Yayyy I finally got a review! I'm really excited about it. But in responce to the reviewer, I'm trying really hard to keep a steady update now that I've picked up this story again but sometimes life gets in the way and I can't always write, but I promise I will try my best(:

Chapter 23

After my rude awakening I went through my morning in a daze. I didn't hear if anyone acknowledged me, the only person who's presence could pull me out of my fog was Minho. Not even my favorite British Glader could get anything out of me. Shortly after I had finished whatever I could stomach I made my way to the showers.

Locking myself in the showers seemed to be the only way for me to get any peace, as much as I didn't want to think about my dream I wanted to at least remember who I am; or was. Turning the shower farthest from the door on and as hot as I could handle, I stripped down and steps into the scalding spray. It didn't take long for the bathroom to become hot and steamy and for the first time in a long time I could finally feel my muscles relax. I find that everyday were stuck in this Glade I get more and more tense, like something is coming I just don't know when and what.

I went through my usual bathing routine of scrubbing my skin until it was pink to get all the dirt and grime off then using the last of my coconut shampoo I asked the Creators to bring up to clean my hair. After I felt like I was clean enough, I dried off and slipped into my clean pair of shorts and a green t-shirt before slipping on my sneakers. I wasn't ready to face the other Gladers yet but since I am a Med-Jack I didn't really have much of a choice, some dumb shank is bound to need my help. As I went to leave the bathroom I swung open the door and saw Chuck standing there mid-knock.

"Oh klunk, sorry Jo I didn't know you were in here." He apologized a little flustered with a blush.

"Don't worry Chuck it's okay. I was just leaving anyways, I have to go to work anyways." I said and he followed me back to the Homestead as I deposited my dirty clothes onto my hammock, "Are you going to come with me or is Alby having you do things for him?" I asked as we headed towards the Sick Room. Before I could even walk in I heard the pained groans of a Glader.

"I'm gone for a day and everything turns to klunk." I exclaimed with some classic sass as I walked in and saw Clint and Jeff tending to a few Gladers leaving the one groaning like a baby for me.

"What the hell have you slintheads been doing while I was gone?" I asked as I walked over and examined the Glader I knew to be Daniel; a slicer. Somehow he had managed to slice his right hand wide open and he was holding it together with a rag that probably wasn't very clean.

"While you've been enjoying your alone time we had to patch up two Slicers, a Builder, and a shuckfaced Track Hoe." Jeff spoke up as he walked past me and into the back room. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his passive aggressive comment.

"Hey Jeff, next time you're mad at me just say it. Don't beat around the bush with all your passive aggressive bull klunk." I responded and he answered with a nod and a simple, "Will do." before handing me a jar of antiseptic, gauze pads and material to stitch up Daniel's wound.

Putting aside the negative feelings I turned to Daniel who had begun to squirm a little bit more. "Stay still will you?" I fixed him with a look of impatience, I didn't want to be here all day, at my words his eyes widened a little out of shock and he was still.

"No wonder Minho likes you so much." He huffs in between clenched teeth as I removed his makeshift bandage and began to clean his cut. His comment caught me a little off gaurd and I looked up from my work, the look I had on my face must have been something along the lines of confusion because he started to stutter.

"O-oh um..I mean, he spends a lot of time with you ya' know. When he's not in the Maze and klunk." His face turned beet red and he looked worried.

"Relax Daniel, I'm won't tell Minho." I said with a chuckle, shaking my head.

"Tell me what?" A familiar voice came from directly behind me, how in the bloody hell did he sneak up on me?

"Well speak of the devil." I spoke but didn't look at him, I could feel under my hands Daniel tense up and his skin went clammy. The Slicer let out a hiss when I stuck my needle through his skin to begin the stitching which earned another look from me.

"Daniel you need to relax or this will hurt more. You're pulling your skin tightly when you tense up like that." I try to coax him into a relaxed state but I can tell that the longer said Runner stands behind me the longer it will take before my patient can relax enough to get the job done so, I did what I had to do and I turned around and looked up at Minho.

