"Ow! Stop, it hurts!" Eve rolled her body away as best she could. Her left shoulder had been strapped down to the sickbed with ropes. Jeff sat beside her, dapping at her open wound with a damp, soapy cloth. He smirked at her, picking another speck of debris off her wound.

"It will hurt less if you stop moving," He was amused; there was no fear left. She had not lost enough blood to be in danger and nothing had broken during her fall. She was understandably shaken and the deep cuts would take time to heal. But they would be fine once any risk of infection was cleared. With Eve's permission, he had completely removed her flannel, leaving her with only a white cotton shirt.

He finished cleaning off her shoulder and wiped it dry, adjusting his position to begin the same task on her chest. Eve squirmed and grimaced.

"Can't you just leave me to die?!"

Jeff rolled his eyes.

"Don't be dramatic, you haven't lost enough blood for that. How did this happen anyway? I didn't peg you for the careless type,"

Eve squealed, her eyes squeezed shut, as Jeff dug gently under her skin to remove some dirt further into the wound.

"I was talking to Gally, owwww! We were fighting, ugghhhh!" Jeff cleaned off the gash and sat back, cleaning the cloth in the bloodied water.

"Fighting? Up a tree? What, did he complain about your choice of a branch or something?"

Eve opened her eyes slowly and Jeff smiled at her, a twinkle of laughter in his eye. The wounds were tender, pink and plumb, the swelling only just beginning to develop. He needed to get them bandaged while they were clean. Reaching back over the bed, Jeff grabbed a roll of tensor bandage. The supplies they received each month were always thorough; prepared for any occasion.

Eve glared at the Med Jack, angry in her pain.

"We were fighting about me. About why the hell I'm here. About how everyone keeps talking about me bearing children!"

Jeff's eyes widened, his cheeks flushing ever so slightly. Then he frowned, his eyebrows knitting together.

"I haven't heard anything about that,"

Eve rolled her eyes, sarcastic.

"Yeah, yeah. It's a big secret that you're all keeping from me,"

Jeff didn't respond for a moment and then he laughed, beginning to unroll the bandage.

"Why would we keep something like that from you?"

"I don't know, that's what I want to know!"

Jeff shook his head, confused and a tad uncomfortable.

"Look. I know for a fact that, if this was ever part of Alby's plan, he would have asked you before even considering it. He wouldn't spread the idea around and leave you to find out later. How sick do you think we are?"

Eve opened her mouth, another retort on her lips. But then she closed it. Jeff took the opportunity to pick up her arm, turning her shoulder inward to get the cloth around. He began wrapping up the area carefully, tightly but not restricting. Eve looked back at him, quiet and thoughtful.

"Well if no one thinks that, then why… why…? Gally said-,"

"What did Gally say about it?" Jeff was curious as to where she had gotten the idea. Eve closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them again, suddenly confused.

"He didn't want to talk about it, he was avoiding my questions. I thought… I thought he wasn't supposed to talk about it with me. I thought it was a secret," Eve brought her fingers to her mouth. "Why would he act like that if it wasn't?"

Jeff couldn't help but laugh, finishing off on her shoulder with a cheerful grin on his face. Eve watched him, confusion flitting in her eyes.

"Am I missing something?"

Jeff nodded and sighed with a chuckle.

"You think something like that is easy to discuss? You think Gally, - keep in mind he's the biggest brute here - you think he likes talking about childbearing?"

Eve blushed, fire starting in her cheeks. She shrunk back onto the bed as Jeff continued to laugh.

"I can't believe you thought we were planning something like that without you!" Jeff stood up and back, pulling out some more bandage for the gash on her chest. Eve was becoming flustered and embarrassed.

"Well, how was I supposed to know that?"

Jeff sat back down, adhesive bandages in his hands.

"You've known Gally for a month, right? He's not the kind of guy who likes to talk about stuff like that. Hell, what guy here actually would? Certainly not me!"

Eve rubbed her face with her free hand, looking completely defeated now.

"Oh…. Gally is going to kill me. I called him a savage,"

Jeff chuckled.

