Disclaimer – Same as before. Unfortunately I don't own Falling Skies or the characters. BOOOO
Author Note - Thanks to everyone that's reviewed. It means a lot. Here's the next chapter.
Summary – 2x05 from a different POV, with a few added bits Enjoy
Realisation – Chapter 2
Ben and Matt seemed ok, especially Ben who had been quiet since ricks death, but Matt had seemed to be keeping his older brother occupied. Tom couldn't help but see how protective Ben was off Matt, just like Hal was of Ben (Matt too). With that Tom set off to find Hal. It wasn't too difficult to find him. Outside one of the rooms, stood Hal looking worried with Lourdes keeping him company. Actually standing wasn't the ride word for it, Hal was pacing up and down. It was only when Lourdes spotted Tom, that she turned to Hal and pointed his dad out to him and left father and son to it, going into Maggie's room to help ann. Tom did the first thing that came into his head and hugged his son. 'U ok?' he asked. Hal nodded, but looked towards the closed door. 'How about Maggie?' Tom asked his concerned son. 'We're not too sure yet, Anne's still in there. She could only do so much on the bus while we were on the move'. 'She'll be fine, she's tough and been through worse' Tom said trying to reassure Hal. 'I guess, it's just...' Hal trailed off looking at the floor. 'She'll be fine, Anne's with her and trust me she'll sort her out' Tom continued, not sure if Hal would actually believe him.
Yet again as Tom looked at Hal he could see the pain and worry on his face. He'd seen it too many times since the invasion, first being when Rebecca has been killed, then when Ben had been captured but most recently when Karen had been taken by Ben of all people. But with Maggie lying injured it was the first time that tom had seen a deeper worry on Hal's face but he just wasn't sure why, well he had a pretty good idea but he wasn't about to push Hal by bringing it up, not why he was like this.
Both of them sat outside the room, waiting for Anne or Lourdes to let them know what was going on. For Hal it felt like hours, he couldn't lose Maggie as well, he just couldn't. He'd lost so many people already, he wasn't about to lose her as well. Who was he kidding, he'd had feelings for Maggie for a while now, he had just had been too stubborn to do anything about it until that afternoon on the steps of the hospital that they were now at. He hadn't planned it, it was just with Maggie finally opening up to him, telling him about the cancer, how it wasn't a life, how she was prepared not too wake up after the 3rd operation, it had shocked him and he just went with the moment. But she'd shot him down, told him they couldn't happen, as If that was going to stop him, he was a mason after all. He'd give her sometime, but then that was when the Mechs attacked. He'd cleared the shots but as he looked around he couldn't see Maggie. Shock and panic hit him like a tonne of bricks, where was she? That was when he spotted her on the floor, injured and screaming at him to leave her and get out of there. Who was she trying to kid he wasn't leaving her, he wasn't prepared to lose her, she meant too much to him, even when she called him an idiot, he didn't care, he was going to save her if it killed him. Hal knew from that moment she would probably argue with him when she could but he didn't care, he needed her.
After a while Tom looked over to his son and just as he was about to say something Hal turned to his father and said something Tom never though he would hear from Hal 'She's got to be ok dad, she's just got to be…..because...because I need her'. Tom didn't know whether to be shocked or proud, shocked because Hal had actually confessed to him (something he never did especially about his private life) or proud of him for actually figuring out and admitting to himself more than anyone what or who he wanted. 'She'll be fine Hal, more than fine. Like I said before she's tough and if she's got u fighting her corner she's more than covered. You just have to tell her how you feel'. Hal looked as his dad and nodded before continuing 'I know, I did earlier but well she was being Maggie and clammed shut'. Tom knew what Hal meant, they all had a habit of shutting down, but Maggie could do it more than most and once she'd make up her mind there wasn't a lot that anyone could do to change it, she was as stubborn as Hal. Hal saw his dad smile and wondered what he was thinking about. Tom caught the questioning look of Hal's face and began to explain himself, ' Hal you and Maggie are the same' Hal looked at Tom puzzled so be carried on 'You both know what you want, but you are both so stubborn that you won't take the next step and then you back off because your afraid of what will happen'. 'But I did take that next step, I told her what I wanted' said Hal. 'And?' Tom asked his son 'so she pushed you away, the Hal I know wouldn't stand by and not do anything about it. So my question is, what are you going to do to make her listen?' Tom wasn't sure how Hal would take it but maybe he just needed that push, after all he hadn't moved for hours. Hal looked at Tom knowing his dad was right, as soon as she was ok he was telling Maggie and going to make her listen, so he just nodded and replayed the days events over in his head.
Well he was, when the door opened and out came ann. Hal shot up from the floor going over to Anne, who had closed the door, shielding Maggie, when all Hal wanted to do was see her. Seeing the look of worry on Hals face, Anne tuned to him 'she's fine Hal. The Mechs got her a couple of times but the bullets missed her lung.' 'So what took so long?' Hal asked. 'the bullets missed her lung but it caused a lot of bleeding and it took a while to stop, plus she took quite a hit to the head, so I wanted to make sure she was ok and didn't want to rush things. Maggie was unconscious for a while, so just to be on safe side you know'. Hal sighed, Maggie was going to be fine 'Ok thanks, it's just...' he trailed off. Anne nodded at Hal, as she knew he was probably going through murder waiting to find out of Maggie was going to be ok. Like Tom she'd picked up on signals between the two of them, but didn't know what was going on between them. 'Can I go in?' Hal asked the doctor. 'Of course you can' Anne replied. She knew Hal wouldn't relax until he'd seen Maggie. With that Hal headed to the door, looking back at Tom, who smiled and nodded at his son. Anne then turned to Tom asking 'How's Hal been?' trying not to laugh Tom replied 'worried, scared, confused... Typical teenager really, but I think he's finally decided what or who I should say he wants and what to do about it' looking towards the door. With the look, Anne realised what Tom was on about before replying 'Maggie?' to which Tom again nodded and the two adults walked off down the corridor. Anne knowing that she'd done a good job and that her patient would be ok and Tom thinking about how proud he was of Hal, as long as he had Maggie he would be fine.