Chapter 22: Trouble in Kansas, storm makes it's way!
The Tennyson's first stop on their summer vacation was none other than Wichita, Kansas. Ben looked around and seen that it was a nice looking place however something didn't sit right with either Gwen or Ben as they seem to notice some houses were being covered up entirely as houses were being boarded up from the outside as Max notices but says nothing of it as he pulls up to a gas station to full up the Rustbucket.
"Something isn't right here wherever we are." Ben says earning a roll of the eyes from Gwen as she takes a map from her bag and shows him where they currently were.
"We're in Kansas ya doofus." she says in an obvious but yet serious tone as he looked at the map.
"Yeah yeah, thanks for the reminder miss right." he says in a bitter tone as he looked at the map and then at her feeling frustrated as then he didn't look back at Gwen as he studied the map.
"Thought you would have seen we were in Kansas by now." Gwen commented noting Ben's lack of eyesight as they entered Kansas not too long ago.
"I didn't see the sign, I was focused on something else." Ben countered as he folded the map back up and puts it away returning to his seat as he pulled out a gameboy and played it.
"Like what?" Gwen asked eying him as he eventually felt her gaze on him.
"None of your business." Ben says stoically as he just plays his gameboy not bothering to look at her and focuses on his game, Gwen just rolls her eyes taking the map as she sits down. She notices that Ben has been his normal self at times and other times he seemed distant in thought as she thought about it more, she worries that Ben is keeping something from her but the question is what is he keeping from her and why?
'Ben..Are you keeping a secret from me? And why have you been distant from me?' Gwen thought feeling conflicted and sad inside, she needed him by her side right now as she sheds a tear as she couldn't bear the thought of him keeping something from her as Ben noticed Gwen sitting by herself with the map on her lap. He wondered if there was something she was thinking about as she sat there, curious to know he puts the gameboy down and sits next to her.
"Gwen, is something wrong?" Ben asked noting the look on her face as he seen a trail of a tear down her cheek.
"Hmm?" she perked up wiping her eyes and looking at him as she seemed ready to look at him but inside a part of her wanted to ask if he was keeping a secret but decided to see where this conservation will go. "There's nothing wrong with me, why you ask?" Gwen says in an attempt to deflect the question that Ben had asked her.
"Two reasons, one you were crying." he says poking her cheek to indicate where he had seen the trail mark as she knocked his hand away gently but with force.
"I'm not crying." She says but Ben already knows he's got her which doesn't happen too often at all by his standards.
"Yes you were, and two you were staring at the map for at least ten minutes. You normally look at the map and then give it back to me or put it back." he counters bringing up her tendencies, she playfully punches him in the shoulder knowing he had won this time. "You got me, I'm just worried if you were hiding something."
"Hide something from you?" I wouldn't do that you know." He says assuring her as he gave her a quick hug to let her know he's there.
By the time the two had finished their conservation to sit in the back Max had already filled up the Rustbucket and began driving much to the children's curiosity as they looked outside at the scenery.
"Grandpa, just where are we going to see?" Gwen asks breaking the short silence between the drive as Ben looked at Gwen as he peered his attention to her instead of the scenery outside as his grandfather continued on driving.
"To see an old co-worker of mine, he told me that something weird was going on in the town as of late."
"And what do you mean by that?" Ben asked as Max informed them both of what was happening around town.
"I mean isn't it odd that knights are showing up here?" Max questioned, the duo looked befuddled at the question but decided to answer it anyway.
"It's odd that there isn't no modern festival for those freaks." Ben taunts but quiets right away when Gwen threw a mean look at him letting him now isn't the time to be joking.
"Surely it is odd, are they in a group or something?" Gwen wondered in an questioning way looking at Max as he thought about it for a moment.
"We have reason to believe that, but we don't know as of right now." Max confirmed as he seemed to be in thought now about these knights, he knew from his friend that they showed up around last week but now seem to be a bit late to mention it to him but he had to wait for school to be over if he was going to take Ben and Gwen along with him.
"But we're almost to his home anyway." Max noted as he seen a house on the way to what it seem to be downtown Wichita as he gradually stopped at a red and white house that seem pretty ordinary with a driveway as he pulled up and parked in it.