"Hey Min, could you maybe go outside or something? You're making the poor shank nervous." My request just managed to set the frown on Minho's face deeper as he crossed his arms and his toned biceps flexed nicely. It took everything I had not to watch, I knew he didn't do it on purpose but it sure as hell was distracting.

"Not until this shuckface tells me what he said about me. Can't have the other Gladers thinkin' that they can go around spreading klunk rumors about me." This boys stubbornness and snarky attitude is going to cause me to roll my eyes so hard one day they're going to permanently be stuck in the back of my head.

"Minho get the hell out. I have a job to do and you're not making it easy." I nudged his leg with my foot since my hands were occupied, "I'll see you when I'm done and then you can ask him later." I turned back around and continued my work and after a few moments of hesitation I heard him turn around and stomp out. I let out a sigh of relief before looking back at Daniel who by now had gone pale.

"Thank god. Sorry Daniel, that was the best I could do. If you value your hide I suggest coming up with a really good lie to tell him. And I mean really good, he has a knack for being able to tell when someone's lying." I said with a sideways smile.

"Great. I'm dead." Was his only answer and I couldn't hold back the laughter that bubbled up from my stomach.

"You'll be fine, don't worry too much." I reassured him as I tied off his stitches and wrapped it in gauze and a bandage, "Okay clumsy shank, you're all finished. I want you to come see me for a least the next couple days so I can clean it and keep it from getting infected." I stood up, collecting my tools and tossing the trash with my gloves.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have one hot headed Runner to appease." I patted Daniel's shoulder on the way out of the Sick Room. I thought I was going to have to break the Runners little code and go into the Map Room to find him but it turns out he was standing outside, leaning against the wall waiting for me.

"What are you doing back already? I thought you were going to run the maze all day." I asked him as he pushed himself off the wall to walk beside me, I stopped when I got to the middle of the Glade where I enjoyed spending time laying in the warm grass soaking up the warmth the sunless sky has to offer.

He sat down next to me and leaned back onto his right hand with his left arm propped on his knee. The way we were sitting it was almost like he was sitting around me, I looked at him as I hugged my knees and rested my chin on the top of them.

"I was but Ben being the dumb shank that he is forgot to pack water and I wasn't about to let him have all mine so we came back. And I wanted to see how you were doing." His statement made me blush as he said it with conviction, he was actually worried about me. Maybe Daniel was right after all.

"Yeah I guess so, I felt better after my shower but I can't hide away forever. These shanks need me ya know? Besides, Jeff was a little angry that I had disappeared for a while." I replied with a shrug and I let my eyes travel to his throat and I could see the bruises that I had given to him peaking out from under the messy collar of his blue button up.

"Jesus Min, have you seen yourself?" I released my knees and shifted so I was sitting on them as I moved closer to him. He looked up at me and I couldn't tell what he was thinking, he kept a neutral look as he kept his eyes on my face. I hesitantly grasped the collar of his shirt, I almost didn't want to look but I needed to, I needed to see just how bad they were.

"They don't hurt ya know." I flicked my eyes from his neck to his eyes.

"Don't lie to me Minho, I know you better than that." I frowned and went back to the bruises. Moving the collar a little I saw bruises so dark they almost looked black, inhaling sharply I had to bite my lip to stop myself from tearing up.

"I..I'm so sorry Minho." I said quietly and all I could feel at the moment was overwhelming guilt as I avoided his stare. But it was no use, he could read me like a book.

"Dammit Jo, I told you they don't hurt. I've had much worse ya know. They'll go away in no time and I'll be fine. Besides, it's not like you did it on purpose so just drop it." He took my hands on his and gently removed them from his shirt. Normally statements like these could give off the impression that he was heartless but I knew better than that. I says these things to keep me from torturing myself but what he doesn't know is that, no matter how hard I will try to keep myself from thinking about it and feeling guilty there's nothing he can say or do that will stop it.

