Another long chapter. I decided to release this chapter early thanks to the nice comments left by the two guests, DisneyGirl10- (yes Kevin's going to get what's coming to him in the next chapter and I'll make it a descriptive scene) and 123 (Just a heads up I've included many Bwen moments in this chapter so I hope you enjoy it.
Anyway please don't forget to review. :3
A week past and Gwen's midibots were beginning to wear off. Luckily her grandpa spoke to her dad about letting her out each morning for a job to get strength back into her body. She bolted through the alleyway heading up to the shops before stopping. Her legs buckled threatening to heel over at any second if she continued her pace but she had to persist through. She had to get stronger. The redhead leaned over the water fountain and began to sip slowly as someone caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. "Lovely Gwen" Gwen breathed out as she turned her head looking over to see Darkstar with his casual uniform on only this time he was in a wheel chair. "W-What happened?" She backed off no longer finding the man a threat due to his missing legs. Darkstar breathed out.
"Why do you act so surprised?" He asked.
"After all it was you who did this to me"
Gwen shook her head. "What? I haven't even seen you in years. How could I have possibly done that?" She placed her hands up in the air in defense. He breathed out. "Your cousin's little rampage. He blamed me for your condition because of you I suffered"
"That's not my fault your just a creepy creeper" She breather out crossing her arms. He leaned forward in his chair. "It is your fault. I would've been off scott free if your big mouth hadn't of butted in and ruined my life"
Gwen arched her eyebrow. "I haven't done anything"
FLASHBACK 9 months ago
Gwen laid in Ben's green and black laced bed as she struggled with injuries. Her mind had been racing all day with flashbacks of her passed infused with nightmares. The oxygen pipe stuck out from her mouth as she laid there sweat pouring off her forehead and down her mangled body. Her delicate left hand sat in another's fitting perfectly with the shape of his palm. He squeezed her hand gently bringing it up to his mouth and kissing her knuckles.
"It's alright, Gwen, I'm going to make you all better" He whispered. Gwen shook feeling her body turn from hot to cold in an instant. Ben pushed the covers up to her chin before brushing her cheek with his fingers. Her eyes winced in pain.
She turned her head to her side and began to breath in and out heavily.
"Gwen, what's wrong?" He asked holding her closer.
"Michael" She weazed through her breaths before wincing his name stun her ears as she imagined him latching on and trying to still her energy. She gritted her teeth in pain. "Let me go" She stated in her sleep. Ben pulled her in closer so his hand were laced around the crevice of her hospital gown. He picked her up in his arms and pushed her head forward into the crevice of his neck. "Don't worry Gwen I'll make the pain go away" He kissed her forehead before laying her back down and tucking her up. He then walked out of the room locking his door so no one could get in and out without his permission.
"GUARDS" He shouted. One came rushing up.
"Yes, master high lord-"
"Find Michael Morningstar and bring him to me. Alive" Ben cut him off before walking away.
END OF FLASHBACK
"So why didn't Ben just kill you?" She asked curiously. "He wanted to make me suffer. He took away my powers. He took away my looks. He cut my legs off in front of me while I was still awake and now I want my revenge" He wheeled closer to her. Gwen rolled her eyes before noticing the down slope of the hill they were on. She shrugged as he came close and brought her leg up kicking him back.
His wheel chair hit back racing down the hill as Gwen turned to the shop in front of her. Gwen looked up at the sign and smiled. She walked in order a smoothie and sat down. She placed her elbows on the table and looked out the window. "May I sit?" Gwen looked up to see a cloaked man with a brown beard and bright green eyes. His blue jumper clung tightly around his form as his hood hung low over his face. Gwen smiled as he sat down opposite her. "Hey," She breathed out looking around making sure the coast was clear. He smiled at her. She returned the favour for a few short seconds.
"Something wrong?" He asked.
"Where were you?" She asked.
Ben frowned.
"I needed to get you alone, your dad has Kevin spying after you most of the time"
Gwen looked up at the waiter passing her the two smoothies. "You knew I was coming?" He asked. Gwen passed him his smoothie. "I could feel your energy watching over me, you just never bothered to appear"
Ben smirked. "You got your powers back" He smirked.
