Getting a needle to the eye was actually less painful than one might think. Certainly not as bad as having something rapidly grow in it for sure. Which should have been obvious, but you see a needle coming and you think 'oh god here comes pain' in a mantra and it just inevitably makes it seem worse than it is. It was more pressure than pain considering how big the parasite was at this point. Even though his head was restrained and there was something the put on his eye to keep it from moving, Ben still kept as immobile as possible as an added precaution. Still, no matter how determined you are not to be scared, seeing a needle moving toward your eyeball was still a littlefreaky.

As soon as the poison was injected via his very green sclera Ben could feel the parasite start to panic, feel it fight to keep control of his body as it was dying. He could feel it fight to make him thrash around and pull against his restraints, but he was determined not to make a sound, not to scream as it tore into his nervous system with what felt like claws as it clung tooth and nail to life. He might have whimpered, but that was all the satisfaction he'd give it. He was a stubborn bastard and after all this time resisting it he was going to make damn sure it stuck one final time as a last 'fuck you'.

As it ended after what must have been an eternity, he closed his eyes and could only give in to his sudden fatigue as he slipped into unconsciousness.

-Nights Apart-

Ben felt like crying in the likeness of a new-born baby. It was as if he'd been put through a meat tenderizer that was carefully designed and constructed to cause maximum pain. Everything felt raw and sore and he really wanted to throw the world's biggest tantrum so the nurses would stop sticking needles into him to take blood samples. His skin was tingly and on fire. His muscles and organs felt like they were being pounded with a spiked hammer, and his head. It was like it was slowly being melted off! Having his arm slightly moved felt like someone was peeling everything, skin, muscle and sinew, off to the bone. And holy hell did he scream.

From there things were fuzzy thanks to the amount of pain medication they put him on which had him higher than the stratosphere. Considering he'd just gotten out of a four day coma, he did not plan to sleep the meds off, but instead stared at the ceiling and laughed hysterically at anything he found the slightest bit funny. Like when Dexter scolded him for skipping a step in recovery and going straight to the comatose phase and staying there longer than anyone else.

"I was worried sick! Stop laughing damn you!"

Yeah, maybe he shouldn't have laughed considering all the stress the kid had been under but Dexter started laughing with him. It was good to hear Dex laugh after thinking over and over that he'd never hear it again. Like balm on a wound. "C'mere" Ben said, making a grabbing motion towards Dexter. Dex got out of his char and stood right next to the hospital bed, only to have Ben wrap his arms around his waist and pull him onto it with him with rather surprising strength for someone who was severely drugged. Of course that showed through with his clumsy movements getting Dexter's hip knocked against the metal side of the bed. "Sorry," he mumbled when Dex was nestled next to him and kissed his temple to lock in the apology. He maneuvered them so that they were laying parallel and stuffed his face in the crook of Dexter's neck and inhaled. Then promptly blew a raspberry.

"Ben! That tickles!" Dexter giggled, lightly shoving Ben's head away from his neck.

"S'posed to tickle, silly," Ben informed shoving against Dexter's hand. "Stop moving my head so I can cuddle you."

"No, you're gonna do it again."

"Do what?" Ben teased.

"Blow into my neck."

"No I won't."

"Oh of course not. How could I ever doubt you?"

"Don't get nippy with me, I'm high."

Dexter snorted, but let Ben do what he wanted. He had him back and that was all that mattered. He closed his eyes and let himself soak in the rare moment of peace. Tomorrow it would be back to the battle field. They had to get Moonbase back, after all.

~ FIN ~