"You're probably dead as it is. What gave you this idea?"

Eve looked away, her cheeks still burning from embarrassment.

"Well… I guess I thought that was what I was sent here for,"

Jeff didn't respond right away. He knew what she said was a possibility, but the likeliness of them actually trying it was slim at best. Besides, what was the point? Minho was trying to solve a Maze out there. Besides, if the people responsible for all of this expected them to get out, why would they want them to procreate?

"I don't think you should worry about that. You're just as good as any of the boys that have come up. Look how far you and Gally have come on that roof! Even Newt enjoys the touch you've given his garden. Just because you're a different gender doesn't change how much of an asset you've become,"

"Gally said bad things usually happen when things change," Eve's voice was small, her eyes sad. Jeff could tell she was struggling and he smiled encouragingly at her, finishing off the bandage.

"Bad things happen whether a change is a factor or not. Look at you. There was no major change when you came up. And it's been a month now,"

Eve nodded slowly, seeming to take Jeff's words seriously. Jeff smiled again and stood up, closing his kit and stepping around the bed to put it away.

"Well, that's all I can do for your wounds right now. Can you move your arm?"

Eve sat up, slowly, wincing as she felt her wounds move under the bandage. She lifted her left arm above her head, grimacing, but not entirely impaired. Jeff nodded his approval as she moved through a few more ranges.

"Seems like it'll just take time for the healing to kick in. Maybe you can help Newt out in the garden for the rest of the day and take it easy tonight. Try not to lift anything above your head for a while. Give it a day or two and we'll see how it goes,"

Eve nodded and Jeff smiled, turning around to rinse out his bowl.

"Wait!"

Jeff turned back.

"Yep?"

"What about my shirt?"

Jeff looked down at the floor. Her red flannel shirt was ripped in half, no longer usable. The Med Jack shrugged, nodding to her undershirt.

"Not comfortable with that? It would be cooler,"

Eve's eyes widened.

"I'm not walking out there like this!"

Jeff flipped his hands up, arms akimbo.

"We don't have much more to offer. They don't send up much in terms of clothes,"

Eve looked distraught.

"Why didn't you just take my shirt off? You didn't have to rip it open!"

Jeff smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck with a palm.

"Still wasn't sure I could move your shoulder that much. I didn't want to make anything worse or rip up your shoulder any more than you already did,"

Eve groaned and fell back onto the bed. Jeff couldn't help but smile, folding his arms over his chest.

"Just use what you have for now and I'll see if I can find anything for you later. I know it isn't the same, but nothing shows and no one is going to care,"

Eve glared at him and Jeff took it as his cue to leave. He rinsed the bowl and returned his supplies. When he came back, Eve was sitting up once more, biting the corner of her lip as she looked toward the door. Jeff gestured outdoors.

"C'mon, Newt will need help. I heard Alby is testing out the Greenie for running today. No one is going to be around,"

Eve sighed heavily and stood up, keeping as much pressure off of her arm as possible. She smiled bleakly at Jeff.

"Thank you for patching me up,"

Jeff smiled and nodded quietly.

"You're welcome,"

Eve smiled again and ducked under the covering of the Med Jack hut. Jeff shook his head as he turned back around.

"This place gets crazier and crazier, I swear,"

Newt turned from a small bushel of zucchini when he heard the shuffle of feet behind him. Eve stood a few feet away, her arms curled around her chest tightly. He noticed that she no longer wore her red flannel shirt, just a thin white tank top. Eve would not meet his eye as she stood looking to her left.

"Jeff finished off with you quick. How are you feeling?"

Eve looked at her feet, shuffling a small pebble around with her toe. Her shoulder and half of her chest were bandaged with the lightweight tensor bandage.

"Jeff doesn't want me to lift my arm over my head. I can't climb until it's closed up. Gally will be working alone…," Eve looked up at Newt, tears in her eyes. "It's my fault, you know. We were supposed to finish the roof today," A tear rolled down her cheek and she looked away. Newt stood from his crouched position.

