AN - So sorry for the long wait, I got busy with holidays and wrapping up a different story. Unfortunately, now that I'm back at school, updates might be a little more sporadic, especially since I've started writing another Falling Skies story which I will soon be posting. This chapter was suggested/requested by JoyScott13, and I hope you all enjoy.

Disclaimer - As usual, I own nothing

*Hal refuses to rest*

Hal watched as everyone started to line up for food. It had only been four days since the skitters had destroyed their food supply, and already the effects were starting to show. The food had been severely rationed, people were complaining, and two people had already tried to sneak in and steal more food for themselves. Hal wasn't sure how much longer they could go on.

As the line moved on, Hal could see the hunger in their eyes. His Dad tried to send out a team to scavenge, but every team came back empty handed. Either the place was already empty, or the skitters attacked before they could get far.

The barricade became a blessing and a curse. While it kept the skitters out, and made them easier targets, they incidentally trapped themselves inside. They couldn't get out without attracting attention, and no one had a solution.

Hal spotted Matt coming out the line, with his food in his hand. He could see the hunger in Matt's eyes too, and he hated it. Hal watched Matt go to one of the benches that had been set up by the tables. He sat alone, and started eating it slowly. Hal dropped what he was doing and went over to his youngest brother.

"Hey buddy. How're you doing?" Hal asked, sitting beside Matt on the bench.

"I'm fine." Matt answered as he finished eating. Hal reached into his pocket and pulled out his ration.

"Here." Hal offered him the food. Matt looked at what he was being offered, then up at his big brother.

"But it's yours." Matt protested.

"You need it more than I do." Hal told him. Reluctantly, Matt grabbed it. Part of him was ashamed that he was actually taking his brother's food, but he was already so hungry.

Matt ate it just as slowly as he did his own ration, trying to savor it as much as possible. Then he stopped, and handed some back to Hal. He looked up in confusion.

"You still need some too." Matt explained. Hal smiled and took the bit that Matt gave back. As soon as they both finished eating, Hal went back to work, while Matt went to find someway to help.

As the days continued, Hal meeting with Matt became routine. He would keep his food safe in his pocket until Matt got his. Then they would meet and Hal would give his food to his younger brother. The youngest Mason would take it, split it, and give it some back to the oldest. As time went on, and the food supply dwindled down, Hal started refusing the portion Matt would give back.

"I'm fine, you need it more than I do." Hal would tell him, and again, Matt would be too hungry to fight him. After two days of that though, the guilt of taking his brother's food weighed on him, and he tried to stop, but Hal wouldn't let him.

Matt was about to fight him on it, when he saw the other kids walking out of the food line, starvation in their eyes. So, he accepted it, then waited until Hal left before he went to one of the other kids, and gave him what his brother had forced him to take.

When Matt heard that they had figured out a way to send a team out for food, he was beyond excited. Not because he might finally be able to satisfy his constant hunger, but because Hal would actually eat something, not to mention everyone else could get something to eat. After 9 days, the 2nd Mass might finally get enough food to satisfy their stomachs.

*Hal and Ben talk before the food run*

The morning before the group left, Hal found Ben alone in the armory. He was grabbing extra clips for his gun.

"You ready for this run?" Hal asked. Ben looked up from what he was doing when he heard his brother's question.

"Yup, just making sure I have enough bullets." Ben answered. Hal approached his younger brother, putting his hand in his pocket. His fingers quickly found what was left of his food ration that he received today. Only half of what he received as the other half he gave to Matt. Earlier that day, when Matt tried to convince him to keep some of it, he agreed, for this reason only.

"Here, take this." Hal pulled his hand out and held it out to Ben, offering him the food. Ben looked up in surprise when he realized what Hal was trying to give him.

"But it's yours." Ben stated.

"I'm not the one going on food run. You need the extra energy." Hal explained.

"But-"

"Ben, just take it." Hal cut him off. The younger Mason looked from Hal's face to his hand. He couldn't deny that he was starving, and it was really hard to see the food in Hal's outstretched hand and not grab it.

"Are you sure?" Ben asked. Hal gave an exasperated sigh.

