Gally Imagines

=FIFTY-TWO= The Right Thing

You rolled over in the darkness, not exactly sure what had awakened you but too tired to care. You were cold. You reached over for Gally to find his side of the bed empty, nothing but wrinkled sheets. You sat up in alarm, groggy mind spinning.

Gally? Where was he? Dan? Had Gally gone to... No. No, no, no, no!

Your feet hit the cold, hard ground, almost flying to where moonlight stretched a silvery finger through the partially-open door. Flinging it open, you almost tripped over a figure sitting just outside. It was Gally.

He glanced up, obviously noting your panicked expression. You were instantly relieved and guilt-ridden, inwardly berating yourself for having been so quick to think the worst of him.

"Gally," you breathed, needing to let out the knotted intake of air, wanting to break the uncertain silence. "What..." you clutched your arms tightly, trying to shield yourself from the chilling cold that slid around you, pricking goosebumps on your skin. "What are you doing out here?"

"Couldn't sleep," he answered simply as he continued to stare out across the dim, star-lit Glade, arms resting on his knees, slowly rubbing his thumb against the back of his hand absentmindedly. It was clear that something from the Council Hut was still bothering him, and your heart ached watching the struggle he was going through. It most certainly had something to do with Dan; however, you couldn't imagine what it was or why Gally felt so strongly about it. If he hadn't told you by now, you knew that he would work it out and come around on his own time. You just wanted him to know that you were there for him until then.

You silently slid to your knees beside him, resting your head lightly on his shoulder. You shut your eyes, trying in vain to mentally shove away the cold breeze and imagine yourself warm. Focusing on the steady rhythm of breathing and the low chirping of crickets, you found your tired mind slipping into darkness...

A terrifying scream jarred you out of the half-sleep you had fallen into. You blinked to clear the haze from your eyes, adrenaline shooting through your body. Gally was on his feet, fists instinctively clenched for a fight. You stood up beside him, staring across the Glade, looking for any sign of distress, movement, anything.

A few silhouettes of boys began to appear, stumbling out of the homestead, some of them gripping gardening tools—the first things they could get their hands on for self-defense. You looked up at Gally, but he remained transfixed. You followed his gaze, and realized he was locked onto the Pit. Your stomach flipped sickeningly. As you continued to stare, a boy emerged, raising his hands as he jogged towards the Gladers. You felt Gally go ridged, and you took a half-step back, until Jeff's familiar voice began echoing across the Glade.

"It's okay, it's okay! Dan is secured. I swear on my life, he's not going anywhere; he can't get out, he's too weak from blood loss and injuries. It's just the sting, it's making him go buggin' jacked. Everyone, just go back to sleep."

As if in a mock hilarity to that last statement, another sharp and horrifying scream thundered through the stillness of the night, seeming to intensify the cold wind. You shivered suddenly, chilled now that the initial flood of adrenaline wasn't so intense. You felt Gally's firm, large hand on your shoulder. His jaw was set, staring at the Pit. Then he tore his gaze away, focusing on you.

"You're freezing." His voice was deep, genuine concern for you coming through as the full realization sunk in.

He put an arm across your shoulders, guiding you back through the door. For some reason, you felt safer inside. There was something secure about having a door between you and Dan's horror-filled screams.

Your hands were enclosed in Gally's now as he rubbed them, bringing your fingers near his mouth and breathing hot air over them. The startlingly-warm sensation spread through your skin, sending a delighted rush through your cold-numbed body. You stepped in closer as he made his way down your arms. Then your lips were on his and he was kissing you, hard. You couldn't remember the last time he had kissed you this way, and you were deliriously light headed, overcome with butterflies, trembling in his arms, at his touch, utterly lost in the way he held you and the pure sincerity of the way he pressed his mouth to yours.