Authors note: Heh, wow thanks so much people! I got four reviews. Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. And like I said before if you've got any questions, comments, or suggestions feel free to PM me or leave a review. I will reply to every review that is sent in.

Disclaimer: The Fantastic Four don't belong to me; if they did I'd be freakin' rich…and old. Wow I'm glad I don't own them.

Chapter 3: New York! New York!

Will sat squished in the backseat of a taxi cab that was currently speeding along the Brooklyn Bridge. He was crammed in the back between his aunt and uncle with Reed up front, looking jumpier by the second. After the four of them had gotten packed they had left the Hospital as fast as possible, Hell bound for New York. It took about four hours to get there and not to mention the two hours it had taken to decide on where they should start looking for Ben.

After much arguing, mostly between Reed and Sue, they had decided on starting at Ben's fiancée's house. It was about four blocks away from the Brooklyn Bridge. Will really didn't want to say anything but he had started feeling sick to his stomach about half an hour ago. Ever since he was a little kid he would car sick if he was in the car for over fifteen minutes. That's why he hated traveling so much.

And they had been in this stupid cab for well over that. The teen groaned as his stomach lurched, he felt his legs start to shake which always signified that he was about to loose his lunch.

"Will are you okay?" Sue looked to him, her expression concerned.

He placed a forced smile on his lips; not wanting to be a burden he lied. "Yep, I'm great."

"Don't tell me you're falling through the seat again." Johnny interjected his tone bored.

Will glared at him remembering the unfortunate incident or rather incidents on the way here. The teen had fallen through the airplane seat, waiting room seat, his luggage handles and the taxi cab seats. It had been a frightening experience in the plane when he felt himself start to fall through the floor. But luckily Johnny had managed to pull him out again. And not to mention before he started to faze through objects his entire body would start to tingle, as if insects were crawling all over his skin. "I'd like to see how you feel when you start suddenly walking through solid objects!" Will shouted annoyed.

The cab driver, an Indian man with a long curly black beard looked back at him one bushy eyebrow raised. Will peered at the man's name plate before turning to him. "Ha just ignore that last comment Sneh, too much video games and what not." (I know I'm going to Hell for that stereotypical remark but it was necessary.)

The driver ignored his comment muttering something under his breath that sounded strangely like, "stupid Americans."

"Tone it down a bit Will," Sue whispered in his ear. "I know you're not feeling so well but try to keep the 'powers' thing quiet."

The teen nodded to show that he understood when suddenly the cab screeched to a stop. The three Storm's in the back were thrown forward, each cracking their head on the plastic divider between the driver and the back seat.

"Ouch," Johnny moaned holding his forehead.

"Why'd we stop?" Sue asked, she too holding her forehead.

"I don't know," the driver said in a thick Indian accent. "It looks like there was accident up ahead."

The four occupants in the car shared a swift glance each coming to the same conclusion. But Johnny was the one who voiced their thoughts, "I always said Ben was an accident waiting to happen." Deciding to ignore that little comment Reed paid the driver and hopped out of the car. Followed closely by Sue, Johnny and Will, as one they maneuvered their way through the backed up cars.

After a few moments they came to a crowd of people standing in front of three very large cops, who were telling the people to back it up and move on. Sue turned to Reed, "Reed we have to get passed them."

The scientist met her piercing gaze unflinching. "You think Ben is over there?"

Johnny rolled his eyes, "no duh Reed. Who else could stop traffic like this?"

"Hey guys! I see him," Will shouted from somewhere to the group's right. They turned around to see Will standing with his eyes narrowed in concentration when he turned to them they could see that his eyes had gone completely white. The teen's foggy white eyes widened and he blinked them several times before they returned to their natural color. "Whoa," he breathed completely astounded.

"I've got x-ray vision," he whispered excitedly to the three adults. After a moment he paused a disgusted look crossing his face, "and I gotta say you guys look really gross when your insides are on the outside."

Reed, who had been standing with his mouth gaping open, shook himself. "Did you see Ben?"

Will seemed to look thoughtful before answering slowly. "Yeah I think so it was hard to tell but I'm sure it was him."

Reed finally came to a decision, they needed to get around these cops and the only person who could do that was. "Sue, I need you to sneak around these cops and get to Ben." Reed whispered rapidly his mind moving a mile a minute.

Sue looked skeptical, "why me?"

Johnny spoke up before Reed could, "because sis you can turn invisible."

The woman seemed to understand because she nodded a determined light shining in her eyes. The men stepped away from her to giver her room to concentrate, Sue closed her eyes and clenched her fists. Clearly in deep thought, after a moment she shimmered away from sight. But her clothes were left floating in the air, "uh Sue your clothes. Loose them," Reed whispered to her.

