hold me close, but not too close~newtmas

Chapter 14: Your Blood

PRESENT

The Safe Haven

Thomas

It wasn't until late afternoon that Newt had calmed. He slept on and off since sunrise, waking in fits of panic, disorientated and scared, but Thomas had been there each time.

He never left his side, just like he promised.

He dozed on the chair beside the bed, eyes fixated on Newt before he slept, frightened that if he closed his eyes, something bad would happen, and after, ensuring he was still there when he woke. Sometimes, he jolted awake to Newt's uneven breathing, sometimes it was just to him shifting or fixing the pillow behind his head.

It didn't stop him from assuming the worst, though.

His practiced shushing came in handy on the occasion that Newt woke afraid, unable to place where he was and how he had gotten there. He guided him past the confusion, reminding him that he was at the Safe Haven and that nothing could hurt him. He had said the words so many times it had become a mantra.

Each time, he kept Newt's mind from derailing, always there to steer it back on track.

Minho brought lunch and fresh water at midday. Even though he knew the suggestion would be pointless, he offered to swap places with Thomas, to take a shift and give his friend a break. Thomas point blank refused and Minho (thankfully) knew to accept rather than continue to insist.

He had left Thomas with "well, if you change your mind..." and that was the end of the conversation.

Throughout the day, Sonya, Harriet and Aris had stopped by the clinic to help Teresa unload the rest of the boxes from the day before. They transported the hospital beds into the clinic but hadn't yet switched out the old ones. It was better not to disturb Newt, they said, otherwise it would require picking him up, which Teresa wanted to avoid.

Marissa and Nadia carried out quick checks on Newt while he slept. "We'll only check him awake when he's relaxed," Nadia explained. "God knows what the poor kid's been through and we don't want to rush him into something that might upset him."

Other than that, they had been alone for the rest of the day. There was nothing in the air except unfinished conversations and unanswered questions. There were no sounds other than light breathing and rubbing material. There was nobody except for Thomas and Newt.

"It's good to see you, hermano," Jorge said as he pulled up a chair next to Brenda. "I would have come to see you earlier but Thomas was acting your guard dog, so I thought best not."

Newt did his best to smile, and Thomas did his best not to roll his eyes.

"If you're not ready to talk, we're not going to force you," Brenda comforted the blond, noticing the lack of reply.

"But, for the meantime, if you have any questions, we'd be happy to answer them," Gally offered.

They patiently waited by Newt's bed – Thomas, Minho, Gally, Frypan, Brenda, and Jorge – while Teresa stood by the door. Occasionally, Newt cast her a sour glance.

"How long has it been?" Newt asked. His voice was scratchy as if it hadn't been used for a while.

"Six months," Minho answered.

Newt only nodded as he processed the information. "I was a Crank, wasn't I? I had the Flare."

"You had the Flare," Thomas said this time. "But you weren't a Crank – not fully."

"But I was turning?"

Thomas jerked his chin in response. "What do you remember?"

"I remember everything." Newt looked between his friends. "Some things are a bit blurry; some things are still coming back to me. I remember the Glade, the Scorch, the City. I remember the months we spent searching for Minho, I remember a dam-" his eyes flickered to Thomas "-and I remember the train we heisted. It's all there, but parts of it are missing."