Okay, so there are 50 chapters in total. They'll be a lil shorter, but double updates. This goes back to when Ben passed out from his POV. Enjoy!

Private CIA Exfil Jet
Near CIA DC HQ
2:30 PM
Sunday
July 19th

Ben's POV:
We had gotten onto a special plane the CIA sent us. I was super sore and tired now that the adrenaline was wearing off.

I had taken numerous bullets, braced Erica from an explosion, and probably broke my leg and some ribs. Long story short, I was surprised to be alive. Thrilled, but surprised.

I was becoming very thankful for the extra training I'd put in to be stronger. I was aware that if I hadn't, I'd have died hours before.

Note to self: Keep training and help your kids train in the future. It might just save their lives.

We'd been on the plane for 2 and a half hours. I'd been going back and forth making sure everyone was okay the entire time. Much to their requests for me to sit down and relax. But I'm not that kind of guy. Never had been and never will be. I will relax once I know everyone's okay.

"You two okay?" I asked Cat and Alexander.

"Yep." Alexander smiled.

"We are, thank you Benjamin."

"Need anything?"

"You to go rest." Alex said, making us all laugh.

"Not until I know everyone's okay."

"You've asked 3 times Benjamin." Cat giggled.

"I know. How long till we get to DC?" I asked Catherine, who was flying. Alexander was co-pilot.

"Well usually it'd be a 5 hour flight, but we are in a private jet, and have government permission to fly as fast as we can, as long as we're careful. It'll be a 3 hour flight, meaning-" She started.

"There's only a half an hour left." I finished.

"Bingo." Alexander added.

I walked back to the others. I decided to make sure everyone was okay one last time. I went to Cyrus and Jillian first.

"You alright sir? Ma'am? Can I get you anything?"

"You're a very respectful boy Ben, but what I didn't know was how you were a natural born amazing flight attendant." Jillian joked.

"Thank you ma'am. Just trying to make sure everyone's alright." I laughed.

"We're all good." She said with a smile.

Then Cyrus looked at me and did something I'd like never seen before. He smiled at me too. And when I went to shake his hand, he... hugged me?

"Thank you Ben."

"No problem sir. Anything for the Hales." I responded respectfully.

"It means a lot son. I thought I'd lost her." He said with a loving look at his long lost wife, finally returned to him. (Okay that last sentence tho- I'm literally so proud of how fancy it sounds.)

My jaw dropped.

"Did you just call-"

"Welcome to the family Ben."

My eyes widened. I hugged him again.

"Thank you sir."

"Call me Cyrus, no better yet, Grandpa." He said with a rare grin.

My mind exploded. And that was when I died. Kidding. He was so different after I helped bring Jillian back. Like SO different.

I hugged him again.

"Well I'm gonna go check on the others."

"Didn't you already do that?" He asked.

"Twice?" She added with a laugh.

"Well a third time can't hurt, can it?"

I walked to my older siblings and their dates.

"You all doing okay? Need anything?"

"Ben." Ash started.

"You've already checked in little buddy." Griff added.

"Twice." Alex joked.

"We're all okay, but thanks for asking Ben." Kelsey finished.

"Okay. If you need anything-"

"We'll get it." Ash interrupted.

"Ben, you're like really wounded. Go rest." Alex smiled.

"I'm gonna check in on everyone else, but then I will." I started to walk away. "Maybe." I muttered.

"I heard that!" Griff yelled.

I turned and walked backwards.

"Didn't say a word."

I found my younger siblings and their partners all playing uno.

"You all okay? Need anything?"

They all looked at me and laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"You are the most injured." Ava noted.

"But you are the one that refuses to rest." Addison added.

"Even though we're all fine." Brent continued.

"And can get anything we need ourselves." Andrew said.

"Ben, go rest bro." Gabe laughed.

"We're okay Ben, promise." Kiley finished.

"If you say so." I shrugged with a laugh.

Now all that was left was my friends and Erica.

They were all in a room talking amongst themselves, besides Erica who had gone to the bathroom.

"Hey guys. Everyone still doing okay?"

"Ben! Have you still not sat down?" Mike answered first.

"Dude go get some rest."

"Sit down."

"Relax man."

"We're all okay."

"And have been since we got on."

Then Chip, Zoe, Jawa, Jessica, and finally Rebecca.

"You sure?"

"YES." They all said.

"Can I get you anything?"

"NO." They said once again.

Mike spoke again.

"You know what we need? You to calm down, lay back, relax, and breathe. We just defeated our number one enemies for good after like 7 years bro. Calm down. If anyone needs the rest, it's you. You have more injuries than all of us combined man. Sit down!"

"I'm gonna go find Erica."

He rolled his eyes.

"Whatever. You're gonna overwork yourself right into a coma, but don't say I didn't tell you so." (If only he knew how right he was... proooolly wouldn't have said that.)

"No I'm not." I laughed.

I walked out towards the bathroom when Erica came out.

"Benjamin Ripley."

"Yes dear?" I said with a grin.

"WHY IN BLOODY HELL HAVE YOU NOT SAT DOWN YET?" She asked sternly.

"I wanted to make sure everyone is okay."

"3 TIMES?"

"Well, yeah. You guys are my number one priority."

"And you're mine. Come sit down. There's some seats just behind the cockpit by my family."

"5 minutes till we land." Catherine said over the intercom.

Straight to the point and no trying to figure out how it worked. (Barnabus Sidebottom do be jealous doe)

"She should really give the Idiot lessons on how to use intercoms." I said with a laugh.

"Probably." She agreed.

We walked there but I didn't sit down like she did.

"Everyone's okay?" I asked pacing a little.

"Yes baby, we're all okay. Now sit down and rest."

I finally sat down next to her as she slipped her soft, gentle hand into mine. I looked at her and smiled, lost in a daze.

A dream. A dream that is my reality

Dang she's gorgeous. I love her so much. I feel awful for running in like that.

"Okay. Good. Erica I'm really sorry ab-"

I slouched over onto her. I didn't have the strength to move. I slid to the floor. Motionless. Everything was spinning and I felt myself start to pass out. Silence. I couldn't hear a thing.

I saw Erica look at me and scream for Catherine. Cyrus ran in to take her place at the yoke and she rushed out. She got close but I was almost out. Erica was kneeling over me, sobbing.

I was fighting to stay awake for them. Erica. My family, old and new. My friends. But the darkness won and consumed me.

Okay, hope you enjoyed. Next it's their sad lunch. Now after that it's gonna be about what he heard while he was in a coma. Then the first meal they all had After Ben woke up. Almost done and will update again today or tomorrow. And there are some big Zike moments and chapters coming cuz we love Zike and there wasn't much of it so far, which makes me kinda sad and a little bit disappointed in myself. So for all you Zike people... get ready ;)