Benjamin J Grimm

"Oh no..." Franklin says from his seat in the east family library of the Baxter Building.

"Oh, yes Franklin...And then...," Ben replies pausing for dramatic effect. "...and then he punched me in the kisser! Wham!"

Tong shudders from his seat with his brothers on Dragonman's lap and says, "Oh...he hit the Ben."

"This is wrong. The Ben should not be hit," Korr adds.

"Ben hitting is very, very bad." Mik agrees.

"So what happened after the robot..." Franklin asks, hungry for more of the story.

"Android," Val says interrupting him though she is just as curious about the story.

"Whatever," Franklin replies. "What happened after it beat you and uncle Ben?"

"Well," Johnny replies, "You mom and dad were able to figure out a way to switch it off, and then--because Reed had all his equipment set to shut down at exactly 4 o'clock--the Mad Thinker was defeated and we destroyed all the anti-matter weapons..."

"Yeah," Ben says picking up the thread of the story again. "So the moral of the story is what?"

"I dunno...If you're going to construct a killer android, use something more adaptive and complex than ape DNA?" Alex Power guesses.

"Oh, I'm not sure that matters as much as the unreliable nature of photovoltaics powering a mobile combat unit," the upgraded Dragonman postulates. "Thermelectric would have been a better choice."

"The Thinker using unstable molecules as a starting point is interesting..." adds one of the undersea kids.

"Surprising actually. I've met the Thinker before...limited faculties...horrible breath..." the young clone of the Wizard says.

Listening to the dialog, Ben nearly face palms. Talk about not getting the point. "Ahem!," he says to interrupt. "You're all a buncha weirdos. The lesson was--just 'cause you're smart, it don't mean you've thought of everythin'."

"So, what does that have to do with us uncle Ben?" she asks as she's not quite sure where he's going with this. She likes her uncle Ben because the way he thinks is so alien to her.

"Nothing obviously...," Johnny says which earns a little frown from both Ben and Val. "Okay. You've stayed up way later than we should have let you. 'Night!"

"Good night!" all the kids chorus as Ben waves his goodnight and ushers them out.

Once the kids have gone Jonnhy heads to the kitchenette and pulls open the fridge. "Hungry?" he asks Ben. Ben just gives him a look. "Yeah stupid question."

"..." Ben replies as he takes a seat. "Do you want kids, Johnny?"

"More than anything," Johnny replies immediately as he lays out bread for sandwiches. "Hey, you take yours with mayonnaise, right?"

"Gross."

"How about you? Kids?"

"I tried not to think about it..." Ben replies. And he has managed to in the past. How did he know his kids wouldn't be affected by those cosmic rays? What right did he have to curse some kid with rocky skin? But now, with his cure? It's getting harder not to.

"Well, nothing like a nice couple of days alone with a house full of kids to help you figure that out."

[All dialog from Fantastic Four #585]

Ben rose early to a phone call. He's normally one to sleep in but when Captain America calls, you answer. And so he finds himself on the deck of a helicarrier in some undisclosed airspace trying not to yawn as the sun begins to tint the clouds. He's fairly certain he's still in US airspace but given how the windows in the quinjet he was flying in were blacked out he can't say for sure. The flight time adds up though and it didn't feel like they went super sonic. All in all though, he's still not sure why he's here; he should be calling Debz.

"Thank you for agreeing to come Ben," Rogers says.

"Anytime Captain," Ben replies before correcting himself, "Commander." Gotta remember that, he's Commander Rogers now not Captain America. "I gotta say though, I ain't sure what I can do fer ya. As ya can see I ain't my usual self."

"Ben let me introduce you to the Q-1 or as the developers have been calling her, Mjolnir," Rogers replies pulling the tarp off a nearby aircraft and Ben can't help the whistle of appreciation. "She's an experimental craft combining the best attributes of the A-10 Thunderbolt and the Quinjet. Her thrust ratios are nearly triple the A-10 yet she is expected to maintain the maneuverability of the A-10 as opposed to the Quinjet which I don't have to tell you isn't the most agile of birds. Her potential payload is triple that of her parents as well and fuel consumption seems to be improved as well. We want you to test her out for us."

Completely stunned Ben doesn't reply right away and Rogers has to hide a grin at having caught him flatfooted. Finally, Grimm gathers his wits enough to say, "I'm honored sir but I ain't been in a military craft in decades!"

