Scene Change: Gwen

Gwen awoke in a feet of sweat. She groaned feeling a pulsing headache run throughout the bass of her skull. Her body hurt so bad right now. She wished just slip unconscious right now. She groaned in pain needing something to drink.

Anything to quench her thirst.

She felt a hand come down on her forehead and the blankets removed from her body.

"You're burning up" She heard someone whisper before someone grabbed her aching body and place her down into ceramic. She felt water splash her face and drench her body. She groaned in pain as the cold touched her skin. She began to shiver uncontrollably feeling both the intense heat and freezing cold attack her body. She wanted to scream out to someone to knock her out as she felt a towel come down on her and pat her down. She groaned mumbling. "What was that?"

"...wart...ter..." She mumbled in agony. She immediately felt a glass come down to her lips and water drawn into her mouth. She gulped down as much as she could before feeling sick. She turned her head about to be vomit. "Oh, please don't throw up" He grabbed a bucket forcing her up so she could lean over the bucket. Kevin patted her back as she threw up trying to get through her intense fever. Kevin walked in dismorning ready to work on his new car instead finding her there sweating, shivering and wincing. He shouldn't of let her sleep alone. He grabbed her hair in a bunch and let her finish her fit. "Better?" He asked allowing her to collapse back into the bathtub. "I...f-feel..sssick" She mumbled.

"I know" Kevin nodded rubbing her back. "I'll get you some painkillers" He mumbled getting up. She winced her eyes groaning in utter pain. Her bottom mouth shook as she waited to fall asleep. She felt tears slide down her face as Kevin came back in the room with two tablets. "Here, open your mouth" He grabbed her and forced her swallow them. She coughed lightly before sliding her head back down to the ground. "I'll get you some icepacks" He turned the taps back on letting the cool water slide over her shaking body. He watched her for what seemed like a couple minutes. He couldn't help but stare at her perfect features rattle in pain. He sighed getting into the bath and taking her in his arms letting her lean on his chest as he held her tightly under the taps. He could hear her shivering breaths fight the pain and torment as she lifted her arm grabbing onto his shirt wanting to be held. He stayed under the taps his hair and clothing getting completely soaked a long with hers. It was small, cramped and uncomfortable but at least she was safe. He closed his eyes leaning his chin on her forehead as he drifted off into a quiet slumber.

3 hours later

'Knock, knock'

Kevin winced his eyes open to find someone knocking on the door. "Kevin?" It was his mother calling. "Kevin, are you okay. You've been in there for some time" She called concerned. Kevin looked down at Gwen seeing her still asleep in his arms. "Yeah mum, I'm fine" He placed Gwen down gently and turned the taps off before getting up and walking over to the door. He opened it slightly popping his face through the door trying to cover up the girl. "Kev, you okay?" She asked staring at his soaked features.

"I just feel a little warm" Kevin compensated. His mother looked concerned. "Is that why the girl is in there?" She asked. Kevin's eyes lit up. She pushed the door open and stared at the girl.

"Kevin, you shouldn't be trying to hide someone" She bent down next to the bath and checked the soaked girl's temperature. "She's really warm" She stared down at the rest of her to see all the bandages and casts covering her body. "What happened to her?" She asked taking the unconscious girl out of the bath and drying her off. "Her cousin blasted her with a ray and she fell and got trapped by a tree. I found her on the verge of death and saved her" Kevin stated sitting down on the toilet seat as he watched his mother examine the girl. "She's suffered a lot of trauma. How come you didn't go to the hospital"

Kevin shrugged. His mother looked up at him. "Kevin!"

"What? There would be no point besides I've got a lot more alien tech that could save her"

The woman sighed knowing he was right after all.

