During the drive, Ben went on the relay the story he needed the other to corroborate. "Conan, you had been out in the woods and gotten lost. By the time you found the highway and started heading back to the city, you were exhausted. A vehicle pulls up beside you, and you assume they are going to offer you help. But four men get it, in gray shirts and blue jeans. For no given reason, they begin to beat you up and you black out." This would account for the kicks and punches he had thrown to the kid, and would fit nicely with the cruel antics of the CrypticSilvers. If anyone did research, they would find that the gang despised the Carlyle family anyway. "Officer Wild, bringing his childeren back to town after visiting a family friend, comes across the scene. Being the officer he is, he gets out to help. He's taken down by one shot to the chest, followed shortly by Mike. Shasta is shot as she gets out to flee, blacking out as well." Ben slowed down as he neared the hospital, finishing the last piece of the story, "By the time both of you wake up, you're in my car, and we're heading for the hospital." It was a risky thing to do, though the CrypticSilvers were radicle enough to make such a story believable.

FInally reaching the hospital, Ben got out and opened the back door. Setting a panicked look to his face, he strained to grab Mikhail, trying to lug the tall man from the vehicle as he called out frantically for help.

The same attentiveness was applied to his own part of the story, memorizing all the details to be sure that his version would match Ben's. Finally, he nodded his understanding, and and Ben got out hauling Mikhail, Conan let his head fall back limply against the seat, eyes open and kind of confused looking as if he'd just woken up in this foreign car.

Shasta listened as Ben told them the plan, and nodded in agreement. She leaned against the door dizzily, as if she had just woken up. She stared blankly at the seat in front of her.

"Help! We need help over here!" Ben shouted, sounding frantic with wide eyes darting about. With a mighty heave, he managed to remove Mikhail from the car. Careful not to thump the man's head against the cement, he eased him down and knelt there. "We need help!"

The calls didn't go long unanswered. A new intern was just heading out on her break when she heard the pleas. "I need a stretcher!" She called, bolting inside a moment before sprinting towards the old car where the four people were at. "What happened?" The nurse asked as she first assessed Mikhail, checking his pulse.

"My friend and I," Ben began with a fast-paced and purposely panic-faultered voice as he nodded to Mikhail, "were driving along 99 when we saw two kids lying near the shoulder, so we stopped. I-I don't know how it happened... these guys just jumped us out of no where! They shot my friend and tackled me." He looked briefly to the nurse, fear eminating from his blue eyes, while the drying blood from the beating he took backed up his story, "I don't know why! It all happened so fast... I think- I think they were gangsters... I don't know!" He shook his head in dispair, "I thought they were going to kill me, but they left just as soon as they came." He glanced fleeting to the car, direction the nurse's attention that way, "They were unconcious most of the way here; the girl's been shot. The boy looks beat half to death. God, it all happened so fast..." He let his words trail off as he shook his head again at the violence of it all.

The nurse seemed horrified by the events, but fell back on her training to remain calm and attentive. "Just calm down, sir." She had followed his brief glance to the car, "I need you to get them inside, ok? Can they walk?"

"Yeah, I-I think." He nodded faintly, before turning his head to the side as he heard the stretcher coming. Three more nurses were rushing across the lot with the stretcher. As they began to load Mikhail up, Ben opened the passenger side doors, first reaching for Conan. The fear, panic, and worry were completely ereased from his face for the brief moment that he was turned away from the nurses. And while they wheeled Mikhail into the hospital, he dropped his voice and spoke evenly, "You're both in shock. Keep details vague if they ask you questions, so you don't counter eachother's story." Reading to brace the weaker Conan, Benjamin waited for Shasta to get out before heading to the building. Once more, he adopted the panic-stricken persona of someone who had just been involved in a shootout and beating.

Shasta got up and stumbled around, as if trying to keep her balance, and walked around to the other side of the car. It was hard for her to fake it, but she did very well.

