C3 - Othersville - Ben's House

[Hollywood Heidi]

Ben's House

Ben's House located in the barracks.

Location found in box C3 below:

Each box is 3 miles by 3 miles. It takes an hour to walk 3 miles. But also keep in mind that hiking (like that really steep hill to get to higher ground) will take a heck of a lot longer and that if you're running (like from some jungle thing), that you'll get somewhere faster.

[Hollywood Heidi]

---

---

Day 8

---

---

[Ariel]

It had been a few days since Bennett had been back at home. He peered around their little civilization as he scurried along the path to his destination. Everything seemed the same, with everyone carrying out their normal, daily lives. Without a doubt, he envied them. Bennett missed waking up in his own bed, having meals with his father, spending time with his friends. This would be the second time he had returned from the camp of the survivors of Flight 815 with tips and information for their leader, Ben Linus, since him and Ethan ran out into the jungle the day of the crash. And every time he came back, he never was allowed to stick around for too long to avoid suspicions of the ones him and Ethan were trying to convince and befriend. Arrive, deliver information about the survivors, and leave. That was his life now, as long as they were here. Bennett noticed the shifting looks and judging glances in his direction from the residents as he carried along the path, wondering what news he brings this second time.

As he approached his destination, a familiar face stood in the near distance with an arm casually resting against the side of a tree. Bennett grinned as he approached the familiar face that now had his arms stretched open in welcome.
"Welcome home, my boy," Tom Friendly embraced his son for a few seconds before breaking away.

"It's good to see you, Dad," Bennett was grateful to see his father, even if it was just for a little while before he had to return back to the survivors.

"You look like you've been stranded on an island, kid!" Tom commented as he scanned Bennett up and down, noting the slightly rough condition his son's appearance was in before letting out a hearty chuckle. "But no matter. The boss man will understand your under-dressed manor. Especially since you're running late," His father mentioned in a still friendly yet scolding tone of a typical father figure.

“I know, sorry Dad,” Bennett started in a slightly panicked tone, “We ran into a complication before I could sneak away. I’ll explain once we get inside,” He admitted.

“Well, let’s head on in. He’s waiting,” Tom said as he pressed his hand behind Bennett’s back, escorting him to the front door of the house of Ben Linus. With a couple of knocks on the door, it was no more than a split second that they heard a voice call out from behind the door. “Door’s open, come on in.”

Tom opened the front door, leading Bennett inside the quaint little home. Every time Bennett visited Ben’s home, it felt as if he was stepping back in time into the seventies. This was the very home that Ben grew up in with his very own father, so it was indeed old with little renovations. Homey and quaint, but its old qualities were definitely noticeable.

“Hey, boss! It’s Friendly here. I’ve brought our messenger boy,” Tom called out as they slowly made their way through the living room and into the kitchen. As they approached the frame of the kitchen, they found Mr. Linus.

“You’ve kept me waiting,” Ben started in his usual cynical tone. His back facing the father and son, he poured piping hot water into a cup that was placed on the counter, “I hope you have a good reason for almost making me miss tea time. Oh sorry, where are my manners. Would you gentleman like a cup of tea? I had to reheat the water after waiting for you to arrive, but it will have to do.”

Nervous to even speak up for himself in front of his pissed off boss, Bennett managed to make out a few words to start. “I’m okay, thank you,” his voice slightly shaky. He felt his father’s eyes on him as he rejected Ben Linus’s offer of hospitality.

“We’ll have some tea with you, thanks boss. Funny kid, my Bennett is. He’s still learning,” Tom laughed off his son’s sign of disrespect as he placed a gentle hand on Bennett’s shoulder.

“Clearly,” Ben remarked as he brought the three cups of tea to the table. “Come on now, make yourselves at home. We have much to discuss.” Ben invited them to the table, gesturing a hand to the empty seats. His ego over shone his attempt at being civil and nice quite notably, but that’s how everyone there knew Ben was so they didn’t take his personality to heart. Bennett sat in front of his steaming cup of tea, and waited for Ben to initiate.

“So, let’s get into it,” Ben started as he sipped his cup, “When we last talked, you said you and Ethan were working on a list of the occupants on the beach. How’s that going? Is it almost done?”

Bennett looked up at his boss from the steam coming off of the tea water and into the air. “It’s still coming along, sir. We got most of the occupants on the beach. However, a lot of them have been migrating up to the caves an hour’s distance from the beach. So it’s been slightly hectic keeping track of who we haven’t got yet.”

Ben wrapped his hands around the cup in front of him. “Hmm, I see. Have you both at least been trying to get to know them?”

