Ben takes a much-needed bath
Inspired by my entry in Ashlibrooke's Valentines Day thread, here's my Valentine gift to Ben. Making yet another cameo is my alter-ego, gay friend Jonathan. It's amazing how easy it is to write when one is inspired!
Benjamin Linus opened the door of his house at The Barracks, took two steps inside, moved one step sideways, closed the door and promptly crumpled in to a heap on the floor.
The last two weeks had been most trying for the putative leader of The Others. After making it back to the Barracks with John's small group, they had turned on the sonar fence and headed towards the now empty houses inside. Replaying the chaotic events of those two weeks in his mind, he simply wanted stillness. Stillness, no more punches aimed at his face and body and, most of all, a hot bath. So exhausted was he that Ben slept nearly four hours in the spot by the door, a heavy, unhappy sleep. What a hideous predicament he had lead his people in to! While he knew that he'd really left them to wander to The Temple because if they'd found out the true extent of the catastrophe at the beach while he was around he would have been dead in minutes, he also did it because he knew that an even bigger, more enveloping disaster awaited his people.
When he woke up, Ben stretched out his aching limbs for a moment and then sat up. He then did something he hadn't done since he was 12, the night his dad forgot his birthday --again-- and he'd seen his beloved Mom at his window and at the sonar fence: he cried. They were tears of sadness, tears of regret, tears of self-directed anger, tears of self-pity. As he sat there by the door, shoulders heaving in sobs, he heard a sound in his bedroom. Sighing, suddenly bone-weary of the thought of yet more angst and beatings, he got up.
He was surprised to see the face of his friend Jonathan peek out of the door, that surprise registering as a raised eyebrow. "Jonathan" Ben said quietly. Jonathan looked around, surmised there was no other people in the house and walked to the door. "Oh, Ben" he said, truly horrified at what he saw before him. Jonathan was gay, having loved Ben since they were teenagers; Ben was fully aware of this, but Jonathan was scrupulous in keeping his distance in matters such as that and was thus rewarded with being Ben's non-sexual companion. "How did you know I..." Ben started, but Jonathan cut him off with a look that said "Oh, please, you *know* how" and said "Wait here". Truth was, Jonathan had split off from the group going to The Temple and hid out in the Pearl station, where he could at least minimally monitor the situation.
Jonathan went in to the bathroom and returned with a wet cloth, some cotton balls, bandages and DHARMA issue betadine. Gently ordering Ben to sit down, Ben choose to sit below the painting of his Mom holding a hamster. Taking a chair from the kitchen table, Jonathan sat in front of him and proceeded to clean Ben's face, clean the wounds, applying dressing where needed and to generally make Ben's face as presentable as was possible in the circumstances. Knowing his place, Jonathan didn't say anything beyond such things as "Tilt your head" and "Don't flinch, I know it stings" as he knew Ben would talk when he was ready to.
Getting up from the chair, Jonathan told Ben to sit there while he drew a hot bath for him. Ben nodded slightly, in that somewhat regal way of his, said "Thank you" and proceeded to stare in to space. After a few moments, Jonathan returned and asked Ben when was the last time he had eaten anything. Ben, usually able to recall the smallest detail of events that happened ten years previously, smiled wanly, shrugged his shoulders and let out a bitter chuckle. His companion went to the refrigerator and put some turkey breast, DHARMA mashed potatoes and vegetables on a plate. After putting it in the microwave, he walked back over to Ben and extended his hand. With effort --his ribs were killing him-- Ben lifted his right arm and allowed his companion to lift him up off the couch. Jonathan couldn't help himself as he looked at the blood and muck that Ben had left on the couch with disgust. Ben smiled wryly and said "We might have trouble getting a cleaner in here any time soon".
This broke the ice between the two men.
While Ben ate, Jonathan checked on the bath, saw the tub was full enough for Ben and shut the faucets off. He leaned down and picked up two small bottles. These were DHARMA potions for adding to one's bath; what magical powers they possessed, he didn't want to know. He then went in to Ben's bedroom and picked out a nice clean long-sleeved shirt, a pressed pair of slacks, some socks and underwear ("Briefs" thought Jonathan, suppressing a smile) and some shoes for Ben to wear. He laid them out on the bed in geometric fashion, befitting his training as a mathematician. When he returned to the kitchen, he saw Ben was almost done eating. He took a chair and sat down.