As much as he didn't want to do it, Ben draped Conan's arm around his shoulder, so that he could support most of the boy's weight as he hurried towards the sliding doors of the enterance. "Remember Shasta, you saw you father shot in the chest; your brother was shot in the head. You saw them die." Ben whispered as he neared the doors, "Then you were shot- lights out." Though he didn't know it yet, the story would check out quite nicely when the nurses examined the girl. She'd have a nasty wound on her head where Mikhail had struck her with a gun. Perfectly comparable to her falling and hitting her head against a rock.

His whispered stopped the moment he entered the hospital. Watching as Mikhail disappeared through a set of swinging doors, on his way to the ER, Ben led his little group towards the waiting room. He looked around in a confused, desperate sort of way, as if he didn't know what to do, "I need some help!"

He gave Ben a vague nod to his instructions, one that could have been mistaken by the intern as answering an inquiry to his health should she see him over Ben's shoulder.

Unlike Shasta, he did not have to fake the physical pain and shock. No, those things were already broiling inside him. All he had to do was to give himself permission to release these feelings, and boom... there was a badly traumatized and beaten teen hanging heavily on Ben's shoulder, glazed eyes casting vaguely at the people around him. As Ben began to head inside, he staggered along, trying not to lean to heavily on Ben, who'd taken a pretty bad beating, too.

Shasta put her hand over her wounded arm and followed Ben. She looked as if she were in shock. She was, of course. She had seen her father die and almost everybody in the room with her got shot. Keeping quiet, she glanced around the room nervously. This wasn't fake, though. She was nervous.

About the same time that the three got in the waiting room, Officer Sohmers came in as well, offering a fleeting glance to the three dishevelled, bloodied people before heading to the counter. After dealing with the wreck, he let another officer take the call that Danny had made about the 'gang shooting'. He was just here for a refill on his antibiotics.

Ben's gaze shifted from Ryan to a male nurse that was headed their way now. The younger man, having spoke with the others, knew that the girl probably needed checked over first. "Come with me, m'am. Right down here." He said in a kind but stern voice, pointing to a nearby room. Before he headed that way though, he looked to Conan and Ben, "Please, take a seat, and a doctor will be with you shortly."

Nodding to the commands, Ben helped Conan to the nearby chairs, where he sat down. He watched as the nurse led Shasta away, a bit nervous about how well she'd hold up with the story.

As everyone turned their backs on them at the same time, Conan's face changed completely, pushing all the fatigue back for a second as his eyes met Ben's, knowing that the older man was probably thinking the same way he was. He knew Ben could keep up a lie, and Ben knew that he could, but could Shasta? That was the terrible unknown in the plan...

But it was a brief second, a blink-of-an-eye second, and he allowed the pain to consume him again, leaning back into the chair and closing his eyes. Lord, but he was tired... he was trying to fight it back, his eyes flicking open every few seconds, and then the lids began to head south again. He reached over and pinched himself, a hard, twisting pinch, and the eyes flew open again. He was now once again in control of his faculties, and thus able to tell the story Ben had recited to him. Still managing to keep up the idea that he was weak and damaged, he waited to see the outcome of Shasta's interview.

Shasta closed her eyes as the nurse approached her. She wanted so badly to be out of this place. Still, she followed him without a fight. She looked back at Ben and Conan only once with a sorrowful face, and this time it was real. She despised being around so many people.

Get out of my way. MOVE No one dared stand in Eva's way anyways, but she had to snap the order to get a few new interns attention. Rushing to Shastas side she murmered Hey baby, I need you to hang out for once moment, all right? Just one sec. Her eyes lifted to Bens, and they narrowed. She never forgot a face. I'll talk to you in a minute. She said. Her voice was cold, much colder then the red haired beauty should allow her voice to be. She began to work on Shasta, and her movements were swift, and efficient.

Shasta looked at Eva, still keeping that sorrowful look on her face. The blame for all of this could simply fall on her. She never should have gone back to Mikhail's house. She stared at the wall, not daring to make eye contact. "Are the others okay?" She asked. "How many people survive a punctured lung?" No, this wasn't fake. She was really worried this time.

It wasn't long, before in the middle of all the chaos, Bens phone began to ring. Whether Ben answered it or not, this was what he would here :

I have someone that I think you would love to have back. It wasn't so hard to take her, just one little phone call, and she came a runnin'. The little bitch will pay, Ben. Just like that good for nothing son of mine will pay as well. If you don't give me what I Want.... Your precious Aralyn dies.

