Disclaimer: We don't own Ben 10.

Chapter 6.

Half an hour later the team returned to Plumber H.Q where they split up. Kevin, Argit and Patelliday, who had been waiting for them with two strong Plumber guards at his side, escorted Kwaadsay to a high-secure detainment cell. Everyone at H.Q. was pretty darn surprised when they saw Rook, alive and well.

While the Tennysons and Rook went to the lab where Azmuth was already waiting for them.

The old Galvan raised an eyeridge when he saw the way Ben and Rook entered the lab. It looked like you would need a pry-bar to seperate those two. ...Or a megaphone to get them to look their attention away from each other..

Azmuth cleared his throat three times before Ben and Rook looked at him. "Pleasant to see you back in one piece."

"Skip the small talk Azmuth," Ben sniped, glaring at the First Thinker. "you knew about grandpa's plan."

"And I never agreed to it." Azmuth calmly reminded Ben.

"I know..." Ben sighed. "Sorry Azmuth, I just... I haven't figured out how I feel about this whole deal." He told Azmuth as he reached into his pocket and handed Azmuth the small black box, it was only a few inches bigger than the Anihilaarg. "I still can't believe I could have just destroyed it, this whole time." He said as he handed it to Azmuth.

Rook tensed up, his grip on Ben's arm tightening. "Ben?"

Ben's shoulders slumped, he knew he and Rook needed to talk, he also had few words to share with grandpa Max about this whole idiotic plan of theirs. But he still hadn't figure out how to put this... Betrayed feeling, into words.

"It wasn't fair, what you did to me, Rook." Ben murmured, turning to face Rook. "I get why you did it." He said when Rook opened his mouth to reply, cutting him off before he could defend himself. "But because you didn't want to lose me, I had to lose you?" Ben shook his head. "How is that fair?"

Rook looked at Ben with a guilty look. "It was not. I felt horrible the whole time. But when your grandfather told me how you would just throw your life away, it scared me, and I did not think straight." He bowed his head in shame. "I do not expect your forgiveness after everything I did."

Azmuth looked up from the Destruahl. "It's not entirely your fault Rook, Max used your emotions against you to do this, both of you wanted to keep Ben safe." He folded his hands behind his back. "Wasn't exactly a good way of doing it, but, at least you and Ben are in one piece. By the way Max made sure no one touched your belongings in your apartment, and by the looks of it that armor isn't very comfortable. So I imagine that you want your old armor back."

Rook nodded, the armor he was wearing was very uncomfurtable. "My old armor would be nice." Azmuth turned back to the devise and waved his hand in the shoo gesture. "You two run along then, I need some quiet time to destroy this thing."

Ben and Rook left Azmuth alone with his work and went to Rook's apartment at HQ.

They went to Rook's room where Rook opened a drawer and pulled his proto-armor out. "I will be back shortly." He told Ben, already displeased with having to leave the room, but he had been in this Bleezain soldier uniform for far too long.

"Sure, take your time." Ben sounded distracted. He sat down on Rook's bed and watched his supossedly 'dead' boyfriend disapear into the bathroom. The teen smiled tiredly. He was so going to Revonah with Rook, so Rook could explain this whole stupid ordeal to his family.

Ben could just picture Rook Da's lecture... 'How could you indulge yourself in such dishonorable actions?!' Yeah, for once Ben wouldn't mind hearing Da holler.

He sombered up all too soon, and looked down at the Omnitrix. Ben put the dial on Alien X. For a while he just looked at holographic green image of the celestialsapien. He could have just destroyed the Destuahl...

And the Anihilaarg too, if he was at it.

Get rid of those two ridculous weapons and the universe would be a whole lot safer.

That's how Rook found him ten minutes later.

The Revonahgander took one look at the alien Ben was staring at and ran towards Ben, dropping to his knees in front of him and pushing Ben's hands away from the Omnitrix. "No," Rook breathed, fighting down the panic bubbling in his stomach as he met Ben's eyes. "I know what you are thinking Ben, but- Please... No..."

