A/N: I think that it's just so bizarre what happened in "Whatever Happened, Happened." I mean seriously. TIME TRAVEL + SAYID SHOOTING BEN = ??? kay.
Summary: "In thirty years he'll be a monster. But for now...he's still just a kid."
Monster
Kate smoothed sweaty bangs from Ben's forehead, his eyes closed in exhaustion and pain. She'd seen Juliet's hand deep inside his chest. Seen the blood and heard the gasping and shuddering noises he'd made moments before he'd stabilized. She'd felt the needle entering her and watched as her own blood traveled into the veins of Benjamin Linus, a boy who would be, in thirty years, a man she'd dream and desire to kill. To punish and torture and leave for dead.
But none of that mattered. Because he wasn't that man yet.
Sawyer set him down by the small bit of running water, soaking a rag and handing it to Kate. "You thinkin' the same thing I am?"
"If you're thinking about how thirsty you are, then yes," she said, humoring him. He rolled his eyes and jerked his head toward Ben's twitching form.
"Kate. This little piece of work here is gonna be a whole new piece of work in thirty years."
"I know."
"I don't think it's right, but there ain't nothin' stoppin' us from sayin' we left him with them and just set him here."
"They'd probably find him." Sawyer shook his head and scooped water into his hand and drank.
"It's just been strange, you know? I've been lookin' at this kid for three years. Watchin' him grow up with his old man. He's got some girlfriend, I think."
"Ben Linus has a girlfriend?" Kate asked, incredulous. Sawyer shrugged.
"I don't know. She's just some girl he's always with. They're thick as thieves. Surprised she ain't been runnin' from door to door, wonderin' where he is."
"Maybe she knows," Kate mused, placing the wet rag on the boy's neck.
"Yeah, maybe."
"I know what you're feeling though," she said quietly. Sawyer leaned back and looked at her quizzically. "Back home, off island, he tried to take Aaron. Big Ben, I mean. Or...older Ben. Or...anyway. And when I found out...when he told me that Aaron wasn't mine...I wanted to kill him. Sun had a gun to his throat. And he didn't even flinch. People have been trying to kill him for his entire life, I think. And I guess he just...is used to it."
"Maybe he figures that it'll happen when it happens. Always gotta be prepared for it." Kate nodded.
"Maybe. But..." She sighed and looked at the sky. "In thirty years, he'll be a monster. But for now...he's still just a kid. And as much as I hate what he'll be...I just can't hate this kid."
"He's adorable, ain't he?" Sawyer muttered sarcastically. Kate laughed.
"Yeah...in his own special way...he kind of is."
Sub A/N: I am NOT a Kate/Ben shipper. I HATE that pairing. But lil' Ben is just too damn cute.