I do not own the Ben Ten franchise.

Yeah, so I have no idea how long it really takes to fix a fractured whatever. So I invented a recovery period.

Ben 10: Omniverse ends tomorrow. Don't know what I'm going to do without new Ben 10 episodes, but I suppose I'll live. Here's hoping they continue on with a fifth series!

Broken Limbs and Mended Spirits

Ben sagged against the stack of pillows built behind him, a grimace of pain on his face. His right leg was balanced on another stack of cushions, encased in a bright green cast. Gwen and Max stood at his bedside, the latter with a soft frown on his face.

"I told you not to climb that tree," rebuked Gwen, arms crossed. "But no, you had to be a show-off."

"Shut up," snapped Ben. "It happened two weeks ago, so let it go already. A busted leg is enough of a punishment. I don't need to listen to your stupid 'I told you so' lecture."

Gwen opened her mouth to retort, but bit her tongue when her grandfather settled a hand on her shoulder. "Fine," she grumbled.

"This isn't exactly ideal," Max informed. "The Rust Bucket isn't a smooth vehicle, so that means we're going to have to stay in one place for another eight weeks."

"But that's forever," protested Gwen. "That means the rest of our summer vacation is going to go down the drain!" She cast a glare at her cousin. "Thanks a lot, doofus."

"Hey, what about the Omnitrix?" snapped Ben. "You think I'm going to be able to fight with a cast? I'm a sitting duck!"

"And that," said Max, pointing at his grandson, "is the main concern. You need to be able to defend yourself. So we're going to take a bit of a shortcut."

Ben blinked. "Um…I don't think there's a shortcut for fixing a fractured leg."

"On Earth, yes. But our planet is quite a bit behind in medical practices."

Gwen brightened in realization. "But other planets are way ahead!"

Max nodded. "Exactly."

Ben glanced at his grandfather warily. "Who are we going to get to help?"

"Our best bet is Azmuth. Galvan Prime hosts one of the most advanced ethical medical programs in the galaxy."

"No!" wailed Ben. "Not Azmuth! Anyone but Azmuth!"

Surprised by this outburst, Max's eyebrows shot up. "Sorry, sport, but we can't have you in this condition, not while you wear the Omnitrix. I'm going to give him a call, and when you go to see him, you're going to cooperate. Right?"

Ben gave a nod, lips pursed tightly.

Max left and Gwen eyed her cousin in confusion. "What's the matter with you? I thought you'd be happy to see Azmuth. It's been a while since you guys last spoke."

"I don't wanna see him right now," muttered Ben, glaring at the beige sheet of his cot. "I know exactly what he's gonna say and it's only going to make me feel worse."

A glint of sympathy shone in her green gaze. "He probably won't rag on you too hard."

"That makes me feel better," said Ben dryly.

She rolled her eyes. "Look, so you messed up. Nothing he's not used to."

"That's the problem," groaned Ben, rubbing his face with his hands. "He always uses this…voice when I screw up. The 'disappointed' voice. I hate it. It makes me feel as bad as when Grandpa Max uses his."

Gwen arched an eyebrow. "That's an accomplishment. Not a lot of people can do that."

Ben opened his mouth to respond, but he was suddenly engulfed in a green light. Startled, he soon found himself in Azmuth's main lab on Galvan Prime, stretched out on one of the Galvan-sized metal tables (which was big enough to fit his small eleven-year-old body). He blinked up at the ceiling, squinting against the bright lights that shone down at him.

"What, you couldn't bring my pillows with me?"

Azmuth turned from his computer console to give the boy a withering look. "Would it kill you to make a proper greeting once in a while?"

Putting on his best imitation of a British accent, the boy returned, "My dear apologies for my abominable behaviour, good sir. Please, allow me a do-over. Salutations, Azmuth! It's smashing to see you again."

Azmuth rolled his eyes as Max's chuckles sounded through the speakers. "Are you sure he can't just heal naturally? I think eight weeks of forced rest will be good for him."

"But not for me," said Max. "We'll all go stir crazy if we're stuck in one spot for that long. That's why I forced him over there."

Brow raising at this, Azmuth glanced over his shoulder at his current charge. All humour had left the child's face and he was avoiding eye contact, staring resolutely at the ceiling, lips turned down into a frown that resembled shame.

