Whatever It Takes | TDC fix-it fic |

Newt

Newt felt a sharp pain in his chest, then his mind focused. The pain ceased and his body went numb.
Looking at Tommy, his whole life flashed before his eyes. All of the good things, and none of the bad. Meeting Alby and Minho, all the good times the trio had together, Minho always cracking jokes to make Newt laugh. Then the Greenie, Thomas, coming up in the box. That boy really reignited Newt's spirit. He gave him hope again, hope for the future. Newt trusted him, he followed him everywhere. And he was with Tommy now, he was with him to the end.
"Tommy," Newt whispered, wanting to say a thousand words but having the energy for none.
It wasn't supposed to end like this. Newt had thought he was ready for death, but he still had a story to tell.
So when he fell to the ground and everything went dark, Newt held on to life.

Eventually, when Newt sat up, breathing heavily, he wasn't surprised to be alive. He knew he had to survive, and he did. His chest still hurt unbelievably but he could tell the Flare wasn't in his mind anymore. Tommy had saved him.
"Newt!" A familiar voice exclaimed.
Newt glanced over, hoping to see Thomas but seeing Teresa instead. At first, he wanted to be mad at her but he found that he couldn't. She had practically just saved his life, removing the knife and all.
"What happened?" she asked gently. Newt wanted to ask what happened to her and why she wasn't with Thomas, but he saved his questions for later.
Taking a deep breath, Newt recalled what had happened to him. Most of it was sketchy, only really remembering the parts when he was sane. "I-I can't really remember. I was turning into a crank. I knew I had to get Tommy's blood in me so I—" he blinked back the tears. "I hurt him, I hurt him to get his blood. Then I stabbed myself. I didn't mean to. I was just trying—" Newt stopped, feeling the weight of it all crash in. He hurt Thomas right before stabbing himself. Tommy probably left, thinking he was dead.
"Hey," Teresa said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright. You're okay now. Tom will be fine, I know he will. He's tough."
Newt knew that. Thomas would easily survive. But could he live with the guilt, knowing his blood was the cure? Newt didn't take that into consideration when he wrote his note. He knew that would crush Thomas. The boy would never truly be happy anymore, despite what Newt said in his letter.
   He had to get back to Tommy. He had to keep him happy. And he'd do whatever it takes to accomplish that.
"Look, right now," Teresa continued. "We have to get out of here before the whole city collapses. Okay?."
Newt nodded. "Yeah, you're right. But." He looked around, seeing destruction everywhere. "Where should we go?"
"There's an emergency Berg underground," Teresa answered, helping him to his feet. "We're going to meet Chuck there
and—"
Newt started to feel dizzy. He didn't know if it was from standing up suddenly or hearing this sudden news about Chuck.
   "Wait," he started, shaking his head to gather his thoughts. "Chuck? But . . . he died. Didn't he?"
"Not everybody from the Maze died."
Newt felt an unusual happiness fill him up inside as an idea formed. If others from the Maze survived, and he could get them to the safe haven, maybe Thomas could get the happiness he deserved.
   "Who else survived?" he asked hopefully.
Teresa told him.

Chuck and Ben were the only ones who survived the Maze and were still alive. Teresa said others had been extracted as well but they ended up dying in one way or another.
Newt tried to not completely resent Teresa when he found out.
"I'm sorry, Newt," she apologized suddenly, picking up on his mood. Newt was about to ask what for specifically, when she said, "for, well, everything."
Newt opened the door to the hangar, gathering his thoughts.
He wanted to forgive Teresa, especially now that the Flare wasn't infecting his thoughts, unlike last time. Though a little part of him still hated Teresa, he hated her for betraying them, for kidnapping Minho, and for torturing his best friend. Just as he was about to snap at her, he realized the truth. Teresa found the cure. She was the one who saved him in the end. Because of her, Newt could see Tommy again, and give him the happiness he deserved.
Newt finally smiled. "It's alright, that's in the past. But right now, we need to save Ben."
Teresa visibly relaxed as Newt accepted her apology, but then she frowned. "I don't know if we can," she explained hesitantly. "The buildings might've collapsed on him by now. He might already be gone."
Newt ignored most of her sentence. He didn't find out Ben was alive to just abandon him. "No way. I'm not leaving until I know for sure. Tell me where he is and I'll find him. You wait here for Chuck."
"Newt," she sighed. "You can't go, not in your condition. I'll go find him. You stay here and wait for Chuck. Once he gets here, get the Berg up and running. Okay?"
"But," Newt protested then sighed. "A'right fine. Just get him out of there."
Teresa nodded. "I will," she promised. And with that, she took off towards the room where Ben was held.
Newt turned back to the door Teresa told him Chuck would come through. It was old and seemed rusted to the wall. He would have a hard time opening it.
Looking around, Newt found a long metal pole. He could use it to break down the door.
Ignoring the throbbing pain in his chest, Newt swung, connecting with the door in a pound bang! It dented it but it was still shut tight. In a few more swings he got it open.
Newt stared into the dark tunnel, hoping to see the chubby cheeks and mop of curls that belong to Chuck, but nothing appeared.
"Chuck?" he called out. "Are you in here?"
"Newt?" A familiar voice asked. Chuck rounded the corner, his face lighting up when he saw the older boy. "Newt!" He sprinted, closing the distance between the two, then tackled him into a hug.
Newt was so happy, he had momentarily forgotten about his wound. He cried out in pain as Chuck collided with him.
"I'm so sorry," Chuck hurriedly apologized, bouncing back. "Are you hurt?"
Newt winced, gently rubbing his injury. "Just a stab to the chest is all," he said sarcastically. "Though Teresa patched it up pretty well. I'll be fine. Just no more surprise hugs."
Chuck agreed with a grin, boarding the Berg. Now the hard part of getting the Berg on.