Disclaimer: I definitely don't own the Scorch Trials.

Chapter Thirty Five:

I awoke in a feverish cold sweat met with a harsh heat. There was the relief of shade by a large rock, the group had tended to some of my minor injuries I've managed to get. I felt a tinge of pain in my jaw, as I try to speak.

"Rest easy, the others should be back with the gear." Scolds Jacob.

"Yeah mate, you should see yourself!" A more stern voice says behind me who's out sight till I'm forced to turn around.

"Newt!" I sprung up grabbing him tight not wanting to let him go, his face squished between my embrace.

"I've missed you to, mind letting go and relaxing." He laughs.

"Prehaps you're right," I spoke letting go.

"Good that, just glad you're okay." Newt said rather flustered.

"Jacob what's going on?" I demand.

"You're group encounter us carrying you to safety, so most of them went back to the truck to get the supplies and a few others went to scout ahead.

Something didn't sound right in his words, he's hiding something from me. It seems beneficial if I didn't know until I recovered.

"What are you keeping from me?" I asked leaning against the rock as the sun was begining to set. It's orange ember glow covers the small ravine we've held up in.

"Should I or you Newt?" Jacob asked addressing Newt by name.

"I've got this Jacob, it's his best friend after all. Ross remain seated if I was you." He paused before speaking rather sternly. "It's Thomas, he's been taken."

"Also that Jorge fellow we sought after has been along for the ride. His partner in crime Brenda, along with Nyx and this kid Aris has gone ahead a mile or so waiting for us. The rest are back at the truck."

"Who took him? Was it WICKED! I shake my fist with anger.

"Worse… It was a Teresa and group of girls, calling themselves Group B."

"She's just another test by WICKED. She can't be allowed to have her way with him!" I said with substantial pain in my jaw as I stood wobbling and doubling over.

Newt and Jacob caught me, swiftly placing me on the warm ground softly. The look of concern ran deep. I wasn't made of glass, but still they hover over me like I'm ready to break at anytime. It's unwelcomed because I knew this was bound to happen. If I hadn't dealt with Claire, we could of intervened in the take over and Soc would be alive now. I'm such a screw up.

"Everyone is on the same page, you need to relax till we can get you some painkillers." Newt said making sure I lie still.

"We're going to get Thomas back, then we're getting the Cure. We're not done yet!" Jacob said.

A hour passed with idle chit chat here and there, Newt and Jacob took turn describing our different journeiy up to this point. Thomas and them has been escape further back where we exited the tunnel from the flat trans. With limited food they managed here and there covering nearly two hundred miles.

Throughout the escape from WICKED back at Jorge place, Teresa managed to sperate from the group. All this time we've been right behind. They also encountered Marcus and it was Jorge who blacken his eye and busted his nose.

Now we had gather together, it was simple our course of action. Both sides lost plenty of good people on the journey. Once we can cure ourselves it's best to find the Right Arm and get far away from WICKED.

"We're going to go in two teams to cover more ground, some of us will go after Thomas, the rest will secure the Safe Haven." Newt said rather nervous about the events to come.

"You're going to find the Cure, with the others. It's too dangerous to allow you to peruse Thomas and Teresa, giving how things stand!" Jacob said passing around a can of water he saved from earlier.

"No, it's up to me to save him! Janson said so!" I shouted up storm.

"Slim it!" Newt said with a serious tone hushing me up in a instant. I've never seen him so commanding before. "They never tended on all of us gathering together. Stop acting with your own accord, Tommy's my friend just as much as yours. The only difference is if you don't reach that place you'll start to turn! You'll be come a flipping Crank, you want that huh!?" Newt screams gripping my shoulder shaking me like a rag doll.

"Newt I?" I stutter in fear and sorrow.

"I don't want to have to put you down, you idiot! You're going to take; Nyx, Jacob, Curie, Jane and yourself to the Safe Haven!

"Newt…"

"Even if I have to drag you myself!"I sat quiet not wanting to anger Newt who had lost it with the over protectiveness. He walks over to me and leans in for a small whisper," You mean the world to me, both you and Tommy! We're all getting out of this no matter what."

Newt meant well but I couldn't risk him, Claire was right he meant more to me than I expected. It was something more intimate, that just having to scold me. It's hurting him more then he lets on. Poor Newt has had it rough for such a long duration of time, being told I was dead by WICKED and now Thomas's life is up in the air. It hurt watching him shoulder the pain, someone had to.

"They should be back by any moment, hopefully with everything. That reminds me, Soc wanted me to give you this upon his death."

It was sealed package wrapped in tied in blanket. It had a note attached. It was confusing but how'd he managed to hide it for so long, then I realized the front of the truck there a storage compartment. Slowly I unsealed the package - With my death, planning isn't an option so I present you with the solution. - Soc.

It's a large paper strewn map with locations we've discovered and a rendition sketch of the mountain range In what seem to be in detail, it must of taken time to get this down. I had no idea he'd gone as far to do this. He planned for everything even if he wasn't around.