Gwen smiled. "Yeah, grandpa removed it thankfully" Gwen looked down at her hands showing Ben the burns. "Kevin did that to you did he?" Ben took her hands in his gently. Gwen looked away from him. "Ben, do you know where I can get some more medibots from?"
"You need more?"
"Yeah, I only have one left and Grandpa and I are trying to conserve the last one until the Galvin make more"
"I'm sorry Gwen" He whispered. Gwen stared down at her hands removing them from him and placing them around her cold smoothie cup. "Thanks anyway" She whispered sipping her smoothie. "I'll get you some Gwen" He placed a hand on his smoothie and leaned back on his chair. "I bumped into Darkstar"
Ben's eyes lit up. "Why?"
"He was outside the shop. He said you took his powers"
"I gave them to you"
Gwen looked up at him. "It's the only reason you're able to absorb energy. You couldn't do that before remember?" He smiled at her. Gwen smiled back. "It's a horrible gift to take energy from another but thank you. It's been making me feel stronger"
"How's the family?"
"I don't want to talk about it" She looked out the window. "It's almost noon"
"So,"
"I have to go home"
"I've got my tutor's coming over and I have a maths test" She stood up chucking her smoothie in the bin. "Whatever. I have to go to the bathroom. Wait outside, I'll walk you home" Gwen nodded walking outside and taking her phone out. She placed it up to her ear. "Hey dad...yeah I just got a smoothie... no noones with...yes dad...yes dad...I'll be home soon...yes dad"
Far away a man sat in a truck his fingers clenched around the steering wheel. He noticed the man follow her in but not out with her. He gritted his teeth. He had been seeing her. The dark haired man turned the wheel to the left and flawed the accelerator. Noone saw what happened next. She was up one second talking on the phone the next she was on the ground screaming for the pain to end. Ben raced outside seeing the girl with blood and cuts covering her body. Her phone laid next to her with someone calling her name. Ben bent down next to her his hoody still up hiding his face. He brushed her scratched cheek as she shook from the cold. "no, no, no, no, no" Ben shook his head in disbelief.
"Come on Gwen" He placed his ear up to her chest. He removed his ear pressing down on her chest 30 times before opening her mouth and breathing in twice. "Come on, Red" He breathed out sweating as he performed CPR. She breathed out and in in less than 5 minutes coughing up a lung full of blood. He turned to her side in the recovery position. He looked up to see the police coming. "I'm sorry Gwen but this is going to hurt" He whispered grabbing her. Gwen screamed as she felt her back twist awkwardly as he swing her over his shoulder.
"Ah," Gwen screamed as Kevin got out of the truck.
He raced after Ben as he raced into the alley.
He saw the redhead's hair draping down Ben's back as he ran.
"TENNYSON" Ben turned to see Kevin behind him. He smirked activating his omnitrix. "JETRAY" Ben sprung into the air flying into the sky with Gwen in toe. He pulled down into the mountain side and began sprinting through the woods until he came upon a small shack. He bursted inside closing the door before placing her down onto the couch. "Ah," Gwen screamed in pain as she clutched her 'U' shaped right arm into her body.
Ben kneeled down by the fire place lighting the fire. "It's alright Gwen" He walked up to her and sat down beside her. He grabbed her arm and took her left hand and held it. "Gwen?" He called out to her. She shook opening one of her eyes as she left her left eye winced. "Make...the pain...go away" She begged. Ben brushed her cheek with his hand. "I'm going to fix you up" He whispered looking over to the first aid kit. He got up and grabbed the first aid kit before grabbing a knife off the table. Gwen watched with her one eye as he sat down beside her. He grabbed her shirt unbuttoning it before bringing the knife towards her shorts and cutting her sleeves off as well as her shorts. Gwen breathed out as he striped her down. He stared at her broken arm.
"It...It hurts" Gwen stared down at her arm.
"It's alright Gwen" He grabbed the antiseptic bottle and a rag.
"This is going to hurt a little" He told her. He applied the antiseptic to her arm. Gwen screamed wincing her eyes as he rubbed her face down with the cloth. She began to choke on the upcoming blood in her throat. Ben noticed her silence and turned her head to the side. "You've punctured a lung" He informed her as she turned her head to her side coughing the blood up and letting the dribble fall to the floor. "I need to drain the blood out of your lungs" Gwen looked up at him with one eye widened as more blood came up. "I need you to hold still" Gwen shook her head as he removed the knife and a small plastic pipe from the first aid kit. "Gwen please" He brushed her cheek. He leaned down face to face with her.
