Okay, Fine, I admit it. I snuck in on Minho while he was sleeping. He was okay for the most part, bandaged up in a few places where he'd accidently cut himself or something. And no, I didn't watch him sleep. I just popped in and made sure he was alive. Which he was. Just like he was an hour ago. I just… I had to make sure. He was my best friend, after all.
Thomas was okay too, had just drifted off to sleep when I came in. He was all curled in on himself, huddle in a little ball. It was cute, to say the least.
With a smile I slid from the room, running right smack into Chuckie who informed me that I was wanted in Alby's room.
I froze for a moment there. Think I scared Chuckie a bit, actually. The Serum. Alby needed the Serum. And they wanted me to be there. To watch. To… I couldn't- I was in charge of Ben and look what happened to him! Chuck was staring at me though, so I had to say something. And I did, however unintelligent it sounded. "Uh… yeah, got it, thanks Chuck."
Opening the door I came in quietly. Newt was there, as were Clint and Jeff. Alby lay on a cot behind them. His eyes closed and body unmoving. He was dying. He would die without the Serum. Taking a breath I stood next to Newt, brushing against him more than was strictly nessecary. "We ready?" I asked.
Clint nodded sullenly, holding up the syringe. "Hold him down."
I took his legs, Newt his right arm and chest while Jeff struggled on the left. Clint had inserted the needle into his vein, emptying the syringe before taking out the needle. Nothing happened at first. It never did. But after a minute or so, the thrashing started. His eyes snapped open, bloodshot and… wrong. Alby's eyes were a dark brown, cold and hard, but never crazed. Never like this. I cringed at the sight, my grip loosening just enough that his knee was able to collide with my jaw. Ow.
Shaking my head I practically laid across his legs to regain control.
Newt was struggling to keep the boy from sitting up. Jeff scrambled about for some kind of bonds to tie down his flailing arms. Newt grunted as Alby's elbow connected with his side. I bit my lip. As I said before, Alby was strong. That was going to hurt.
A lot.
Suddenly, he let out a scream. I flinched at the blood-curdling sound.
Oh, Alby… poor… poor Alby.
Alby had stopped thrashing about as much, his wrists bound to the sides of the cot to eliminate the amount of injuries received by the few of us. And so Newt had suggested we take shifts, adamantly stating that I should go take a rest. Clint had readily agreed after staring me down for a moment. "Yeah, she don't look so good."
I glared at the boy. "I'm fine."
Newt sighed, "MaC, just take a break, check on Minho for me."
He got me there. He knew I wanted to talk to Minho. I paused, deciding between my two options. "I… fine, fine…"
I noticed the impressed looks the two Med-Jacks gave him when gave in. He, didn't seem to notice however, as he was watching me. I fought the small upturn to my lips, unsuccessfully. He grinned back of course.
Scoffing, I exited the room. A few more steps and Thomas was in the way. He looked better, tired still, but… better. "Thomas," I said… not exactly a greeting, but a statement.
"Can I-"
"Thomas, no one's allowed in. He's going through the Changing," I said, taking a step towards him.
"MaC, I saved his life. I should at least-"
"Yes, and I've been meaning to thank you for that, but nobody's gonna thank you for barging in on a barely conscious, hallucinating boy who's been kicking and screaming and punching at anyone within two feet of him." I paused, laying a hand on his shoulder, "It'll just make it worse."
He nodded, tiredly.
"C'mon, you like you could use some rest." I said. And so I dragged him around to the Deadheads, only flinching at Alby's screams once or twice. He didn't say a words the whole time, only glancing down at our conjoined hands confusedly. Leading him to the patch of grass beside my favorite tree, I smiled sitting down and motioning for him to do the same. I sighed, looking up at the darkening ceiling of our fake sky.
He was watching me.
"MaC?"
"Yeeeesss?"
"Are you and Alby… were you two… close?" He asked, looking me in the eye as I turned to face him. I sighed, readjusting my sitting position and began to answer.
"Alby and I… well, we had a sort of special relationship. We fought more than anyone except maybe Gally and well… me, or Minho." I paused, not sure which one us fought with Gally more… Shrugging, I continued on, "But, I cared about him. And he cared about me, though he'd never admit it. The insults were threw at each other really didn't mean a thing. We… just… I guess you could say it's how we showed affection."
Thomas snorted.
I smiled, "Yeah… he protected me from some of the other boys. He's… Alby's a good guy. A bit rough around the edges… but good. He'd do anything for a friend. We all would… you included." I finished, nudging his arm. He smiled slightly.
Another one of Alby's screams pierced the air.
I closed my eyes tightly before opening them. "I have to go, take a nap, Tommy… you look like you need it."
He laughed, turning away. "See you later, MaC."