"But if I used Alien X then I could get rid of the Destruahl and the An-"

Rook squeezed Ben's hands tightly. " No, you could not, because if you try to destroy the Destruahl you could die! I do not want you to throw your life away like that! Earth needs you, your family needs you, I need you!"

Ben glared at the revonagander. "Well what about me when you played dead? Don't you think I needed you there too?!"

"I know Ben, it was wrong and stupid of me to do that. But you are more important then I am."

"But you're important to me!" Ben insisted, his voice rising in frustration. "If it wasn't for you I'd probably be part of Kybers hunting trophies."

"Yes, but if it wasn't for you, earth would probably be long gone by now!"

"Then what right did you and grandpa have to keep me from stopping this war weeks ago?!" Ben snapped pushing Rook away and getting to his feet. "It's not just about you lying to me!" The teen muttered as he started to pace through the bedroom. "This whole war would have been over before it began if I des-"

"So this is why you did not tell me your 'back-up plan.'" Rook suddenly interupted Ben, making air quotes on the words 'back-up plan'. He sat down on his bed and watched Ben, feeling exhausted and helpless. "You will throw your life away just so stop weapons already in our possesion." He observed. "Do you have so little value for your life!"

Ben stopped his pacing, and rubbed the space between his eyes. "You know it's not like that Rook."

Rook got off the bed and walked over to Ben. "I am no longer sure, my Smarahd." He whispered, pulling Ben into his arms. He wasn't sure.

He really wasn't sure if he trusted Ben to take care of himself... Not after what Max told him, and certainly not after walking in on Ben staring at the Omnitrix, Alien X on the display... "I wish that I was Ben, but I am not."

Ben paused for a few moments, then wrapped his arms around Rook. "I'm sorry that my backup plan scares you so much. I don't like it either. But with all the pressure of so many peoples lives on the line, I gotta be ready to do what ever it takes."

"I am sorry for what I put you through." Rook purred softly, resting his chin on top of Ben's head. "I am aware that you detest admiting you need to be saved sometimes, but I just wish you would allow me to protect you for once."

Ben rested his cheek against Rook's chest. Even after those weeks apart, the feeling he got whenever he was in Rook's arms hadn't changed. He felt warm, safe and loved.

Right un till Argit suddenly opens the door and walked into the room. "Hey guys, Az-" The rodent paused to look at the scene he just stepped into. "Am I interrupting something?"

Ben groaned in annoyance now that the moment was over. "Yes." Rook looked at Argit confused. "How did you get in here?"

"I know how to pick locks, that and the security system here is pretty lousy." Argit shrugged in a 'What can you do about it' sort of way. "Azmuth needs us pronto. So if you're gonna suck faces do it fast." With that, Argit left. Ben and Rook looked at each other, then quickly followed him to the lab were Max and Azmuth were having a heated discussion.

Max looked at the Galvan in disbeleif. "What do you mean you can't destroy it?!"

Azmuth looked up at Max with the Destruahl in his tiny hands. "Who ever made this thing made it very well, I can't destroy it without it blowing up and it taking half of the universe with it."

Kevin raised an eyebrow. "Then why don't we just lock it up?"

"And have people coming after it like they do with the Anihilaarg? It's too risky."

"Then what should we do with it?" Gwen wondered, hugging herself, as she thought back to what the Destruahl was capable off. No she definetly didn't want anyone using that thing again.

Ben had stayed quiet this whole time, his fingers still interwinded with Rook's.

The young hero met Azmuth's eyes and the Galvan nodded.

Ben swallowed and turned to Rook, whose feline-like eyes shone with worry. Slowly shaking his head Ben wraped his arms around Rook's neck and hugged him tightly. "I love you Fuzzbal, but this was my choice and this is my job."

"Ben!" Rook furiously shook his head. "No! You cannot-" But Ben's hands were behind his neck, so he didn't even see it when Ben hit the Omnitrix. He only saw a flash of bright green light and then it was Alien X standing in Ben's place.

Rook looked at Alien X in horror. "BEN!"

