Hi! I am actually really excited about this chapter. Thanks for the reviews last chapter, I'm hoping for a few more! Let me know what you think :).

Alby took a deep, long breath. He felt the air enter his body; he felt it swirl through his brain and blow the ball of bad feelings away. He held onto the air tightly as he entered the Gathering Hut. In side was Chaos. Some one was chucking food, there was a loud and constant buzz of conversation, a few outbursts of laughs and a large cloud of stink radiating off of the group of boys.

He stood in silence. In a few minutes the Gathering would begin. Alby couldn't anticipate how anyone would react to the news of Green's return. He didn't even want to think about that yet. Thomas was first. They could relax with the easy stuff.

"Alby," Newt spoke from behind Alby's shoulder. "I just spotted Minho coming in from the doors. He should be in any second."

"Good that." Alby muttered.

A hand covered Alby's shoulder gently. Newt's fingers squeeze softly, "Everything is going to be fine."

Alby turned to face his long time friend, "This isn't going to be a fun talk Newt."

"These buggin' gatherings are never fun." Newt grinned.

Alby couldn't help but chuckle, "Remember when Fry hit Zart with that wooden spoon just 'cuz he thought the Trackhoes were eatin' the veggies on their breaks."

"Bloody hell Fry was pissed." Newt laughed.

"Ah, good times." Alby smiled. He took another deep breath, "Is Green ok?" He asked, switching back to his serious mode.

Newt nodded, "The little shank hasn't woken up since last night. Jeff's lookin' over her now."

"That's good." Alby said genuinely.

"I don't know what WICKED did to 'er Alby, but it wasn't pretty. Jeff says she's recovering from quite a few serious injuries, broken bones and concussions and what not."

Alby frowned. For a moment he couldn't help but wonder what the poor kid had done to deserve all of this?

Minho stumbled into the shack with a tin cup of water in his hand and a beat red face. Sweat glistened over his forehead.

"Anything today?" Alby asked out of habit.

"Not a thing." Minho replied… probably out of habit as well. He wobbled over to an empty seat and plopped himself down with an exaggerated groan.

"Alright then," Alby cleared his throat, "Listen up shanks."

His booming voice sent a hush over the rowdy group of Keepers. Everyone looked to him.

"We've got two things on the agenda today so I want this to move along quickly. Speak when it's your turn and not a peep when it's not, got it?"

"Good that." A few Keepers muttered.

"First of all, Thomas. The Greenbean has tried out each job, now he needs a permanent one. You all know the shuck drill. Any one who want's him raises their hand. You want him you have to give your reason. Then we vote. So, who want's him?"

Thomas himself was in the room, sitting in the back behind a few of the Keepers. Alby had warned him to stay quiet. The Greenie was a loud to be in the room and give a vote, but he wasn't supposed to pipe up.

At first no one raised their hand. Alby rolled his eyes at Thomas's incompetence. Not a single taker? He must've been a klunk worker.

"I guess we could take 'im." Clint said raising his hand in the air.

Then Frypan, "I liked the little guy."

Finally, Minho's thick arm rose to the air, "I want him."

Everyone gasped. The room froze.

"Minho... what are ya talkin' bout?" Alby breathed, taking a step forward.

The Runner met the eyes of nearly everyone in that room, including Thomas. "Not only do I think Thomas should be a Runner, but I think Thomas should take my spot as Keeper of the Runners."

Silence filled the air as all eyes bore into Minho. Thomas's mouth dropped like a rock.

"That's ridiculous!" Gally cried, standing up and turning to Newt and Alby. "He should be kicked off of the council for saying something so shucking stupid!" The builder stuck out a finger towards Minho who sat with his arms cross, staring out the door like nothing new had happened.

Then Hell broke loose. A few Keepers clapped—like Frypan who began clamoring for a vote—while others shook their head adamantly. No one opposed it as loudly as Gally but everyone was shocked. Thomas buried his head in his hands.

"Slim it nice and calm!" Newt cried. No one really paid much attention to the second in command.

"SHUT YOUR HOLES!" Alby demanded. Silence fell like a spell over the boys once again. "You all are acting like a hoard of babies. Get it together! We're adults here. Everyone is gunna speak when it's there shuck turn, clear?"

Gally took a seat, muttering about morons under his breath, but for the most part everyone remained quiet.

"Minho, care to explain what the shuck you're saying."

The Runner sighed as if justifying his words were a chore; he was clearly exhausted. "All I'm saying is that back a couple of weeks ago I saw Thomas out in the Maze. I know we're not supposed to talk about what happened with you-know-who but we are allowed to talk about what Thomas did. I spend a lil' too much time wondering if that kid is brave or just shucking stupid, but he's got the right amount of both to be a Runner. I've never seen someone so loyal to their friends." Minho's eyes flicked to Thomas. The Greenie couldn't help but smile and Alby wondered if it was some sort of apology for the fight he's walked in on the day before. "He didn't panic or cry or turn tail and run the way I would've—er… um… have I guess, in the past. The dude kept it together, exactly the way a Runner should."