She stared up at the girl and took in her complexion. "She looks familiar. Who is she?" She narrowed her eyes at her son. Kevin sighed. "Nobody" Kevin stood up about to remove the girl from his mum but she was persistent. "Who is she?" She barked. Kevin sighed. "She's Tennyson's cousin"

Her eyes widened. "What? Is this why you wouldn't take her to the hospital. Kevin, I know you and Ben have your differences but she's a human being. She needs help" Kevin stared down at her. "I helped her. I saved her life" Kevin retorted angrily. "Then why is she still here?" She asked. Kevin looked away. The woman instantly caught on. "Y-You like her don't you?" She asked. "No!" Kevin snapped back. His mother smiled at. "Oh, Kevin" She hugged her son. Kevin hugged his mum back. "Kevin, she still needs help"

"Mum, I'm taking care of her"

His mum looked down at her. She sighed. "If she doesn't wake up in 3 minutes you have to take her to the hospital" Gwen groaned rolling over to her side. "Can you do something mum, you are a nurse" Mrs. Levin nodded grabbing Gwen's shoulder and rubbing it. "What's her name?"

"Gwen"

"Gwen?" She called to the girl. Gwen winced groaning. "Gwen?" She moaned before opening her eyes. She winced them again holding her head. "What...happened?" She stared up at the woman leaning over her. "Gwen, can you hear me?" She asked. Gwen nodded hissing as she sat up. "I feel like someone smacked me over the head" Gwen leaned her back against the cupboards. Gwen placed a hand on her forehead accidently touching the cut on her head. She winced her eyes in pain snapping her hand back from her face before placing it back on a different position on her head. "Y-yeah" She breathed out staring at the woman bent over on her knees. She could instantly tell the resemblance between the woman with dark long hair with brown eyes and the man sitting on the toilet seat. "I think the painkillers set in, thankyou" She smiled looking over to Kevin.

Kevin smirked back. Mrs. Levin wrapped the towel round Gwen happy that she was smiling instead of crying and begging to let her go. "Are you okay, Gwen? Do you want to use a phone to call your parents?" She asked.

"Ah, mum" Kevin tried to stop her. "I um...could use one to call my grandpa" Gwen grabbed the towel trying to cover herself from the cold. "I'll get you a phone" She stood up leaving the room. Kevin frowned picking her up and carrying her into the lounge room where a large television sat. He flicked it on before sitting down next to her before feeling her forehead. "You've still got a fever" He whispered. Gwen used the sleeve to wipe the sweat off her forehead as Mrs. Levin came back in the room with the phone. "Here Gwen," She passed the phone to the girl.

"Thankyou, mrs...um...Mrs. Levin?" She asked. Mrs. Levin smiled. "Yes, I am Kevin's mother" She looked over to Kevin. "And I'm so sorry for everythings that has happened" Mrs. Levin apologised.

Gwen smirked. "It's all right, Kevin took good care of me. He even saved my life so I kinda owe him" Gwen looked down at the phone and began pressing in an assortment of numbers before looking back up to the television. She arched her eyebrow her thumb hovering over the pick up button. "I-Is that my cousin?" She asked staring up at the 'LIVE' in the right hand screen. "Is that live? Turn the volume up" She turned to Kevin. Kevin grabbed the remote turning the volume on high. "...I'm with Ben Tennyson here promoting his new drink; Ben 10 cola. Why don't you tell us about it?"

"Well, it's a super awesome drink that I reach for when I go into battles and after every fight. It's a great way to re hydrate" Ben showed the drink and drunk it as Gwen shook her head shocked by what he was doing. "He's not looking for me. He hasn't even brought my name up" Tears were beginning to well in her eyes.

"I can't believe this"

"Gwen, maybe you shouldn't jump to conclusions" Mrs. Levin warned her. Gwen stared at her and sighed. "Your right," She mumbled turning back to the screen and seeing the tv news anchor continue. "And I see you have a new member in your team"

Ben smiled. "Yes, we call him Kevin the Wonder Dog" Ben laughed.

"Why Kevin the wonder dog?"

Ben shrugged. "Well, he looks like someone in my past so I decided to name him after him after him" Ben chuckled.

Kevin gritted his teeth in anger.