Max tensed up and looked at Azmuth. "Azmuth you can't let him do this!"

Azmuth just shook his head. "This is Ben's choice, I can't control everything he does. If he gets Serena and Bellicus to agree with him, then we'll just have to hope that Ben beats the odds."

Rook mentally prayed that Ben couldn't get Serena and Bellicus to agree with him. He knew he was being selfish, but was it so wrong of him to want the one he cherished most, to be safe?

Ben-10-Omniverse.

Serena smiled when the young hero appeared infront of them. "Ben! So good to see you again."

Bellicus gave Ben a bitter look. "Thanks for pinning the blame on us in court."

Ben rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, sorry about that. Look, I need to use Alien X so I can destroy the Destruahl, so no one will ever use it ever again."

Serena gasped. "But Ben, all that power could kill your human body."

"I know..."

Bellicus raised an eyebrow. " You're really willing to throw your life away?"

Ben nodded. " If it means my family, friends, and all the innocent people can keep living, then yes."

Bellicus hummed, thinking it over. Finally he nodded. "I can actually respect that. You're a brave young man. Stupid, but brave."

Serena was still unsure, she looked at Ben worried. "But Ben, you're only 17. You have so much ahead of you."

"Trust me, I'd prefer to live past my 20's, but I've had a pretty amazing life. I saved the world, and the Universe, and I've met some amazing people. So if I do die, I'll die happy."

The two personalities looked at each other.

"...Motion carried."

Ben-10-Omniverse.

Rook expected it take some time before something happened, just like the last time he had seen Ben as Alien X. He wasn't prepared when the Destuahl floated from Azmuth's hands.

"No..."

A soft golden glow surounded Alien X's outline and green sparks shot out of the Omnitrix.

"Ben!" Gwen tried to run towards her cousin, but Kevin grabbed her arm and pulled her close. "Don't stop him now babe..." As much as he wanted to stop his best friend from doing this, he knew that it was dangerous to interupt Celestialsapiens when they were using their powers.

"Azmuth!" Max cried out, snaping his head in the direction of the First-Thinker. "You gotta do something!"

Azmuth shook his head. "This is his choice."

Rook refused to listen to the Galvan. "Ben!" He ran to his boyfriend and reached out to Ben, flinching back when the sparks coming from the Omnitrix burned his hand. "Ben! STOP THIS!" He screamed at his boyfriend, furiously shaking his head in denial. This couldn't be happening. Not after everything he did to prevent this!

"BEN! PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS!" By now the golden light that surounded Alien X also surounded Rook and it had grown so bright that Gwen, Max and the others could no longer see the couple.

"I do not care what happens to rest of the universe!" Rook screamed, desperately hitting the Omnitrix symbol on Ben's chest, trying to turn him back to normal. "I only need you to be alright! PLEASE!" Rook wasn't aware of the tears running down his fury cheeks. He was too afraid for what was about to happen. "Come back Ben..."

The light surounding them slowly started to fade.

Max, Azmuth, Gwen, Kevin and Argit tore their eyes away from the fallen particles of what was once the Destruahl to stare at the couple.

Rook still had his hand on Alien X's chest and was gazing at Ben with eyes that shone with fear. He reached out, his hand stopping inches from Alien X's face. "Ben?"

It was then that Alien X started to change, one second it was Alien X, the next it was Ben, then Alien X again. It took far too long before Alien X stopped changing, and finally Ben was back, smoke rising from his body.

Ben stayed upright for half a second before slumping forward. Rook instinctely caught him, together they sank down to the ground. "Ben!" Rook's hands shook as he cradled Ben's head on his lap.

"Brallada..."

Ben was deadly pale, bruises were forming all over his body and blood was leaking from his nose.

Max looked at his grandson, feeling dread sink in. "Ben...Oh no..."

Argit was holding his tail nervously while looking at the young hero. "Oh man, is he..."

Ben suddenly gasped for air and started coughing. He slowly opened his eyes, those beautiful emerald eyes that Rook loved so much. "BEN!"

Everyone, including Azmuth, sighed in relief. Gwen put her hand over her pounding heart. "Oh thank God."

