Disclaimer: I don't own Ben 10.

Ch4: Open your eyes.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

It was odd, Ben realised. He was conscious, just not in the practical way. He was mostly aware of the things happening around him. But he didn't open his eyes.

He had been faintly aware of what happened around him when he was taken to the Plumber Medical-Station at plumber HQ. Gwen kept talking to him trying to assure him that things would be okay. Kevin had been on the phone muttering something among the lines of "Of course this happens when he is chasing down some obvious fake lead."

Ben didn't pay them any attention. Not to Gwen's comforting words or Kevin's mutterings. He'd been trying to slip back into his painless numbness. He didn't want to feel... He had only slipped away when someone said something about 'immediate surgery' and he felt something being placed over his face.

And now he was awoken again by not only the beeping sound, but the sounds of a woman sobbing.

Hearing her like that hurt.

She shouldn't sound like that!

Ben wanted it to stop! He wanted to disappear! He wanted-

"My boy! My poor baby boy!"

Mom?

No, it couldn't be his mom...

This was a trick, a different dimension.

So Ben didn't try to open his eyes, he probably wouldn't be able to do that anyway...

He heard the door slam open followed by a loud horrified gasp.

Before the new person could speak someone who was already in the room spoke up. "I'm sorry, but we need to prepare mr. Tennyson for his next surgery. Both of you need to leave the room."

Ben felt something poke his arm and fell asleep before he could hear the newcomer's protests.

-Ben-10-

Rook had been moments from leaving Earth's solar system when Kevin called and- He nearly crashed his ship in shock.

Ben was...?

His beloved was back?

Almost numb with disbelief he had rushed back to earth and drove to the Plumber Medical-Station, parked the proto-truck, walked to the door and... stayed.

He stayed there pacing there for a good thirty minutes. His mind went back to when he first thought he could have Ben back with him. When the Plumbers' scanners picked up 'Ben's' DNA signature' and it had led them to Albedo.

Rook remembered how he had lost control back then. How he had given in to his feral side and went ballistic.

How the disappointment, the pain drove him over the edge.

How he had broken down afterwards.

What if this was another mistake? They had gotten manny false leads over the years, what if this was just another one? What if this was not Ben? Or if this was some sort of trick?

Rook did not think he could handle the pain of false hope and disappointment for a second time.

He would just lose it, and this time there would be no coming back from his stupor. If this was just another fail-

"Rook? Why aren't you coming inside?"

The Revonnahgander turned around and saw to woman who should have been his cousin-in-law, or seeing as how close Ben and Gwen had been sister-in-law might have been the more appropriate term.

Her orange hair was a mess and there were tear tracks on her freckled cheeks.

"I do not know if..."

Realising what the problem was Gwen smiled sadly and walked over the alien she considered family. She surprised Rook by wrapping her arms around him and hugging him. "It's really him Rook." She whispered.

When Gwen suddenly pulled away Gwen showed Rook the object she held in her hands. "Look!"

Rook's eyes widened -the object a beautiful, handcrafted, sea-green metal band. The traditional Revonnahgander gift he had given Ben for their engagement.

With shaking hands Rook reached for the armband.

"Ben..." He whispered his voice cracking on the name. Without uttering another word, Rook ran into the hospital.

-Ben-10-

He had arrived too late. Ben was already being prepped for his next surgery and Rook had to wait in the hall along with Max, Kevin, Gwen, Sandra and Carl.

Shocked beyond words Rook sank down in a chair. He had only gotten a glimpse of Ben -Ben! His Ben was back!

That small, fragile looking person laying in the hospital bed was his Thy-mac!

Brallada...

Letting out a shuddering breath Rook buried his face in his hands.

He had only gotten a glimpse of him, but Ben had looked so small... His Thy-mac looked so pale, he almost looked dead. Connected to many wires whose functions the Revonnahgander did not know. Heavily bandaged from head to foot, but Rook could still easily see how much weight his partner had lost.

And the bruises...

Oh brallada so many bruises!

Heavy deep blue and sickening yellow bruises littered his beloved's skin. Along with many poorly healed scars and burn marks.

Rook took another deep breath in the hopes it would calm him down. When he and Ben had first become partners they often had arguments about who saved who. Rook had saved Ben countless of times during their partnership.

But he hadn't managed to save Ben this time.

And Ben had paid the price.

-Ben-10-

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

Again with the beeping? Inwardly Ben groaned hating himself for becoming aware again. Just like the time before he didn't try to open his eyes. He wouldn't be able to anyway...