"HE REPLACED ME WITH A DOG" Gwen screamed in anger

"HE NAMED ME AFTER HIS STUPID DOG"

Mrs. Levin stared at the angry teens pissed off at just one boy. "Okay you two settle down" Mrs Levin grabbed Gwen's shoulders trying to snap her out of her rage before she hurt herself.

" But He replaced me with a dog" Gwen complained. "Gwen, settle down. I'm sure he's just joking"

"This is not a joke, Ben 10's cousin; Gwen Tennyson and Ben 10's grandpa; Max Tennyson, have been replaced in the team"

"HE REPLACED MY GRANDPA TOO" She stood up on her shattered legs collapsing instantly into Kevin's arms. "Gwen, calm down you're going to hurt yourself" Mrs. Levin stated before helping Gwen lay down. "Do you have anything else to add, Ben 10?" The news presenter asked. "Yeah,"

Gwen lifted her head up waiting for her cousin to at least talk about her missing. "Don't forget to watch the new season of 'Ben 10 in action'. It's filmed live and in the flesh" Ben gave the camera a signature smirk before they went off air.

"He didn't, he didn't even say anything about me missing. I-I can't believe this. How could he just replace me after everything we've been through?" She gritted her teeth frustrated to hell.

"And now he's placing Grandpa Max. He's been a Plumber for all his life" Gwen ran her fingers through her wet hair. Mrs. Levin held her tight in her arms.

"Gwen, calm down. You're going to hurt yourself" Mrs. Levin stated. Gwen closed her eyes taking a sharp breath in before opening her eyes and staring at her. "I'm sorry" Gwen mumbled. "I guess I'm just a little tired" Gwen held her temples rubbing it.

The woman gave Gwen a warming smile. "It's okay Gwen, I understand this is a tough time for you. You're welcome to stay here as long as you like we have a spare room for you all set up" Mrs. Levin told her.

"Thank you, Mrs Levin. I really appreciate it" Gwen stated. Kevin smirked. "You're going to stay?" Kevin asked excited. "Only a couple days. At least til Ben notices that I'm actually missing" Gwen sighed. Mrs. Levin rubbed Gwen's shoulder. "I'll get you something to eat. I'm not sure if Kevin's been giving you something healthy or just feeding you junk food" Mrs. Levin looked over to her son who just shrugged. "I honestly think I threw up most of it" Gwen wiped the sweat on her forehead.

"But thankyou" Gwen mumbled. Mrs. Levin smirked. "I'm going to get you something to eat and drink and I will get you some new clothes" The woman stood up. "We'll be in the garage if you need us mum" Kevin called out grabbing Gwen and carrying her out to the the garage and placing her down on the couch. "Nuh" She winced her eyes in pain. Kevin placed a blanket on her before walking over to the fridge and pulling out a vile. "What's that?" Gwen asked. "They're called medibots. They're going to help you heal" He brought it over to her and opened the top. "All you have to do is swallow it"

Gwen stared at the grey and black liquid in disgust. "Does it taste bad. It looks like it tastes bad"

Kevin rolled his eyes. "Don't be a baby just drink it"

Gwen rolled her eyes and gulped it down in one gulp. "Nuh, that tastes aweful" Gwen complained. Kevin got up and walked over to his car. "You should get some more sleep" Kevin told her. Gwen removed the blanket and slowly sat up. "Wait, I can help. Let me help" Kevin turned around seeing her struggling to sit up. "Please" She asked gently. "Are you serious you can barely move?"

"But I paid for it" She complained. Kevin sighed looking around for something for her to do. He picked up a nearby instruction manual for fixing the engine. Kevin didn't really need it but he still passed it to her. "Here, you can read this out to me for 5 minutes then bed" She rolled her eyes opening the book to the first page and reading the first sentence to him. Kevin set a nearby alarm to 5 minutes before continuing on listening to her. 5 minutes turned into 10. Kevin looked over to the girl seeing her snoring lightly. Kevin chuckled placing his wrench down and walking over to her helping her lay down before his mother came into the room with a plate of sandwiches and two glasses of cordial. "Thought you and your little friend might be hungry. She smiled warmly. "Thanks mum" he took it out of her hands and placed it on the nightstand. "How is she?"