“Yes,” Bennett nodded in assurance, “They’re buying the whole cousin act quite nicely. Lately Ethan’s been creating a bond with John Locke, the hunter of the group. He was paralyzed from the waist down until crashing on the island believe it or not,” Bennett said in a surprised tone.

“Very curious indeed, yet I’m not surprised,” Ben said cuttingly before blowing the steam away from his cup before taking another sip. “And you? Who have you gotten to know, Bennett?”

Bennett silently gulped as he grasped onto his cup of tea, thinking of taking a sip but his nerves slightly overcoming the thought. “Hugo Reyes, sir. He claimed to be a jackpot millionaire with the worst luck in the world before the crash. And I’ve heard whispers about a Kate Austen. Some of them are spreading a rumor that she was a criminal on the run wanted for murder.”

“Interesting findings,” Ben exclaimed as he took out a book and jotted down a few notes. “And how’s the pregnant girl, Claire? Any changes physically?”

“She did happen to fall ill due to dehydration but is now back on her feet and in healthy condition,” Bennett was slightly uneasy to report as Claire’s pregnancy on the island was currently the pride and joy of the infirmary squad.

“Glad that she’s recovered and is doing well. Juliet will be happy to hear that she’s still healthy and going strong,” Ben said as he was still looking down into his book making more notes. “And Ethan is still working on getting those blood samples nightly? How about the injections? The team is avid to know,” Ben said as he looked up at Bennett, adjusting the position of his glasses.

“I brought a few vials of the blood samples with me actually,” Bennett placed a backpack onto the center of the table, “And the administering of the injections is going smoothly so far. We are still in good stock for the serum for now but we may be requesting more upon my next arrival,” Bennett notified Ben as Ben reached across the table to grab the backpack. He opened the zipper and peered inside to find the vials just as Bennett said.

“Perfect, this will do for now,” Ben smiled as he zipped the backpack up and placed it beside him on the table.

“Erm, sorry to interrupt, but son didn’t you mention you ran into a complication before coming here? You’re reasoning for being late?” Tom spoke up, which instantly sparked the interest in Ben.

“Oh? What complication is he talking about, Bennett?” Ben slithered back into his patronizing attitude at the mention of anything possibly going wrong.

Bennett’s heart thudded as Ben’s beady eyes starred holes into him through those thick glasses of his. “It’s Jack Shepherd, the group’s doctor, sir. Just as I was departing from the beach, Linda and Charlie Pace came rushing down saying that Jack had been stuck under rubble in a cave in and that they weren’t sure if he was still alive or not, ” Bennett explained, “They were going around to everyone asking for help, it was hard for me to get away at first. Ethan told me to stay behind while he went up to help them that once everyone was off the beach, that I could sneak away without anyone noticing.”

Ben’s eyebrows rose slightly, “Well now, doctor Shepherd is in quite the pickle, isn’t he?” He proceeded to close his notebook and finish off his cup of tea. “You better get back there right away then. We cannot afford to lose Jack. He may be of good use to us in the future.” Ben stood up from the table, and the other two followed his lead in doing the same. “Thanks for the samples. Much appreciated. And get that list done. We need it complete before Claire is ready to have her baby, which could be any day now. We’re going to need to bring her back here somehow. We will leave that up to you and Ethan to discuss,” Ben said quite sternly, meaning business.

“Thanks boss, we know the way out by now,” Tom said graciously as him and Bennett got ready to leave, “And I assure you that Benny here won’t be late next time, isn’t that right son?” Tom jabbed Bennett lightheartedly with his elbow.

Bennett looked up and nodded, “Yes. Sorry again, sir. It won’t happen again.” Ben Linus waved them farewell as they left the house and back into the daylight.

“Well son, looks like we’ll see each other again soon. Good luck out there,” Tom patted Bennett on the back and smiled at him before departing down the path in front of him.

“Dad?” Bennett started. Their time together ran out faster than sand in an hourglass. He missed his father every day. There was so much he wanted to say, so much he wanted to tell him. Now wasn’t the time. “Thanks.” Bennett gave his father a half-hearted grin and waved goodbye as he departed from Othersville and back into the jungle, on the trek to the caves where Jack Shepherd may or may not be still breathing.


** Bennett exits to the caves **

[Hollywood Heidi]

---

---

The rest of Day 13 and all of Day 14

pass by fairly uneventfully. It is now:



Day 15 - Mid-Day

---

---

[Hollywood Heidi]

---

---

The rest of Day 15 passes by. It is now:


Day 16 - Morning


Thursday, October 7, 2004

---

---