(A/N: Well it is 12:45 a.m. which means it is Friday and time to post. I was really tempted to post this sooner but I couldn't resist being evil. Hope you all enjoy this chapter and thanks for the reviews.

DarlingCinderella

dcs

gilmart

Next update Monday!

Disclaimer: do I even need to say it? *looks at evil lawyers* fine I don't own Ben 10.

Natural Disaster

Chapter Two: Ben blows up a gas station

"BEN!" Gwen knelt over him, she rolled him over looking for where the bullet had hit.

"Why are you shouting?" he asked sitting up. Gwen was so relived she nearly crushed him in a hug. "Gwen, air need."

"Sorry, I thought you'd been shot."

"I was." He said.

"But where?" she asked looking at him, he seemed fine, no blood.

In answer Ben held up the Omnitrix. A flattened bullet lay partially imbedded in it. The device was slowly rotating and as they watched the bullet was pushed from it and the cracks slowly receded. "Guess it's in some kind of repair mode or something."

Jenny crouched down between them. "Not that I really understand what's going on but we should keep moving."

"You're right." Gwen helped Ben to his feet and glanced back at the other pipe, the officers were gone. After a few minutes they came to a ladder and climbed back up to the street.

Crouching behind a stack of boxes they watched as police cars speed by lights flashing. Ben looked after the patrol car. "Doesn't this seem like to big a deal to make over a stolen Sumo Slammer movie?"

"I think it's more serious than that." Jenny said. "It looks like their raid triggered a riot. Things in this city haven't been good for awhile and I guess this was the last straw. You two wait here, I know a place we can stay until things calm down, just need to make sure the coast is clear."

She ran from the boxes around the corner. Ben and Gwen waited listening to the sounds of a city at war with itself. Ben glanced at Gwen. "Guess it's lucky we ran into Jenny."

"Yea." She didn't sound like she meant it though. "Thanks for coming back for me in the tunnel."

Ben was surprised, Gwen never sounded down like this. "Of course I came back for you. I mean you're family right? And, you're not a bad friend either, for a girl I mean."

Gwen had to smile at how dorky her cousin could be. She reached out and pinched his cheek. "Aw does little Benny have a crush on me." She said jokingly.

What the hell he thought might as well go for it. "Yea I do."

Gwen's face went blank. "What?"

"I have a crush on you, I like you Gwen." He didn't look at her as he said it, and she didn't respond.

Minutes passed in silence, each lost in their thoughts. Gwen's mind was racing. She had never had a boy confess to her before and she'd never expected the first to be her cousin! Besides they were related, so nothing could come of it. That thought brought her to a stop, she knew she should have just thought that she didn't like him like that, but instead she'd thought what she felt didn't matter. So what did she feel?

Setting aside the fact they were family. He was just an immature kid, always doing stupid things. But he did try his best and deep down she knew he was really becoming the hero he always said he was. She stopped those thoughts, it didn't matter. Her answer should be easy. So why was she struggling with it?

No, she was the smart one and had to keep him from doing stupid things like having feelings for her. That thought left her feeling hollow.

Meanwhile Ben was just wishing she'd say something; tell him she hated him now, anything so he would at least know where he stood. Anything was better than waiting, because as long as she kept quiet some part of him held out hope she'd feel the same and every time he breathed he'd have to deal with the fact he knew she really didn't.

"Well well well, what we got here?" Ben and Gwen looked up to see three older teens in hoodies looking at them.

"Don't you kids know it's dangerous out tonight? Maybe you should come with us, we'll keep you safe." Their leader said. His smile was anything but friendly though.

Ben stood up and moved between them and Gwen. "No thanks, we'll be fine."

"Was I talking to you brat?" the leader shoved Ben into the boxes. "So how about it girly? We'll make sure you're nice and safe."

"Forget it." Gwen said.

One of the other two thugs grabbed her arm. "I don't think you really have a choice."

"Think again!" Ben shouted springing up and slamming his fist into the thugs jaw. The force of Ben's punch knocked him flat on his back.

The third thug doubled over laughing. "Dude you just got laid out by the baby!"

"Shut it! Kids got a dam good punch."

As the second thug was getting back on his feet the leader kicked him in the stomach. "Stay down, you're just embarrassing us."

He turned towards Ben and Gwen. "Alright listen. You ain't got nowhere to run, so either you come with us or we beat you down and drag you with us."

"Like hell we'd go with you!" Ben shouted, checking the watch. It was still in repair mode.

"Fine." The leader cracked his fist and punched at Bens head.

As Ben moved to duck the attack Gwen appeared next to him. With one hand she hit the leaders arm sending his punch wide, then drove her elbow into his gut. He staggered back gasping. "What, what the hell since when do kids know how to fight."