"Oh, um okay." Sue answered starting to pull her clothes off; she began to notice that most of the gathered crowd was looking at her. Just as she had pulled her pants off, leaving her in her bra and panties, she reappeared her invisibility gone.

The woman looked down saw her bare skin, and immediately covered her self up her anger flaring. "Great idea Reed," she hissed mimicking the same tone Will had the other day.

Speaking of Will he was standing next to Johnny, both of whom had gone extremely pale. "I'm gonna need therapy after this," Will muttered turning his head away from his aunt.

"I'm right behind you Will-y," Johnny added also turning away.

Reed was still staring at Sue a mix of emotions on his face. "Whoa you've been working out," he said a bit dazed.

Sue glared at him, "shut up." She growled grabbing her shirt off the ground and holding it in front of her chest. "You think this is good, why don't you strip down next and have a hundred people stare at you Reed!"

"Uh, Aunt Sue?" Will interjected his face still pale.

"What?" Sue hissed before noticing that she had turned invisible again, "oh." Pulling off her remaining clothing Sue wove her way through the crowd, who were still staring dumbly at the place she had been last standing.

"Hey come on," Reed whispered as he too slipped his way out of the crowd. Grimacing, Johnny picked up his sister's discarded clothes and followed him. The three men came out on the other side of the police blockade and Johnny handed Sue her clothes. She disappeared behind a taxi and came back a few minutes later clothed again.

"I still can't believe you made me do that." Sue said angrily to Reed.

"We got through didn't we?" The scientist said, "Just find Ben." And with that he was gone in search of his friend. Sue climbed on top of a taxi and shouted Ben's name, while Johnny headed to the left and Will to the right. Will had just climbed over a mini van when he heard the sound of someone whimpering? The teen peeked around a pile of car pieces to see a girl about his age stuck in between to crashed cars. Fire had trapped her there and she was desperately searching for a way out.

"Mom?" The girl called shakily her voice thick with tears. Suddenly a spark managed to catch itself in a puddle of gasoline and before anyone could move it erupted into a huge explosion. That caused the stalled cars to also explode in a deadly chain reaction.

"Oh Hell," Will cursed as he saw the wall of flames heading towards the trapped girl. Before his mind could process what he was doing the boy found himself leaping through the flames and to the girl's side. He grabbed her hand to run, but the flames were too fast so he spun around and pulled the girl into a tight embrace holding her small frame against his broader chest, as he willed his powers to work. And just as the wall of flames reached them, they passed harmlessly through them. Will clenched his eyes shut afraid to open them for fear of deactivating his power and causing both him and the girl to be burned to a crisp. After what seemed like hours the fire died down and Will released the girl his breathing coming in quick pants.

His legs felt wobbly and his head spun from sudden exhaustion. Using his powers had taken a lot out of him, just as his legs gave out on him he felt a pair of small hands grab his torso holding him up. Will turned his bleary eyes to see the girl, soot and scratches covered her face as she tried to hold the much larger teen up. Maybe it was the smoke intake or just the fact that he had fazed himself through fire but the girl looked like an angel.

Her shimmering brown hair fell to just above her shoulders in soft curls that framed her almost flawless face. Even though her clothes were ripped and torn she still looked gorgeous. The girl grunted with the effort of holding Will up and he did his best to stand.

After a few moments he managed it although he still looked exhausted. "A…are you okay?" Will panted.

The girl looked him up and down her blue eyes frightened, "what are you?"

Will took a step back shocked by her tone and expression, "I'm a kid just like you." He objected even though deep down he felt as if he were lying.

"Maybe," the girl said uneasily, though she didn't seem as afraid as she was before. That small change made Will feel a tiny bit better, but he still felt like a freak. Before he could comment on that she turned and ran back to the crowd her brown hair disappearing into the mass of people.

Will stared after her hurt in his eyes he couldn't believe what the girl had just said. I'm not a freak, am I? A loud screeching noise pulled the boy from his thoughts and he whipped his head around his eyes widening with fear. Coming towards him, with no intention of stopping, was a fire engine. Will shouted in fear covering his head with his arms, he sent up a silent prayer wishing to be with his parents if worse came to worse.

But when he opened his eyes the truck was no longer in front of him, he turned around to see it behind him, hanging precariously over the edge of the bridge. Will couldn't suppress the sigh of relief that escaped his lips, he was safe to live another day.

Maybe I am starting to get the hang of this, Will thought looking at his hands. The teen looked up when he heard someone screaming and calling for help, he rushed to the edge of the bridge and looked over. A fireman was hanging on the end of the extended ladder for dear life, as Will watched another lost his grip and fell. But before he fell ten feet and arm stretched out of nowhere and caught him. Will followed the arm to its owner, not surprised to see Reed.

