All the while Ben telling himself…
It was just a dream.
It was just a dream.
TOM POV
Tom had been up all night and his eyes were heavy and stung with drying tears. After sitting with Ben most of the night, trying to comfort the emotionally traumatised boy about a nightmare he refused to share; Tom felt like his nerves were wrecked as he tried to bring some warmth into his exhausted body. He felt like he had aged a decade in just one night and could practically sense the grey hairs that had sprouted from his scalp. Anne sat beside him on the bed, rubbing small circles on his back reassuringly as Tom tried to calm himself. The explanation of events had shocked and horrified her as well and now Anne seemed on the verge of tears too; but she had sucked in a terse breath and kept all the calm and collectiveness she had been trained with.
"It'll be okay Tom. You saved Ben, even after all those months and Hal's only been missing a few hours. We'll find him…together." she whispered, tenderly pushing her lips against his.
She smelled sweet and aromatic-she was always so adamant about staying clean, especially being the 2nd Mass's only fully trained doctor-and Tom let himself relax into it, placing his forehead against hers as they separated. He sighed and brushed his hand through her long, ebony hair, twirling it beneath his fingers.
"But Ben's never been the same since…and it took months to find him and he was only taken by Skitters; Karen and the Overlords took Hal, he could be anywhere in America right now." Tom choked, biting his lip anxiously as he confessed his deepest fear.
"No!" Anne interrupted rather fiercely "You would know if your baby had been taken that far away, Tom. It's the thing with parenthood…bit of an instinctive built in radar; it's how you knew Ben was still alive. Ask Ben and Matt, they'll tell you the same thing; he's here Tom, don't give up hope."
Tom lowered his eyes to the floor and nodded slowly, leaning into Anne's cup hand as they sat in complete silence for a minute; digesting the conversation and enjoying each other's company.
"You know Weaver and the others were really hit hard by Hal's…disappearance." Tom chuckled, twiddling his thumbs absentmindedly.
"Really?"
"Yeah, he did a lot of stuff for everyone, really stepped up when I was captured. I didn't really appreciate just how much he'd grown up till now."
Anne smiled, her eyes twinkling even in the dim light. "Yeah, Hal was always amazing like that; always full of surprises…sorry that sounded so cliché." she laughed quietly and Tom stared into her eyes, leaning forward and kissing her softly.
"Not at all, it was sweet…thank you Anne, for everything."
Before Anne could reply the door burst open and Anthony stumbled timidly into the room, his breathing laboured like he had been running.
"Weaver wants everyone in the hall; they have to decide about Hal."
Glancing nervously at each other, Tom seized Anne's warm hand and they sprinted down the hallway as Anthony continued to wake everyone and lead them to the hall. They could already hear the hustle and bustle of tired people as they drove through the double doors into the large room filled with civilians and fighters alike. Weaver stood on an elevated platform in the centre of the chaos, waiting for everyone to enter before he began. Noticing Tom and Anne's entry, the Captain flashed them an apologetic smile and nodded off to the left where Ben and Matt were stood beside one another, barely talking. Tom and Anne joined them, still holding hands as the approached smiling.
"Hi Dr Glass, what's happening, Dad?"
Tom bent down, lifting his youngest son into his arms and slipping him onto his back in a piggy back so that he hovered about everyone else's heads and had a clear view all around. Anne and Ben chuckled, Anne placing a kind arm around Ben's shoulders and giving him a soothing squeeze.
"Weaver needs to ask the entire group something very important." Tom replied, patting his son's knee caringly.
"Is it about Hal?" Matty murmured uncertainly, drumming his slender fingers lightly on his father's head in a strangely comforting manor.
Tom glanced uncertainly to Anne, unsure of how to reply when suddenly the doors swung shut one more and Weaver cleared his throat. Instantly all eyes were on him as everyone keenly waited for their leaders wise words; these kind of emergency meetings were almost unheard of and everyone knew about the attack only a few hours past.
"As you all know, the 2nd Mass was attacked by the aliens last night. We suffered two casualties-two excellent fighters-and the aliens captured one of our scouts. All of you know Hal Mason and he is an important member of our group…" Weaver's words trailed off to allow everyone to absorb what he was saying.
Tom heard someone mutter "Prince." somewhere behind him, followed by a number of quiet sniggers and he turn to glare darkly at Pope; the man instantaneously realising the dangerous look in his eyes. His band of renegades promptly followed his lead, ducking their heads to avoid the petrifying gaze.
Weaver throwing over his own warning stare continued "…this is why I called the meeting tonight. We need to decide whether we stay and search for him, or we keep heading to Charleston. It's a hard decision, and I know there will be mixed opinions over this but I have to exercise the fact that we don't have the man power or resources to separate the group, meaning it's one or the other."
Weaver looked over toward Tom apologetically as the blood literally drained from his face and he felt nauseous once again. Ben and Anne stood closer to him in a gesture of support as quiet chatter broke out amongst the audience; all arguing and discussing the fate of Hal Mason. The teenage scout had a lot going for him though; on more than one occasion he had gone out of his way to help everyone in the community for even the smallest thing, risked life and limb for them, was a great friend to everyone. He had done a lot. But was it enough?