Ben was so surprised by Gwen he didn't notice the third thug come up beside him. The thug grabbed him by his shirt and slammed him into the wall stunning him. Then he pulled out a switch blade and held it to Ben's eye. "Watch it little girl unless you want pretty boy here to not be so pretty anymore."

Gwen froze, not sure what to do. Ben tried to focus his eyes. "Gwen, just run."

That decided it. "Sorry Ben."

She raised a hand and pointed at a trashcan near the thug. "Interdamotor Elaborator!"

Its contents caught fire and it started to crumble in on itself as the metal melted. "Whatever you do to Ben I'll return ten times over."

He looked at Ben unsure what to do, they were used people just getting out of their way. Not fighting back. Because of that they'd learned to avoid people with the look Gwen had in her eyes, especially people who could randomly set things on fire.

The thug dropped Ben and the three of them backed up. "Best watch yourself girly, we find you with more of our crew and you'll both be in for it." With that they turned and ran ruining any merit their threat might have had.

Gwen ran to Ben who was trying to get up. She took his arm and helped him stand. "Thanks Gwen, guess I wasn't much of a hero that time."

"No more then you normally are. Come on we need to find some place to hide where you can rest."

Jenny suddenly appeared around the corner. "Sorry I took so long, the cops are all over but the coast is clear. What happened to you guys?"

"Nothing." Gwen said helping Ben down the street. After a few minutes he was able to walk on his own again. Jenny lead them to an abandoned town house with its lower windows boarded up. She pulled a board off the back door and they slipped into what would have once been the kitchen. It had long since been stripped, there were even holes in the walls where people had ripped out the wires and pipes to sell for scrap.

"Are you sure there's no one else here?" Gwen asked.

"Yea, we're all alone here. Come on." She led the way to the third story and into a bedroom. Jenny looked out the window with a sad expression. "Listen Gwen, I had some other friends at the movie, I need to go look for them. You guys will be safe here. The riots moving away from this part of town. By morning it should be safe to leave."

Before Gwen could respond Jenny had left. Ben sat down and leaned against the wall. A small portable radio was sitting in a corner, Gwen turned it on and they listened.

"Unclear what triggered the current riot but it is believed the incident began when a gang dressed as S.W.A.T officers conducted a fake raid on an illegal showing of a movie. Their motives are still unknown. The riot is currently moving towards city hall. Emergency response personnel are overwhelmed and several buildings have been set ablaze. Citizens are notified that a curfew has been placed in effect. Anyone caught outside will be arrested."

"Now to the weather, the country is experiencing record cold this week as the jet stream dips peculiarly low heading for the gulf coast. Tropical storm David is also gaining strength over the pacific and expected to make land fall in the next few days."

"In sports-" Ben reached over and turned the radio off. The only noise was the far off sound of car alarms. A weak light came from the fires farther into the city. They stayed like that for a long time. Gwen kept glancing at Ben; he had his legs drawn up to his chest and a nasty bruise of the side of his head from when he'd been trying to shield her back at the movie.

Suddenly he jumped to his feet. "I'm going out to see if there's anything I can do to help."

"But the Omnitrix is still fixing itself." Gwen said.

"I can't just wait around. Even if I can't go hero I have to try and do something." He said walking towards the door.

Gwen couldn't help smiling. She'd been sure he was moping because she hadn't told him how she felt about him yet. But typical dense Ben just couldn't sit still when someone needed help. "Fine but I'm coming with you."

He turned around and gave her a huge smile. "Thanks."

They left the safety of the building and made their way down the street heading towards the still burning fires.

Just two buildings over from the one Ben and Gwen had been in Jenny stood in front of the three thugs and several people in S.W.A.T uniforms. "How much simpler could I make it for all of you?"

The leader stepped forward. "Ain't our fault, you never said they could do the freaky thing."

"You said you could handle anything, but even two children were too much for you."

The leader reached out for Jenny. "Yo we did what you said, caused lots of chaos. Seems to like you ain't held up your end of the deal. Looks like we gonna have to take it out of you."

In a flash Jenny had a knife in her hand and the leaders pinky finger was on the ground. He clutched his wounded hand to his chest. "What the hell?"

Jenny slipped the knife back into her pocket in a chillingly calm manner. "I need people who can get things done, not posers."

The leader and his crew backed out of the building. All except the third thug and one of the ones wearing a stolen uniform. Jenny raised an eyebrow at them. The thug stepped forward. "This crew is dead, one way or another tonight's its last night. I'd rather work for you."

The other one nodded his agreement. Jenny smiled. "Fine but don't think it'll be easy."

"As long as we get back at those kids I don't care what I got to do."

"Good, then come along. This town is useless to us now. I have one last thing to do though. By the way what are your names?"

"Mark." Said the thug.

"Steven." Said the fake officer.

"Not the most original names." Jenny commented.

