The Captain led them down turn after turn.

"You remember the way back, ya?" Alex whispered to Minho. He nodded.

"And from the front door" he said under his breath.

Alex noticed Captain Ronin's head twitch in their direction. Alex stopped talking. She trusted Minho's eidetic memory and mapping skills. The Captain led them down yet another white hall. She swore whenever, if ever, she got a house, she would not paint anything white. She was sick of it. He stopped at the end of a hall, in front of a big metal door with yet another card lock entrance. The door opened to reveal a room with a bunch of bunk beds, a dresser in the back, a door, Alex assumed led to a bathroom. Everyone walked forward.

Captain Ronin held out his hand when Alex went to pass. She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at him. Minho stopped beside her. Newt turned around and crossed his arms, Thomas and Frypan also stopped Clint, A.J and Leo turned around and walked back over.

"Man Shanket, you're always causing trouble." Clint said.

She glared at him. She spun around back to the Captain, who was standing stone still. His face showed nothing.

"What now Captain Marshmallow? Are you going to tell me I'm sleeping somewhere else? By myself? Alone?! Well. Save your breath. I lived, showered, ate, worked and slept alongside these guys! We fought for our lives side by shuckin side! We watched our brothers die. They are my family. I WILL NOT BE LEFT ALONE! ESPECIALLY AFTER THE SHUCKED UP KLUNK I'VE BEEN THROUGH! I CAN'T! I NEED THEM!" Her voice got louder with each sentence until she was yelling at the Captain.

Her eyes were also watering. She was actually terrified to be alone with her thoughts and feelings right now. She really did need Newt and especially Minho.

"Please." She whispered, she wiped a tear, frustrated with herself.

Why do I always cry? Stupid bodily functions! You cry when your sad and mad and frustrated...STOP SHUCKEN CRYING!

"I don't want to be alone. I can't be alone." She whispered.

"Are you done?" The Captain asked. Alex didn't say anything, staring at her boots.

"Good. Because what I was going to say was: Dr. Prior wanted to meet with you, he wanted to do a few X rays."

Alex continued to look at her boots, she could feel a blush rising on her cheeks. "Oh." She said sheepishly. "Sorry for yelling at you then."

She looked back up at him guilty. She saw his face soften. "It's been an ordeal. Get some rest. I'll be back to collect you." Alex and the guys turned around, and he closed the door. She heard it lock with a click. She didn't like being locked in things...she felt stuck.. claustrophobic.

"Awwww Lil Lady-Bean! Did you really mean what you said? Do you really need us?" Frypan joked.

Alex took a second to look at the guys around the room. She smiled sadly at them. "Every word Frypan. Every shucken word."

"Aww don't I feel loved!" Minho clutched his heart.

"Ya, everyone knows about you, shank! It's the rest of us!" Leo piped up. Alex smiled. The guys all picked bunks. Alex just followed Minho, she sat down beside him on a bottom bunk. She rubbed her forehead. It was still pounding.

"You okay?"

Alex nodded, "just a headache. It's been a long few hours. Feels like forever...but we were still in the Glade yesterday at this time."

He rubbed her back. "Ya..ya it has. You want to lay down for a bit?"

Alex nodded again. "I'm going to go wash up, take this braid out. I'll be back in a few minutes."

Alex had pulled her tank top off and placed it on the counter beside the sink. She checked the scar where the doctor took the stitches out, and tried to see her back, see how healed it was after that device he used. To her amazement it was just a long pink line running from her right shoulder blade down to her left hip.

She pulled a few bathroom supplies out of the cupboard, which was nicely stocked. She washed her face and brushed her teeth. And started to undo the braid. It was really pretty, and made her feel like a warrior, but not comfortable to sleep in.

Sorry Tes. All your hard work.

There was a gentle knock on the door. "Just a second." She called.

"Alex...it's me. Can I come in?"

"Doors open." The door opened slowly. "Hey, what's up Newt?" She asked, smiling tiredly at him. He was looking at everything but her and he was playing with his fingers.

"Newt. What's wrong?" He closed the door and leaned on it.

"Ummm well...don't get mad, okay?" He glanced at her and shoved his hands into his pockets

Alex dropped her hands from her hair, crossing them over her chest, and turned to look at him. "No promises. But continue."

