Disclaimer: I really hate to point out the obvious, but here goes…I don't own Ben 10...sigh…now I'm depresssed…

Thanks for the Reviews! They make me want to push on. I'm happy to say that I finally found the last hand written copy of this fic so I have it all ready to complete! Woot! Btw, cliffhangers are my specialty.

Chapter eight

"Kevin!", Ben cried thrashing in the stark white hospital bed, glow intensifying. He needed Kevin now! "Kevin!"

He got up off the bed, legs shaking, and weakly made his way down the hall, his skin barely glowing. When he entered the main room his fevered eyes searched the faces of everyone in the room, landing on Max, Verdona, the plumbers, and Gwen, who was bruised and had several bandages covering her body,…,but no Kevin.

"W-Where is he?", the pained teen asked, eyes on his grandparents.

They both froze, sharing a guilty glance. Gwen stepped forward, worry in her eyes. "You're hurt. You shouldn't be-"

"Where is K-Kevin?"

Verdona sighed moving to her grandson. "Edric captured him, but don't worry dear, we'll get him back."

Ben felt his legs go weak, and he began to fall, Gwen barely catching him and lowering him down softly. Her eyes checked him over concernedly and she squeezed his shoulder.

"I don't feel so good…", He said softly, the taste of copper on his tongue. His eyes widened as he realized that his chest and hands really hurt. Like really really hurt. He looked down and stared at the bandages on his chest and hands, blood seeping through the one on his chest.

Gwen gasped. "We need help! He's bleeding!", she said turning to Max and the other plumbers. They were immediately at his side examining the wound. His eyes began to droop and they got him onto a chair.

"What happened to him?", Gwen asked her grandfather, brushing a hand over the bruise on her cheek, eyes on her injured cousin, his dimly glowing skin concerning her.

Max and Verdona seemed to stiffen, eyes hardening. Max cleared his throat and growled. "Ambrose and Albedo locked him up. We think they may have attempted to torture him."

Ben coughed deeply, eyes losing more of their glow. " They didn't torture me…I tried to b-blast my…way out of t-the metal r-room…and it…it bounced b-back. I k-kept thinking…I'd heal…,but I didn't."

Before they could further question Ben on what happened Manny came rushing in, grinning like mad.

"We got a lock on Kevin's location. Peirce's getting the ship ready. C'mon.", he said quickly.

"Alright let's get-", Max began, stopping when he saw Ben push himself up. "Ben, son, what are you doing?"

"I-I'm going. Kev's in trouble and I'm gonna help.", the Majesdanian said firmly, or at least, as firmly as he could with his voice wavering.

Gwen growled. "You're too hurt to go. You're staying here."

Ben frowned, summoning as much light energy as he could, energy pooling into his eyes and fingertips, crackling like white lightning and distorting his voice as he spoke. "You think you can make me?"

Gwen's eyes widened and she sighed. "Alright, you can come, but you stay in the ship."

He sagged as the energy faded. "N-Not a chance. I can't help from the…s-ship."

Max moved to his grandson's side, helping him stay up before Gwen could protest. "We can't stop him from helping, all we can do is help him keep from getting hurt. C'mon."

Gwen wanted to argue with her grandfather, but she quickly realized he was right. Even as injured as he was, Ben could probably overpower them. She sighed and followed the others to the ship, eyes on her cousin.

"We're approaching the ship where the signal's coming from.", Helen said, zipping to the other side of the room.

"Everyone get ready!", Max shouted, cocking his laser pistol, helping Ben to stand.

They all moved to the ship's ramp, weapons at the ready, as Manny guided the ship to the other spacecraft, shooting a hole in its side with a happy cry of "Booya!". As the ramp lowered, they jumped through the hole of twisted metal, Gwen lowering herself and Ben down behind the others.

The inside of the ship was a stark contrast to what they'd expected. For one thing, no guards. For another thing, no alarm. Weird. However, just because their were no guards it didn't mean they were safe. They silently followed after Max, who held the tracer in his hand, weaving their way through the dark corridors of the ship.

When they reached the source of the signal, a large heavy metal door with strange sigils, they paused, Ben gasping and leaning on Manny, who'd taken him from Gwen after she got him in.

"W-Well…wh-at…are we…w-waiting for…?", the pained teen asked, dazed white eyes trained on the door. "We…got s-some serious…alien…butt kicking…to do…"

With a slight nod, Helen and Peirce pulled open the door, revealing Edric, grinning triumphantly, Kevin chained to the ground beside him.

Ben's eyes widened and he gasped, moving away from Manny and a few steps closer to Kevin. "Kevin?"

Glancing up Kevin frowned, eyes filled with worry. "Benji-"

"It's about time you got here Princeling. I've been waiting for you.", Edric said, interrupting the raven haired teen.

Ben tried his best to growl, but it came out more like a gasp. "W-What do you want?"

Edric's grin widened. "I want your power."

Ben frowned. "Sorry man…it's…not for sale…"

With that said, the Majesdanian teen shakily shot a blast of light at the shadow alien, starting the battle. Blasts of heat and color filled the air as Edric's guards finally arrived, taking on the plumbers helpers. Ben blasted at Edric, but was getting weak, his over tired body failing him. He sagged, vision blurring, and was slammed back by a blast from Edric, body hitting the ground with a sickening crack, his already bruised and broken body screaming in pain.

The teen's cries were enough to jolt Kevin, the Osmosian tugging wildly at the chains keeping him bound to the floor. His wrists ached and bled, but he still pulled, heart pounding furiously. Another of Ben's cries split the air and Kevin tore his wrist from the metal cuff, absorbing its metal with his free hand and breaking the other chain.

He dashed through the laser blasts, eyes on Edric who stood over a gasping Ben. The Osmosian slammed his metal fist into the shadow alien's head, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"Ben?", Kevin said softly, leaning down and touching the smaller teens shoulder. "C'mon Benji, we gotta get you outa here."

When the Majesdanian didn't respond, he felt his heart freeze up. Looking down at the smaller teen he felt sick, a nasty red pooling beneath him. Without thinking he picked the bleeding teen up and made for the door, rushing into the corridor where he set Ben down.

"K-Kev…? Y-You okay…?", The smaller boy asked, eyes opening slowly.

The older teen felt a tear slip down his cheek, several more following." Why did you come Benji? You-You were already hurt, and now…"

Ben frowned dazedly. "Why're you…crying?"

This was it, Kevin realized. This was his chance. Pushing back his fear he leaned down, the sound of the battle in the other room distant ,and tilted Bens head up, kissed him, eyes closing. He could feel the younger teens shock, but then Ben kissed back. Opening his eyes, Kevin sighed softly, staring at the boy's eyes.

"That's why."

ooooooh...kissin. Finally! Bevintasticness!

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