"At least let me help you so they'll heal faster. Please?" The tone of my voice was borderline begging and I'm never one to beg but for closure and some peace of mind I needed to help him in any way that I could.

"If that's what you want, do you think I'm stupid enough to think I can stop you?" He popped off his playful sass to help relieve the tension and thankfully it worked for the moment.

"No, no you're right. You couldn't stop me even if you wanted to." I grinned and stuck my tongue out at him and he rolled his eyes.

"Alright Red let's go. You damn stubborn shuckface." He stood up and helped me to my feet as we headed back to where we came from.

Minho's POV

After Jo kicked me out of the Sick Room I didn't stray far. I was going to wait for her right here so she didn't have to come find me. I came back to see her after all. In all honesty what happened between us this morning scared the living klunk out of me, I knew about her previous dreams and I saw her kick Gally's stupid ass but since she claimed she had no idea how she did it I let it go, but after this? I was curious, I wanted to find out what she dreamt about that would cause her to nearly choke me out.

Plus I wanted to find out what that dumb slinthead Daniel told her about me.

"Stupid slinthead, talking about me to Jo." I mutter under my breath, I her talking as she walks outside. I stay where I'm at and she finally spots me and comes over.

"I thought you had to run the Maze all day today." She inquired but I just shrugged in response and followed her as we headed towards the middle of the Glade where we both took a seat. I sat myself down with her in front of me, almost in between my legs.

"Yeah, Ben forgot to pack water so we had to come back, and I wanted to check on you." I stated, meaning every word. I was genuinely worried about her, something about this girl has got me wrapped around her dainty finger but I would never tell her that. She went on to tell me how she couldn't hide forever and that Jeff was irked that she's been gone when they needed her. I studied her face, she hugged her knees and I could see the exhaustion in her eyes.

It didn't take long for her to notice the bruises that formed on my neck from this morning, she was a smart girl, I knew she would eventually see them. I kept my eyes on her face as she adjusted herself and moved closer. At this point she was so close I could see the soft freckles on her nose from being out in the sun all the time and the gold flecks in her green eyes.

"They don't hurt." I told her, which was partially true. Sure they were sore and sensitive today but give it a day or two and I'll be fine. I'm a Runner after all, I'm always in pain. This is nothing.

"Don't lie to me Minho, I know you better than that." She frowns at me as she catches me in my little lie but I wasn't about to confirm it for her, instead I let her continue with her inspection. Her fingers lightly brushed my neck and the hairs on my body stood on end as I got goosebumps. Dammit she drives me crazy.

As she moves my collar a little more to expose the worst of the bruises I heard her sharp intake of breath and I caught the guilt in her eyes right before she looked away. She was quiet for a few moments before she apologized so quietly I almost didn't hear her.

I refused to sit here and allow her to beat herself up over this, "Dammit Jo, I told you they didn't hurt. I'll be fine, in a few days they'll be gone and it won't even matter. Just let it go." My words were a little harsh but I'm not one to sugar coat things and Jo isn't a weak little shuckface, shes tough so I know she can take it.

I knew she was going to want to help me in some Med-Jack related way but I wasn't going to say no. If that's what she wanted to do then fine, I'll let her.

"I'm not stupid as to think I can stop you from doing what you want you stubborn little shuckface." I turned our conversation into a light form of speaking, bringing my natural sass back and allowing hers to show to prevent her from becoming depressed.

She grinned and it swear it was like I was staring at the sun, it was the brightest thing I've seen in a long time, "No, no you're right. You couldn't stop me even if you wanted to." She laughs and I shake my head at her before I stand up and pull her to her feet.

"Alright Red let's go." I lead the way back to Sick Room so she can do anything she needs in order to ease her mind.

Ehhh well, I'm not too pleased with this chapter but what can I do. I have to write a filler or two every now and again. But I still hope everyone else likes it (: Please Review and I really appreciate it! Thank you!