A/N: Oi, I'm so exhausted...was up late writing this story...it's been nearly a week since I wrote anymore to it, so I needed to get pumping on chapters. I need to finish this damn story so I can start writing other stuff gosh darn it all. In exciting news, I'm about two...maybe three chapters away from introducing Tom into the story!

Thank you to the reviewers for all your awesomeness! Glad the fluff last chapter sort of...kind of made up for the lack of smut. :)

And thank you to Greg for beta-ing.

XXXVI.

Weaver held the meeting outside, the number of fighters grievously small. For the first time, Roman and his friends joined the array, hovering near the back. Roman nodded acknowledgment at Jimmy when he and Ben joined the group, and Jimmy furrowed his brow in question, but decided to let it be for now. He would talk to them after the meeting. He wasn't sure where they'd been during the attack; whether they'd joined the fray or not, though if they had it would certainly explain their presence that morning.

For the most part, all of the civilians were holed up in the community center, packing personal and community belongings and preparing for a quick move. Although lives were lost the night before, there was no time to grieve. Some of the civilians were busy preparing graves for the dead; they would have a funeral shortly, and then take their leave of the area as soon as possible.

Jimmy and Ben took up position near the back of the group as well, though they kept their distance from the other unharnessed teens. Jimmy folded his arms across his chest, furrowed his brow, and studied Weaver a moment. The night before he'd left Ben after nearly an hour together, reveling in one another's presence, and sought out Weaver for instruction, but the old man had his hands full with reports flooding in from various scouting groups, so Jimmy was quickly passed off to Dai and then Anthony. He went on patrol with an older boy that he didn't know very well, for several hours wandering the small perimeter in awkward silence, worrying about Ben the entire time. He supposed Ben's behavior before he'd left, practically begging Jimmy to stay, just to hold him, wasn't entirely out of character, but then Ben made no move to push things farther, which was a little disturbing.

To an extent, Jimmy understood Ben's sudden clinginess. When everyone in the world seemed to hate him, of course he'd want to hang on to the one person that didn't. Yet, there was something else in Ben's expression, something in his voice, almost like that of a small child's, that made Jimmy think there was more to it than Ben simply wanting confirmation that he wasn't the monster everyone claimed him to be.

In the night, there had been two more minor attacks that had been easily quelled, but it only gave credence to growing concern that a larger force was prepping assault.

"Why isn't he talking yet?" Ben griped, leaning in close to Jimmy and dropping his voice low. He had immediately positioned himself between Jimmy and the unharnessed four, and was darting dangerous looks their direction every so often, as though daring them to step any closer.

Jimmy thought to give Ben hell for it, maybe even point out that he would be continuing training them soon and that would mean he'd be interacting with them again, but after the attack and knowing what people were saying about Ben around camp, Jimmy decided to let it go. He didn't have it in him to argue with Ben right at that moment about pretty much anything.

"I don't know," Jimmy murmured response, eying the captain curiously.

Weaver had his hands on his hips, his head tipped forward, his hat obscuring view of his face, as he and Dai listened intently to a few other older fighters. His shoulders were tightly wound, and he kept walking a few paces forward than turning and walking back. He was upset and disturbed, obviously, but that was understandable given the attack, but there was agitation in the older man, restlessness akin to Ben's 'trapped at camp' restlessness, a tiger in a cage.

"Something bad came back in the reports," Jimmy whispered realization, stomach bottoming out, "We have no way out."

"Shit," Ben murmured, ducking his face close to Jimmy's, "You think?"

"It's the only thing," Jimmy reasoned, "It's not like the school a few months back when the best we had was a suicide plan, or that roadblock last month where we had a just so crazy it might work plan…but this…this is bad…this is really bad. Dai isn't saying anything, Weaver isn't saying anything…they don't have a plan."

"You're sure?" Ben whispered, peeking up at the two older men. He couldn't listen in on their conversation to verify Jimmy's suspicions because, as Jimmy noted, neither men were talking nor could he read them quite the way Jimmy could. The best he could glean was that they were both upset, but any idiot could figure that out.

