Sorry if this isn't the best. I kind of just whipped this together. I needed to tell you readers something. Please read my A/N at the bottom.
R&R! And all that stuff that I usually do. Enjoy! (I hope)
The next day at lunch, Hal was still thinking about Ben. He had come to stay at Charleston for a little while, but then left again.
"Hey Ben. You alright? You seem a bit off today," Hal said to his brother. They were sitting in Hal's room. Ben had requested it. He said that there was something important he needed to talk about.
"Yeah. Well, um, no," Ben replied.
"No? What's wrong?"
"Um,"
"Come on. You can tell me."
"I'm leaving."
"What?"
"I have to leave again."
"Again? Why?"
"Because. Well, I've been here for a few weeks already. And they've been nice. But I can't continue to hide here. I need to continue the fight."
"We are continuing the fight."
"I mean with the rebel skitters. Red Eye's dead. I feel like I need to carry on what he'd started with the de-harnessed kids and the other rebels."
"They've been fighting fine without you. You don't need to go."
"I think I do."
"You've been managing it all here."
"I know. But we need to get another plan of attack together. A next move."
"You can do that here."
"I'm sure I could. But it may be easier doing it—"
"Without us?"
"No."
"Without us distracting you?"
"No! I just—there are still some de-harnessed kids out there. I was thinking about gathering some from here, and heading back. I need to do this."
"Why?"
"Because! You guys have your duties, and I have mine. And mine include going back and talking with the other rebels."
"Ben—"
"Hal, I'm sorry. But this has to happen. I think you know that."
"Give me one good reason that you should leave."
"I just have to."
"Tell me a reason."
"Hal—"
"Tell me!"
"I need to do this! Because I haven't made peace with myself yet. I've had a lot of mistakes. When I do this, when I help the human race, it makes me feel like I'm getting closer to redemption."
"Ben. I think you've already reached your redemption."
"Maybe for you. But I need to do this for me. I need to make peace with my mistakes. And helping the rebel skitters and all the other human survivors helps me do that. Hal, please. Please understand."
"Ben, I understand. But I don't like it. I don't agree."
"I don't think it matters if you agree or not. I know that I have to do this, so I'm gonna do this. You can't stop me. I just thought I'd tell you. You need to accept this."
"Ben. I'll never accept this. You've reached redemption with everyone but yourself, it seems."
"Seems that way."
"There's no way that I can change your mind?"
"Not really."
"Fine. If I can't stop it…just know that I don't agree. And that you've already reached the redemption with me and everyone else here."
"Okay."
"Alright. Now come here," Hal said as he pulled Ben into an embrace. "You know what Ben?"
"What?"
"I'm getting real sick and tired of all this 'goodbye' crap. It gives me unbearable ennui."
"Ennui? Ooh. Fancy word for a dumb jock."
"I found a dictionary. And I'm no longer that jock that you knew."
Ben smiled. "I know. You've become much more than that."
"And you've turned out better than I thought you would. You know, being a math geek and all."
"Thanks?"
"Take it. It's about as close as you're gonna get to a compliment from me."
"Yeah. I know," Ben said with a chuckle. "Hal?"
"Yeah?"
"Say goodbye to Matt. To dad. Anne, too."
"You know I will."
"Tell dad and Matt—that I'm sorry."
"No problem. Just promise me this."
"Yeah?"
"You'll be careful."
"Will do," Ben promised as the two brothers went in for another hug.
"So," Hal started once they released each other. "When do you leave?"
"Tonight."
"Okay. Need any help? With packing, or anything?''
"I think I'm good."
"Okay. Be careful. Don't get killed. And come back soon. Or contact us. Just let us know that you're safe every once in a while."
"You got it."
The two boys exchanged smiles as Ben left the room with a wave of his hand.
"Be careful, little brother," Hal said to himself once Ben was gone.
"Hal?" Maggie questioned, jarring him back to reality.
"Hmm?" Hal answered.
"Are you alright?" You've been sitting there for about two minutes with a blank expression and glassy eyes."
"I have?"
"I know that face. What were you thinking about?"
"Ben," Hal admitted in a huff.
"What about him? You haven't seen him in weeks. Nobody has."
"Exactly! Nobody has seen my little brother. God knows where he is. He could be hurt, captured, bleeding out, dying. We don't know! And if he is, we aren't helping him."
"Okay. Calm down. What do you intend to do about it?"
"Easy. I'm gonna talk to my dad."
Okay so...please leave a review.
{READ THIS. URGENT IMPORTANCE}
I need to tell you guys something. I know that this is continuation of Pain. But the way I started this, it screwed some stuff up. So I'm trying to set this after the season 2 finale and after season 3 a bit. Get this, Karen has been bidding her time. So has Abbie. Waiting for the Mason boys' weak time period. So that's why I said that Ben was at Charleston for a little while. Season 3. But he had to leave again. Hence the "moved into Charleston a few months ago" and "haven't seen Ben in weeks" stuff. After reading this, I hope you understand and are okay with it. I'm sorry. I just got confused and stuff. I wanted you to understand. In a review or a PM, please tell me if you understand. Please? And thanks for your time and patience.
{If you didn't read this ^ then READ IT NOW. Please? It's important.}