She assures Lennie has slept then grabs a pillow and stacks it under her head. She guides me to a coffee machine. "Coffee?" she asks after taking her warm cup. The bitter sweet smell refreshes my nostrils. I tighten my lips. "Little coffee once won't hurt," she laughs. "Don't tell anyone!"

I feel warm steam of my cup like a cuddle. Its taste is a cuddle too. Ah! Why did WICKED not offer coffee machines in the Glade?! I understand you didn't want us to know what was bloody going up there so you didn't send the TV, but what harm can this little blessing do?!

Dr. Whitman guides me to a sofa on the side. "So, what about Lezzy?" I ask.

"She's immune, like Thomas," she starts. "The special thing about immunes is a protecting Matter surrounding their brain and neurons. If you have it, you're immune; if not-"

"You're not. Do I have it now? Sorry, I know that's out of the topic."

"No," answers Dr. Whitman with a smile. "Your immunity is different. In fact, the first of its type. It's simpler, but it has beauty in its simplicity. You've to thank God WICKED is over, Newt, or Ava Page would've died for a specimen of your brain."

My eyes widen. She laughs. "Don't worry. Your brain's safe and sound. This's an oath."

I tighten my lips then ask to change the subject. "So, did you tell WICKED that you had an immune child?"

"I lied to WICKED to protect her," she answers. "I was with finding a cure, but I feared how far WICKED wanted to go.

'Before Lezzy, I had a son who didn't have the Matter. WICKED was interested in knowing whether immunity is common between children from same parents. Such information was important, but I knew what would happen if Lezzy was discovered, so I lied by giving wrong information that if the first child isn't immune, the others won't be; thus, Lezzy wasn't. It worked well at the beginning; however, in some way, Lezzy's immunity was discovered, and a year later, Lezzy was brought into WICKED as a subject."

"And the boy?"

Dr. Whitman tightens her lips and lays her head back. Her eyes shut, and a sparkle goes down her cheek. I know this look. I've worn it myself quite many times that I've forgotten what my look was.

"I'm sorry," I say in a trembling voice. "He's been spared of this fuzz we're in."

Dr. Whitman tightens her lips more and nods but doesn't answer.

"And Lennie? Did WICKED spare her?" I ask.

"WICKED didn't know Lennie existed," Dr. Whitman sneers. "Irony itself, considering she's born inside WICKED. Lennie was born shortly before Lezzy's immunity was discovered. I was having pains in hiding about Lezzy, so I took the short cut by not telling them about Lennie at all. I hid all the signs before and after she was born. Few suspects were there, but it all was successfully denied. Lennie was born with the help of a trusted nurse- Imelda, who then stayed with her. Fortunately, Len was a quiet baby, and she was raised to stay quiet and never leave the room, and she didn't until we left last year. Eleven years in the room"

I stare at my coffee as I struggle to hide my feelings. Eleven years in a room! My lord! Two years in the maze and we almost lost our minds! Yes, WICKED is so bloody good.

"That's a bit long time," I reply. She sips her coffee then proceeds.

"In the time she couldn't face the world, I brought her the world. My glasses had tiny cameras. I also hid a small microphone and a tiny earphone to talk with her when working alone. She watched and listened to everything on her tablet. She liked watching you and the Gladers even before the Glade. I know you can't remember this, Newt, but I was your doctor before you were sent. She liked you a lot, and you were the closest she got to anyone. As Lezzy had been assigned in B, I had found my way there so Len could see her sister. I couldn't reveal to Lezzy anything, of course."

My heart squeezes as I listen. It's not so easy when you don't exist for the closest to you. I imagine Sonya not having the tiniest idea that she has a mother looking after her and a little sister wishing just to meet her. Knowing hurts more than not knowing.

"After getting sent to the Glades," she continues, "I took night shifts so I could watch you and Lezzy falling asleep. Lennie watched in her room too. She wished to be in the Glade with you."

We take a sip of the coffees as I think of the Glade at night. Suddenly, a question hits that fills me with fear. I look up at her. "Dr, I know you know the real story of my limp- Neal told me everything. Please, tell me Lennie wasn't watching that."

"No," answers Dr. Whitman while looking at me in shock. "She had gone to sleep early that night. Even when she saw you, I told her the Griever's story."

My heart tightens. Dr. Whitman looks at her cup, her eyes dark for the film replaying there. "I should thank you for that night," I whisper for her, trying to keep my voice firm. She looks at me, her eyes red. "I'm just glad you're alright now," she answers. Suddenly then, she swipes my hair over my forehead and cups my face. "Glad you're here, love. Please, don't do it with yourself again," she whispers in broken voice, then rises and leaves.

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Hope you've liked this chapter. If so, please consider voting, and I would be pleased to have your feedback. There's lots of feelings in this chapter. Anyways, if you've read The Fever Code, do you think Lezzy really thought she had no one in the compound?? Thanks for reading so far.

GM.