He sighed. "Just...just don't make a big scene about everything around here, alright? Just 'cause the coffee was the same...don't bloody mean anything. Maybe Director Janson really does just want to know everything they can about WICKED...they might actually be good guys." He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Ha. And I'm NOT gonna need therapy after this!" Alex rolled her eyes, "There is clearly something else going on. It seems way too suspicious, too convenient...too many similarities, Newt. Don't get comfortable. Why do you think they are the good guys?"

"Why do you want them to be bad so desperately?" He retorted, a frown on his face.

"I would love for them to be good guys, Newt. But. I trust my gut. And my gut says, don't trust that Rat Man! He's a creep and he's hiding something! They aren't who they say they are!" Alex challenged.

"No, Alex, you don't know that! The only thing that we do know is that they helped rescue us from WICKED. They gave us new clothes. They gave us food. They gave us a proper bed. Some of us haven't had that in a long time. Some of us a lot longer than others." He said, anger in his voice, he had taken a step forward, his finger pointing at her, his voice had risen in volume.

"You think just because someone swoops in and gives you a little comfort, they have your best interest in mind? You'll believe everything they spew at you? I thought you were smarter than that! Don't let them lull you into placidness! Don't be bloody stupid! Use your shucken brain Newt! You just don't want to use your eyes and SEE. Don't turn a blind eye!" She yelled back, she had poked him in the chest.

Newt's jaw was clenched and his hands were in fists.

"Ya you had 2 years in that hell hole. My 2 years trapped in WICKED risking my life to smuggle information wasn't a shucken walk in the bloody park either, Newton! Spying right under their noses...Don't try to pull that klunk on me. You know I'm not dumb enough to have that work on me! We both went through hell. Just on different roads!"

He didn't say anything, just turned on his heel and slammed the bathroom door shut behind him.

Alex groaned.

I needed Newt on my side. Why is he being so shucken stubborn?! That's my job! Shucken bloody boys!

She turned back to the mirror, averting her eyes hating what she saw staring back at her.

A shucken human and Griever chew toy.

She took a big breath in, closing her eyes in frustration. The bathroom door opened and closed.

"I'm not in the shucken mood Newt." She snapped

"Good thing I'm not that ugly shank then." Minho smirked.

Alex looked up into the mirror and saw him leaning on the wall, his arms crossed, smirking at her, his black t shirt was stretched tight over his muscles, with his kaki cargo pants and boots...

Well..that's hot! Shuck me! Black is definitely his colour.

He pushed off the wall and sauntered over behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on the top of her head. He looked into her eyes through the mirror. He smirked at her, his eyes going into crescent moons. Alex closed her eyes and leaned her head back into his chest. She felt his hand gently rub a thumb over the stone pendant necklace he gave her. She reached her hand up to also hold onto his promise.

"Hey...that's a new bruise. What did you do?" He wondered.

Alex opened her eyes, he brought her hand up to see it properly and rubbed a thumb over her knuckles. Alex sighed quietly.

"Umm, I may have had a umm...moment in the shower...and punched the tiled wall...twice..." she replied quietly, averting her eyes again.

Minho sighed. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you." He brought her hand to his lips and lightly brushed them across her bruised knuckles. "I need to get you a punching bag, instead of solid walls."

"I'd settle for a Dr. Ava Page's face. Or Rat Man. He has a very punchable face." Alex suggested with some sass.

Minho chuckled. "You can have the first punch. I get second."

"Deal."

"So...Captain Marshmallow?" He changed the subject.

Alex gasped, excited "OH! Ya, I gotta tell you some klunk!" She turned around to face him.

"Just before I got to the cafeteria, he pulled me to the side of the hall and was all like 'keep your eyes and ears open. Not everything is as it appears. Trust your gut soldier' and when he grabbed my shoulder I had a memory resurface. Or a few small ones. He was the guy that trained me, he was my squad captain. I don't know what we were training for or why. But we were booking it through some sand desert broken city...anyways. He was also the guy who helped me keep Bark a secret until she was taken from me and he also helped get that stolen info out of WICKED. No idea why he's here...unless..."

She trailed off her eyes growing wide. "No." She breathed.

Minho's hands slid to her neck, holding her jaw, rubbing her cheek with his thumb.

"Hey hey, Slim it Sunshine. Maybe he's here because he got away from them, just like us. K? Relax. I know you don't trust them. I don't either. But...they might not be who you think. Let's just wait and see. Like he said, keep our eyes open. Ya? And if it is...we'll kick their shuck butts and escape."

