Disclaimer: We don't own Ben 10.

Chapter 2.

"Ben..."

"Ben!"

"BEN!"

Emerald eyes shot open and Ben looked around wildly. "Wha- Oh..." The last thing he remembered was a stabbing pain in his lower stomach and a splitting headache. Ben knew he must have closed his eyes, but he had no memory of what happened afterwards.

Rook's face was inches away from his, a look of deep worry on his face. "Ben, are you alright?"

"I'm-" God... Was that his voice he sounded terrible and his stomach-

His stomach felt hot and dear god it hurt.

Ben grimaced trying real hard not to show how sick he felt. What the hell happened? He felt at least ten times worse than he had in the morning. Whatever it was he'd prefer to keep it from his already worried boyfriend. "I've been better, dude." Ben finally managed to answer.

He looked around noticing smoke rising from the front of the truck. "...What happened?"

Rook's worried expression did not go away. "Our emergency landing became a crash landing when I lost control over the proto-truck." He began explaining which part of the truck must have been damaged during the attack.

Ben tried to listen to Rook's explanation, he really did, but the splitting headache was not helping and it seemed that every time he blinked Rook seemed to be at least three sentences further than before.

Something wasn't right. Sure, he had been sick before, but not like this.

"Rook I-" Ben stopped. The hot sensation in his stomach intensified and he felt bile rise up his throat. Instinctively one hand went up to cover his mouth while the other frantically tried to open the door.

Once the door was open Ben fell out of the truck landing in the soft snow of the planet they had apparently crashed on. Landing on his hand and knees Ben threw up what little breakfast he managed to eat that morning.

Rook quickly grabbed the tissue box and a bottle of water he kept in the truck and jumped out. He rubbed Ben's back as he got sick "Ben, I really doubt this is a small cold."

Ben continued to dry heave for a good five minutes. When he was done he took the tissue Rook was holding out for him and used it to wipe his mouth. "I-I think you're right." Ben said through chattering teeth.

He accepted the water bottle but his hands shook to much for him to drink some so Rook had to help him by supporting his hand and the back of his head.

Ben fell back against Rook's chest. Finally he saw where they were. Nothing but a snowy wasteland. "W-w-where are w-w-we?"

Feeling Ben shivering against him Rook starts to rub his hands up and down Ben's arms to help keep him warm. "Planet X'Neli."

"A-Arctiguana's p-planet?"

Rook nodded. "Yes. Come on, let us get back in the truck." He helped Ben stand up and get back in the truck. Rook went in the back and grabbed a first aid kit. He pulled out a thermometer and sat next to his shivering boyfriend. "Open."

Ben just sighed and let Rook stick the thermometer in his mouth. While waiting for it to beep, Rook wrapped his arms around Ben. When the thermometer went off Rook took it out and looked at the number. "Ben you said you had a small fever. Your temperature is over 100!"

"Huh?" Ben stared at Rook, his eyes glazed with fever. "I d-d-don't feel warm."

Rook had no trouble believing him, Ben's violent shivering was a statement to that. "Allow me to fix that." He pressed the button that would turn on the heater, instead the engine made a low rumbling sound before dying off.

"That doe-s-sn't s-s-s-sound good." Ben commented. The young hero curled up on his chair trying to warm up.

"It does not." Rook agreed. He tried turning the heater on again, but nothing happened. "It seems that the crash has done more damage to the proto-truck than I assumed." This time tried to start the truck but the only reward he got for his efforts was a rattling sound.

"So we're s-stuck till you fix the truck." Ben concluded, resting his chin on top of his knees and gazing ahead, not really seeing anything.

"I do not have the needed equipment with me." The damage was too much. Rook's mind was racing. They were stranded in the middle of nowhere and there was someone after them who was likely after the Anihilaarg. Ben was in no state to fight of any attackers -Brallada, Ben was in no state to be anywhere in this planet's climate! And-"

"Polar Monza- things..." Ben mumbled, interrupted Rook's worried thoughts

Rook's head wiped around to look at his boyfriend worried Ben might be delirious. "What?"

"Articguanas," Ben clarified. "T-t-they got to be around here somewhere... So maybe they h-h-have a village or something where you can g-g-get help. W-we just need to find them."

"Ben no!" Rook immediately protested shaking his head. "You are in no state to be walking though the snow outside."

"T-t-the truck isn't much warmer, Rook." Ben reminded his boyfriend, already sounding tired.

Rook looked outside then back at Ben, mentally debating with himself. After a few moments he sighed. "Fine, but you are not walking."