After finishing and thanking him for the meal, Ben sighed and said "Well, old friend, I've really gone and made a mess of it now". The two men had known each other for close to 30 years and while Jonathan could say things to Ben that no other person would have dared verbalize, there still were boundaries. Jonathan smiled and gently said "First things first, let's get you in that hot bath. Do you need any help?". "No, that's alright, I'll manage. When I call, could you have my bathrobe and slippers ready?". "Certainly, of course".
Ben walked slowly to the bathroom, entered and closed the door. The steam filled the room and it felt good on Ben's skin and in his bones. He slowly took off the green shirt he'd been wearing for the last two weeks, looked at it with disgust and threw it in the clothes hamper. After removing his shoes and the rest of his clothes, he slowly moved towards the full length mirror on the door. Benjamin Linus was pretty impervious to shock, but what he saw staring back at him caused a shudder to go up and down his spine.
His face was heavily bruised, almost as badly as when Sayid Jarra had tortured him in the Swan gun hatch. He had cuts and scrapes all over his body, which, he noted with characteristic macabre humor, had lost some pounds due to lack of food and the many miles hiked recently. There were large bruises under his ribs, some of which he was sure were cracked.
He slowly dipped his right foot in to the bath water and it stung; Jonathan drew him hot baths on purpose, but even so, the water felt like it was boiling. He positioned himself, lowered his weary body in and rested his head on the small shelf at the back. Of course, Jonathan being as fastidious as he was, there was a towel folded in the shape of a pillow for him to nestle his head on. "Ouch" he said, as a bruise on the back of his head was prodded by the soft towel. He let his body go and felt the hot water and the oils work their magic. He let his mind drift, as he knew he had some time to regroup. He thought of what he always thought of in times of stress or despair: his Mom and Annie.
About 15 minutes later, Jonathan knocked quietly on the bathroom door and said "Ben?". "I'll be done in a few minutes, could you have some coffee ready for me" Ben gently replied. "Of course" was Jonathan's reply and as Ben listened to the footsteps heading towards the kitchen, he pulled the plug on the bath. When the water had drained out, he turned on the shower and gingerly scrubbed his body, being careful not to wet the dressings and bandages on his face.
After toweling off, putting his deodorant on --oh how he had missed these small pleasures-- and slipping on his bathrobe and slippers, he opened the door. Even the terrycloth of his bathrobe caused some pain on his bruises, which Ben hoped would heal quickly like they usually did on The Island. He walked slowly out to the kitchen and smiled to himself when he noticed Jonathan having that look of....not lust, exactly, but more admiration for Ben's looks.
"You certainly look more presentable" Jonathan said, understatement coming as naturally to him as to Ben. "Indeed" said Ben and Jonathan instantly picked up on the minute change in Ben's voice, that glorious voice which could invest a thousand meanings in the simplest words. The change indicated that it was time for business. Ben sat in the chair, took hold of his favorite coffee mug --it had a picture of Alex as a 12-year old on it, she'd made it in crafts class-- and took a long sip. Ben marveled at Jonathan, who had just the right mix of coffee, creamer and sugar in the mug. Jonathan had gotten a pad and Ben's favorite writing pen and placed them in the middle of the table. Putting down the mug, Ben grabbed both and immediately began writing in his precise script. After filling up the page, he tore the page off the pad in one motion and slid it over to where Jonathan was sitting.
"I need these supplies as soon as possible. Obviously, leave enough for yourself". Ben noticed the almost imperceptible look of disappointment that quickly flashed across Jonathan's face and said in his most conciliatory voice "I'm sorry you can't come with me, but it's vital that you stay out of trouble and be available to help me from the Pearl". Jonathan pretended to study the sheet of paper and nodded. He smiled when he got to Ben's request of books; only Ben, in a an existential battle he might well lose, would make sure he had his favorite books at hand. Ben got up, walked over to where Jonathan was sitting, clapped his hand on his companion's shoulder and said "As always, Jonathan, you have been impeccable in your help to me". For the long-suffering companion, that touch and those words were enough to sustain him. He looked up, smiled at Ben and got up out of his chair, ready for orders.
"I'm going to get dressed and when I'm done, I'll tell you what has happened and what needs to happen next". A nod of acknowledgment from Jonathan was all Ben needed. He turned towards his bedroom, focused his concentration so as to access the powers of Jacob and The Island and proceeded towards his fresh set of clothes.