"I need you to trust me" He whispered. Gwen shook her head unable to speak.
"Gwen" He whispered rubbing her cheek. "Please Baby" Gwen turned her head. Did he just call her baby? Gwen looked up into his eyes seeing the hurt and pain in his eyes. It was Ben. It was her Ben. She winced nodding turning her head to the side and keeping her eyes closed for the pain to escalate. Ben took one sharp breath before stabbing the knife through the left side of her lung. Gwen breathing began to slow as she stared at the other side of the room her vision going fuzzy. Ben placed the pipe into the wound. "Gwen I need you to cough" He told her. His words were barely audible but she still did what he said. She coughed lightly feeling the tube in her chest. Ben watched as the bubbles of blood escaped through the small tube. He leaned down kissing her cheek.
"Good girl" He whispered as Gwen's vision began to get hazy.
The last thing she saw was Ben drifting over her like a guardian angel.
When Gwen next awoke she found herself tucked up on the couch with a fire brewing next to her. She felt a slight movement under her head and turned to find herself on Ben's lap. He had his hand wrapped tightly in her left.
Gwen turned to her right arm to find it completely bandaged up and wrapped tightly against her chest so she couldn't move it. Gwen breathed out before looking up at him. She released her hand from his and pulled the blanket down checking on her chest. She noticed that she was completely redressed in a white shirt. She pulled it down slightly to get a look at the large band aid covering her left lung.
Gwen looked up at her cousin to see that he had fallen asleep.
He had rings under his eyes looking like he hadn't slept for weeks. She brought her left hand up and placed it on his cheek. Ben's eyes fluttered open and in an instance he stared down at her. He smiled taking her left hand and bringing it in front of his lips kissing it over and over. Gwen giggled lightly trying to upset her wounds but it didn't help. Gwen swallowed the lump in her throat before leaning over to the side of her cheek. "How are you feeling?" He asked brushing her bandage cheek. "Nuh, what happened?" Gwen asked. "You got hit by a truck"
"What?"
"This truck came out of nowhere and smashed right into you"
Gwen shook her head. She lifted her upper body up and removed the blanket to find her left ankle and right leg completely bandage. "No," Gwen's eyes flipped open. "This can't be happening" Gwen whispered shaking her head like it was the end of the world. Tears streamed down her face. Ben stared feeling the guilt build up in his heart. "Gwen, it's okay. I'm here. I'm going to keep you safe, I'll help you get better, I'll help you walk again" He brushed her cheek. Gwen sniffed. "I've got some pancakes make and everything if you want breakfast?" He asked gently.
"I feel sick" She whispered.
Ben got up and helped her sit up on the couch. He grabbed a pillow from the other couch and placed them on the coffee table. "Put your feet up" He asked. Slowly Gwen raised her legs placing them onto the table. Ben moved over wrapping the blanket around her body and over her legs before grabbing another pillow and placing it behind her back and neck. He then walked over to the counter grabbing a white mug and passing it to her. "Here, I made it for you" He gently placed it in her left hand.
Gwen looked down to see the hot chocolate with the two marshmellows floating in the fluff of the milk. Gwen smiled looking down at it and chuckling lightly. Ben then walked over to her with a plate of pancakes. He placed it on Gwen's lap. Gwen looked down smiling reading the pancakes. "I'm sorry" She read the syrup writing. Gwen looked over to him. Ben frowned. "What are you sorry for exactly?" She wanted to push it. "For everything I put you through. I wasn't myself. I'm sorry I made you suffer. I'm sorry I sentenced your family to their deaths and I'm sorry for not taking your side over Sithon's" He leaned in closer to her. "That's all I wanted to hear" She whispered leaning her head on his shoulder in a type of hugging way. Ben smirked.
"Come on, you need to eat" He began cutting her pancake up into pieces.
"Hey, have you seen my phone by any chance?" She asked. "Yeah, its up on the side I was taking the tracking device out of it" He informed her.
