I hadn't planned. I let go of his hand brushed his hair out of his face. Then, without warning, I leaned in and kissed Newt. Electricity immediately shot through every limb, as if life was being returned to my body for the first time since showing up in the Box. I couldn't pull away and was slightly distraught when Newt finally did after several seconds.

I saw no confusion. No anger, fear, pain, or hopelessness. All I saw was joy, elation, and love. The small light was now a spotlight, beaming directly at me and letting me know everything, at least in this moment, was as it should be. Newt pulled me in for another kiss, and this time I let him control this one, and opened my mouth gladly when he pushed forward with his tongue, eager to meet mine for the first time.

I explored his body with my hands for the first time, and as weird as it felt, I felt like he was the most beautiful and perfect person i could be lying with at this moment. Finally I pulled away and rested my head on his chest.

"Tommy, I have waited so long for you to do that. I just didn't know it until yesterday." He placed a kiss on my head again. Yep, it definitely meant something. I smiled so big as I lay wrapped in his arms and wanting nothing more then to feel this close to him for the rest of my life.

"Newt, I need you to know how sorry I am that this has happened to you. I worked for these people. It is my fault that this happened to you."

"Listen here, I know you. I know that whatever you did you did because you thought you were saving people. I know now that you would never put anyone through this again. I didn't know you until you came up in the Box, and that is the you that I am loving laying here holding. That old you was another person, and he isn't important."

I smiled. Here Newt was, cheering me up again and not even minding it. I owed this guy so much, and I will repay him. "Newt, you will be ok. I don't know how, but you will have me forever. And when I find a cure, you will be the first to get it so we can take down WICKED together, hand in hand. I cannot lose you, and I will do this." I kissed him again, soft but full of care and love. I then laid myself down on his chest again as I started to plan. I finally saw Wicked as Minho did, and I will take them down and save Newt. This comforting thought, that I would right my wrongs and save Newts life, is was took me off to sleep.

When Minho walked back into the room several hours later, he looked up and saw Thomas and Newt asleep together in the top bed. He smiled, gave them a light hug over the sheets and laid down beneath them. Happiness came over him for his two best friends, but Minho, ever the WICKED hater, used this to drive his anger of the organization that destroyed their lives. He vowed he would take WICKED down and save Newt. And for Minho, there was no "die trying." He would accomplish this, and live to see his best friends live with the happiness they deserve.

With this Minho started devising his plan in his head, not knowing Thomas had just decided the same course of action, and when Thomas and Newt woke up they would start on their plans to rid the world of WICKED, and help Newt as fast as they possibly could.

** Oh man. Thanks for the review Chazz-It-Up! I am glad you liked it! Newt is my favorite as well! I hope not to disappoint you with how I am going with this. As for everyone else, please review! I appreciate any and all feedback. I have had time off the past few days so I have managed to get a few chapters out, but after those are out I might be a little longer between updates. Please stay patient and I will do my best. Thanks everyone!