Author's Note - So, concerning season 5 episodes 4 and 5, I was a little disappointed about how the show actually went, and decided to write what I had envisioned to happen. I know there are at least three other people who have also written what they think should've happened, but only one other person actually finished the story, which sucks because they were all SO good. I hope they finish it. I own nothing. This chapter actually starts in episode 2 of season 5, not long after Hal collapses, then it skips ahead to episode 4, you will find out why it the scene is there in chapter 2. This story, though different, still has a lot of things in common with the actual episodes.

Please enjoy and review!

Chapter 1

Friend or Foe

Tom stared at his son who was lying down on the stretcher in the infirmary. Anne was just finishing hooking up an IV to his right arm, while Ben and Maggie stood to Tom's left and Matt stood at Tom's right.

"You guys can stop worrying, he's going to be fine. He'll probably be out for a few days, while his blood sugar goes up. But once it does, he'll wake up and then we'll get some food into him." Anne explained, going to her husband, placing her hand on his shoulder. Tom nodded, letting his wife know he heard the information, then went to his son's side, sitting down on the chair the had been placed by the bed. Tom looked down at Hal's face, so pale, dark circles under his eyes like bruises.

"Just like I saw." Tom whispered, but he had forgotten that Ben and Maggie, with their spikes, would be able to hear him.

"What? What do you mean 'just like you saw'? You knew this was going to happen?" Ben asked, causing everyone to look at Tom for an explanation.

"A few hours right after our food was destroyed, I was with Anne in the other room and I turned around, and there was Rebecca, standing in front of the shelves going through the boxes. She turned to me and asked if I had seen Hal's running shoes, that he was going to be late for track." Tom answered.

"He always was losing those." Matt reminded them, with a smile on his face.

"What happened after that?" Anne inquired, remembering Tom freaking out after just staring into space.

"Well, Rebecca turned to me and told me to make sure he eats something before they left, that it was important. Then she asked if I heard her, that people need to eat. Then, for a split second, I saw it again, it was an alien. It, actually almost looked like a skitter," Tom thought out loud before continuing, "then, it turned into Hal. He was staring at me, looking exactly like he does right now, and almost fell. He reached his hand out for me, and called for me. He looked like zombie."

"What is this thing?" Anne asked, the idea of another alien causing something to happen to her husband terrifying her.

"I have no clue." Tom answered, finally looking away from the young man lying on the bed and to the group standing by the foot of the bed who were looking at each other which confused and somewhat fearful expressions.

"If you could describe the alien you saw, I could draw it. Then we could show it to Cochise. Maybe he'll know whatever this thing is." Ben pointed it out.

"Yeah, that's a good idea." The sounds of angry yelling suddenly filled the air, and Ben and Maggie remembered the skitter they had brought with them.

"We better go take care of that." Ben suggested and Maggie nodded. Together they left the room with Tom, promising to return while Matt sat down in the chair by his older brother's side, and waited for him to wake up. Anne came up behind him, placing a motherly kiss on Matt's head and giving Hal's hand a gentle squeeze before going back to her other patients.

AN - Next chapter will take place near the end of episode 4. Please review!