Benjamin Linus opened the door of his house at The Barracks, took two steps inside, moved one step sideways, closed the door and promptly crumpled in to a heap on the floor.
The last two weeks had been most trying for the putative leader of The Others. After making it back to the Barracks with John's small group, they had turned on the sonar fence and headed towards the now empty houses inside. Replaying the chaotic events of those two weeks in his mind, he simply wanted stillness. Stillness, no more punches aimed at his face and body and, most of all, a hot bath. So exhausted was he that Ben slept nearly four hours in the spot by the door, a heavy, unhappy sleep. What a hideous predicament he had lead his people in to! While he knew that he'd really left them to wander to The Temple because if they'd found out the true extent of the catastrophe at the beach while he was around he would have been dead in minutes, he also did it because he knew that an even bigger, more enveloping disaster awaited his people.
When he woke up, Ben stretched out his aching limbs for a moment and then sat up. He then did something he hadn't done since he was 12, the night his dad forgot his birthday --again-- and he'd seen his beloved Mom at his window and at the sonar fence: he cried. They were tears of sadness, tears of regret, tears of self-directed anger, tears of self-pity. As he sat there by the door, shoulders heaving in sobs, he heard a sound in his bedroom. Sighing, suddenly bone-weary of the thought of yet more angst and beatings, he got up.
He was surprised to see the face of his friend Jonathan peek out of the door, that surprise registering as a raised eyebrow. "Jonathan" Ben said quietly. Jonathan looked around, surmised there was no other people in the house and walked to the door. "Oh, Ben" he said, truly horrified at what he saw before him. Jonathan was gay, having loved Ben since they were teenagers; Ben was fully aware of this, but Jonathan was scrupulous in keeping his distance in matters such as that and was thus rewarded with being Ben's non-sexual companion. "How did you know I..." Ben started, but Jonathan cut him off with a look that said "Oh, please, you *know* how" and said "Wait here". Truth was, Jonathan had split off from the group going to The Temple and hid out in the Pearl station, where he could at least minimally monitor the situation.
Jonathan went in to the bathroom and returned with a wet cloth, some cotton balls, bandages and DHARMA issue betadine. Gently ordering Ben to sit down, Ben choose to sit below the painting of his Mom holding a hamster. Taking a chair from the kitchen table, Jonathan sat in front of him and proceeded to clean Ben's face, clean the wounds, applying dressing where needed and to generally make Ben's face as presentable as was possible in the circumstances. Knowing his place, Jonathan didn't say anything beyond such things as "Tilt your head" and "Don't flinch, I know it stings" as he knew Ben would talk when he was ready to.
Getting up from the chair, Jonathan told Ben to sit there while he drew a hot bath for him. Ben nodded slightly, in that somewhat regal way of his, said "Thank you" and proceeded to stare in to space. After a few moments, Jonathan returned and asked Ben when was the last time he had eaten anything. Ben, usually able to recall the smallest detail of events that happened ten years previously, smiled wanly, shrugged his shoulders and let out a bitter chuckle. His companion went to the refrigerator and put some turkey breast, DHARMA mashed potatoes and vegetables on a plate. After putting it in the microwave, he walked back over to Ben and extended his hand. With effort --his ribs were killing him-- Ben lifted his right arm and allowed his companion to lift him up off the couch. Jonathan couldn't help himself as he looked at the blood and muck that Ben had left on the couch with disgust. Ben smiled wryly and said "We might have trouble getting a cleaner in here any time soon".
This broke the ice between the two men.
While Ben ate, Jonathan checked on the bath, saw the tub was full enough for Ben and shut the faucets off. He leaned down and picked up two small bottles. These were DHARMA potions for adding to one's bath; what magical powers they possessed, he didn't want to know. He then went in to Ben's bedroom and picked out a nice clean long-sleeved shirt, a pressed pair of slacks, some socks and underwear ("Briefs" thought Jonathan, suppressing a smile) and some shoes for Ben to wear. He laid them out on the bed in geometric fashion, befitting his training as a mathematician. When he returned to the kitchen, he saw Ben was almost done eating. He took a chair and sat down.