"Yes, I'm sure." Hal told him. Ben took the food from his brother's hand, and took a bite.

"Thanks." Ben said, his voice muffled with the food in his mouth. Hal smiled at him and said, "Don't mention it."

After doing what he came to do, he wished his brother luck, then went back to work.

*Tom, Ben, and Matt find out Hal's awake*

As Anne was going bed to bed, checking her patients, she saw Hal awake, eating what looked like to be a pack of Pringles. Anne smiled and went over to her stepson.

"Look who decided to join us. How are you feeling Hal?" Anne questioned, coming to stand behind Maggie.

"I've been better. My head is killing me." Hal told her, remembering how much it hurt trying to sit up earlier.

"I'll bet. I'm going to get your Dad and brothers, you stay put." Anne ordered and made her way out of the infirmary.

The doctor quickly found her husband with Weaver, looking over what vehicles they would be taking to Washington. Tom didn't notice her until Weaver did.

"Hi, Anne." Weaver said, and Tom looked up.

"Hey, Weaver." Anne greeted back, and looked over at Tom and saw the unspoken question in his eyes.

"Hal's awake." The doctor told him and he immediately headed over to the infirmary.

"The kid gonna be okay?" Weaver asked.

"Oh yeah, he'll be fine. Just sore and tired." Anne replied, and was about to go find Ben and Matt when she saw them coming over to her. She had no idea where they had come from, but they must've seen her talk to their Dad and seen him head to the infirmary because they were looking very worried.

"Hal's awake." Anne said, telling them exactly what she told their father. Ben looked beyond relieved while Matt gave her the biggest smile she had seen in awhile. Then they both took off running towards the infirmary. Smiling at their behavior, Anne followed them though at a much slower pace.

As she entered the infirmary, she quickly found the family surrounding Hal's bed. Matt was sitting on the edge of the bed by Hal's hip, Tom was standing by the head of the gurney and Ben stood by the chair that Maggie was sitting in.

"You gave us quite a scare." Anne heard Tom tell his son.

"Sorry." Hal responded. He looked over at the people who were surrounding him, and smiled at them, trying to assure them that he was okay.

"I'm pretty sure I told you to get some rest." Tom told him.

"Too much to do." Hal said.

Matt was beyond relieved that Hal was awake. Ever since his brother had collapsed three days earlier, his guilt wouldn't let up, not that it should have. Hal passed out because he was starving and it was Matt's fault. Hal kept giving him his own food and Matt let him. He was too busy focusing on his own hunger instead of his brother's.

Unbeknownst to him, Ben was also feeling the same the thing, though maybe not as badly as his younger brother. He knew that Hal wasn't sleeping and that his hunger was making it worse. Yet he let his big brother talk him into eating his ration. While Ben was starving, he was pretty sure that his spikes were helping him handle it. Hal didn't have that luxury.

"Alright, now I know that we're all happy he's awake, but he still needs his rest." Anne unfortunately interrupted the reunion. Matt was about to protest when Tom cut in.

"She's right. Ben, Maggie, Weaver and I could use your help." Tom asked. Ben and Maggie nodded and she got up off the chair while Tom looked at Matt, then back at Anne, and the doctor knew what her husband was about to ask.

"Fine, Matt you can stay if you promise to let him rest." Anne decided. Matt beamed and sat down in the chair that Maggie had just vacated. Tom then lowered his head closer to Hal and said, "Get some sleep, we'll check on you later."

After they left, Matt felt Hal grab his hand. He looked up at his big brother's face. He was giving the younger Mason a smile. Matt tried to smile back, but couldn't bring himself to commit to it.

"It's not your fault, you understand me?" Hal confirmed. Matt wanted to argue, but could tell it would be pointless. Despite how tired his brother look, he could still pull off a pretty good pointed look/glare when he wanted to.

"Yeah." Matt agreed. He watched as his brother closed his eyes and went back to sleep, while Matte slowly fell asleep himself on the chair.

AN - Next chapter will be missing scenes from 5x05. Remember, if there's any episodes that any of you think are missing a lot of scenes and you want me to write about it, just let me know and I shall put it in. It can be specific scenarios with specific characters or not. See you all soon!