"Tracking device?" She asked. Ben nodded concentrating on cutting the pancakes up into bite size pieces. He stabbed a piece onto the fork before lifting it up to her lips. "It's how your dad's been keeping an eye on you" She opened her mouth letting him place the fork into her mouth.
Gwen munched down the pancakes as Ben began his story. "So you've just been following me?" She asked. Ben shook his head. "No, I've been keeping an eye on you but I have been up to other important things" He gave her another piece. She moaned.
Ben smirked.
"You like the pancakes" He stated giving her another piece. She nodded. "It takes the pain away" She whispered in between chunks of food. Ben took a bite of the food and moaned as well. "Guess you're taking a fancy to my cooking huh Gwen" He leaned forward giving her another piece. Gwen shook her head smiling. She brought her cup up to her lips and took a sip. Ben watched her lips touch the cup. For some reason he became jealous of the cup. He wanted to be in it's position right now.
"You look beautiful" He whispered.
"Huh?" She turned to him not hearing what he said.
"I said..." He blushed.
"That...you've got something on your face"
"Oh," She attempted to balance the cup on her lap but it wasn't working. Ben pulled his sleeve up and wiped her lips. "There all cleaned up" He told her. Gwen smirked. "Thanks but there's one more thing?" She looked over to him with begging eyes. "Name it" Ben smirked back at her. "Can I have a foot rub?"
Ben sighed. "Fine" He got up and grabbed her feet. Gwen leaned back in her chair enjoying the comfort. She closed her eyes and let her head lay back on the couch. "Ben?"
"Yeah"
"Do you know who hit me with the truck?"
"Yeah," Ben sighed.
Gwen opened one eye. "Ben, who hit me with the truck?"
Ben gritted his teeth. "Kevin" He growled angrily. "Why did he hit me?"
"I don't really know but we'll figure it out" Ben smirked at her. "Hey, what ever happened to the Plumbers helpers, Julie and Cooper?" Gwen asked looking over to him. "Do you really have to ask?"
"Are they dead?"
Ben nodded.
"A day after you first woke up I heard Julie had been sleeping around with Kevin. I got so upset I guess I just had a total meltdown. I sent her to the Mel Void and I forced you to clean and eventually put you in a horrible position"
"In isolation. In a jail with that psychopathic doctor" Gwen closed her eyes as Ben stopped rubbing her feet. "What doctor?" He asked.
"The one you kept sending in to clean me up and he unstitched my wounds"
"There was no doctor. That was me"
The redhead lifted her head staring up at him. "There was a doctor. He grabbed and tried to restrain me when I saved your life. I saw him. I saw"
"Maybe it was a figurment of your imagination. Besides I have a lot of guards on my ship; it could have just been one of them. I didn't let anyone touch you. I wanted you left alone"
Gwen breathed out her left eye flinching to close again. She allowed it and it captured Ben's attention. "What's wrong with your eye?"
Gwen shrugged. Ben came over and tried to pry her eyeslids open. "Ah," Gwen winced. "Ben, stop you're hurting me" She tried to move her head away from him. "Just stay still okay, I just want to see it" Ben pried it open with his fingernails. He saw the bloodshot eye. He stared at the blood surrounding it. "Woah" Ben breathed out letting her close her eyes. "What's wrong with it?" She asked. "It's blood shot. There's a lot of blood in it" Ben informed her. "Do you have my tablets?"
Ben looked over to the table. "I've got the ones' in your pocket. I'm going to pick up the rest today while you're asleep"
"I'm not tired"
"You will be. I brought a few movies for you to watch while I'm out"
"What if I need the bathroom?"
"You'll just need to wait til I get back otherwise I can just get you a bottle"
Gwen frowned. She sighed. "Just put on a movie. I'll wait to you get back" She sighed taking a sip from her drink. Ben placed the tablets next to her. "I'll be back in an hour please don't try to get up" He told her getting up. He kissed her on the cheek before walking out the room leaving her alone to watch the G rated movie.
Ben walked out of the cabin closing the door and making sure it was locked before he began his stretch into town. He walked towards an old 1997 Hyonda suzzuki which he had unused out the back of the cabin when he first decided to vacate. His first stop was at grandpa's RV which concealed the vile. He placed his hoody on and slowly drove into the camping grounds to find many people outside Max's home.