After finishing and thanking him for the meal, Ben sighed and said "Well, old friend, I've really gone and made a mess of it now". The two men had known each other for close to 30 years and while Jonathan could say things to Ben that no other person would have dared verbalize, there still were boundaries. Jonathan smiled and gently said "First things first, let's get you in that hot bath. Do you need any help?". "No, that's alright, I'll manage. When I call, could you have my bathrobe and slippers ready?". "Certainly, of course".
Ben walked slowly to the bathroom, entered and closed the door. The steam filled the room and it felt good on Ben's skin and in his bones. He slowly took off the green shirt he'd been wearing for the last two weeks, looked at it with disgust and threw it in the clothes hamper. After removing his shoes and the rest of his clothes, he slowly moved towards the full length mirror on the door. Benjamin Linus was pretty impervious to shock, but what he saw staring back at him caused a shudder to go up and down his spine.
His face was heavily bruised, almost as badly as when Sayid Jarra had tortured him in the Swan gun hatch. He had cuts and scrapes all over his body, which, he noted with characteristic macabre humor, had lost some pounds due to lack of food and the many miles hiked recently. There were large bruises under his ribs, some of which he was sure were cracked.
He slowly dipped his right foot in to the bath water and it stung; Jonathan drew him hot baths on purpose, but even so, the water felt like it was boiling. He positioned himself, lowered his weary body in and rested his head on the small shelf at the back. Of course, Jonathan being as fastidious as he was, there was a towel folded in the shape of a pillow for him to nestle his head on. "Ouch" he said, as a bruise on the back of his head was prodded by the soft towel. He let his body go and felt the hot water and the oils work their magic. He let his mind drift, as he knew he had some time to regroup. He thought of what he always thought of in times of stress or despair: his Mom and Annie.
About 15 minutes later, Jonathan knocked quietly on the bathroom door and said "Ben?". "I'll be done in a few minutes, could you have some coffee ready for me" Ben gently replied. "Of course" was Jonathan's reply and as Ben listened to the footsteps heading towards the kitchen, he pulled the plug on the bath. When the water had drained out, he turned on the shower and gingerly scrubbed his body, being careful not to wet the dressings and bandages on his face.
After toweling off, putting his deodorant on --oh how he had missed these small pleasures-- and slipping on his bathrobe and slippers, he opened the door. Even the terrycloth of his bathrobe caused some pain on his bruises, which Ben hoped would heal quickly like they usually did on The Island. He walked slowly out to the kitchen and smiled to himself when he noticed Jonathan having that look of....not lust, exactly, but more admiration for Ben's looks.
"You certainly look more presentable" Jonathan said, understatement coming as naturally to him as to Ben. "Indeed" said Ben and Jonathan instantly picked up on the minute change in Ben's voice, that glorious voice which could invest a thousand meanings in the simplest words. The change indicated that it was time for business. Ben sat in the chair, took hold of his favorite coffee mug --it had a picture of Alex as a 12-year old on it, she'd made it in crafts class-- and took a long sip. Ben marveled at Jonathan, who had just the right mix of coffee, creamer and sugar in the mug. Jonathan had gotten a pad and Ben's favorite writing pen and placed them in the middle of the table. Putting down the mug, Ben grabbed both and immediately began writing in his precise script. After filling up the page, he tore the page off the pad in one motion and slid it over to where Jonathan was sitting.
"I need these supplies as soon as possible. Obviously, leave enough for yourself". Ben noticed the almost imperceptible look of disappointment that quickly flashed across Jonathan's face and said in his most conciliatory voice "I'm sorry you can't come with me, but it's vital that you stay out of trouble and be available to help me from the Pearl". Jonathan pretended to study the sheet of paper and nodded. He smiled when he got to Ben's request of books; only Ben, in a an existential battle he might well lose, would make sure he had his favorite books at hand. Ben got up, walked over to where Jonathan was sitting, clapped his hand on his companion's shoulder and said "As always, Jonathan, you have been impeccable in your help to me". For the long-suffering companion, that touch and those words were enough to sustain him. He looked up, smiled at Ben and got up out of his chair, ready for orders.
"I'm going to get dressed and when I'm done, I'll tell you what has happened and what needs to happen next". A nod of acknowledgment from Jonathan was all Ben needed. He turned towards his bedroom, focused his concentration so as to access the powers of Jacob and The Island and proceeded towards his fresh set of clothes.