I can't believe he's dead of all people, we depend on his knowledge and Curie know-how to get us through what force couldn't. As the three of us observing the map, it wasn't that hard to guess where the girls took Thomas. Most of the pathway is broken and out of the way for a mountain side. Erosion and time done away with once was beautiful. They could only go a certain path if they had a prisoner. They wouldn't allow him to walk freely and I doubt they over exert themselves by climbing higher with him.

They might have him hostage and at their whim, but we will corner them and flush the rats out to a even battle field.

"Where is the truck by the way?"

"A few miles south of here," points Jacob down a winding path. "It's busted to hell and shot up to boot, so they've got a nice three hour walk in both directions.

"How are we on rations, can we feed everyone?"

"For the time being, Claire had a few supplies hidden away that we took whilst you was out."

"What's our time looking like?" I ask a bit concerned.

"We have roughly two day or a day in a half before we lose the Cure…" Jacob replies a bit frazzled.

"This is why were breaking into two teams again. You'll get the Cure, we'll find Thomas." Newt said readying his plan.

"Newt we've been through hell with little to nothing, danger all around. You need us, we're in this together. Besides we all swore before leaving WICKED we'd find and save Thomas at any cost!" Jacob said having a staring contest with Newt.

"No more unnecessary death's! Screw the Cure, if I can save Thomas at the risk of losing myself so be it. I know he would do the same for any of us."

"Ross is right! If we become Cranks functional or Far Gone, it will be time well spent making WICKED suffer."

"You shank's been soaking in the sun for to long, but then again so have we." Newt said with laugh.

The three of us laugh and laugh about this silly disagreement. We had time, more then enough. Once the first pair returns will each take something to carry then it's off to the nearby ridge just a mile or so to meet the rest of the party.

Some time later I could see Minho over the horizon carrying a handful of supplies with Fry and the girls in tow. They seem tired and they all plop down on the ground once reaching out tiny trenching ravine.

"Good to have you back in action!" Minho jokes stretching his tired arm's.

"Really Minho? What this jacked up idiot means he's happy you're back." Frypan said leaning into Minho.

"It won't be a proper reunion until we have him back." I say clenching my fist.

Jane and Curie run up and hugs me tightly, Curie sobbing softly in my arms. It must be so tough on her this late in the game. She's been so strong it's been leading up to a release of tears.

"Take this you dummy, that crazy chick did a number on you," Curie moans handing me what assume are painkillers. Jane's quite smile is more then enough to radiate so warmth in my heart.

"I'm glad you made it back safely you guy's." I say with a huge smile.

"I wanted to bury Soc, it was the right thing to do, Mr. Minho was more then enough help." Curie said releasing from my arms.

"Mr.? Kid I'm not that older then you," Minho growls slightly displeased.

"Should we wait to we reach the other's to eat or chow down now on our half?" Frypan asks like he was prepared to cook up a storm.

"Fry you can't imagine how much I've missed your food buddy," I leaned in a whisper to him."

"Alright we got catch up with the others. From there will discuss our next move!" Jacob said standing up."

We all got up took a ample resources and headed up the path. For a while I was doing fine but I felt my strength diminish faster and faster the more steep the footing got.

I was forced to hand over my fair share stuff to carry over to Minho, and still that wasn't enough keep me from slowing down the others.

"Lean on me mate, you'll need your strength later yeah." Newt said wrapping my right arm over his shoulder as he walked in back with me.

"I'm sorry Newt..." I say as my voice cracks.

"Whatever for?"

"Getting myself injured and sperated from you all. You wouldn't believe how many times I consider abandoning them in search for you all."

"That's not the Ross I know. Besides with them at our side we're even more formidable, relax will you."

Together Newt and I talked and spoke about so many things. The Scorch has been hard on us all. Winston took his own life to stop from turning after getting attack by Cranks. Minho nearly died from getting struck by lightning. Jorge had been distrustful of the group at first forcing them to hang by their feet upside down from a large pit. WICKED been perusing more than ever trying to recover them, no doubt to subject them to the same Trials. We've each suffered a deal and overcame. This was it, the ending. In just a few day we'll be putting this behind us and away from WICKED.

Thomas, Cure and The Right Arm. It was simple as far as Variables and Trials tend to go. We need to find Leon as well, but that might take a while and manpower we are lacking. But being in the company of friends and shoulder to shoulder with Newt, things seem to not be so hard after all. I pray I might never have to be dragged away from the people closest to me.

A/N: So I should do some explaining. These next few chapters will be using book material and some stuff I strung together to make this workout. The ending will have more movie then book aspects. Also everything is placed out as you'll see. Quick spoiler so one gets lost along the way. But the Scorch Trials handed down to Group C and Ross, was meant for Thomas and the other's and still set up under those parameters. But since they had broke out, leaning to the movie side of the story, things are still set in place to look as both the book and movie are meant to coexist. Phew. Thanks for reading thus far. 35/55 chapters, it's been a hell of a trip.