"She fell asleep just a few minutes ago" He mumbled wrapping her up in a blanket. "Listen we aren't going to tell Harvey about this are we?" Kevin asked. Mrs. Levin shrugged. "She could sit down for dinner with us tonight. It's better then her eating in here alone" She looked over to the door. "I better go. Make sure you've given her some painkillers"

Scene Change: Nighttime

Knives and forks battered the plates as the room fell quite for some time. Kevin and Gwen sat next to each other opposite the two adults eating quietly too. Harvey Hackets eyes trailed over the girl's form constantly trying to figure out what had occured. "So you say you fell?" He asked her. "Well it's complicated" Gwen looked up at him. "My cousin accidently blasted me with a lazer then I was in the sky then I fell and then a tree crushed me"

His eyebrow arched wondering how she was still alive. "She had some pretty high tech armor on which absorbed most of the damaged" Kevin stated taking another bite of his food. "That doesn't really explain how you guys met" He added. Kevin gulped so Gwen answered. "Kevin actually saved my life. He not only removed the tree off my leg but also patched me up" Gwen smiled gently.

"Kevin? Kevin saved you and patched you up?" He pointed the knife towards her. Gwen gulped before Mrs. Levin stabbed him in the ribs with her elbow. "Harvey" She whispered harshly. "Sorry" He groaned. "So," Gwen wiped her mouth with a napkin. "Gwen where do you go to school?" Mrs. Levin asked politely. "Bellwood private. My cousin and I go to different schools though he rarely goes anyway"

"How come you and your cousin don't go to the same school?" Harvey asked.

"Probably cause he annoys her to death" Kevin mumbled taking a sip of water. Gwen giggled. "No, my grandpa just thought it would be best. We can barely survive each other at home let alone on a mission together"

"So I've seen" Harvey ran his eyes up and down her damaged body.

"It's all smiles and waves in front of the camera but as soon as they stop rolling we're at each others necks" Gwen chuckled taking a sip of her water. Mrs. Levin's looked over to Gwen worriedly. "You and your cousin don't get a long even after all you've been through?"

"It's amazing how you two are still alive if you aren't cooperating?" Harvey added.

"There were a few close calls and some people were hurt in the cross fire but I don't know, everytime Ben goes on a mission everything seems to work out for him. It just doesn't make sense" Gwen shrugged.

"And now he's completely gone and replaced me and my grandpa with a dog" Gwen looked over to Harvey to see his surprised.

"Gwen, I'm sure Ben loves you" Mrs. Levin told her.

Gwen sighed. "I know. Guess he just has a hard way of showing it" Gwen breathed out.

"Anyway, we don't have a spare bed for you to sleep on so you can take Kevin's room" Harvey stated standing up and grabbing the plates. "That's okay, really, I'll just take the couch in the garage" Gwen shrugged. Harvey's eyes widened. He knew something was up. "Absolutely not. You're a guest. Kevin can sleep on the couch" Mrs. Levin stated.

"I thought she was your girlfriend?" Harvey asked.

"It's complicated" Both teens said in unison.

"Kevin go show Gwen your room" Mrs. Levin stated.

Kevin nodded standing up and helping Gwen up forcing her to walk while Harvey was in the room. As soon as they made it to the hall Kevin picked her up and carried her to his room. Gwen stared inside the messy dark room as he placed her on the bed. There was a pile of dirty clothes covering half of the small room. Gwen could already smell the beo wreaking off them.

"Are those clean?" Gwen asked pointing to them as Kevin played with the remote to the t-v. "Some" Kevin shrugged turning on the football channel for her knowing she'd fall to sleep soon. Kevin then walked back over to her and sat down beside her on the bed. "Sorry about dinner, Harvey's a little hard to get used too" He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?" He asked. Gwen shook her head closing her eyes. "I'll be fine. I just need to rest" Gwen whispered feeling pain shook through her legs from having to walk. Kevin frowned knowing that he had hurt her. "I'm sorry. I just didn't want Harvey to know how badly you were hurt"

"You don't trust him""

"He's my mum's boyfriend so yeah I don't"

"Why do you hate him so much? He doesn't seem that bad" Gwen shrugged.