"We get it, Tommy here is a lucky shank." Gally snapped.

"No Gally you worthless slinthead, you don't get it! You've never been out there minus the time you were to shucking stupid to stop yourself from getting stung. Thomas can get us out of here! He's our best chance."

"He's probably not even on our side!" Gally shouted.

"What does that mean?" Thomas replied loudly.

"Ever since that shank showed up here everything has changed. I don't know how to explain it but…"

"There's nothing to explain Gally! You're just a sissy who's too scared to admit that this guy might be better than you!" Minho yelled, sticking a finger at Thomas, "Well guess what, he is! He's better than all of us. He deserves to be the Keeper."

"Alright enough!" Alby boomed, "Both of you shut it. Minho, no matter what Thomas isn't gunna be the Keeper but we can vote. There 3 nomination, med-jack, cook or runner."

"This is jacked! Alby c'mon, you really think we should consider some one like him for a Runner?" Gally demanded.

"I think you should sit down and vote Gally. I'm sick of your outbursts." Alby snapped.

"I swear to the Creators he's no good."

"I'm gunna break your shuck neck if you keep blabbing on Gally, right after I snapped your skinny little twig arms." Minho sneered from his seat. Alby heard Thomas snicker from his place in the back.

"I shucking swear Minho—" Gally burst, jumping up out of his seat. Frypan shot up to stop the Builder from pouncing on Minho.

"Enough! This meeting is a bloody mess!" Newt yelled, "We still have another matter to discuss. It's time for a vote. All those in favor of Thomas being a cook raise your hand."

Gally's face twisted in rage. "I vote for the most popular option that isn't a Runner."

"Then you're not voting for a Cook." Alby grumbled. It was true, not even Frypan raised his hand for that option.

"All those in favour of Thomas being a Medjack?"

About 5 of the Keeper's raised their hand, including Winston and Gally. Thomas seemed hesitant. He surely knew the dangers of going into the Maze. Alby considered raising his hand for Thomas to be a Medjack. The Glade only had two and Thomas was a smart guy. Plus, Alby did have a slight, unexplained distrust for the boy. But, as he stared at the Greenie he realized that Minho could be right. Thomas was possibly their best chance for freedom from the Maze.

"And for the Runners?"

Everyone else raised their hand. Newt, Alby, Frypan, Clint, Minho, Thomas, and Zart.

"Then it's settled," Newt said with a grin, "You start tomorrow Tommy."

A couple of the Keepers cheered, Frypan patted Thomas on the back with a toothy smile. Gally spat quiet insults to the Keeper of the Baggers. Alby stood silently, watching the others congratulate the new Runner. In his mind there was no hope for escape, and something told him Thomas wasn't the key to solving the Maze.

Some one else was.

"""""""""""""""""

Minho was so shucking tired he swore he could've passed out right there in the Gathering hut. Gally always seemed to tucker the Runner out, so mix it with a long day of working and an hour long talk and Minho was just about a breathing corpse. Still, getting Gallys panties in a knot did always make him feel better.

As everyone settled back to there seats a feeling of pride washed over Minho. Thomas would be a good Runner, and Minho wasn't going to let anyone convince him otherwise.

But the good feelings didn't last for long. The mood shifted, at least, Alby's did. Talking about Green wouldn't be easy. Everyone was already riled up from the vote, the next part could potentially start a war in the Glade.

"Alright, moving on to our second piece of business." Alby said. He opened his mouth to speak but something was stopping him. Fear, disgust, anger, guilt, who knew, but for whatever reason the Leader's tongue wouldn't so much as form a coherent word.

Newt stepped forward, "This isn't easy and most of all, this isn't anyone's fault. Before we say this we need to remember that all of us are on the same team."

"What's going on you guys?" Clint asked, the Med-jack had been given "field duty". He hadn't even been in the medic's room since last night.

Newt swallowed hard. "Green's back." Once again, dead silence. Newt looked around expectantly, waiting for an outburst but everyone just stared. The second in command continued, "She came back last night. She was unconscious and barely breathing. Now she's in the Med-jack's room asleep."

"So she's alive?" Frypan asked in a breathy voice.

Newt nodded, "Sure is. But the girl doesn't have a bloody clue where she is. She's been calling her self Piper and can't remember us for the life of her."

"Did you tell her who you were and everything that… happened?" Winston asked.

"No, just out names. She's just like a normal greenie."

"We can't let her stay here." Gally spat, "She's brought us nothing but trouble. The little shank is going to tear us apart."

"The only thing here tearing us apart is you Gally!" Minho shouted, shooting up from his seat. "You'll ascuss anything with a heart beat. But lemme tell ya something nad I want ya to listen real close you mouth breathing shank," Minho spat, stepping so close to Gally that he could smell his damp breath, "This is no one's fault except the jacked shanks that put us in here. She's sufferin just like us."

