Second Time Around // Newt x Reader

26

"Well, it's been one hell of a day, don't ya think?" Minho said as he threw himself into a chair. It groaned in protest, but didn't falter.

"One hell of a day is right," Gally breathed.

River still clung to your shirt, as if it was her life source. She had calmed down and stopped crying a while ago. She was sitting in your lap, head buried in your shoulder, probably sleeping. You didn't bother looking, afraid that if she was, you'd wake her. And you never want to wake River up from a nap. Gally had bruises and scratches for days one time after waking River up from a nap to eat. No one could stop laughing.

What happened next snapped you out of your thoughts. A loud boom! sounded out through the Glade, making everyone freeze. River bolted awake and had a murderous glint in her eyes; it made you want to put her down and run. But at the same time, you wanted to hold her closer, make sure nothing hurt her again. You were standing with her protectively clung to your side.

Newt was already beside you, holding an arm behind your back to make sure you stayed by him. Alby, Minho, Thomas, and Gally were rushing out the door, trying to see what had happened. A lot of things had happened in the last week and a half. You were surprised nothing came flying through the door when Alby opened it. But when they came rushing back inside, you knew something was up. Even before Alby entered the Homestead he was flinging orders around, shouting to get inside and bar the door.

That's when it dawned on you. It was the tenth day, wasn't it?

Oh, shuck, You thought, regretting how bad your memory had become. You were turning into a grandma at (16/17) years old. Damn family genes.

"Get a table over here!" Minho was shouting. The Homestead was in chaos. Everyone was racing around the room, pulling chairs, tables, desks, (you were pretty sure someone was carrying a mini fridge - or it was just your imagination) anything they could get their hands on to block the doors and windows.

Crashes, bangs, booms, and thuds came from every window, door, and wall. Explosions detonated from a ways away but sounded like they were right on the other side of the wall. The groans and screeches of Cranks outside the windows made River bury her head in your shoulder and scream. The menacing click, click, whirl of the Grievers were distant, but still there.

"How in hell are we going to get out of here?" You yelped as a bang came from the wall behind you. Newt tugged your arm, pulling you into his chest.

"That would be great to know," He replied, looking around for something.

Thomas and Gally were somehow keeping the door closed. Minho was by a window, securing it. Alby and the rest were sprinting up and down stairs, searching for anything to fend off the attackers with; the best they had so far was various medal pipes they had laying around in a storage closet. Enough to ward off the Cranks some, but not so much the Grievers.

"(Y/N). . ." A weak voice called to you from below. You looked down. River still had her head buried in your shoulder, and you felt her shaking. "(Y/N). . . Make it stop," You were surprised that you could hear her with how small her voice was.

"It's okay," You murmured into her hair as you kissed her head, tightening your grip on her. "It's fine. We're okay," You weren't sure who you were trying it calm down, yourself or the five year old in your arms. You squeezed your eyes shut as another explosion went off; River whimpered into your shirt.

Then suddenly, everything stopped.

The Cranks, the Grievers, the exposions - everything. Now it was just. . . quiet. Not a sound, no one dared to breathe or move, let alone make a sound. A pin dropping would have made you jump five feet in the air and run for the hills. A sharp intake of breath was heard, then you realized, it was you. Everyone was slowly calming down, but you knew the moment you let your guard down she would strike. Taking your life and everyone else's here.

You heard Newt started breathing again behind you. Either his breathing was slow and inaudible, or you were too focused on everything else happening around you.

Your fear spiked when you heard a pebble hitting against pavement; like the sound when you kick a rick on the sidewalk. Without moving your head, you eyed the wall closest to you, looking for any signs of movement through the holes in the threaded wood and planks. When you spotted something shinny move on the other side, your heart stopped, stomach lurching into your throat. You slowly moved your hand over, slightly brushing the veins on the back of Newt's hand. Snaking your finger around his wrist, you took a step toward the middle of the room, trying to stay away from the walls. After a few times, the others following your example. Minho grabbed Thomas by the elbow and tugged him slowly next to him, side stepping his way closer to the middle of the room. Gally, Gabi, Alby, Teresa and Chuck were already there, Winston closer then the rest. Frypan had been on the stairs, he tried not to hit the squeaky steps on his way down, but that would be impossible, knowing that all the stairs squeaked. Some louder than others. So to be safe, he stepped with his feet hitting the walls, on the sides of the stairs. You could practically see him praying each time his foot hit a step.

You eventually hit Minho's back, who was standing next to Thomas and Chuck. Thomas had a hand held tightly onto Chuck's arm. You knew he was not letting go for anything.

There was rustling outside the door, you studied the movement out of the corner of your eye. The glint of metal in the sun, the sound of Cranks dragging themselves, then, more silence. Nothing had been so terrifying. Nothing. This was the scariest thing you have ever been through. No one spoke, still not daring it on a soul. The air seemed clearer somehow. Like a spell had been lifted, or an evil exorcised. River lifted her head slowly, looking around. You relaxed a little, seeing her face. It had the strangest mixture of calm and traumatized. You knew how she felt.

"Are they gone?" Minho asked, his voice so low you had to replay it in your mind a couple times to make out what he said.

Alby was the first to move, taking long, slow strides towards the nearest window. The Cranks didn't block the view anymore. "They're scuttling back into the Maze," His voice stern and concerned.

A perfect leader, You thought.

"Probably crawling back into the hole they came from,"

"We should go now, then," Thomas said. "They're gone, right?"

"But if we leave now there's still an entrance for them to come back in. We wait 'till the doors close. Plus there are still a few stragglers who could call their friends right on back,"

"We wait then," Minho agreed.

A series of nods and grumbles. The grumbles mostly from Gally, who looked as if he didn't want to be here anymore.

The sudden thought occurred to you that you were still holding on to Newt's wrist, so tight it may be painful. You let your grip loosen. Your finger tips barely leaving his skin before he grabbed your hand back, fully holding it now. You would have smiled, if it wasn't for the terrified look in his eyes. Newt looked at you, silently pleading for you to get the resent events out of his mind quick.

You shifted River from one hip to another, an idea forming.

"Do you want me to hold her?" Newt asked. "Does her ankle still hurt?"

You looked at River. "Well," You said, "Does it?"

River didn't answer, she seemed to be deep in thought. She is way to young to do that.

"River?" You tried again, this time successfully getting her attention. "Do you want Newt to hold you? Or do you want to stand?"

She didn't say a word, just leaned in Newt's direction, letting him grab her under her arms. He had to let go of your hand. The sudden lack of heat and pressure made you feel a little disappointed, even though it was quickly wiped away by how cute he was with River.

Dang, You kept this thought to yourself, not letting anyone else hear it. I did good picking my family.

The walls held sturdy.