There was someone in the room with him again. Ben could hear quiet sniffles. The sound didn't come from the same person as before, and Ben felt someone holding his hand. Who ever it was... it had nice, soft and warm hands.

But hearing this person's silent sadness hurt Ben almost just as much as hearing the person who sounded like his mother cry. Maybe even more. Because... Because this wasn't how things were supposed be!

Were they?

Ben honestly didn't know...

The hands holding his, gently squeezed his hands. "Ben, I am so sorry..."

Inwardly Ben stiffened.

That voice again...

B-b-but Rook wasn't here!

Ben had sacrificed himself so Rook would be safe. Only Eon and Paradox had the power and technology of traveling through dimensions, it was an important rule that no one else was allowed aces to that kind of technology. So there was no way Rook was here. His lover couldn't possibly...

Unless...

No. He wasn't back right?

"I missed you so much..."

Rook was talking again.

Ben had missed him too...

"This whole ordeal was all my fault... If only I had fought harder..."

Wait, what?

Did he just... Did he just? That's not true! How could that be true!

Had Rook blamed himself about all this for all these years?

At the moment Ben really wished he could let Rook know that it was okay. He wanted to squeeze his partner's hand in reassurance. If only he could do that... Heck, he even imagined himself doing it.

He heard Rook gasp. "Ben? Are you awake?"

Had Rook felt that?!

Had Ben actually managed to squeeze Rook's hand? Had Ben actually been able to move his hand?

Emerald eyes flew open at this realization. He... Ben could move on his own?! He didn't feel Eon's control and he was... Back?

It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the hospital's dim lights, but when they did Ben's emerald eyes focussed on a, to him, special sight.

Rook Blonko.

There he was sitting on the edge of the hospital bed. Rook short fur looked disheveled, his eyes were red and the fur under his eyes and on his cheeks was wet, but Ben had never seen a more beautiful sigh.

"Ben?" Rook sounded shocked, but Ben was still taking in the beautiful sight before him. He saw Rook reach for the 'call nurse' button so he tried to speak up.

"...R..R-..R-oo..k?"

Was that his voice?

It didn't sound like him. It sounded small, fragile and broken.

To Rook it was the best sound in the world. "Ben! I am so glad you are awake!" The Revonnahgander said, letting out a breathy laugh, almost not believing the reality of the situation.

He smiled a small watery smile, his hand going down to gently cradle Ben's cheek. "Oh how it warms my heart to finally have you back." He breathed watching as Ben moved his trembling arm upwards to put his hand on Rook's shoulder.

Rook could feel the shaking of Ben's hand increase. His cat-like eyes widened in horror when he realized Ben was using Rook's shoulder as leverage to lift himself from the mattress.

"Ben, stop," Rook protested. "you must not exert yoursel-" He stopped talking when he saw the look on Ben's face. A mix of fearful disbelief and pure determination.

Realising that this was apparently important to his Thy-mac, Rook lowered his arm so Ben could use it as proper leverage.

It took some time and it was clearly exhausting Ben, but eventually Ben managed to sit up. However the wielder of the Omnitrix soon toppled over into Rook's chest. Reacting on instinct Rook automatically wrapped his arms around his long-lost love in a protective embrace. "Ben?"

It was just as Ben remembered... The warmth and safety of his lover's embrace. Even after all these years Ben still remembered it. Cherished it. And in that moment, after years of longing for this moment, Ben could finally let go.

A choked sob escaped his cracked lips and before he knew it Ben was quietly sobbing into Rook's chest. "I- mmm-issed y-you ssso muh-ch." Ben whispered hating the broken sound that was now his voice.

Rook tightened his hold on Ben. "I am so sorry this happened, Thy-mac." Rook managed to whisper past to growing lump in his throat.

The Revonnahgander took a shuddering breath. "How I've missed you." He murmured before kissing the top of Ben's head. "It is alright... now." Rook whispered when Ben had a particular loud sob. "You are safe now." He sai gently rubbing his love's back, mindful of the bandages covering Ben's shoulders and lower back. "I got you."

After fifteen minutes Ben managed to regain some form of control. "R-Rook?" He asked looking up, his face red from crying and his eyes still wet with more tears to come.

Surprised that Ben had spoken again, Rook pulled away, but only just slightly. "Yes, Ben?"

Ben leant forward and kissed Rook. He closed his eyes and nearly sagged with relief when Rook kissed him back.

The kiss was sloppy, mostly because Ben was a hurt, trembling mess and was having trouble participating, and Rook was kissing Ben extremely carefully in fear of hurting him further or in fear of Ben disapearing. That didn't make the kiss any less loving or any less needing.

To them the kiss couldn't be more perfect.