In the background screaming could be heard, but it wasn't the terrified screams as one might hear. No, this was Aralyn. Let me out, you sick bastard! There was a sudden BAM! and the sound of wood spintering. A dark chuckle could be heard on the phone.

Do you hear her, Ben? She wants out. If she doesn't quiet down though, I'm afraid I'll have to find a way to shut her up. Trust me, Benjamin. She won't be the same when I'm through with her.

The phone line clicked, and he was gone.

Her eyes flicked up to Shasta. Ah.... Should she tell her? She'd sugar coat it a bit. It depends on the person, honey, and if that person wants to live. How fast they got to the hostpital..... Frantically her mind worked, but she didn't know how to lie. It wasn't in her nature to lie. I don't know. Whats your name? She asked instead.

Shasta lowered her head, trying to hide her fear. And then came Eva's question. Should she tell the truth? Had the news of her father's death gotten out yet? There was no way she could know at this time. "My name is Shasta Wild." She said, keeping her head low. Why should she lie about her name anyway? After all, she would stick to the story, as Ben told her to. Everything should be alright.

Its a pleasure to meet you, Shasta. My name is Eva. News had yet to reach her. She was about a month behind on ALL of her news and gossip. Eva.... Eva was Eva. Her head was buried in her work. Always had been. Always would be. Do you have any pets, Shasta? She asked her. Evas voice was light now, and soft with caring. She cared. She always had cared. She needed to keep Shasta talking. She glared up at the nurses, and they shot nervous glances at one another before hurrying towards one of the other 'victims'. Shasta was her patient now. You don't like crowds either, huh? She asked softly. Although quiet, Eva was very preceptive and had taken years of psychology classes.

Shasta glanced up at Eva. "I have a dog...his name is Mouse." She replied before quickly looking at the ground again. She wondered how Mouse was doing back at the house. And those wolf pups she saw, as well as the cat. Shasta answered the next question without even having to think. "I hate crowds." She said, frowning.

A nod was given at that, as she checked Shastas eyes. I have a dog to. I haven't named her yet. At the next answer she nodded. I hate crowds as well. I'm claustrophobic. A small piece of imformation of herself. If trust was given, then you give a little back. I had a girl come in, not so long ago. She had two horses, and a dog with her. He was a pretty little dog, a big shepherd mix. He had the oddest butter yellow eyes I've ever seen. What kind of dog is Mouse? What does he look like?

Now, who could be the girl that Eva was speaking of?

Shasta always loved to talk about her dog. But at a time like this, she couldn't smile even if she wanted to. "He's a Saluki. He's very lean, and has fawn-colored fur." She said, and went on in a quieter voice. "He's a good dog..." And then she stopped, fearing that she might slip and give too much information. She wouldn't want their plan to be ruined.

She smiled at Shasta. I used to have a dog when I was younger. He hated me, I swear, but I loved the flea bitten, mutt. I had to keep him after he saved this little girl from drowning. After that, he would never come to me, and he would always run away. She frowned. His name was Scooter. Now I see why he ran. God, what an awful name. The name was awful now, but when your 8 and getting your first dog, the name sounded downright perfect.

Shasta's face lit up with a weak smile. Scooter sounded like a funny dog. "Mouse got his name because he was the smallest in the litter." She informed, thinking back to the time she picked out her dog. "He protects me well." She did think Mouse was a good name for a scrawny little dog, especially if he was one so adorable.

This was the last time she was going to try and train a wild horse again.

Ok, probably not. But it sure sounded good. She dragged herself to the hospital, her hair a dark purple now, but she was still recognizable. She had escaped the cops, and pissed off the Cryptic Silvers all in one day. She was setting a freakin' record here. She stood in the middle of all the confusion when all of a sudden, her eyes fell upon Shasta. A fury so deep consumed her, and for one moment she considered going in there and finishing her off. Actually.... That sounded like damn fine plan. She began to walk towards Shasta, her arms clamped around her midsection as she drowned out the pain with the fury. It was her fault... All her fault.... But it wasn't Shastas face she was seeing. It was anothers, anothers far worse then Shastas. She was four steps away from Ben, when Eva lifted her eyes. She not like you? She asked the young girl softly.

