Disclaimer: I don't own Maze Runner.

I Don't Want to Lose Anyone Else

Teresa's mind was working overtime. If Brenda hadn't had a dose of serum in all this time, then the Flare must be gone. She had to make him understand. But he was turning away from her. Again. They'd dismissed her.

"No, Thomas! You don't understand. If Brenda hasn't succumbed by now, she won't! She's cured. Your blood is the cure!" They stared at her.

"Why should I believe you," Thomas asked.

She deserved that. "I have no reason to lie about this. Just let me take a little and give it to Newt. After that, your body is your own. You don't have to save anyone else. We can't possibly save the whole human race with only your blood anyway." She sighed, suddenly very tired, overwhelmed by the guilt she'd tried to keep at bay. "It's time to let nature take its course. Just please. Let me save Newt. For you." She glanced at Gally and Newt. "For all of you."

Thomas glanced at Newt. Newt stared back. Gally frowned, but didn't say anything, awaiting the decision of the best friends' silent conversation.

Newt finally shrugged. "If we get rid of it, I'll be less of a liability when we go to save Minho."

Thomas' eyes burned and his throat contracted as he swallowed. "I don't want to lose anyone else." He glanced at Gally and Brenda. "Do we have time?"

For a few moments, there was silence, and Thomas felt his heart pounding. Finally, Brenda nodded. "We can make time."

Gally finally spoke. "But can we trust her?"

"I don't trust her," Thomas said.

"Neither do I. But what do I have to lose?" Newt crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, failing to hide the pain that rippled through his veins.

"Okay." Gally nodded as Thomas stepped forward to help Newt to a chair.

Jorge stepped forward. "I watched Mary make the serum for Brenda. I'll keep an eye on this one. No wrong moves, sweetheart."

Teresa swallowed, but nodded. They couldn't save the human race. The Flare was too far gone. But she could help make Newt immune. She could atone for her sins and the pain she'd caused. She could help them to get a new life. And then the human race could start over.

…

The Safe Haven. Thomas watched the party going on around him and smiled. They'd saved Minho. They'd taken down WICKED. His smile dimmed as he remembered those they'd lost. He watched as the Gladers carved names into a rock slab.

"Chuck, Winston, Teresa." And countless others. Thomas watched as more people stepped up to write the names of those they'd lost. "Newt," Thomas sighed.

A hand clasped his shoulder. "Stop it. I know what you're thinking."

"I could have saved…"

The hand tightened on his shoulder. "You couldn't have saved everyone. No matter how much of your blood they'd taken, it never would have been enough."

"But Newt…"

"Stop it. Those people did horrible things in the name of a "cure." There is no justification for it, especially since they failed. Even if they'd had your blood, it wouldn't have been enough. The experiments would have continued. You wouldn't have been the only one to suffer."

"But maybe…"

"No, Tommy." Newt glared at him fiercely. "Your blood wouldn't have been enough for the whole population. They still would have continued the bloody experiments."

Thomas sighed, knowing his best friend was right.

Newt chuckled, letting his hand drop from Thomas' shoulder. "You've got to get over this hero complex."

"I do not have a hero complex!"

Newt stared at him until Thomas began to fidget. "I don't. I just didn't want to lose anyone else."

Newt smiled sadly. "I know." He slung his arm around Thomas' shoulders and began to guide his best friend back toward the fire. "And now we don't have to."