"Mind if I ask what exactly you're trying to do?" Steven asked

"Of course not. I want what Gwen has, and the only way to get it is to get rid of her."

"Then may I suggest we simply shoot her and be done with it?" he said.

"No, I need to prove I'm better than her first. Then you two can decide what to do with her." Jenny said. The thugs smiled already getting ideas.

The streets where the riot had already been were worse than they had thought. Every window was broken out, trees had been hacked into and some were lying in the street, cars had been flipped onto the sidewalk. But there was no one around.

Thin smoke hung in the air and a few trashcans were still burning. It looked like all the stores had been looted, the shelves were bare and random items covered the ground.

Ahead of them in the intersection was a car crash. One of the cars was empty but a man was slumped over the wheel of the second car. Ben grabbed the door and tried to pull it open. "No good it's stuck."

"Let me try." Gwen said raising her hand. "Eterla Morbulous."

The door cracked and crumbled into dust. Ben leaned in and undid the mans seatbelt, they pulled him out. As they were laying him down his eyes fluttered open and he held his head. "What happened?"

Ben pointed to his car. "Looks like you crashed."

The man was still a bit dazed but nodded. "Yea guess I did, you two the ones that got me out?"

They nodded. "Well thanks for that, you better get home though, doesn't look to safe out tonight."

"We will." Gwen said. "Will you be alright?"

"Yea, I live just down the block." He stood up and started walking.

Ben and Gwen hurried away. "Good thing he was still kind of out of it." Gwen said. She looked back and saw the man walking in the opposite direction, away from the riot.

They didn't see anyone else for the next few blocks, just more destruction. As they came around a corner Gwen froze. Just in front of them was an old rundown gas station, a pickup truck had crashed into one of the columns supporting the roof and the contents of its bed were on fire.

Ben didn't hesitate, he ran straight to the truck. Yanked open the door and jumped in the cab trying to start the truck. Ironically it was out of gas. "Gwen it won't start, help me push."

They put their shoulders to the front of the truck and pushed, it wouldn't move. The fire was starting to spread, if they couldn't move it the whole station could go up. Gwen grabbed a long pipe and jammed it between the truck and the pillar and they pulled inching the vehicle back.

It was too late, one of the pumps exploded knocking them to the ground. "Ben we need to go!"

Ben started hitting the Omnitrix. "If I could just go Heatblast."

"Ben we did what we could; now we have to go!"

He sighed in defeat. "Fine."

Gwen grabbed Ben and pulled him close. His eyes widened. "Wha-"

"Saphirius Expectorium Perpetua!" a whirlwind sprang up around them lifting them into the air. Gwen's plan had been to put a few buildings between them and the coming explosion. She was to slow.

The fire reached the main tank and it exploded. The shockwave from the blast ripped apart Gwen's whirlwind. Its force threw them farther into the air before they began to fall. Sky, buildings, ground all rushed by their vision. Gwen thought she heard Ben calling her before everything blacked out.

When Gwen woke up she found herself suspended in a tree, somehow she had managed to avoid being impaled by a branch. Though every part of her body groaned as she climbed down. It took her mind a few seconds to catch up with the rest of her but when it came back she began frantically looking for Ben, calling his name.

As she turned to search farther down the street she found him, he was laying in the crumbled soft top of a convertible. She ran to him as fast as she could, which was only a limping walk. She pulled Ben out of the car and laid him on the street, resting his head on her lab.

He was still breathing but it was slow, shallow and raspy. "Ben, BEN! Wake up!"

Nothing, his pale face was painted red from the flames at the gas station. Dirt and sweat covered his body. "Ben please, this isn't funny. I can't have my first boyfriend dying on me!"

Bens eyes shot open, "Boyfriend?"

"Gah!" Gwen jumped back. Bens head fell and hit the asphalt. "Sorry!"

"Ouch. What was that for?" he asked.

"You startled me." She sat back down and forced Ben to rest, despite his attempts to get back up.

Finally Ben gave in and just lay there with his head on her lap. In truth it was relaxing, he had to fight to stay awake. And he didn't want to sleep right then because he was already afraid he was just dreaming. "Gwen?"

"Yea?"

"Did you mean what you said? About me being your boyfriend?" he asked.

Looking down at him Gwen could see the hope in his eyes and the fear too. She hadn't thought about it when she'd said it. But as she thought about it now she was surprised that it didn't disagree with her. Really she actually liked it. My boyfriend Ben. She thought. Yea, that sounds right.

Gwen leaned down and lightly passed her lips over bens. "Does that answer your question?"

Ben grinned up at her. "I don't think I got that, could you repeat it?"

Gwen laughed. "Repeat what?"

"Your answer."

"My answer to what?"

Ben groaned. "Now you're just being cruel."

"So? Consider it pay back." Gwen said brushing some hair from his forehead.

