The jostling of a car awakened Ben, and he woke confused, lying on a blanket in the back of the VW, staring at the dark ceiling of the van. He lifted his head slightly, peering at the driver who was in a Dharma uniform, He didn't wish it to be known that he had awakened, so he laid back down, closing his eyes trying to remember the last thing that had happened to him.

The bright light had taken him by surprise, and he had fallen backward in fear, weakened by his injuries his strength had failed him. Ben only remembered an outline of a figure approaching in the blinding light . . . Now, He realized that the light must have been headlights from the van. The van came to a halt, it's engine rumbling on, as the driver leapt out. Ben, feeling awake and alert, sat up to see where they were at. The pylons stood in a line, even in the darkness, he could make out their form, and the driver's silhouette punching in the code. Lying back down, he pretended to sleep, as the driver returned to the car.

"Yes Horace, I'm bringing him in." Said the man into his walkie, Ben recognized the voice to be one of the lazy security workers called Jerry. Horace replied that he would be waiting, and Ben opened his eyes, again looking up at the ceiling, lost in thought as he was lightly jostled by the soft bumps that the car rolled over.

He was going home.

The thought depressed him, as he wondered how his father would react. He would probably be angry with him. After all, he didn't take kindly to him running off the last time, four years ago when he had met Richard. Apparently, he had been captured on the security cameras and had been bawled out when he had returned shortly after his little adventure.

Ben was quite sure that his father would be extremely unhappy to hear that he had been staying with the hostiles for the last week. Maybe he was better off though. After all, that Charles Widmore had attempted to strangle him, hadn't he? Maybe he would be unwanted no matter where he was . . .

The brakes whined as the car came to a stop, the engine cut out as Jerry pulled out his keys. Ben closed his eyes again. He wasn't sure why he didn't want them to know he was awake. Perhaps merely to avoid the questions and the frightened looks he might receive. Yes, It was easier to deal with it this way.

The side door slid open and light poured in.

"Oh my god, it is him." Horace Goodspeed's voice said. "Is he alright? Where did you find him?"

"He was in hostile territory. We actually stumbled upon him, he seemed to be wandering around." Jerry replied.

"Well, is he alright?" Goodspeed repeated.

"He seems to be in better health than expected. Though, he's exhausted and weak. And he seems to have some minor bruising..."

"Did you find...them?"

"No, it looks like they had been tipped off. The campsite was abandoned, probably that Sayid and those other traitors warned them that we would be coming. We haven't seen any sight of them either since the incident earlier..." Jerry responded.

"Okay, Well, Let's take him to his father's house then . . . In the morning we'll have the doctor come and check in on him."

Ben was carefully lifted, by Jerry he guessed, and carried away from the van. He was careful to keep his eyes closed, and he let his head loll, hanging limply. Horace went ahead and knocked on Roger's door repeatedly. Nearly a minute passed before the door opened, roughly by the sound of it. Ben chanced a glance to see his father. He appeared half asleep with his hair sticking up in all directions. "What's the matter? Why the hell are you- Ben?! You found my kid? Why didn't you tell me?" Roger shouted loudly, pushing Horace aside.

"Well, Roger, he was only just-"

"-Is he OK? I mean…is he alive?" Asked Roger in a frenzy.

"Yes. He seems to be-"

"Seems to be? What? You mean you don't know?"

"Well Roger, the Doctor is busy, all of those people injured in the explosion-" Horace was broken off as Roger rushed toward Ben.

"Give me my son!" He ordered roughly to Jerry, grabbing at Ben's form and taking him into his own arms, staggering slightly. "Damn idiots, let him get taken off and now you don't even do anything to help. I guess I have to do everything myself. Why don't you tell that doctor of yours to get over here and check on my son? I'm going to take him to his room where he belongs, and you make sure that doctor gets over here." Roger pushed past the two men, and brought Ben into the house. By the smell of his father, he had consumed large amounts of alcohol in no more than a few hours ago.

After being carried the short distance through the house; Roger laid Ben down surprisingly gently. He pulled the covers over his only son tucking him in carefully.

Ben heard him pull up a chair by the bed and his father sat down, leaning over him to smooth Ben's hair back, which was something that he had not done since he was very small. Ben kept his eyes closed, relaxing as his father continued to stroke his forehead; Wondering, hoping, that things would be different now.

A/N:

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