Ben frowned as he watched the old man outside with his hands up in the air trying to talk to the people. They didn't look happy news reported surrounded him like sea gulls fighting over a chip at the beach. Ben shook his head in sympathy as he pulled round the back of the RV and got out of his car.
"People, People, People" He could hear Max's voice trying to grasp some handle on the situation. Ben looked down at the omnitrix and began dialing GhostFreak. He turned intangible before gliding into the RV. He searched around keeping a close eye on the windows so he would not be seen luckily for him the blinds were shut and he listened to Max's voice and the allogations made to him whilst he searched. "My granddaughter is not a criminal. She hasn't been helping Ben and the rest of my family isn't either"
"Then how do you explain her disappearance"
"I don't know where she has gone off too"
"So you think she's helping Ben 10,000"
"No,"
"Mr. Tennyson how do you know that. She could be planting a bomb inside city square"
"What? My granddaughter's not a terrorist and neither's the rest of my family"
Without the slightest thought Max turned and entered the Rustbucket slamming the door. "I can't believe that" He muttered under his breath before he stared up at the outline of an alien.
"You shouldn't be here" Max whispered. "You've caused my family too much grief"
"I'm still your family" Ben slammed down the omnitrix revealing himself. Max shook his head. "What do you want Ben?" Max asked making sure all the blinds were closed. "I'm looking for the vile"
"Why do you need it?"
"It's important" Ben opened the fridge to see it lying there half empty. "You've got Gwen haven't you?"
Ben nodded. "Where is she?"
"Safe" Ben removed the vile from the fridge and placed it in his pocket. "Where Ben?" Max frowned at the boy.
"Where I'm staying. What's with all the people outside?" It was Ben's turn to investigate. Max sighed. "Someone's been spreading rumours about our family helping you to get your power back. They think we're criminals and it's taking a turn on our roles as leaders of the state. They think Kevin should just be mayor instead" Max sat down looking at his favourite mug on the table. "Sure Kevin's not making the rumours up?" Ben sat down next to him. Max looked up at his grandson. "I'm starting to think that; he's the only one with allogations not made against his name" Max looked over to the clock. Ben followed his eyes. 10:45am. He had been away from her for over 45 minutes. "I've got to go get some of Gwen's stuff" Ben stood up. "Wait" Max stood up. "I'll come with you. Let me just start up the RV and we'll both go over" Max walked to the front. Ben sat back down and nodded.
Within 10 minutes they were there. Max was the only one to walk inside. He collected Gwen's black bag which she was going to run away with and quickly walked down stairs. He heard someone coughing from the behind him and turned. There was a man at the table; one of Gwen's tutor's.
"Mr. Tennyson, you wouldn't know where Miss Tennyson is today do you. She has several assignments due including an overdue Maths test" The man crossed his arms. "I'm sorry" Max turned. "I haven't seen her; she's probably just wondered off somewhere. I'll give her a call" Max smiled.
"Don't bother. They're a day overdue so she has failed" The man frowned. Max frowned back at the man annoyed at how much stress the girl has been getting. "Well I'm sure you'll inform her Dad about that" Max closed the front door and walked back over to the RV to see Ben.
"I'll drive" Ben stated hoping into the drivers seat.
Gwen awoke to the sounds of her ringtone. She turned her head to the side opening her eyes to find that the movie was still playing and her phone was vibrating on the coffee table. With one swing of her left arm Gwen leaned over and grabbed the phone off the side before looking up at the screen. Her vision was still blurry as she tried to read the words. She figured it was her dad calling probably for the hundreth time. That or her maths tutor; she was supposed to have a test with him yesterday but she got hit by a truck. She figured he'd just understand and just do it when she got back. "Hello" Gwen placed the phone up to her ear. "So I didn't kill you"
Gwen's eyes widened as she heard a wicked laugh. "W-What do you want?" She asked. "You know your dad and I were just talking about you" Gwen gritted her teeth she straightened up removing all fear from her voice. "Let him go, Kevin, he hasn't done anything" Gwen narrowed her eyes. "Right in case you haven't noticed Gwen you've got no leverage. I'd try something else maybe you meeting me at a particular place"
Gwen went silent. "Think of it as a trade off. Your Dad for you. I think it sounds fair"
Gwen didn't answer him. "I'm guessing from your silence that it's a deal. How's 8pm Saturday my house sound. You'll notice it it's a giant mansion now" Gwen could hear Kevin's smirk on the phone. "Oh and Gwen, if you tell your stupid cousin or that old man of yours I am going to kill your dad. Do you understand?" Gwen nodded. "Tell me that you understand"
"I understand" Gwen breathed out. "Good. Make sure you're there on time" He hung up. Gwen relaxed thinking about what she was going to do. She placed her phone down on the side and sat up using her left arm to gain some support. She then looked over to her tablets still left on the side. She took them before her alarm went off so it would be one less thing to worry about. She then swallowed the rest of her water as the front door opened. Gwen turned to see her cousin and grandpa walking in through the front. "Grandpa" She smiled at him.