"Who is this guy anyway?" Ben asked.
"Nate is his name, you'll be meeting him soon." Max answered as everyone got out and walked up to his door as Max rung the doorbell, a moment later a man opens the door and appears to be Nate as he recognized Max noting the smile on his face as he shook his hand as the two long time friends greet one another.
"Max, it's been ages!" Nate says giving Max a hug that said 'I missed you best friend.'
"Nate, how's my partner been holding up?" Max says looking at his best friend, they seem slimliar but with some differences. Nate withstood the test of time as he stayed in great shape as Max and the duo walk in but they also noticed that Nate hasn't lost much of his youth yet compared to Max who has put on some weight during their last appearance from the plumbers but still had the vitality of a man in their 30's.
"Well I've been blessed with grandchildren who love adventures and I've been traveling with them for the past year now but they are having fun, anything new in your neck of the woods Nate?" Max explained to his best friend and comrade as he explained his time away from the old days as former plumber agents.
"Well Max I couldn't be happier for you with your grandchildren having so much fun traveling." Nate said as he went over to the window and boarded up the window leaving Ben confused at this, he noticed the same thing happening around town. Was something going on? He had to find out what.
"Yeah sounds like fun, but what's everyone doing?"
"The sheets? Well we're covering and boarding up for now." Nate answered while boarding up a window as Gwen and Ben noted that he only used two nails in the ends of the board.
'Maybe he did that to make it easier...or whatever.' Ben thought not really interested in what Nate was doing as he looked around seeing obvious pictures of him along with family and he looked at a picture with some interest, it was him and a little girl on his lap holding up a fish she caught as she was smiling brightly.
'Maybe that's his granddaughter.' Ben thought not even aware of Gwen sneaking up on him and scaring him with a "BOO!"
"Gwen!" he jumped up as Gwen laughed at him being scared of her antics as he turned to her not amused one bit. "That's not funny at all you know!"
"You're right...It's was awesome!" she laughed harder despite a scowling Ben glaring at her as she sits downin a chair slowing down from the lack of air she laughed out as all Ben could do was look at her, and a grin came on his face knowing he'll get her as he leaves her laughing.
After a while Gwen gradually calmed down laughing as she wipes a tear from her eye as she went looking for Ben.
"Ben? Ben where are you?" she called out wondering where he could have gone as she searched the house, coming up unsuccessful she knew the only place he would have to hide would be the Rustbucket as she ran outside and into the RV as she locked the door behind her.
'I got you now Benny boy.' Gwen thought with a small hint of a blush on her face as it subsided as she looked for him as she checked the bunk beds not successful in finding him.
"Ben, where is he?" she asked no one in particular as she went and checked the front of the Rustbucket as she felt hands tickling her sides as she jumped forward into the seats hearing a famliar laugh as she looked up as she experienced a bit of rage but also felt happy seeing Ben laughing at her being spooked by such a small action.
"Hahaha, it's about time you showed up!" Ben says while laughing as Gwen was red in the face unknown to him as she sat there in disbelief.
"Wha..? You little..!" Gwen sounded as if she was going to do something worse to him as she got a plan and went in action quickly and lunged forward tickling him as a tickle war ensued between them as the war went to the front of the Rustbucket as Gwen's foot had turned on the radio unknowingly as she couldn't help laughing as she tried to get Ben to stop tickling her.
"Ben...Ben stop please..I can't..I can't take it.." Gwen pleaded while running out of breath as the radio soon got their attention.
"Breaking news in Kansas, a tornado is on the way. Everyone better take shelter, espically those in RV's as the storm is set to arrive in an hour. Repeat, tornado to arrive in one hour." The radio reporter said as Ben not only stopped tickling Gwen but she noticed concern for not only her and Grandpa Max, but everyone else that possibly didn't hear that.
"Ben?" Gwen says shaking him out of a possible trance as he soon snapped out of it and replying with "Hmm?"
"Come on, let's warn everyone else." and with that she took his hand and went to warn Nate.
End of chapter 22
Holy crap this chapter took longer than I thought! After hitting a depression from internal affairs I completely forgot about the fanfiction, I'm not 100% yet and my guess is I'm around 80 to 85 at the most. I apologize for the long delay.