"Hey, hey, don't cry. It's not as bad as all that, love,"

Eve whimpered as she tried to speak.

"Now Gally is gonna have to get the branches. He won't finish until tomorrow," She wiped at her eyes, turning away from Newt. Eve hated to cry in front of the boys; she thought it made her look weak. Newt smiled again, almost amused. Gently, he took her by the elbows and turned her around, pointing across the Glade to the dugout.

"Look,"

Gally, Winston and Minho were sitting together on stumps. They were chopping away at the sticks Eve and Gally had collected that morning. Winston was tying off the finished branches and they looked about ready to put it all on the roof. Eve looked confused, glancing back at Newt, shocked.

"But- but weren't Minho and Winston supposed to go running today?" Eve suddenly covered her mouth with her hand, she only lowered it to ask in an apologetic voice. "Did they.. did they not go because I wasn't there to help Gally?

Newt shook his head, quick to calm her.

"Nah, the new Greenie took a race around the Glade with Minho and Winston and he turned out to be a lot faster than Winston. Minho and the new one, Ben is his name, will go out tomorrow. Alby doesn't want to throw the Greenie out too quickly,"

Eve took a deep breath, covering her mouth with both hands as she squeezed her eyes shut. She shook her head, drying the tears from her eyes.

"I should've just kept my mouth shut,"

Newt chuckled gently.

"Don't sweat it, Eve. Gally's fallen from the trees before. Hell, so have I. We were out for a day or two. It happens. Besides, you can still work. Jeff sent you to me, right? The boys will finish the roof today and Winston can help Gally until you're ready,"

Eve nodded slowly, seeming to accept what Newt was telling her.

"So, the three of us will be working on the tower?"

Newt shook his head.

"Winston may help now and again, but Alby decided to make Winston a Slicer,"

Eve frowned, confused.

"A Slicer?"

Newt smiled, wiggling his eyebrows.

"He's gonna slice up our animals. You know, for meals and such,"

Eve's face drained of colour.

"Oh,"

Newt laughed and bent down beside the zucchinis once more.

"Don't worry. He'll have cleaned up all the blood before he gets to you and Gally,"

Eve stared at Newt; the skinny sandy blonde merely tended to the vegetables. After a moment, Eve dropped down beside him.

"What can I do?"

The night came slower than usual and as the light finally began to fade, the boys began to gather around the fire pit. Fry Pan had cooked up another great meal and the celebration of their newest Greenie was in full flight. Gally's mysterious amber concoction was passed around and laughter filled the air as Ben was introduced into the group.

He was slightly disoriented with all that was around him, but he had adapted fairly well. After Alby had explained the situation at hand, he had raced with Minho around the Glade. Now, he was willing to do all he could to run the Maze.

Once it had all been settled, the seriousness of life was forgotten and they celebrated Ben up to the sky.

Eve sat on a rock not far from the fire, but further from the boy's than usual. Not that anyone noticed; Gally walked into the Fight Ring and the Glader's had begun to tussle with each other. Holding a jar full of the amber moonshine, she watched the fire dance over the stone. It was not until she saw a shadow fall across the flickering stone that she looked up. Alby was leaning against the stone beside her, his arms across his chest as he watched Gally and Minho go at it. It almost looked like Minho might take it, but Gally hadn't lost yet; they would know soon enough.

Eve did not look at Alby, feigning interest in her shoes instead. The Glade leader broke the silence after a minute.

"So, Jeff told me about you and Gally's argument,"

Eve closed her eyes and sighed, feeling some sort of lecture coming on. Alby chuckled as he watched Minho fall two inches within the ring, still in the game. After he received no response from Eve, he tried again.

"Was that why you fell?"

Eve nodded, sullenly.

"Yes," her voice was quiet, sinking almost below hearing as it often did when she was upset. Alby nodded and waited for her to continue.

Eve sighed. Alby was not going to let up.

"I thought you were keeping it from me,"

"Keeping what from you?"

Eve rolled her eyes. He knew exactly what, but was waiting for her to say it out loud.