Ben searched for his brother amongst the gathered fighters. Hal was in the front with Anthony and Maggie, whispering amongst themselves. He tried to catch Hal's eye, having gone on scout the night before Hal would have a better idea of what was going on, but the older boy was engrossed in his current conversation, which itself was a perturbing sign. Hal would've at least made certain Ben was present for the meeting but he hadn't checked the group once since Ben arrived.

"They'll figure something out," Ben silently told Jimmy.

"Yeah," Jimmy returned, though he didn't sound convinced.

"And if they don't, I will," Ben decided.

Jimmy glanced at the other boy, but Ben kept his intense gaze focused forward.

Finally, Weaver took up position at the head of the group and called attention. His expression was grim, his eyes downcast. When he spoke, his voice sounded weathered and faraway.

"Last night was…was a terrible blow. You all held your ground, fought hard and…and I'm proud of you," he started, "But we…we're not out of the fire yet. Most of you already know scouts went out last night and…well...reports are…that they have us surrounded."

The group broke into hushed whispers and Hal finally looked back to meet Ben's eyes, expression severely drawn. Ben nodded, leaning his shoulder heavy against Jimmy's. Jimmy studied his shoes, his hair falling across his face, arms folded over his stomach.

"It looks like the enemy troops have been closing us out for days, they blindsided us, goddamned bugs, they had to have figured out we were here weeks ago," Weaver continued quietly, shaking his head. A few looks went back Ben's direction and he shifted uncomfortably from the stares, pressing himself closer to Jimmy in effort to keep his head cool, "As of right now, our only option appears to be fighting our way through. The enemy looks thin in areas…we are gathering more information where we can but…"

"Can we distract the enemy? Draw their troops to another area?" One of the fighters in the middle of the group asked.

"We're exploring that option now," Weaver answered unsteadily, "Right now, though, we don't seem to have any viable targets."

"What about the alien structure?" Jimmy called out question and some eyes spun round to peer curiously at him and he ducked his head down, suddenly embarrassed. He rarely spoke up during fighter gatherings. He cleared his throat and tentatively continued, "Setting off explosives on the one in the warehouse made the Skitters retreat from the area…maybe it'll be the same here…"

A rash of excited whispers broke out amongst the group, and Ben gave Jimmy a questioning look: one in the warehouse? Jimmy shrugged apologetically at Ben, eyes studying the ground.

"We don't have enough information on that thing," Weaver reasoned, "How many troops are guarding it, topographical details of the area, hell, we don't even know if we can destroy the thing…and with the enemy breathing down our neck, I need all available fighters here defending the civilians and figuring out how to get us the hell out of here..."

"Then send me," Ben spoke up, both Jimmy and Hal darting him alarmed looks.

"Ben…I can't do that…" Weaver started.

"Why? Because no one trusts me," Ben interjected sharply, and a still hush fell over the group, "I don't qualify as an available fighter because I'm sitting at camp doing nothing, so send me out there. Worst case scenario, I really am working for the Skitters and they find out…nothing more than they already now. Best case scenario, I'm not working for them, but I don't come back, and everyone here can finally breathe easy."

Jimmy flinched back at that statement, eyes dropping to hide the pain that flashed across them, and Hal boiled in his seat, shaking his head threateningly at his younger brother.

"Ben, you're not going anywhere," Hal seethed, "Weaver, he is not…"

"It's alright, Hal. Ben, I cannot send you down there," Weaver cut in, "Whether people trust you or not doesn't mean one lick to me, son, and you ought to know that. Only reason I have you stuck at camp right now is because I need you at camp. I got a lot of fighters away on scout and intel harvesting, ten to be exact, and you're about ten fighters in battle. I need you here to make up for their absence if that assault does come. I'm sorry if that got lost in translation."

A swell of emotion swarmed through Ben's chest, a strange kind of relief, and he breathed it in momentarily, before shaking it away and refocusing on his argument.

"Touched as I am, sir," Ben persisted, "Jimmy's right, our best chance of getting out of here is to attack that structure and I'm the only one that can get to it. Call back the scouts, reinforce the defenses here, and send me out."