As Reed pulled the fireman back up Will came to a decision. Before he could talk himself out of it he ran to the fire engine and pulled himself to the top after recovering his bearings he climbed to the ladder. He looked out over the edge; the ladder was extended its full length and was really far down.

Will took a shaky breath his earlier stomach sickness returning. "Ok, ok you can do this…it's only like twenty feet down…hanging over the water…which is like a hundred feet down." He squeaked the last part his voice cracking. The teen cleared his throat and started his slow climb down the ladder wondering the whole way why he was doing this, why was he risking his life for someone he didn't even know. Unfortunately he had no answer but he figured it was some sort of hero complex that he'd always had; from defending smaller kids on the playground to standing up against steroid using seniors.

When he was about halfway down the ladder he felt the engine slide backward.

"Ahh," he cried as he momentarily lost his grip falling through the air, before snagging a rung a few feet from the end of the ladder he clung to it frozen, his breathing short and irregular. That had been too close. Forcing his shaking arms to hold he looked over his shoulder, to see the fireman right below him. He crawled down one more rung and grasped on tight.

He reached his arm down to the man, "grab my hand!" The fireman stared at his hand, eyes wide with fright. The engine shifted again sliding backward farther over the edge. "Come on," Will said again forcefully.

The man seemed to shake himself out of his stupor and reached for Will's hand. Grunting with effort Will managed to pull the much larger man back up onto the ladder and they both began to crawl back to the top. Just as they reached the top the fire engine shifted once more, but this time it tipped back onto the road. Will and the fireman peeked over the top to see a huge orange man. He was about 6'3 covered in bumpy orange rocks, Will gasped knowing that face anywhere; it was Ben!

Ben had pulled the fire engine back onto the bridge, as he released the front end he collapsed onto his knee breathing hard. "Ben," Will shouted leaping off the truck, landing beside the exhausted rocky man.

Ben looked up to Will his eyes slightly dilated, "did I do it?"

Will looked at him confused for a moment before getting what he'd asked. "Yeah you did Ben, you saved me and them." He motioned a hand back to the firemen, who were watching the scene with awe. Suddenly the two heard sound erupt around them and first it started out quiet until it grew to a roar. People were applauding those who hand seen what they'd done were cheering madly for them, Reed, Sue and Johnny appeared at their side each looking slightly bedraggled.

Ben looked around at the crowd as he pulled himself to his feet, and he looked around one face caught his eye. Debbie was watching the scene also her eyes were puffy and red and her clothes were ruffled as if she'd thrown them on in haste. Ben took a step towards her hopeful that she had come to tell him his appearance didn't matter. That she loved him for who he was, that was not the case however as the blonde haired woman bent down placing something delicately on the ground. With one last pained glance at Ben, she disappeared into the crowd.

Ben walked to the spot she'd been standing at moments before and looked down to see the ring he had proposed to her with. Breathlessly he bent down and tried to pick it up, but his fingers were far too large to pick the small ring up off the ground. Growling in frustration he tried harder to pick it up but still couldn't.

Suddenly a hand came out of nowhere and snatched the ring up. Ben looked upward his eyes glistening with unshed tears; Reed was standing beside him his face grim. Reed placed the ring gingerly in Ben's hand as the rock covered man stood up.

"I promise you," Reed started his voice shaky. "Until there is not a breath left in me, you will be Ben again." Ben nodded his head never wanting to believe anything as much as that.

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

Ben, Reed, Sue, Johnny and Will stood inside a tent each getting examined by a paramedic. Well everyone except Ben, who was sitting alone staring sourly at the far side of the tent. One paramedic was holding a stethoscope to Will's chest and just to freak him out Will caused the instrument to faze through his body.

The man jumped and stared wide eyed at the teen. "Oh my bad," Will said grinning, starting to tire of the man's annoyingly persistent questions.

"I think I'm done," he added hopping out of his chair. He strolled slowly over to Ben surprised to see Johnny already there, staring curiously at the man's head.

"Where are you ears?" Johnny asked his eyebrows rose when Ben whipped around to glare at him.

Will slid in between them hoping to defuse the situation, "uh don't worry Ben he's just kidding." He pointed to a spot where he thought he saw what resembled an ear, "I see one right there." He wasn't sure if Ben believed him but he didn't look like he was going to throttle Johnny anymore so everything was good.

Reed and Sue walked over to the group each looking tired beyond belief. "This is insane," Reed sighed heavily sitting down on one of the fold up chairs beside Johnny. Sue collapsed beside him and put her head in her hands.

"I don't see how this could get any worse," Reed said again rubbing his temples.

Suddenly a middle-aged fireman walked up to them a smile on his welcoming face. "They're waiting for you outside," he informed cheerfully.

Reed looked up at him surprise written all over his tired face, "who's waiting for us?"