Gally stood up, pushing Minho backwards with the palm of his hand, "She's no good. Even if she's 'on our side' how is she going to feel when she remembers what happened?"

"Oh you mean when you tried to murder her with a shucking kitchen knife."

Gally took a step forward. "Yah, I do mean that." He spat.

"Could you two please sit your butts down?" Alby demanded. "This is a serious problem. And like Newt said, we're on the same team for this."

Minho turned and sauntered back to his seat. Gally lowered himself slowly.

"I don't think we should remind her. I mean, if she doesn't know what happened then why remind her?" Frypan said, "We're good people. We were acting out of desperation. There's no reason for her to hate us if she's here for good this time."

A couple of Keeper's muttered agreements.

"What if she remembers?" Clint asked.

"It's been two years and I haven't remembered a damn thing." Alby muttered.

"We were all going to 'forget' about it anyway. I say we just treat her like a normal Greenie." Frypan said.

"Alright, so the votes are for not telling her… or banishing her for no reason." Newt said, shooting daggers at Gally as if he was daring him to speak out again.

"All in favor for not reminding Green—or um, Piper from now on?" Alby asked.

Minho wanted to protest. It felt wrong to hold some one's identiy from them. But telling her would only bring unnecessary pain. Reluctantly he raised his hand and joined the others. Unanimously they decided to remind her of nothing.

She would be Piper from that point forward.

"Well, that was surprisingly easy." Alby muttered. "Head to the kitchen's everyone. It's time to eat."

""""""""""""""""""

"Hey! Minho!" some called across the Glade. The Runner stopped on his way to the showers. He'd started taking his while everyone was eating, that was the best time to find some peace.

Minho turned to see Jeff, "Hey, what's up?" He asked as Jeff jogged over to him.

"I hear it was one Hell of a gathering." Jeff grinned.

"Sure was. I must've threatened to kill Gally a dozen times."

"Ha, that shank deserves it." Jeff laughed, "Listen, I know you're not feeling to happy about the whole 'Green being here' thing but I really need to go get some food. Could you just watch her for a few minutes? She hasn't been moving all night. It should be a breeze."

Minho took a step back, "I dunno Jeff, I—"

"C'mon man, do me a solid, I'm starving here and I really don't trust anyone else to look over her."

Minho sighed, "Fine, just be quick alright?"

"It'll just be a minute." The medjack smiled before darting towards the kitchen.

Minho altered his course towards the Homestead reluctantly. He drug his feet all the way to the Medic's room and opened the door slowly. In his mind he told himself to not even look at her. It would be easier for him that way. Out of sight out of mind. But as the door swung open Minho couldn't look away. His eyes only widened in horror.

Green was in her bed seizing and crying out in pain. Her whole body shook and contorted, her arms flailed wildely and tears poured from her eyes. The sounds coming from her throat were raw and desperate.

Minho forgot everything. He ran to her bed and grabbed her hand tightly.

"Green! Shhhh, you're ok. Piper." He tried in an attempt to sooth her.

Then it hit him, he'd seen this before, he's seen Green act this way when she was stung. She had been fighting against the poison. What was she fighting now?

Suddenly her eyes burst open. Her vibrant green hue's met Minho's. There was something there, something he hadn't seen in her since she returned… recognition.

"Minho? Minho is that you?" She sobbed through grit teeth.

"Yah…Green? Are you ok?"

Relief flooded her pained face, "You're ok. You're ok." A smile broke across her tear ridden face, "I-I was so worried about you guys. I-I didn't know wha—AGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!" She cut her self of with a blood-curdling scream. Her eyes clenched shut and her body began to shake.

Minho squeezed her hand tightly, "Green you're ok. I've got you. Just tell me what's happening? Talk to me. Please."

She force down a deep breath and opened her eyes, "I-I need to t-tell you s-somehting."

"Ok, Green you can tell me. Please. I'm so confused." He admitted.

"You n-need to make me remember." She spat out.

"What?" Minho asked.

"AAAAAAAHHHHH!" Green cried again.

"Green!" Minho shouted. Seeing her in so much pain… it made his heart ache.

Finally she mustered her last ounces of energy and spoke through the pain as best she could. Her face was pinched and her words were strained but she managed to get it out, "W-WICKED doesn't know… how big of a m-mistake it was… to put me in here. I-I know this is all… hard… but I n-need you to t-trust me. H-help me remember… who I am. I-I… can save us." Then she let out the most pained scream that Minho had ever heard. It was wet and desperate. It was begging for freedom from the pain. Her body trembled under the strain. Her hand gripped Minho's so tightly that her nails drew blood from his skin.

Then it stopped.

Her body relaxed. Her breaths slowed. Her eyes opened softly.

She looked at him, still grasping him tightly, but the recognition was gone.

"W-why are you holding my hand?" Piper asked.