"You may be ten in battle, but you're still one boy," Weaver continued, "I'm not sending you out with no backup…there's a saying about all your hens in one basket, I think it applies here."

"I'll go with him," Jimmy quickly piped up.

"No," Weaver determined, giving Jimmy a severe look, "I am not putting you out in hard battle so soon after that last op."

"I'm fine," Jimmy protested, "I handled myself during the attack…sir, I can handle it."

"That's fine. I don't want him out there with me," Ben said with a steely finality, and several puzzled, as well as a few suspicious looks shot his direction, including a brief and poignantly pained glare from Jimmy, and then Ben tensed his jaw and declared, "If all I need for you to give me the go ahead is backup, sir, then send me out there with another razorback."

A few people shifted uncomfortably at the slur, and Jimmy dropped his eyes, hating the pain spreading unequaled through his entire body. He felt as though he'd been stabbed clear through the chest, he couldn't breathe, it hurt too much. He thought he'd have more time to prepare for this moment, when he would be removed from Ben's side in battle, he certainly didn't expect Ben to instigate it.

"None of them are trained well enough…" Weaver argued.

"Then we'll all go," Roman spoke up.

Everyone shifted their attention to the four teenagers standing in various degrees of uncertainty in the back, evidently some people had forgotten they were there, still others clearly had no clue who they even were.

Roman smirked darkly at Ben and decided, "But only if Jimmy comes too."

Dai had stepped forward by then, touching Weaver's arm to gain his attention, and both men exchanged low whispers at the front. Jimmy peered curiously back at the four teenagers, Kelsey didn't look thrilled by Roman's ultimatum, Douglas seemed to still be wrapping his head around the idea they'd be going out in the battlefield at all, Gia looked pale and shaken, Roman and Ben sent one another silent threats via narrowed glares.

"The fact still remains, none of you are trained well enough," Weaver finally proclaimed, "Sending four incapable fighters into battle is no different than sending one, all it changes is the potential number of lives lost."

"We helped take down a few Skitters during that last battle, sir," Roman protested.

"I'll go with Ben," a voice suddenly spoke, and another hush fell throughout the crowd. No one had noticed the boy hovering a few yards from the meeting, and he seemed to magically materialize from the shadows, stepping forward and locking eyes with the captain, "I'm not very adept with a gun, but I do know how to shoot, and I'm more than capable of fighting a Skitter hand-to-hand."

"Rick, you've never been in battle before," Weaver noted, though it was obvious the teen's offer softened him more significantly on the idea of sending a unit to take down the alien structure than Roman's had.

"And I will never wish to again, but as everyone, including you, sir, has made clear, we have no other options," Rick replied, earnest in his near mechanical monotone.

"In absence of any other plan, this seems the best one, true, but, Rick, I'm not entirely convinced that sending you…"

"He's faster and he's stronger than me," Ben hastily pointed out, "You're the one who said me and Rick together in battle was the most ideal situation."

Weaver sighed, hands on hips and head tipped down. Jimmy's stomach dropped and a triumphant smirk flittered across the corner of Ben's lip.

"Captain…" Hal began warningly.

"Okay," Weaver relented, peering up and darting looks between both Rick and Ben, "I'll give you boys three hours to assess the situation out by that structure, try not to use them all, if bringing it down is a possibility then, and only then, will I send you back out with intent to destroy. In the meantime, Dai, I need all units to fall back to base and tighten ranks. Anthony, choose three fighters. I need you to probe a way out of here if news on the structure is sour. Everyone dismissed. Ben, Rick, prep for your mission and meet me in my office in ten."

Reluctantly, fighters broke into groups and went off to carry out Weaver's instructions.

"Jimmy…I…" Ben stammered, searching for some way to apologize and explain the things he'd said during the meeting, but Jimmy turned abruptly from him and strode the direction of the unharnessed four. Ben moved to follow but a hand on his arm brought him to a halt.

"We don't have time," Rick told Ben sternly, "Settle it when we're in a safer place."

"There is no such thing as a safer place," Ben remarked, eyes lingering on Jimmy approaching Roman, the older boy perking noticeably at the sight of the younger.