The fireman, Lieutenant Miller, according to his name plate looked confused. "The reporters, for the press conference," he said a taken back.

"Ask and you shall receive Reed," Will drawled out. The scientist scowled at the teenager, Will only crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow challengingly.

Reed stood up addressing Lieutenant Miller, "we're not going public with this. We're scientists…and a kid, not celebrities."

"Hey, I resent that!" Will interjected fuming. He hated being called "kid" he was sixteen, he even shaved for crying out loud.

The Lieutenant ignored Will's comment and instead reached over and turned the T.V on, "it's too late for that son." Before Reed could object what was on the television caught his eye, it showed a clip of Ben after he had saved the fire engine. The clip switched to a screen with a reporter at the bottom scrolled the words: Fantastic Five Threat or Menace?

"Cool," Johnny shouted. Jumping to his feet he started towards the exit his face flushed with excitement.

"Wow cool it Johnny," Sue said hopping into his path. "Where do you think you're going?"

Johnny turned to her his excitement still there, "I'm gonna go talk to them." He said as if it were obvious.

"No you're not," Sue told him sharply. "We need to think this through."

"Yeah, I agree with that." Will added standing beside Reed.

"That's great brainstorm," Johnny said cheerfully. And before anyone could stop him he dashed out of the tent.

The four remaining people shared a quick glance each coming to the same conclusion: Johnny could not be their spokesperson. As one they rushed out of the tent pursuing the still grinning Johnny. Just as the group came around the corner they were hit with a wave of sound and flashing lights.

Will squinted as he identified the flashing lights to be cameras, what seemed like a hundred cameras flashing at once. And Johnny was standing at the forefront his arms outstretched as if soaking in all of the attention, he turned to the group a broad grin across his face. "Isn't this great," he said to Reed. Well actually he shouted at Reed because the sound was so great.

"So which one of you is the leader," Lieutenant Miller asked coming up to the group.

"That'd be me," Johnny said excitedly, jumping to the front of the group.

The Lieutenant looked him up and down, before scoffing. "No seriously," he said. Will covered his mouth with his hand trying to quell his laughter at seeing Johnny shot down. His uncle glared at him as walked back to his side. And the teen shrugged nonchalantly.

"What can I say; you're obviously not leader material." Will teased and Johnny smacked his nephew in the back of the head, at least he tried to. But Will saw it coming and fazed his head through Johnny's hand, causing the man to hit only air. "Example one," Will added grinning smugly.

The next thing Will knew Reed was standing in front of the group, microphone in hand looking like he was about to puke. "Uh…uh," he stuttered and the reporters quieted down. "During our mission to space the Von Doom space station was hit with as yet unidentified cosmic ener-." Reed was cut off as the reporters started firing questions at him left and right.

"What happened on the space station?"

"Does it hurt when you stretch?"

"Can one of you walk through solid objects?"

"Is it true one of you can fly?"

Johnny spoke up after that, "yes that'd be me and it's actually harder than you'd thin-."

He was cut off also as the reporters started shouting again, drowning him out. Sue stepped up to the microphone and spoke into it calmly. "We really don't know much more than you do at this point, that is why we will be going directly to a lab to diagnose our symptoms."

Mere seconds after she said that the reporters started shouting again, this time louder.

"Are you saying this is some sort of disease?" A male reporters' voice rose above the rest and Reed and Sue shared a nervous glance not sure how to respond to that.

Thankfully Johnny did, "if having special powers is a disease then yeah we got it bad." He wrapped his arm over Ben's shoulder and then Will's before saying, "A new day is dawning on New York. The day of the Fantastic Five," he declared his face completely serious.

Another reporter shouted skeptically, "that thing doesn't look so Fantastic." He was pointing to Ben who snarled and took a challenging step forward but Will jumped in front of him angered by the reporters' blatant disrespect.

"Hey pal come up here and say that to my face," he shouted his expression down right pissed.

Johnny stepped in one more time in hopes of diffusing the situation, "what he means is every team needs a mascot." He shot an apologetic glance at Ben for once feeling bad about insulting him.

Reed sighed and took the microphone back his patience running thin, "Look, look we went into space to cure disease to save lives. But now it's our disease our lives on the line…thank you no more questions." With that he turned on his heel and headed away from the crowd, after a moment the others followed.

Once back in the tent Reed, Sue, and Will collapsed onto the folding chairs. "Well I think that went well," Johnny said cheerfully. Only for Will to throw an empty can of soda at the side of his head, it bounced off with a ping and Johnny hastily added, "Or ya know maybe not."

Author's Note: Whew, sorry again for the long wait been kinda busy. And sadly I didn't change much in this chapter from what happened on the movie but do not fear the next chapter will not contain word for word dialogue from the movie. Alright you know what to do, press the little review button and tell me what you think!