"He's the reason I got kicked out of my place. He convinced my ma to kick me out" Kevin gritted his teeth. Gwen's eyes widened in shock.

"I'm so sorry"

"Don't be. It's not your fault"

Gwen sat up and placed a hand on his shoulder.

He looked up to her and smirked. Gwen smiled back warmly. "Come on you've got to get some rest. Those wounds aren't going to heal otherwise" He helped her lay down. Gwen smiled. "Thanks" She yawned before her eyes began to flutter. "Night Gwen" He pulled the blanket over her before staring down at her. He smirked walking off and closing the door. Harvey waited a few minutes until he came into Kevin's room. He saw her passed out asleep. He smirked walking into the room and quietly snooping around for a phone number he could use to call her parents. He saw her phone on Kevin's desk and picked it up. It was a pink brick, covered in cracks and dust but still working. "Thank god for Nokia's" He mumbled scrolling down the list for Max Tennyson. He smiled calling the number as he walked out the room leaving the injured girl alone to sleep.

The next morning came easily to Kevin. He made the two of them breakfast as his mother and Harvey went to work. He was happy to see Gwen in the morning, bright, fresh and smiling. She pretended not to be too injured but Kevin saw right through her as they sat at the table and ate. They didn't really speak to each other over breakfast but it didn't matter. Kevin was just glad to have her company. "So are you going to try sell me today or was the whole thing a total joke?" Gwen asked as Kevin wrapped a blanket over her as she laid on the couch in the garage. Kevin shrugged. "I'm still thinkin' about it"

Gwen rolled her eyes as he turned the t-v on. "Are we going to actually do anything today other then watch you work on your car"

Kevin lifted the bonnet grabbing a wrench and began turning some knobs. "Hostages don't actually get to decide what they do for the day but to answer your question; yes. I intend to work on the car that you broke as well as the new car that you bought me" He answered. Gwen narrowed her eyes at him. "Are we really back to hostage this and kidnapper that?" She asked.

"Hey don't blame me. You were the one that brought it up"

She sighed looking over to the fuzzy t-v. "It's broken" She mumbled. "I know but they need time to heal"

Gwen arched her eyebrow.

"I meant the t-v"

"Oh" Kevin hit it with his wrench a few times before the screen came back on. "There"

"Thanks" Gwen allowed her eyes to flutter closed.

Kevin breathed out happily that he could finally get some work done without her nagging him every five minutes. He worked for a least an hour before he heard a car pull up right outside his garage. Rushful footsteps made it's way to his door. Kevin stood on edge ready to fight anything that came through. He was surprised when the man came through and Kevin stared at the old man. He looked scruffy, exhausted and above all relieved. "Gwen" He breathed out racing up to her and hugging her tightly. He cradled her in his arms as Gwen winced her eyes beginning to come around. "Grandpa?" She asked wincing her eyes.

"Yeah, Pumpkin. It's me" Max answered brushing her face. Gwen hugged him tighter tears cascading down her pale cheeks. Kevin stared upset. He knew once Max takes her away he would never see her again. Max looked over to Kevin and walked up to the boy. Gwen stared horrified that her grandpa was going to hurt Kevin. Instead he hugged the boy tightly. "Thank you. Thank you so much for saving my daughter" Max cried. Kevin was shocked. He had never seen the old man cry before let alone be grateful towards him. "Err...it was no problem" Kevin patted his back. Gwen smiled relieved. Max looked over to his granddaughter and stared down at her. "I have to get her home so she can be taken care of by doctors"

Kevin nodded understanding. Max picked her up in his arms. "Wait" Max stopped as Gwen picked up a piece of paper and a pen. She scribbled the address down on the notepad before chucking it towards Kevin. "It's my address" Gwen stated. Kevin nodded as Max picked her up and walked out the door.