Ben turned for his tent and Rick didn't reply to his comment.

"Why did you volunteer to come?" Ben demanded, striding swiftly inside of his tent, the other boy following a few paces behind, "You avoid battle like the plague, and that structure is closer to the signal. You know that, don't you?"

"I'm aware."

Of course he was, Ben thought bitterly. Rick always knew more than anyone else, yet he never gave anything away.

"Well didn't you say you planned on staying as far away from that signal as you possibly could?" Ben retorted hotly, digging through his belongings for his knives, handguns, and rifle. He didn't know why he felt so angry with Rick; after all, if it weren't for Rick, Weaver never would've agreed to let Ben go after the alien structure.

"Yes and given current circumstances, that structure is as far as I possibly can stay from that signal," Rick replied coolly, "I won't lie, I'm concerned about it, Ben, but I'm more concerned about you."

Ben faltered, pausing and glaring at his belongings in his duffle. He thought to bring the first aid kit, but he could move faster without it. Hell, he could move faster without his rifle.

"What does that mean?" Ben demanded.

"The 'blackouts'," Rick reminded Ben, "Are you sure that getting closer to that signal is the right option?"

"You think the signal has something to do with the blackouts or the visions or whatever the hell they are," Ben surmised.

"We both know that it does," Rick returned.

Ben scowled. He left his rifle leaned against his duffle and stood, turning to fix a hard glare on the other boy.

"I don't 'know' half as much as you seem to, so why don't you catch me up, Rick?" Ben seethed. Rick tilted his head to one side, examined Ben a moment, and then wordlessly turned for the tent exit.

"We should go. Weaver is waiting," Rick said.

"No, I need to talk to Jimmy before we go," Ben decided, "I can't leave without…without at least saying I'm sorry."

"It's not important," Rick told him.

"It's important to me," Ben returned sharply, pushing past the other boy and exiting the tent, heading back towards where he'd left Jimmy and the unharnessed four.

…

Somehow, since Ben's calling attention to it, the way Roman lit when Jimmy sauntered over was unmistakable, and a bit unnerving. The four teens were deep in conversation, but all fell silent at Jimmy's appearance. Kelsey ducked behind Roman, Gia and Douglas appraised the younger boy distantly, and Roman stared attentively.

"During the attack, you guys took down a few Skitters?" Jimmy carefully prodded. He'd felt a strange surge of pride at that revelation during the meeting.

"We helped with a few," Douglas corrected.

"I even put a few bullets in some of the creepy crawlers," Roman proclaimed, puffing his chest out and grinning lopsided, "Definitely caught some of the other fighters by surprise when we didn't turn tail and run with the civilians."

"That's good," Jimmy determined, smirking and quietly noting, "You probably earned respect during the meeting too, volunteering to head out into battle with Ben. Only way you guys'll ever make it into the ranks as real fighters is if you can earn the right level of respect."

"Earned respect? Made us look like fools, more like. Weaver didn't want to send us out there, he announced to everyone that we weren't good enough," Gia muttered.

"No. He only said you aren't ready yet," Jimmy retorted sharply, then murmured, "And he said I wasn't good enough. There's a difference"

They all fell silent a moment, and Jimmy kicked at the dirt a bit, knocking off some mud clinging to the side of his boot.

"You guys just need a little more training," Jimmy continued softly, "And a little more battle experience before Weaver can send you out on the harder missions. And he will, eventually."

"What about you?" Roman asked, Jimmy and his friends glancing up oddly at him, "If Weaver said you aren't good enough, well, Ben basically said as much too. You're really just going to take that."

"Why wouldn't I? It's the truth," Jimmy said quietly, "I can handle myself in battle, sure, but sooner or later Ben needs someone who he can rely on as much as they rely on him. I weigh him down and we both know that."

"Not the way it looks from where I'm standing," Gia gently intonated, and Jimmy darted a stunned look at her, taken aback by the sentiment.

"You were the one who saved us in that shopping center," Roman agreed, "If it had been left up to Ben, we'd all be dead."

