Disclaimers: I only own Maria, so please don't sue me.
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Chapter 8
"Ashes to ashes, Dust to dust," came the voice of the Vicar, everything he said after that was a blur.
It was, however, a good service, as good as funerals could be anyway. It wasn't raining, but Ben wished it was. That way he wouldn't have felt that the sun as mocking him, shining and smiling down at him and the other mourners. It was a good turnout, many people had turned up showing their support.
Reed was standing by his side with a hand on his shoulder, a shoulder that shook from sobbing quietly to himself. "Ben," his friend whispered softly, squeezing his shoulder.
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"Ben?" Reed repeated, but his friends wasn't listening, "Ben, come and have something to drink," he urged.
"I can't do it," Ben said allowing his mind to return to the present. "I won't do it!" he said a little stronger.
"Do what?" Reed asked gently, a little confused.
"Bury another family member," Ben said through clenched teeth. "I made a promise to my brother and his wife that I'd take care of her," he said though clenched teeth, as he fought back tears – it was their funeral he was remembering. "I promised them, and look at what I've done," he paused. "I took her up in that damn shuttle and ruined her life," he said bitterly. "Now look at her, she's barely alive," he stared at Maria's still body lying on the bed before him. "Did you see the way they looked at me when I stopped them from putting the IV in her arm?" he looked at Reed, who smiled sympathetically, he saw the way they looked at him, and heard them say he was crazy. But he liquid in the IV would have hurt her even more; Ben knew that. "What would've happened had they needed to shock her?"
Reed squeezed his friend's shoulder again, "Just be glad they didn't," he said, hoping it would be some kind of comfort to him. "And they let us bring her back here," he said referring the Baxter building laboratory. There wasn't point being in the hospital, doctors didn't know how to treat her, Reed did.
Ben shook his head, "Look at her skin..." he paused staring at her pale face. "It's all my fault," he said.
"No, it's not your fault," Reed soothed.
A dark look crossed Ben's face, "You're right," he said strongly.
Reed's eyes widened, "I…I am?" he stuttered, a little shocked.
"It's all Flame Boy's fault!" he said angrily, getting up quickly, knocking his friend back a little, before stomping to the door.
Reed composed himels, "No, it's not his fault either!" he protested, running after his friend.
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End of chapter
A/n Sorry it's short, but any long I think it would have been spoilt.