"If I was brought up here for procreation," she looked at her feet again as she spoke. "I thought you were thinking about it and not telling me,"

Alby nodded again and looked down, tilting up his gaze to look out at the scuffling boys.

"And you found out we weren't?"

Eve nodded, taking a small sip of her drink and instantly regretting it. She made a face and set down the jar; she had no idea why she actually drank the liquid.

"I know, it was stupid of me. But the way Gally was avoiding it… I just thought, for a moment... that it was true. And then the whole thing blew out of proportion. I never meant to get so upset. There's just something about trying to discuss something with Gally… it's- I mean it's really-,"

"Impossible?"

Eve stared into the fire and nodded.

"I guess so,"

"That's just how Gally is, he's very strong-headed. And you're very soft-willed," Alby held up his hands as Eve gave him a look. "You have to admit it, you don't like to cause trouble. I've seen you side with Gally just to avoid an argument," He looked at her, amusement twinkling in his eyes. Eve looked down again; she knew he was right. Alby continued.

"It's just the things we have to learn to deal with living together. Have you ever tried picking a cucumber too early? Newt won't let you forget it too quickly,"

Eve sniffed, smiling softly. Alby looked back out at the boys. Minho had lost and Gally stood in the ring, waiting for his next opposer. The Glader's were trying to convince Ben to try it out and Gally only added to the goading. Soon enough, Ben was in the ring and squaring up as best he could to the blonde giant.

Alby spoke again.

"Have you spoken to Gally since?"

Eve shook her head, suddenly becoming tense.

"No. I know I need to thank him for helping me. I'm not sure he'll want to talk to me though. He sounded pretty upset when we got to the Med Jack hut,"

Alby nodded, chuckling gently.

"He certainly sounded that way, I haven't seen him that angry in a while,"

Eve cringed and brought her knees up to her chin. The night was only getting colder with every passing moment. She was either going to have to sit closer to the fire or go to bed if she was going to feel any warmer. But the idea of sleeping next to a ticking time bomb didn't suit her.

"Do you think he'll forgive me?"

Alby nodded slowly, watching the new fight progress. Gally overcame the new Glader easily, but only because Ben was not comfortable enough to go all out yet. He would get there.

"He will. But trying to apologize while he's angry won't do much good. Give him time to cool off. He may not verbally forgive you, - it's not a strong suit of his - but he'll come around,"

Eve nodded and picked up her jar, the glass felt cold on her fingers and she set it down again. She was too cold to stay away from the fire any longer. Standing up slowly, she nodded to Alby, a thankful smile on her face.

"Thank you,"

Alby nodded and she walked over to the fire. Fry Pan caught her eye as she walked past and he smiled at her.

"Hungry?" He gestured to the pot by the fire.

Eve smiled and shook her head.

"Thank you, it was delicious though,"

Fry Pan nodded and turned back to the fight. Ben was tossed out of the ring and the boys were cheering him on as he rose unsteadily to his feet. He had lost, but he had given it a try and that was all that mattered. Alby soon joined in, clapping his hands along with the other boys.

"Let's hear it for our new Greenie!"

The boys cheered him on and Ben ducked his head, still adjusting himself after his fall. Gally clapped along with the Glader's and even slapped him on the back in good nature. The cheering died down and Alby spoke up.

"Douse the fire Fry, tomorrow's another day and there's a lot to be done. Ben, you'll be joining Minho tomorrow, make sure you're geared up,"

Ben nodded and the celebration commenced.

As Winston and Newt helped Fry Pan kill the fire, an echoing cry split the air. The Glader's froze and looked out to the Maze. Another cry seemed to answer the first one and yet another came after that. Each one seemed louder than the last, their unearthly cries echoing again and again off the stone walls. One last final screech rang around them and the blood of the Glader's froze in their veins.

Then there was silence. In the Maze and the Glade. The cruel reality came flooding back to the boys and all feelings of happiness drowned in a heartbeat. Fry Pan finished staving the last of the ashes and the Glader's trudged to their hammocks in silence. The groaning of the Maze changing once again shook the earth, the final nail in the coffin in their hopefulness.