Hmm.

"In that case you'll get him back in a few hours, ready to bounce off the walls per usual."

"Thanks, Azmuth," said Max gratefully. "Ben, behave."

"Yeah," Ben responded softly.

Max signed off and Azmuth turned off the communications link so that he could focus on his injured patient. The normally high-spirited and talkative kid was silent, fingers twitching by his side in a nervous manner.

"We'll start by getting that cast off," said Azmuth, opening a drawer and removing a laser cutter. "Don't move."

Ben obeyed, going rigid as Azmuth levelled the silver device at his plaster cast. The red beam cut into the material, chips of green plaster falling onto the tiled floor. "So," the Galvan said casually, "what happened?"

"Um…nothing much," muttered Ben, his fingers starting up their nervous tapping again.

"Nothing much does not result in a fractured fibula."

"Gesundheit."

"Funny," Azmuth said dryly. "But that still does not answer my question."

Ben bit his lip. "It's no big deal, alright?"

"Obviously not. If this had been the result of a battle, you wouldn't be so reluctant to share the story," said Azmuth lightly.

Muffling a groan, Ben let his head fall to the side. He couldn't keep anything from the Galvan. "It's stupid and it's embarrassing."

Azmuth finished cutting off the plaster, revealing a swollen leg. He gave the limb a soft prod, resulting in a wince from Ben. "It happened recently, then?"

"Two weeks ago," muttered Ben.

"And you…?" prodded Azmuth, using his remote to scan the leg to pinpoint the area he would need to give the required injection. "Am I going to have to drag the story out of you?"

"You're gonna be mad."

Surprised, Azmuth darted his gaze up, but the child was still looking at everything but him. "Why, pray tell, would I be mad?"

"I was being a show-off," whispered Ben. "Some kids were daring each other to climb a tree and I said I could make it to the very top. But I fell flat on my face and looked like an idiot."

"And that's the reason you didn't want to come here?" asked Azmuth in disbelief, sparing a glance at the data filling the small screen. "You were willing to suffer discomfort and stay immobile for two months because you feared a negative reaction?"

"Well, yeah," admitted Ben.

"That reasoning is idiotic."

Ben watched as Azmuth went over to his workstation. "It is not. You're always telling me not to showboat. I thought you'd be upset that I didn't listen-again."

"I'm upset that you injured yourself for no reason," corrected Azmuth. "But you're a child. An extremely impossible child, at that. I'm surprised you haven't sustained such a serious injury sooner."

Relieved that his worries had been for nothing, Ben relaxed. "So…no 'I told you so?'"

Lips curling, Azmuth finished creating the solution needed for the injection. "Not this time."

When he turned around, revealing the long needle in his grip, Ben's eyes grew wide in barely concealed fright. "That looks really painful."

"It probably will be," concurred Azmuth. "But this, when injected, will coat the fractured bone. In an hour it will be reconstructed, good as new, and the swelling will disappear."

"Um…can you knock me out or something?" asked Ben nervously.

"It will only be for a second," assured Azmuth. "Pain is only temporary-you will live through it. I am certain this will be nothing compared to the beatings you get on a regular basis."

The boy pouted. "I don't always get my butt whooped around."

Azmuth approached the leg and hovered the needle over the swollen area. Quickly and carefully, he inserted the silver point through the purplish flesh, causing Ben to let out a yelp of agony. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the sides of the lab table tightly, silent tears running down his cheeks as the pain throbbed from his leg.

But just as soon as it started it started to ease. Ben let out a shaky breath and slowly eased himself up, watching as Azmuth discarded the used needle. "There. Nothing more than a pinch."

"Felt like more than a pinch," said Ben, scrubbing at his face. "Sorry."

"For?"

"Crying. I know you don't like it."

"You are infuriating," informed Azmuth. "You know that? I may find no sense in shedding tears, but that doesn't mean you have to apologize for it."

Ben eyed his leg curiously. "How long will it take before I'm fixed?"

"Roughly an hour, give or take."

Green eyes brightened. "So I get to chill with you for an hour?"

"Yes, you do," drawled Azmuth. "Lucky me."

"Good," said Ben cheerfully. "It's been forever since we last talked."

Yes, thought Azmuth sincerely. It has.