They stayed like that for awhile longer until Ben decided to break the comfortable silence. "You know, nearly getting blown up was so worth this."

"Duffes."

Ben just gave her his cheesy smile. Neither noticed Jenny nearby in an alley watching them. She smiled; Ben would make an excellent boyfriend for her once she'd taken Gwen's place. But that could wait; right now she needed to decide on her next move. And to give the new couple some time together, that way the wounds would be that much deeper when she brought this drama to an end.

Distant sirens told Ben and Gwen it was time to move. The sun was almost up now breaking through the smoke. As they stood Ben noticed Gwen wincing. "Are you alright?"

"Yea, just stiff." She said. But she winced again when she tried to put weight on her leg.

Ben took her arm and put it over his shoulder then placed his other hand on her waist. Gwen suddenly felt a blush creeping along her cheeks. "Ben, what are you doing?"

"Helping you. This is what couples do right? Leaning on each other and stuff?"

"Have you been reading dime store romances or something?"

"I might have glanced at a few." He admitted.

"Alright I'll humor you." Gwen said. Though in truth she didn't really mind being this close to Ben, his hand resting on her hip was especially nice.

They started slowly heading back towards the Rust Bucket.

When they got there they found there grandfather talking with a police officer, when he saw them limping toward them he ran over and crushed them in a bear hug. Ben and Gwen winced but didn't try and get away. When Max was done he held them at arm's length examining them.

They were both covered in sweat, dirt, and light burns. Their clothes were ripped and each had several deep gashes, not to mention a nasty bruise on the side of Bens head. Max wanted to take them to the hospital but they convinced him they were more or less fine and pointed out that the emergency room would be filled after last night.

Finally he agreed they would just leave but he said if anything didn't feel right he was taking them to the hospital in the next city. They agreed.

Back in the Rust Bucket Ben told Gwen she could get cleaned up first, she did and he crashed in the passenger's seat while grandpa Max navigated the bumper to bumper traffic of everyone leaving the city. He looked over at Ben. "So what exactly happened to you two?"

Ben quickly made up a lie about spending most of the night hiding from the riot, since he couldn't hide the fact that they'd been hurt he down played the explosion saying it was blocks away. Max seemed to believe him.

"You know grandpa, you were right. After last night I do feel kind of bad about the way I was treating Gwen."

"Well Ben I'm proud of you, looks like you're really maturing." He gave his grandson a pat on the back. Ben winced. "Oh sorry."

When Gwen was out of the shower Ben got in and let the water ease his stiff muscles. By the time he got out, now dressed in lose fitting clothes the Rust Bucket had gone all of three miles. Gwen was sitting on her bunk in an over sized shirt and short pants. He saw a big bruise running the length of her thigh. She had a history book open in her lap. "Studying? We almost got blown up. If that isn't a reason to take a break I don't know what is."

"Yea, but my parents weren't too happy with my grades last semester. I think that's half the reason they sent me with you guys, caused I'd have nothing else to do but study."

Ben sat down next to her and closed the book. "I can think of other things you could do."

"Like what?" she asked, though she already had a pretty good idea.

"Like making out with me."

Gwen leaned in close so she was right next to his ear and said in a very seductive voice. "Sure you could handle that?"

"O-of course." Ben said.

"Good." She scooted over until their hips were pressed together, resting her arms on his shoulders. Just as their lips touched.

"Ben, Gwen!" they jumped apart thinking they had been caught. Luckily though Ben had closed the curtain separating their room from the rest of the RV.

They went to the front to see what their grandpa wanted. The traffic had cleared and they were making good time now heading south. "Yea grandpa?"

"Well I was thinking, after the rough time you two had that maybe you deserved a good rest. I was planning on us staying there later in the summer but if you'd like we could go now."

"Go where?" they asked.

"To a resort a friend of mine works at."

Ben and Gwen traded glances. "That sounds great grandpa but, it's not underwater or powered by stolen alien tech is it?"

"No, it's a normal resort on the beach."

"Sounds great." Gwen said.

With that settled they went back to their room but they were too nervous about Grandpa Max finding out about them to continue. They were both exhausted too so they climbed into their bunks and slept the rest of the day.

Jenny sat on a bench watching the sunset working out her next step. The original plan would have to be altered to account for Ben and Gwen's abilities. It would be challenging but not impossible, after all she'd been planning this for years.

A shadow fell across the girl; she looked up and for the first time in months her calm mask slipped and she looked worried. Standing over her was a fifteen foot tall green creature that looked like a reject for Davey Jones from the Pirates of the Caribbean series. "Who are you?"

"I am is Vilgax, I have an offer for you."

(A/N: hope you like this chapter, might have been a bit long. Next chapter has a lot of BxG action. See you all on Monday, and review, or else. Hm I should really think of a threat to finish that with but I'm sure you get the point. Or else.