"Gwen" He came rushing over bringing her in for a hug. He brushed her cheek staring down at her.
"What happened?" He asked removing the blanket and staring down at her arm and damaged legs. Gwen frowned. "Kevin ran me over with a truck" She looked the other way. "Are you in pain?" Gwen nodded. "Ben there's a first aid kit in the RustBucket. Can you grab it?" Max asked. Ben nodded before walking out the room. Max turned back to her and smiled. "I'm so glad you're okay, but how'd you survive?"
"Ben, saved me he removed the blood from my lungs" Gwen showed him the stitching on her chest. "Ouch" Max whispered. "I need to get you home" Max placed a hand on her back. "Come on" He grabbed her and pulled her up. "Ah," Gwen winced her eyes as he held her in closely. "Grandpa I don't want to go anywhere" Gwen gritted her teeth as he walked over to the door to find Ben standing there with the black bag. "What do you think you're doing?" Ben upper body tensed. Max breathed out. "I have to take her home" Max whispered. "She has to go to a hospital"
"No, she's not going anywhere. I'm taking care of her" Ben walked forward. Ben stared down at her. "Grandpa please" She begged. "I want to stay with Ben" She whispered. Max sighed. He placed her down on the black leather couch. He wrapped her up in a blanket. Ben threw his medical bag at him. Max sat down next to her and opened it up. He took out his flashlight and shone it in her eyes. "Open yours left eye, Kiddo" He told her but she shied away.
"Don't" She warned.
Max pried it open with her fingernails.
"Ow," Gwen whimpered as he stared into it. He saw the blood in her eyes. He removed his hands and began unwrapping her bandages. Ben came and sat down next to her. She leaned her head on Ben's shoulder as he stroked her hair. "It's alright Gwen, we'll have some dinner later and I'll put on a movie..." He continued on whispering into her ear. Max heard their conversation as he cleaned out her wounds. He couldn't help but notice the loving look in Ben's eyes as he stared down at his cousin. "Did you have all your hot chocolate?"
Gwen nodded.
"I'm was really worried about you" He nuzzled up to her. Max patched up her ankle before standing up. "There all done" Max looked up at them. "Maybe we should put you in the bedroom so you van get some proper rest" Ben looked over to her. "No, I need to make some dinner" Ben walked over to the kitchen. "What do you want to eat, Red?" Ben asked. Gwen shrugged. "Pizza?"
Ben smirked. "I'll put some in the oven" He walked out. Max followed him. Ben walked over to the freezer taking some out. "Gwen said he blasted you with a ray"
Ben nodded.
"She said it changed you back to being good"
Ben nodded placing the pizza's in the oven. "You look like your old self. I can see it in your eyes"
Ben breathed out. "Gwen changed my life. I'm just glad she's alive"
"You and me both" Max looked over to his granddaughter playing with the remote. She flicked through the channels one by one. "Aren't you worried about being found up here?"
"No,"
Ben turned back to his cousin. He smiled as he watched her. She looked so cute tucked up on the couch.
Max noticed his reaction to seeing Gwen and sighed. "You like her don't you?"
Ben didn't answer instead he frowned towards Max. "So what if I do?"