Ben tiredly looked up at Rook with a weak smile. "Guess I'm even stronger then you thought, huh Fuzzball..." Rook tensed when Ben closed his eyes. "Ben?"

Azmuth walked over to the two and pulled out a scanner. "Let me look at him." He took a quick scan of the teen and studied the results. "That boy always somehow manages to impress me." Azmuth muttered shaking his head in amezment.

"He'll be fine. He's just going to feel a little sick for a few days. make sure he gets plenty of rest, and no 'Hero Time' for at the least a week." The old Galvan insisted, looking at Max, knowing that his old friend would make sure his instructions were followed to the word.

Azmuth then looked back at Rook. "I suggest taking him home after you clean him up a little and explain everything to his parents."

Hugging Ben close, Rook nodded at Azmuth, smiling a watery smile. "I will, Azmuth." He shuddered, and nuzzled his cheek against Ben's head. "Oh thank goodness..."

Ben-10-Omniverse.

It would be a great lie to say that Carl and Sandra were surprised when Rook and Max showed up at their door, Rook carying their unconscious son, bridal style. Shocked might come closer to cover their feeling, but it was still a huge understatement.

For a moment they just stared at Rook and Rook stared back, at loss for what to say.

They would have continued staring at one another had Max not spoke up. "Long story short, I convinced Rook to fake his death so Ben wouldn't do something that would get him killed, they reunited, we caught Kwaadsay and Ben did what Rook and I were trying to prevent anyway, but he survived." Max looked down at his grandson in Rook's arms. He should have known better... Ben always beat the odds.

Sandra was the first one to speak up. "Um, Rook dear, can you please bring Ben to his room?"

Rook nodded. "Yes ma'am." He said before walking past Ben's parents and heading for Ben's room.

Sighing Carl shook his head and looked at his father. "I cannot WAIT to hear the whole story."

Sandra rubbed her head. "I'm still trying to process this..."

Ben-10-Omniverse.

Once he entered the bedroom, Rook put Ben down on his bed and tucked him in. He sat down on the bed and started to playing with Ben's hair, which was slightly singed at the tips.

Rook bent down to give Ben a kiss on the forehead, but got caught off guard when he made contact with lips instead and he felt trembling hands on the sides of his face. When he pulled away he saw Ben smiling tiredly at him. " How long have you been awake?"

"I woke up while you were messing with my hair." Ben answered, a small tired small on his cracked lips.

"How do you feel?"

Ben scrunched up his face. "Like I rode a rollercoaster over and over again and got hit by a bus."

Rook shook his head, 'earth expressions...' "You were wonderful today, my Smarahd." he told Ben, laying down besides him and gazing lovingly into Ben's eyes. "You scared me, but you were amazing."

Ben smiled weakly. "Thanks Fuzzball... I didn't mean to scare you, but I- It's my job to protect the universe. Whatever it takes."

Rook didn't agree with the risks Ben was willing to take and he doubted he ever would, but he was too relieved to have Ben with him, alive and well, to argue with Ben's views. "I love you, so much."

"I love you too." Ben touched Rook's cheek again, freezing when Rook flinched. "What? Are you hurt?"

Shaking his head, Rook rubbed his cheek, feeling a slight swelling underneath his fur. "Brallada, Ben you slap hard."

That actually got the teen to grin at his boyfriend. "You soooooooo deserved it at the time dude." So much had happened in the past few hours, he'd nearly forgotten his own reaction to seeing his boyfriend after thinking he was dead.

Rook sighed. "I know. Sorry." He knew that it would probably take some time before things went back to the way they were before all of this. It would take a while before he earned Ben's forgiveness. Rook doubted that he'd ever forgive himself for what he put his loved ones through...

Snuggling closer to his boyfriend, Ben closed his eyes. " As long as you don't pull a stunt like that again I won't slap you again."

Rook held Ben close. "I promise I will not do that ever again." He promised, and kissed the side of Ben's head.

Ben finally truly relaxed, and smiled.

"Good."