"That's not true," Jimmy bit out protest when he found his voice again, "He screwed up because of me, because he felt he needed to take care of me and…that's the only reason…"

"He screwed up because he didn't care about the rest of us," Kelsey whispered plaintively from behind Roman, peeking around the older boy and saying, "But you did, care about us. And you saved us."

Nearing footfalls caused the five teenagers to fall silent, and Jimmy turned round, swallowing down his emotions when his eyes landed on Ben with Rick standing at his shoulder. He knew the expression on Ben's face, and before the other boy could ask, Jimmy started away, gestured for him to follow. Ben shot Rick a meaningful look, and Rick stayed put with the other four unharnessed teenagers as Ben and Jimmy slipped off several yards away, ducking behind a trailer.

"About what I said…" Ben began tentatively, but Jimmy quickly silenced him, dragging him forward by his shirt into a firm kiss.

"I'm not speaking to you, asshole," Jimmy growled when they momentarily broke apart, then he caught Ben in another kiss that Ben returned in fervor, pressing Jimmy back against the trailer and plunging his tongue into Jimmy's mouth.

They parted again, breathless and Jimmy touched their foreheads together, searching Ben's eyes.

"Be careful," he said, then roughly pushed Ben away, stalking around the trailer and up towards the community center.

Ben sighed, delicately smeared away the saliva from his lip with his thumb, and returned to Rick.

"Let's go," he muttered, and side-by-side they headed for Weaver's.

.

.

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A/N: I feel like there were things I needed to rewrite in this chapter...oh well, I have homework to do. There you go, the return of Rick with odd tidbits of conversation and a somewhat touching "good-bye" from a disgruntled Jimmy.

Let me know what you guys think! Dang it, I need breakfast. My dad's girlfriend wants to read some of my fanfiction...I'm not entirely sure what to share with her...probably not anything from this series. I don't know why she wants to read the fanfic stuff, I have original things I'd much rather share.

Reviewers: NOxONE, thank you! That's true, Ben doesn't really have much emotional spilling. School's going well, thank you! I'll do my best. SassySavanna190, UGH, I KNOW, EVERYTHING IS JUST WORKING AGAINST BEN AND JIMMY! Sorry, I wanted to write in all caps too. :) Mr. Mason will be coming back soon, no worries, tho I'm not sure how much ass kicking he'll be doing. And...yeah..."Karen". Hm...but wasn't Hal's going outside to fight the full force of the alien assault, in a sense, also a form of protecting Matt? Oh, don't cry! Or maybe do...I like making people cry, because I'm a bully. Kidding! Only kidding. Or am I? Cookie97, Ben does have Jimmy, and, yeah, sometimes it's nice to end on a sweet note. Or a bittersweet note. And then sometimes it's thrilling to end with them fighting. Maybe that last one is just me? Haley, I've been wondering where you were! I'm sorry to hear you were sick, glad you were feeling well enough to drop in. Yeah, I am a bit of a tease...I can't help it, it's fun for me. There will be some smut coming though, and lots (eh...a decent amount, I think, maybe not for some people) coming up later in the story to make up for all the lost times early on. Guest, I know, sorry. Yeah...there will be more smut, I promise. Eventually. :D. WhisperMaw! Ah...well, that is a little more than a couple things, awesome. a) No problem. b) I miss your analyses. c) Thanks for letting me know! I'm glad to hear it. I wish I could be angry about the not reviewing part, but being an expert at super lazy, I guess I don't have room to talk. d) Odd that the real reason you're here is to tell me about how flipping good another fic is, though I find it incredibly flattering that, apparently when you find great stories you think of me. It's always awesome when you find something amazing to read through all of the piles of mediocre on here, not that there isn't an abundance of great on this site, there's just an overabundance of not so great drowning it all. Hm...wow, way to make me realize I've been posting on this site for 9 years...sheesh. No, it wouldn't have been me, I don't co-author stories. Don't play well with others, you see...it's also why I never got into MMO's. Sass? Me? Gosh, never! Oh, I've developed ulcers long ago. You're fabulous too, dear, stop in once in awhile to let me know you're still feeling entertained, please?

See you guys all next Sunday! I need breakfast...