Max shrugged. "You know it's not right. I shouldn't have to tell you that"
"She likes me back. I know she does"
"That's not the problem" Max took a step forward lowering his voice. "Then what's the problem?" Ben asked clueless. "You kidnapped your cousin; you beat her; you took away her family; you took away her powers and she likes you"
Ben gulped looking away. "Ben, doesn't that sound a little off to you" Max crossed his arms. Ben shook his head. "She's not sick"
"Then let me talk to her" Max stated. Ben shook his head. "No, I should. I don't want her to be in love with me just because she's sick" Ben walked out. Max watched as he sat down next to Gwen. He placed a hand on her shoulder before leaning in close and asking her. Gwen stared at the television nodding. She turned it off and turned to him. "You think I'm sick?" She whispered.
Ben nodded. Max looked over to the pizza's noticing the timer go off. He turned and took them out before turning back to see Gwen's anger building up. He watched as her knuckles turned white; she was about to hit him.
Max ran over and grabbed her taking her away from Ben before she had a full meltdown. "Gwen it's okay" He pulled her back shielding and restraining her. "He took away my family" Gwen yelled her cheek going red. "He ruined my life" Gwen clenched her teeth. Ben's eyes widened in fear. Gwen's eyes alit with pure manna but before she could use them she instantly collapsed in Max's arms. "What happened?" Ben raced up to her checking to make sure she was still breathing. "It's alright, she must've exerted to much power at once. It happens. She just needs a few minutes to catch her breath back and she'll be back awake in no time" Max placed her down on the sofa to sleep. "What did you say to her?"
"I asked if she was still mad at me"
"She said no"
"I told her she should be. I told her that I killed her family, stole her powers. I told her she should yell at me. Must've triggered her" Ben looked down at her. Max nodded. "I'm sure she'll be a little calmer when she wakes up. I just hope that she's not suffering from stokholm syndrome" Max wrapped the blanket around her. "I'm sure she isn't" Ben shook his head. "There's always the chance after what you did to her" Max bit back. Ben looked away tears apparent in his eyes. "I never meant to hurt her. I swear. I just wanted her to make her see the way I felt when my family betrayed me" Ben gritted his teeth. Max shook his head. "I wanted her to see that you guys were just bad people all along"
"I wanted-"
"You wanted to brain wash her"
Ben shook his head. "No, I..." Ben rubbed his eyes feeling the tears begin to stain his red flustered cheeks. "It makes sense now. That's why you put her through so much pain and misery. You were trying to break her so that you could rebuild her in your image" Max spit. Ben took a step back holding his head. "I didn't mean to. I wasn't in my right mind. Im...I'm so sorry Gwen" He looked down at the unconscious girl on the couch. Injured; broken; mostly his doing. He sent down next to her rubbing her cheek. He leaned his head down on her chest. "I'm so sorry Gwen"
Max set the table for the three of them as Ben sat with Gwen holding her hand as she slept. Max placed down the knifes and forks at each plate before walking back into them kitchen to grab the pizzas. "I thought you said she'd be awake by now?" Ben asked whispering. "Gwen's hurt. She could be asleep for another hour if not the whole night" Max stated placing his hand over the pizza's feeling them begin to get cold.
"See if you can wake her up" Max came over to the two of them. Ben looked down before grabbing her shoulders and shaking her lightly. "Gwen?" He whispered caressing her cheek. Gwen moaned wincing her eyes before they fluttered open.
She saw Ben first and narrowed her eyes.
"If you want to hit me you can go ahead I deserve it" Ben closed his eyes. Instantly Gwen's left hand came up and punched him straight in the nose. Ben fell backwards holding his nose as it bled leaving him with a broken nose and two black eyes.
"Ow, I thought you said she was injured" Ben looked over to his grandpa.
"No offence Ben but you kind of did deserve it" Max placed a hand on Gwen's shoulder as she sat up.
"Nuh," She breathed out flexing her left wrist out. "You okay Pumpkin?" Max leaned down at checked her wrist. "Hey, down here" Ben complained. "I think you broke my nose" Ben stood up feeling a little woozy but he got ignored. "My head hurts a little" She placed her left hand on her temple and rubbed it slowly. "What happened?"