Shasta glanced up for a moment, just long enough to see Hunter. "What are you doing here?" She hissed. It was nothing personal. She was just in a bad mood today. And for a good reason, too. Her father almost killed her friend and her brother was being a jerk as usual.

Eva caught his eyes, but before he could return any sort of look, his phone wrang. What now? With so many people around, he had to keep the uncertain, panicked look going as he answered. Well, that had been the plan at first. The voice was unfamiliar, though it didn't take long to peice together who it was. Michael Carlyle. And then the shocking revelation - Arlayn? Alive? He wouldn't have believed it until he heard her voice in the background.

All at once, the guise of panic was dropped. Eyes widened with a look that could only be described as a deep, burning animosity. The joy of hearing Aralyn's living breathing voice was trumped by the ominous threat that the father laced in his words. Somehow, through these staggering revalations, Ben kept control of himself. All except his hands, which began to tremble ever so slightly.

It was maddening, but Benjamin kept his voice low and level as he attempted to reply, "I will..." click. The call was dropped. Huffing out a silent breath of disbelief, he turned to Conan, "Your father has Aralyn. She's alive." Now his mind was really aflame, and he cursed Shasta's father for downing Mikhail. If anyone could have helped trace the call, it was the Russian man. But they no longer had that option.

Benjamin stood up, grabbing Conan roughly by the scruff of his shirt, hauling him up without waiting for the other's response. He doubted Conan would need encouragement to follow, but given the boy's state, he figured he'd need assistance. Not letting his hold loosen any, he stormed towards the exit, dragging the teen along with him at a quick pace. If anyone dared get in his way, they'd be shoved aside.

Ben continued his quickened pace until he reached his car, where he shoved Conan towards the passenger seat. All of this was done without a sound, though his spine-chilling expression was far more than adequate to show how he felt. Getting into the driver's side, Ben handed the kid a pen and paper, "Where would your father likely have Aralyn?" The tremble in his hands seemed to resound ever so faintly in his voice now, with his words quite and icy. And oh, those eyes! Bitter and deadly, glaring unblinkingly at Conan.

His attention turned vaguely to Ben as the cell phone rang, but it wasn't until he heard the tight strain in the older man's voice that he realized it was not one of Ben's informants. And Aralyn's screaming on the phone was plenty loud enough for him to hear, sitting right beside Ben. His eyes grew wide, and as Ben hauled him up with only a few words to explain it...

Your father has Aralyn. Your father has Aralyn... It echoed, and for a moment he couldn't even react. When he finally did, he pushed his feet up under him, adrenaline filling his body, and tore away from Ben's grip, not caring that his shirt came off in the other man's grasp. His face was set in a grimace, looking like some sort of god of fire as he opened the car door with a strength he hadn't known he possessed at this point. He sat quickly in the passenger seat and took up the pen, writing quickly in a shaky but legible script.

A dark house, some place outside of town... someplace no one could hear her scream. He almost threw this into Ben's lap in his haste to have it read, and his hands, too, were shaking. The last time he'd confronted his father, he'd been shaking with fear, but it wasn't remembered pain that brought the trembling to his hands, now. Blind rage set the tremor there, made his eyes dialate, made him fight to control himself. His fury at Ben over the insults back at his house was a tiny match to the roaring flame that was Conan's passionate hatred of his father. Michael had taken Aralyn, had made them think she'd died... he'd hurt her if he could, if only to use her to hurt Conan.

He lifted his shaking hands for just a moment, making a slow sign to Ben. The letter "b" went up to his temple, signifying the name "Ben" and the man's sharply tuned brain. Then, he pointed down the road ahead of them, finally making a smashing motion against his right palm. The implication was clear. "Ben... let's go do this."

Benjamin Linus

A brief, dark smirk twisted up the corner of his thin lips at the kid's sign language. At this rate, it looked as though Conan would be able to go through with the act of murder; though Ben knew how one's mind could be paralyzed when brought face to face with their source of torment. It was an encounter that he was curious to see, though it wouldn't be at the forefront of his mind. Aralyn would be his main concern, of course.

