I really love Falling Skies, and I know it's needless to say that I so obviously do not own the series, though if they're looking for writers I'm your girl! Anyway Hal is by far my favourite character and I really love Hal harnessed fanfictions, reminding me to personally thank purplepidgioncommandbase for reviewing my story as I also really love your fanfictions especially 'Save One' which was the first fanfiction on Falling Skies I ever read. I know it sounds cliché but I'd like to dedicate this Chapter to you for being a little bit of my inspiration ;)

(I am not trying to be creepy… I'll just get back to writing the actual story…)

Gunshots rang out and Tom was vaguely aware of Matt screaming as he fired along with all the other fighters and was distracted by the heat of battle

BEN POV

Ben stumbled backwards away from the fighting as soon as it began, half carrying Matt with him as he ran for cover. Fighters urged them onwards, yelling at them to get down and stay low but Ben already knew the drill. Ben was surprised he wasn't paralysed in fear; he should have been. He just felt so determined and frightened not to get harnessed again, never to lose himself like that. Not only was he unsure he could take it, but Dad, Hal and Matt too. They ducked behind one of the cars and Ben curled into himself, trying to escape the violence and pained cries. Matt was struggling again and he managed to break Ben's grip, surging upwards and looking over the car, though not leaving its protection. Swallowing his terror, Ben rose behind him, intending to stash him back down and completely out of sight.

"Hal!" Matt shrieked and Ben watched in horror as he saw Hal being dragged into the woods by his legs as he wriggled on his stomach, fingers clawing helplessly at the dirt as he was pulled away by a Skitter, Karen just ahead of them.

A deep panic welled inside Ben as he observed his older brother disappearing from sight and found himself already sprinting after him, leaving Matty in the dust as he tore across the tarmac, dodging the fighters and crashing through any foliage that blocked his path. His dad was shouting his name behind him but Ben ignored him, resolute that he would not let his brother face the fate that he had been forced to when the aliens had taken him. The strange Skitter language filled his head and he understood every word, knew where they were going as if by instinct.

He caught up to them just as they were about to lug Hal up the ramp and into a giant, glowing mother-ship. The sight of it looming before him was intimidating to say the least and Ben faltered for a second, almost tripping and tumbling in his effort to stop. Hal spotted him in the mist his frantic struggling and he cried out as Karen turned to face Ben blankly, her expression never wavering. Her voice was so clear through the spikes ordering him to back down, to obey. But Ben ignores her, surging forward to assist his beloved brother as he's more hurriedly forced into the confines of the alien ship. A mech. suddenly appears from the trees beyond and Ben was forced to fling himself painfully to the ground as it opened fire just over his head. Its footsteps made the ground rumble and Ben poked his head up just long enough to see the door to the ship slowly closing and Hal reaching out towards him as he was towed inside, his eyes wide and panicked both in fear for his own life and his little brothers.

Then he was gone. Blocked off by the closing door as the mech. continued to approach Ben at an alarming speed but Ben couldn't move. He was frozen with shock, paralysed by his crushing defeat to save his brother from the horrible aliens that had stolen his life and family once before. Now, even though he was free, he had lost to them again, another massive part of his life stolen from him. Ben thumped the ground angrily, screaming a chilling, heart-wrenching scream of frustration and sadness as the engines of the spaceship powered up and they lifted into the sky with rushing air and flashing lights. The mech. was now only a few feet away, its laser targeting device trained on Ben's forehead but he didn't react, still absorbed in his own devastation, wanting to just curl up into a ball and cry his eyes out like a five year old.

No matter how many times they argued and fought, Ben loved his older brother with all his heart. Not only because he could always depend on him, no matter the situation, and that Hal could pretty much forgive any mistakes Ben made and accepted him for who he was. But because he did remind him so much of his mother, whom he missed so dearly; her kindness and warmth mirrored in his eyes ,her compassion hidden in the way he spoke, and her determination concealed in the way he held himself and fought for the 2nd Mass with all his heart and soul, no matter the danger.

Suddenly an eruption of movement from the woods nearby caught Ben's attention and interrupted the whirring of the mech.'s gun as they prepared to fire. Tom exploded from the line of trees flanked by a troop of beaten and bloody fighters and immediately fired on the mech. his stride never breaking as the mech. was hit by the specialised bullets. Finally the mech. fell and Tom was running towards Ben, helping him up and wrapping him passionate embrace, clinging to him as if he was his only grounding.

"Dad! They took him…I…I couldn't stop them…they took Hal…I'm so sorry…" Ben didn't bother trying to hide his distress as he sobbed into his father's chest, burying himself in his grasp.

"Shhhh,"Tom whispered into his son's hair, his hand placed firmly behind his head, fingers lacing through his strangely silky hair "It's ok Ben, we'll get him back. Whatever it takes, I promise. They will not keep him."