"You forced your powers when you didn't have the energy too. It's pretty dangerous especially when you're injured" Max checked her wrist. "Are you hungry?" He asked. Gwen nodded looking over to the table and smelling the food. "Ah, it's bleeding" Ben complained in the background as he held his nose. "I can't believe you did that" Ben looked down at his cousin. Gwen looked over to him. "Why are you complaining you asked me too?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "Yeah, but I didn't think you would actually go through with it"
Gwen shrugged. "Ben go put an icepack on your nose" Max told the boy as he took his granddaughter in his arms and helped her over to the table. "Thanks Grandpa" She smiled at him. He smiled back and began to cut up the pizza's as Ben walked into the kitchen muttering under his breath. he came and sat down with the two of them as they began to eat. Ben narrowed his eyes at her as Gwen and Max both began chatting. "I spoke to your maths tutor yesterday"
Gwen gulped. Ben looked over to her. "I didn't know you had a maths tutor. You seriously that behind?" Ben asked. Gwen shook her head. "My dad wasn't letting me go to school. He had the teachers come round and tutor me and make me do all the tests and exams though" Gwen answered her cousin with the flick of her tongue. "Anyway, what did he say?" Gwen asked gently. "He, err, noticed you missed the last test"
"That's okay I'll just do it when I get back" Gwen shrugged taking a bite of her pizza. Max shook his head. "He seemed quite upset for so reason"
"Ben killed his family. He doesn't like me very much because of it" Gwen whispered as Ben chewed down his third piece of pizza before grabbing another piece. "Why does you dad hire him then"
Gwen shrugged. "He's the best maths tutor around. He used to teach me. It's just a shame all of this happened" The redhead wiped her hands on the napkin before placing it on her plate. "Sounds like an douface to me" Ben informed them as he picked up another piece of pizza.
Both Max and Gwen narrowed their eyes at him.
"It's not like that. He's just grumpy man" Gwen looked down at her watch checking the date. She had at least two days before she had to see Kevin. "Something wrong, Gwen?" Max asked. Gwen shook her head nervously.
"No, I...was just checking when I had to take my medication" She smirked but both of them could see straight through her smile like it was a clear window. "I think I'll run you a bath" Ben stood up taking another piece of pizza before leaving to the bathroom. Gwen watched as he left the room. "Is something wrong Gwen?" Max asked. "You seem a little scared" He placed a hand on hers but she slid it away.
"I'm just flustered with not being able to do anything that's all" Max smiled standing up. "You'll get better. You've done it before; you can do it again" He kissed her forehead before grabbing the plates and leaving. Ben came over to her and placed two hands on either side of her shoulders.
"Baths ready" He smirked down at her.
Gwen sat down in the luke warm shallow bathwater as Ben came and sat down beside her. "Comfy?" He asked. Gwen narrowed his eyes at him but nodded. "Yeah," She whispered looking away from him as she attempted to keep her bandages out of the water. Ben frowned at her feeling sorry for her. "I'm sorry that Kevin hit you with a truck" He placed an ice pack against his nose and leaned against the wall attempting to keep her company. Gwen breathed out staring up at the roof. "Sorry for breaking your nose...and giving you two black eyes" Gwen apologized sarcastically. Ben shook his head.
"I guess I had it coming but you still could've eased up; that really hurt" Ben felt the bridge of his nose. Gwen smirked pretty proud of herself for showing him that she's still a badass despite her injuries. "So are you going to tell me what's bothering you?" Ben asked turning to her.
She thought about telling him about Kevin but she decided against it. The last thing she wanted to see was her Dad die. She shook her head and winced her eyes.
"No, I just. Everytime I get close to being strong again something bad happens and then I go back to being weak" She closed her eyes shaking her head.
"How can I manage to change anything if I can't even stand up" Gwen pouted. Ben shook his head smiling.
"You're not weak, Gwen" She turned her head to meet his eyes. They stared deep into hers as he continued on.
"You're more intelligent than a freakin' computer for one thing, you're stronger than any tetramand I've ever faced and you're beautiful. You were the only reason I woke up every morning on that ship" Gwen raised her head.
"You really mean that?" Gwen asked. Ben smirked leaning in closer to her. "Of course I mean it. Why do you think I kept you around" He winked at her. Gwen smirked then frowned laying her head to rest on the ceramic.
Ben felt like a complete idiot for adding that last part. He sighed.
"Gwen, if I could take back everything I've done to you I would" Gwen nodded.
"I don't want to forget I just want to move passed it" Ben nodded.
"I'll make it up to Gwen" He whispered avoiding eye contact with her.
She looked away from him too instead directed her attention on the hazy lights above her head.