Now the matter turned to locating Aralyn. There weren't a whole lot of old houses outside of town, on account of the local wildlife and their apparent taste for human blood. That helped to narrow down the field, though Ben himself wasn't completely familiar with all the structures dotted across the Valley. Oh well, that's what his sources were for.

The cellphone was utilized once more. This time, dialing Ethan's number.
"I need to know the location of isolated, habitable homes outside of Atroe City...'
Aralyn’s alive, Ethan....
I should be asking you that, but I don’t have time right now. Conan’s father has her, and he’s likely to be in an isolated house outside of town. I need directions...."

It was Ben's turn to write on the paper now, jotting down a few different addresses. All the while, wondering how Ethan could have screwed up such vital information as to how he thought someone alive was dead.
"Is that it?...
No, but stay close."

The phone was snapped shut and shoved in his pocket. Time to roll.

Her face contorted into rage, and she suddenly screamed WHAT AM I DOING HERE!? WHAT AM I DOING HERE?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE YOU BITCH!? She was beyond angry and it could be seen, but her pain was more intense then her rage. She began to walk towards Shasta, but Eva came up around the bed, and hard at Hunter Go wait for a doctor. Suddenly she was being shoved back. NURSE! She called. Three nurses came forth, and they grabbed hold of the screaming Hunter. I'll Kill you! I'll kill you, do you hear me?! Then a needle was jabbed into her neck and her eyes started to glaze over, and her fighting stopped. Come with me, miss. They murmered. Hunter was escorted away.

Eva looked to Shasta with an exasperated expression. Wanna tell me what that was about?

Shasta stepped back when Hunter screamed. "I was attacked by gangsters, dearie. What about you?" She said, with just a hint of anger. This was a bad day for her. She was shot by her only friend, and then her crazy brother and father only made things worse. "I'd like to see you try to kill me." She shot back before looking at Eva. "Oh...that girl hates my guts." She sighed. "When can I go? I have somewhere I need to be."

Eva's bright eyes lifted to Shastas, and she said softly You have to stay the night here. Bullet wounds could easily get infected. I'll check on you in a few hours. She walked away, leaving the girl in silence. She had a nurse stationed outside the door, in case the teen tried to run.

A few hours later

With her purple hair pulled back in a pony tail, she slipped into Shastas room. She knocked on the door gently, and said Hey..... I'm sorry.... About earlier. Apologies didn't come easy to her and she looked away, as if the words burned her tongue. I....I'm Hunter. She said softly.

Shasta watched sorrowfully as Eva left. When was she going to be reunited with the others? She looked down at the ground, pacing back and forth, literally for hours. Then came Hunter. She managed to smile when she saw the girl. "Don't worry about it. I was a jerk, and I should have treated you better. For that, I am sorry too." It felt good to apologize, and for once she was happy again. "I'm Shasta, by the way. Shasta Wild."

She smiled, and for a second, her former self was seen. Closing the door, she whispered I can get you out of here if you want. Her eyes looked around quickly, taking in the room and she smiled. I have an idea. But.... Will you wait for me? There was vulnerability in her eyes, and a tremor in her voice. She was so tired of being alone.... So alone.

Shasta smiled and nodded. "I'd like to get out as soon as possible." All she wanted was to be out of this horrible place. She hated it. It was new and unfamiliar. "Sure." She replied to Hunter's question. Should she tell her the truth about what really happened? She was sure it wouldn't leak. Of course, Shasta can be very vicious when somebody tells a secret that should have been kept.

She nodded and turned back towards the door. When I whistle, slip out the door quiet as possible. Then she was gone but she left the door open a crack. Her voice could be heard on the other side, and the flirtateous note was a new one. So..... What kind of doctor do you want to be? Came the soft, simpering voice. At the males reply she giggled. Really? Thats quite interesting. Appearing older then she was, it wasn't hard to seduce the man. Just took a little patience on Shastas end. At the soft whistle, Hunter had turned the male so his back was to Shastas door, letting her out to freedom. Would she hold true to her word and wait for her?