Ben was laid on his stomach with his back bare. The things coming out of him looked sore but they would hopefully heal soon. Rick had woken up just days before and he seemed to be settling in well. He remembered his dad when he saw him so Tom was hopeful for Ben. Rick had been ill before the invasion but after the harness all his symptoms had gone. Anne had checked him over and he seemed to be fine, except the things sticking out of his back. Hal had a damp cloth and was dabbing around the things trying to clean them up as much as possible and Matt had been sat on the side of the bed watching until Tom came in and sat him on his knee. They all sat around Ben waiting for him to wake up.
Anne came in the room and Tom gave her a weak smile. She looked at the room wondering where to start with the cleaning up. She picked up a bowl and started to wash her hands in it. Tom came over to the counter she was at.
"Do you high price surgeons ever sleep?" Tom asked while sitting down.
"I'm asleep right now." Replied Anne scrubbing at her hands.
"Hey, you did it," Tom said taking Anne's hands in his. "You saved him." Anne looked him in the eyes before bowing her head. It looked like she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words to.
"Dad." Tom heard Hal whisper. He turned around and saw Ben was moving. Tom ran over to Ben and knelt next to his bed. Ben slowly opened his eyes and took in what was in sight. His eyes then laid on his dad who smiled expectantly at him. He raised his head and looked confused.
"Who are you?" He muttered in a monotone voice.
"It's your dad, and your brothers Hal and Matt." Tom said hoping to jog his memory.
"Who are you?" He asked again, still clearly confused. Tom saw Hal turn to him, he glanced at Hal before turning back to Ben.
"You're safe now. You just need to get better." He said.
"I was safe where I was." Said Ben.
"Why is he talking like that dad?" Matt asked. Ben looked at Matt before looking back at his dad.
"Can you remember before you were taken?" Tom asked. Ben laid his head down on the pillow and closed his eyes.
"Maybe we should talk to him again in the morning?" Suggested Hal. Tom rubbed his brow before agreeing.
"I'm going to stay in here to keep an eye on him. Can you take Matt and find somewhere to sleep?" Asked Tom.
"Sure, come on Matt." Hal said standing up.
"Is he going to be okay?" Asked Matt.
"He'll be fine." Said Tom even though he didn't fully believe it himself at the moment.
It was a long restless night for Tom since he had to sleep on the chair next to Ben's bed, which wasn't designed to be slept on. Tom doubted it was even designed to be comfy. Ben hadn't moved all night and Tom hoped he would wake up soon. He thought maybe now he would remember from before the invasion and remember who he was. Hal and Matt entered the room.
"Dad, breakfast is getting served, do you want me to bring you and Ben some?" He asked standing at the door while Matt came running in and sat on his dad's knee.
"I'm not hungry but get something for Ben." Replied Tom.
"Sure." Said Hal leaving the clinic.
"Have you talked to him since last night?" Matt asked.
"He's slept straight through." Replied Tom.
"I wonder if he'll remember us this time." Matt wondered aloud.
"I hope so." Whispered Tom.
Hal returned with food for all four of them insisting his dad had to eat. Tom took Hal's advice more to keep him happy than the fact that he was actually hungry. Ben started to stir and made to sit up.
"Ben?" Tom asked. Ben didn't answer but just sat up and stared out of the window.
"What's wrong with him?" Asked Matt.
"Shall we go play catch, give dad a chance to catch up with Ben?" Hal asked grabbing Matt's arm. Matt reluctantly went with Hal. Tom waved his hand in front of Ben's face but his eyes were fixed on the window. It looked like he was waiting for something, but at the same time, like he had zoned out. Tom stood in between Ben and the window to obstruct his view. Ben fixed his eyes on his dad but still had the glazed look in his eyes.
"Can you hear me?" Tom asked bending over so he was face to face with his son.
"They'll come for me." Ben mumbled the same monotone voice as the day before.
"They won't because your safe here, and if they do come for you I won't let them take you."
"I want them to come for me." Said Ben.
"You're just confused. It's great here, it's no home like we had, but the people are nice. Come and meet some of them" Said Tom standing up holding out his arm so Ben could stand and be directed out the room. Ben didn't stand or make any movement. He just stared straight ahead. Tom dropped his arm and rubbed his beard like he did when he didn't know what to do. Rick hadn't acted like this so why was Ben? Had the couple of days longer it took to get Ben really made that much of a difference to his state of mind? Tom wanted to go find Anne to ask her thought on the matter but he didn't want to leave Ben alone. In an odd way he got the feeling Ben might not be safe to leave on his own. The way he was talking was as though he wanted to go back to the skitters. Ben mumbled something again but Tom didn't hear. He crouched down in front of his son and asked him what he'd said.
"I want the harness back, where is my harness?"