"R-R-Rook you d-d-don't need to c-carry me." Rook gave Ben a stern look. "Ben, in the state you are in you will not be able to walk long without collapsing."

Too tired to protest, Ben just groaned in annoyance. Rook went to the back and grabbed Ben's sweatshirt and his cloak. "We need to do our best to stay warm with what we have. Are you sure you want to do this Ben?"

Ben just rolled his eyes tiredly. "Better than f-f-freezing to death in the m-middle of nowhere."

Having no argument against that Rook wordlessly handed Ben his hoodie. Rook put on his cloak, he moved to help Ben with his hoodie, but Ben shook his head.

"I can do it myself." Ben muttered too stubborn to accept Rook's well meant help.

Rook sighed. He wanted to help Ben, but knew that if he tried it would just lead to another argument. Something Ben did not have the energy for. Instead he got out of the truck and walked over to the other side of the truck. Rook opened the door at the passenger seat in time to see Ben stuff the Anihilaarg in his pocket. "Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'm gonna get Rook." Ben answered.

Carefully Rook lifted Ben out of the truck. "Then lets go."

Feeling the cold wind hit him hard, Ben started to shiver even more and wrapped his arms around Rook. "O-o-k-kay."

Rook sighed and started walking. "I hope we find a village soon." Ben looked at Rook, noticing he hasn't been shivering at all.

"The cold d-d-doesn't seem t-to be bother-ring you."

"My fur and armor protect me from most of the cool air. that does not mean I do not feel it at all though."

"Hm... There's w-w-winter on Revonah too r-r-right?" Ben asked looking for something to distract him from the cold. The brightness of the snow was not helping with his headache

"There is," Rook answered, not halting in his pace. "although the temperature never drops below zero."

"So," Ben murmured, giving in to his headache and closing his eyes and resting his cheek against Rook's chest. "no snow?"

"No snow." Rook answered, his voice soft.

Ironically fifteen minutes after the Revonahgander's words, it started to snow.

Rook paused taking a moment to look at the sky. He'd never seen actual snow before. Sure he'd seen it in mission simulations at the academy, but that was nothing compared to the real thing.

"Pretty neat huh?"

Surprised Rook looked down. "I thought you had fallen asleep."

"Can't my head is killing me- It's just an expression." Ben added when he saw Rook's eyes widen in panic. "And then there's my stomach..."

Rook frowned. "You have not mentioned any stomach pains before."

"They w-w-weren't so bad before..." Ben mumbled his eyes sliding shut once again. "You s-should see the city when i-i-it s-sn-snows in Bellwood, Fuzzball." He felt so tired... "You'll love it..." Ben fell silent after that, his head dropping a bit.

Rook tensed up. "Ben?"

"It hurts Rook."

Rook swallowed, his body going stiff and he tightened his grip on his boyfriend. "H-hang ten Ben." The stutter in his voice had nothing to do with the cold.

Ben didn't correct Rook's misuse the expression. He just clenched his eyes shut when his stomach cramps got worse.

They continued on in silence for another hour or so. Subtly the snow that had been falling in a gentle drizzle developed into a full on snowstorm. Rook looked down at Ben in worry. Not wanting to stay out in the storm much longer Rook looked around for any kind of shelter. Thankfully he could make out a cave in the distance and headed right for it.

Once he got there he sat down on the cold stone ground and started to wipe the snow off his and Ben's clothes. "Ben are you alright?"

Ben's reply was a groan and more coughing. Using his cloak like a blanket, he wrapped it around himself and Ben to keep them as warm as possible. "Do not worry, everything will be alright." He wasn't sure if he was telling Ben that or himself.

While they waited for the storm to die down Rook saw a large figure coming their way. With one arm still wrapped tightly around Ben, Rook used the other one to reach for his proto-tool, ready to attack if necessary.

When the figure got close enough Rook could tell it was a Polar Manzardill. The Polar Manzardill walked into the cave and stared at Rook in surprise. "Are you the one who was in the ship that crashed?"

Rook slowly nodded. "Yes I am."

The alien looked over Rook to see if he had any injuries, not noticing the human under Rook's cloak. "We saw you crash from our home. Are you alright?" Right when he asked that Ben started to cough and moaned in pain. Rook moved his cloak out-of-the-way to look at Ben and looked back up at the Polar Manzardill with pleading eyes.

"Please, he is very sick and needs to get somewhere warm. Can you please help?" The Polar Manzardill got a good look at Ben. He hasn't seen many humans before but he was positive humans shouldn't be so pale. He took the large bag he had with him and pulled a blanket out of it.

"Take this and follow me. My village is not far."