Enjoy this chapter! I actually mean it. You will be thanking me for this. I couldn't take it any longer, so what this chapter is about will make you happy (hopefully...?)

Three days ago...

Ben's POV (I almost cried tears of joy writing these two words)

My eyes flew open. My heart was pounding against my rib cage.

I'm alive.

What the-?

I was covered in debris, and I could see blood. Lots of blood. But I was alive, and that was all I cared about.

Erica was the first thing that came to my mind. She thought I was dead. Everyone else also thought I was dead. I needed to get back to the CIA.

I was covered in debris, so I tried pushing stuff off of me. My arms were weak, and so it took a while. I looked up at the sky. It was close to nine in the night.

I was under a pile of debris for a couple of days. I was starving and sleepy.

I stood up, holding onto a chunk of something for support until I found my balance. Then I slowly started walking out of the debris.

There were no cars on the road, so I started walking, hoping that someone would come to give me a lift.

Twenty minutes later, I saw a car. A black Mercedes. It pulled up and the driver rolled the window down. He gasped when he saw me.

"Hi," I managed weakly. "Can I get a lift to the nearest hospital, please?"

The man nodded. "Hop in."

I got into the car and he started driving. About three minutes into the drive, he spoke up. "So, Agent Ripley, how was your near-death experience?"

I gasped, shocked. "What?"

He laughed. "Agent Jackson from the CIA. I recognized you as the kid who defeated SPYDER."

I smiled. "Thanks."

"How are you here?" he asked. "I mean, in Australia, coated in blood."

"Long story short, I was on a mission, building blew up and everyone's back at the CIA thinking I'm dead."

Agent Jackson could only smile. He pulled up near the hospital and I got out. He parked and got out too, and we walked in together. I was sent to a 'general ward' where a nurse would clean up my wounds.

Luckily, there weren't any fatal wounds. Just a sprained wrist, a couple of bruises and a minor cut above my right eye.

"Let's go, Ben," Agent Jackson said as soon as I was all patched up. "You can spend the night at my house, then I'll get you a flight to Washington D.C. as soon as possible."

I nodded with no better choice and he and I went to his house.

"Daddy!" an excited five-year-old yelled, running up to Agent Jackson. He picked her up, snuggling her.

"Erica, meet Ben. Say hi," he said to his daughter. The little girl waved at me.

Erica. His daughter's name was Erica. I felt a moment of loneliness as I thought about how sad she would've been.

"Abby, this is Ben," he said, leading me into the living room where his wife sat with another five-year-old girl. "From the CIA."

She stood up and shook my hand. "Pleasure to meet you. Catherine Hale and I are good friends."

I smiled. His family was so warm and welcoming. After dinner, which was a delicious lasagna, I hung out with his five-year-old twins Erica and Jessica before I retired for the night.

I stayed in their guest bedroom, cuddled up under the thick blanket...

...and fell fast asleep.

I ended up staying for a couple of days.

The sun's light shone through the window, waking me up. It was about nine in the morning, and I had gotten a good sleep. So much had happened in my life that I didn't even bother to think about it.

I got out of bed and stared out the window at the beautiful Sydney Harbor. The very Sydney Harbor that would've blown up if it weren't for my amazing friends.

"Oh, great, you're awake," Abby said, walking into the room. She placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Your flight's scheduled for takeoff at noon."

I smiled. "Thank you for all of the help you've done for me. I don't know how I can ever pay it back."

"A CIA agent always helps another CIA agent," she answered with a wink. "Come downstairs for breakfast."

I followed her downstairs where the twins sat eating Cheerios in plastic bowls. Erica waved at me, spoon in one hand, milk flying everywhere.

"Hi," I said, pasting a fake smile on my face. I sat at the table across from the twins as Abby placed bacon and eggs in front of me. I started eating, and the food was delicious. The previous night I had helped myself to five servings of lasagna because I was so hungry.

"Ben! Can you play with us again today?" the twins asked together.

I laughed. "I'd love to, but I have to go."

"Go where?" Erica asked.

"Home," I replied. "Back to my home."

The twins were silent. They appeared sad. "Then we can't play anymore."

I placed my plate in the sink. "Thank you," I said with a soft smile. Abby smiled.

"You need to be at the airport in half an hour," Abby said. "This week with you has been awesome."

"These were the best five days I've spent in Australia," I replied. "It's good to have friends all around the world."

I waved goodbye as I got into Agent Jackson's car. He drove me to the airport, but it wasn't like the one I'd imagined.

"What is this place?" I asked. "This isn't the airport."

"This is the private airstrip," Agent Jackson said. "I spoke to Alexander Hale yesterday. He was elated. He hasn't told anyone anything yet. He called for a private jet to pick you up."

I smiled. "Thanks, agent Jackson."

"Pleasure." He dropped me off and drove away. I walked into the airstrip past the officers and found my jet.

"Benjamin Ripley?" a woman asked. I recognized her as one of the head agents of the CIA. "Your flight is ready."

I followed her into the jet. My pilot was none other than Alexander Hale himself.

"Alexander?" I gasped.

He smiled. "Ben, how are you?"

I shrugged. "Decent. Alive. That's all I care about."

"You have no idea how sad Erica's been," Alexander informed me. "She hasn't been talking. She hasn't exited her room in a week."

I felt a pang of guilt. "I need to make it up for her."
He went up to the cockpit. "Get comfortable," he called. "You need sleep."
I sat in one of the comfy chairs and smiled to myself. I was going home, going to Erica.

The jet got in the air and I stared out of the window at the magnificent continent of Australia. My near-death experience there would become a permanent memory of my life.

I put on some headphones and watched a couple of movies.

The hum of the jet got me sleepy and before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Vote and tell me in the comments if you liked it!