Pope stepped forward cockily, flashing a quick smirk at Tom's family before addressing everyone. His cronies clapped their hands to draw the attention of the crowd as Pope swaggered up onto the stage with Weaver. He was obviously the opposition.
"Needs of the many over the needs of the many surely? Why should we risk everything for the kid?"
Anne gripped Tom's arm and he knew instantly that she was encouraging him to step forward as the hubbub replied in earnest to Pope's outburst. Gritting his teeth, Tom climbed on stage and faced Pope angrily.
"Because he'd do the same for anyone of the 2nd Mass. Hal's sacrificed a lot for the resistance and he has never once complained; we owe it to him."
Again the crowd whispered earnestly in response and the level of tension rose.
Pope gestured wildly "You say that because he's your son. You wouldn't go out of your way to help any of us like that; it's just because he's the eldest 'Prince' in your delusional family."
The fury flared inside Tom like a volcanic eruption but Tom calmed it, like an ocean wave rolling over the fire.
"I would and have countless times and my 'delusional' family don't think of ourselves as royalty, you do. Hal would never accept that kind of reaction from anyone, to him everyone is equal, even you" Tom spat back, subtly adding the bitterness in his voice.
Raising his hands in what looked like surrender Pope spoke again "Don't get me wrong, I like the kid, he is definitely my favourite but I have to draw the line somewhere. By now he's probably been harnessed and processed into a little Cootie's monkey, collecting scrap in some back alley and I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to Razorback's for sons."
Pope paused for a second and revelled in the complete silence that greeted him as he watched Tom twitch speechlessly.
"In fact, I bet you sold him out with your old Overlord buddies so you can't have yet another alien spy in the middle of our party; I mean you already have yourself and Ben over there, why not let dear Hal join in the family business?"
Tom realised he was holding his breath and his nails were digging into his palms, blood dripping through his fingers as Ben stiffened in shock and Anne leapt up in protest.
"Ben and Tom are not traitors! Tom isn't an alien spy and he would never ever give Hal to the aliens!"
She ran forward as if to stop him but was restrained by Lourdes and Anthony, passionate tears streaming down her cheeks. Tom glanced back sorrowfully but tried to convey his gratitude for her defence with a weak smile. She fell quiet and rested against Lourdes as the young girl gushed thoughtfully into her ear in an attempt to console her.
"Look," Tom said bitterly, his voice flooded with pain and emotion "I don't care what you think about Ben and I and I know no matter what I say you'll just object to it…but it's not up to you."
Tom turned to face the crowd, dropping to his knees in an act of complete humility, his eyes filled with tears. The rest of the 2nd Mass just stared at him in surprise, shocked that their second in command was kneeling to them like a servant to a King.
"Hal is completely innocent of any crime. He has poured his heart and soul into the 2nd Mass from day one and paid for it dearly sometimes, but he always gets up and keeps going; protecting those around him, always saving us. But now it's our turn to save him. I ask-no I beg-you to please help me rescue my son, whatever the outcome because I will not stand by and let him suffer at the hands of the Overlords. I can't do it alone. Who will help me?" Tom pleaded, meeting the eyes of everyone in turn to convey the honesty and sincerity in his words.
The whole room was completely silent, no one even moved. Everyone was wrapped up in their own disbelief on the situation and pure terror in Tom's voice that the reticence feels too delicate to break. Finally a familiar voice slashed through the devastating quiet.
"I'm in."
The crowd parted and a very tearful yet determined Maggie strutted forward, her eyes gleaming. It was common knowledge that Hal and Maggie were in a relationship and Tom hadn't really gotten the chance to sit and talk with her and his explanation of events had been rather blunt due to emotional trauma and exhaustion. But there she stood looking like a fallen angel and Tom truly understood why Hal liked her so much, even if it couldn't be summarised in words. He approved of her.
Anthony and Dai both stepped forward too, their actions needed no words and soon there was an eruption of cries-the loudest being those of Matt and Ben as they rallied those surrounding them-and when Tom had the energy to look at Pope, he seemed smaller; daunted by the sheer mass of affection toward Hal Mason. With a dull shrug, he conceded and jumped from the stand, disappearing into the shadows as Weaver announced to a strangely happy crowd that it was settled. The 2nd Mass would hold out here until they were forced to move on or they found Hal.
Weaver called out orders for search parties and scouting missions before ushering everyone off to rest and recuperate for the busy days ahead. Tom felt a few claps on the back as Anthony, Dai and some of the others filtered away and Ben convinced Matty to return to their room, till eventually just Tom and Anne remained in the large hall.
Anne rushed forwards, flinging herself into his arms and kissing him hard on the lips. Tom pulled her closer, feeling the tingling feeling whenever he was close to her race up his spine.
"Well done, Tom. That was amazing. Hal would be proud." she chuckled softly, cupping his face in her soft hands.
Tom reached up; intertwining his fingers with hers "We're not out of the woods yet. We have a long journey ahead; are you sure you're up for it?"
She smiled and leaned in closer to his ear, her whisper like a summer breeze "Always."