Alex sighed. Minho was right.

"Thank you. For believing me. Newt doesn't...or just doesn't want to."

"So I heard. You weren't exactly quiet." He chuckled. His smile slowly faded as he looked into her eyes. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Alex was quiet for a moment. "Are any of us really okay? We have seen some really shucked up stuff Min... I don't know how to answer that. Definitely gonna need some therapy when this is over. Were pretty shucked up." He just placed his forehead on hers.

"Hey min?" She asked quietly, unsure.

"Hmm?" he hummed. She was quiet for so long he opened his eyes and looked at her questioningly.

"What's up Alex?" She opened her mouth, but closed it and scrunched her face and looked away, she had pulled away, wrapping her arms around her bare stomach. She wouldn't meet his gaze. A small knowing smile formed on his lips.

"Are..are you..." She started but he cut her off with a quick kiss. He pulled back, looked her in the eyes.

"Alex. I will repeat myself until the day I die- and that better be a shuckin long time by the way- I. Love. You. All of you. Everything about you."

She looked at the ground and spoke quietly, blinking rapidly, trying to hold the self doubting tears in.

"...some of those other girls without-"

Minho interrupted her by lifting her chin and kissing her again, a little more roughly.

"I don't want them. I want you. I don't love them. I love you. I love this" he kissed the scar on her temple from the box. "And this one" he kissed the almost healed cut on the other side of her head from their escape from the Grievers.

"And this one too" he kissed her neck, where Chris's knife sliced. A shiver ran down her spine.

"And this one" He brushed his lips on the bite mark scar.

"And all of these" He kissed each thin white line on her shoulders and collarbone. He knelt down and moved her arms that were wrapped around herself, "And especially these" he whispered, looking up at her.

Her eyes were full of tears that threatened to fall. He smiled and left little soft kisses over her stomach, kissing each claw mark and knife cut left by a monster. Kissing everything better, healing her self doubt and shame. Alex's face was heating up. Her heart was beating much faster. His lips were soft and warm on her cold bare skin. She shivered. His kisses left hot tingly sensations everywhere. He rose back to his feet.

"There. I kissed them all better," He whispered, running his hand from her shoulder, up her neck and into her long red hair.

"I love you shuck face" She whispered "Thank you Minho..you make me feel...whole."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pushed up onto her toes and kissed him. He kissed her back hungrily. They kissed until they had to break for air. Alex's eyes fluttered open and up to his. His eyes were dark, but not black pits that scared her, they had a hunger, a fire and need in them. It made her blush.

He pulled her back, his hand tangled in her hair, pulling her head closer, his other hand slid up and down her back. Alex, slipped her hands under the hem of his shirt, and ran her hands up his sides, his quick intake of breath made her smirk. He pulled away just enough to look her in the eye, making sure she was still okay. Alex pushed his shirt up a little, raising her eyebrow and his sly smirk appeared. He untangled his hand from her hair, and grabbed the hem of his shirt and in a swift movement, his shirt was laying on the ground beside them. His hand found her hair again. Her hands slid up and down his back and abs, feeling every muscle with her finger tips. Their kisses got more passionate, her hands found their way up into his hair. She had to pull away for air again. Minho just moved his kisses down her jaw. His hands slid down to her waist, and then lower to her hips. He slowly pushed her back up against the counter top. He helped her sit up on top, never breaking their kisses. Alex wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him as close as possible. He was kissing and gently biting her neck, sucking on a few spots. She moaned when his lips hit a sweat spot. He smirked and did it again.

"Shuck Min!" He did it again. "Those are gonna leave marks!" She managed to breath out.

"Hmmm my love bites" he rumbled, "now no one will try anything on you."

"Well Dracula. How about my turn."

She moved her head so she could kiss right under his ear, where she first made him moan, back in the council room in the Glade. Sweet spot. His knees buckled, and he moaned, leaning his head back a little. His hands slid to her hips, gripping them hard when she went for the sweet spot again. He pulled her even closer, if that was possible. She could feel his exposed torso on hers, and feel his muscles tensing. She moved down his neck. Slowly kissing, biting and sucking. He let go of one hip and tangled his hand into her hair again.

"Alex..." He breathed. She nibbled right under his ear again.

"Holly shuck" he moaned again. He was panting now, his breathing was irregular and she could feel how fast his heart was racing. Alex definitely liked how she could make him weak kneed with a perfectly placed kiss. He pulled away and kissed her lips again, his tongue exploring her mouth.

