Somewhat the Beginning (A Falling Skies Fanfiction)

Trust Must Be Earned

I woke up in my cot. I looked over at the other cots that were occupied by Hal, Tom, and Matt. I was amused by Hal's loud snoring, which was a first. I turned and looked at an awoken Ben, who shared my cot. This had become a regular thing over the past 3 weeks. Things seemed to be getting normal, but others didn't entirely trust us. With my new-found "powers" I could hear what people thought; it was things like "See those razorbacks? Word around camp is they're spies for the Overlords." I knew it wasn't true and I could turn my back on the mean words, but Ben couldn't. He hadn't slept over the past few days, and he's been more distant.

"Good Morning." Ben said dully.

"Good Morning." I said back. "Patrol today?"

"Yea later tonight with Jimmy." Jimmy was Ben's fighting partner, and they were a great duo. I don't know Jimmy that well, but I trust him with Ben's life.

Hal shifted in his cot "Hey could you two love birds keep it down? I'm trying to catch some z's over here." He said grumply.

I chuckled, nothing was better than annoying Hal. Since we put everything else behind us we started becoming friends again. It wasn't the same though, and I don't think it ever will be.

...

"Hit me." Maggie said. I gave her a card. "Aww I bust." she said laying her cards on the table. There wasn't much to do so Maggie, Hal, and I decided to play Blackjack.

"Hit me." Hal said. He smiled and showed his cards "21!"

"How do you keep winning?" I asked while shuffling cards.

"Luck I guess." He answered. "Where's Ben?"

"Patrol with Jimmy." I passed out the cards and we continued playing.

"I'm glad we all get to hang out together." Maggie said.

I nodded "Yea we haven't done that much lately."

"Because you spend all your time with Ben." Hal mumbled under his breath.

"Hal!" Maggie said. "You know it's because we've had patrol almost everyday."

"Whatever. Hit me." he huffed.

"I just might." I said quietly.

Maggie chuckled but Hal apparently didn't hear what I said.

We heard yelling from the entrance of Airport hangar. We ditched our game, grabbed our guns, and headed toward the commotion. We passed by a group of sick coughing, patients as we followed the sounds to the med bus. Tom and Weaver were outside of the bus pacing.

"What's going on?" Hal asked.

"Ben and Jimmy were on patrol..." Tom answered.

"Are they ok?" I interrupted.

"Ben is, but Jimmy, not so much." Tom continued. "We don't know what happened out there but Jimmy has a tree branch stuck in his side."

"Oh my god." Maggie said under her breath.

Ben came down the steps dazed and covered in blood. I was about to go hug him, but then Weaver started talking to him.

"What in hell were you two doing out there, Ben?"

Ben hesitated "Hunting skitters."

Hal shook his head in disappointment and Tom asked "What were you and Jimmy doing hunting skitters, Ben?"

"They put spikes on my back, they killed mom, they killed everyone...I need a reason?"

"Like we don't see enough combat, you have to go looking for it?" Weaver said.