Until there was banging on the bathroom door.

"HURRY THE SHUCK UP! SOME OF US HAVE TO PEE!"

Frypan yelled banging on the door. Alex and Minho pulled apart, startled at the noise. They forgot where they were for a moment, wrapped up in their own world. Alex's hair was a tangled mess, her face was red, her chest was rising and falling rapidly. She had little hickies up the side of her neck. Minho didn't look any better, but they both had stupid grins on their faces.

"I guess times up.." Alex panted.

"Shuckin shanks. They are the shuckiest shuck faced shucks that ever were! Someone always ruining the vibe." Minho whined.

Alex smiled, and slid off the counter. "One day love. One day we can have our own place and a door with a lock..."

"ARE YOU DONE? COME ON ALEX!" Frypan yelled again.

"SHUCKEN SLIM IT MAN! JUST A SECOND FRYPAN!" Alex yelled back. She turned back to Minho who was still smirking at her, his bare chest still heaving. All his muscles were still tense.

"They don't know you're here? Are they that dumb they didn't see you come in? Or that you're missing out there?!" She asked quietly. "Uh, How are we going to do this?"

"Do what?" He raised his eyebrows, "Oh you mean leave? Like this" Minho smirked at her and took a few quick strides to the door and flung it open, only to have Frypan and Newt fall onto the floor at his feet. Alex gasped. Minho glared down at them. Alex threw her hair up into a messy bun quickly.

"Can we help you shuck faced Shanks?" Minho growled, the guys scrambled to their feet.

"HA!" Fry yelled in triumph. "Told ya!"

Newt looked angry. "ALEX WHAT THE SHUCK ARE YOU DOING?" He yelled at her, ignoring Minho.

"Building a shucken snowman Newton. Why do you care what I'm doing in the bathroom?" She shot back, sarcasm dripping with every word.

"Because! I'm your bloody brother! And it's my job to keep you safe!" He was glaring at Minho now, who had walked back over and picked his shirt up off the floor.

"Excuse me? You will be a BLOODY brother in a minute!" She lunged at Newt

Minho chucked, pulling her back into his chest, before she could swing a fist at Newt. She continued yelling anyways, "Keep me safe from what exactly? From Rat Man? From WICKED? From my boyfriend's lips? What exactly are you suggesting?" Alex.

"Alex! He has no shirt on! And neither do you!" Newt pointed out.

"Wow good job, want a sticker for stating the obvious? Look Fry has shoes on! Whoopy-shucken'- do!" Alex's face was red as she yelled at him, pointing her hair brush at him threateningly. Minho still had his arms around her waist, making sure she really didn't throw fists.

"Newt, I've had to act like a shucken grown up way longer than I ever should have. I have made life or death decisions before being sent to the Glade. Stop acting like a bloody helicopter mother hen. If I want to make out in a bathroom with my boyfriend, the guy who makes me feel safe and loved and beautiful, then back the shuck off."

"Minho. Let.Me.Go. I'm done with this klunk head." She hissed, glaring at her brother. Minho let go and she pushed past Newt and Fry and stormed over to her bunk. Frypan had the decency to look ashamed. And none of the other guys made eye contact, too afraid of her wrath. A minute later Minho came over and plopped beside her, handing her the shirt she left behind.

"He's just being protective. I'd be the same if I had a little sister. Go easy on him."

She huffed. She gave him a sideways glance. "What'd he say to you?" she asked, taking his hand. He was quiet for a second.

"Nothin'." He put a smile on and changed the subject.

"Come here, let me help you untangle that hair" he leaned in and whispered, "it's my fault it's a mess!"

She laughed, "shuck ya it is."

She handed him the brush and he slowly and gently brushed out the tangles. Alex's eyes were growing heavy, while he brushed. It was soothing. Her head dropped but shot up again, eyes snapped open. Her eyes were getting heavy again. Minho chuckled at her. He lay down on his back, and pulled her down, she rolled so her back was facing the room. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close, she snuggled her face into his neck. A hand over his bare chest, feeling his heart, she scooted as close as she could get, wrapping a leg over him. Alex closed her eyes. He ran his fingers through her hair, kissed her forehead "sleep tight Sunshine. I'll keep you safe."

"I know." She sighed constantly. She was out in seconds.