Rogers opens a folder he's been carrying and begins pacing around Ben as he reads in the clear voice of command, "You graduated among the top ten pilots in the first class of the Air Force and have test flown nearly every craft the Force and NASA has put in the air the entirety of your career and many beyond your years. You have maintained your pilots license every year since you were discharged regardless of your ability to fit into a cockpit. You regularly fly air craft and space craft of the highest technological capability, whether built by human or alien hands. You are familiar with both technologies used as the basis of this craft..."

"Well, yeah but..." Ben begins to say before Rogers cuts him off.

"Major Grimm, your country is calling you. How will you answer?"

What else can you say to that? Twenty minutes later Ben is suited up and taxiing for take off. "All systems are green," he says, "I am ready for take off."

"Affirmative Major, you may fly at your discretion."

Fourteen hours ago
Ben is nearly dancing with nerves as he turns to Johnny holding the formula the kids had made. Hard to believe so much hope can be held in such a small tube of glass. "Okay, the Future Foundation said this stuff is supposed to turn me back into a regular person for around one week a year...every year...All I need to you to do is run and get Reed if somethin' goes wrong...okay?"

Johnny starts in surprise and waves his hands in denial. "No. Not okay. Are you seriously going to take some potion cooked up by a bunch of kids? I mean...do you know what I was doing when I was their age?"

"Roughly the same things you're doin' now?" Ben dead pans.

"Eh...fair point. Hope it doesn't kill you."

"Shaddup,"  Ben replies. The last thing he needs right now is the kid echoing his fears. His stomach is in knots and his heart feels like it's down where his stomach should be. Still no time like the present. He drains the vial and waits. Nothing happens. The anger and disappointment begin to boil, he can't believe he fell for it again. He is the Thing and that's all he's ever going to be. There is no cure for a schmuck like him and the sooner he accepts it the better.

Then he realizes what he's feeling isn't like anything he's ever felt before. "Whoa....Urrrgggh! Uhhh...." He feels every muscle contract and spasm. He feels like he is tightening into a ball and yet shedding a great weight.

It seems like forever until it passes and he hears Johnny say, "Oh no..."

"Wha...what?" Ben says panic setting in. "It didn't work?"

"Oh God. No, Ben...it's even worse."

"No! They said...." Ben runs to a mirror. He doesn't want to see but he must. He has to see what sort of freak he's become.  He sees...himself. Human. "Oh! You #@%$^%@#!!!!"

Johnny falls back on the bed laughing, "You should've seen your face!"

"Do you know how...it felt like my heart was in my throat...," Ben's screaming and doesn't care. "You SORRY, NO-GOOD #%$6@&#!"

Johnny sobers and sits up, "Look in the mirror...Again."

Ben turns and the anger fades before the miracle. "Oh...I...I...Oh my god."

"So, you're not going to start crying or anything, are you?"

"If you're gonna be a jerk...just leave, Johnny."

"I'm not saying you shouldn't be happy...I'm saying maybe you should look at this in a more opportunistic fashion."

"What are you talkin' about?"

"Instead of getting all weepy, we should go out and do all the things you haven't been able to do for a really long time. Two guys out on the town...how's that sound?"

Ben looks out through the windows to New York and feels like he owns it. "Pretty good, actually."

Johnny, "Excellent! Give me a couple of minutes to make some phone calls and you and I are going to make up for a lot of missed opportunities. Get ready Ben...this is going to be the best day you've had in a very long time."

Twelve hours ago
Walking downtown, no one looks twice.

ten and a half hours ago
Beer, hot dogs and the Giants versus the Eagles at New Meadows Stadium.

Six hours ago
An Early dinner with Johnny, Stan and Jack. It's been too long since he's seen his first comic chroniclers and Ben enjoys their company.

Three and a half hours ago
The floating super hero poker game at the Thunder Dojo. Ben takes the pot though Captain America came close.

An hour and a half ago
Near Yancy Street.

"Uh-huh. Around here only one of us is too big to fail," the head mugger says with a growl. "So...what's it going to be ladies? A tax-deferred cash deposit--or is the deal going to need some restructuring?"

Johnny turns to Ben."I dunno...I'm thinking it's been a long time since you've gotten to punch a normal guy in the face...What do you say?"

"I want my 401K back!" Ben yells and dives at the gang.

An Hour ago
"Ow! I think I broke a tooth," Ben says as he watches the gang run away.

Johnny smiles. "Have fun?"

"God, yes. I'm gonna sleep like a baby."

Johnny opens the car door and getting in says, "Well, one last stop to make before then. Get in."

Ben leans back and enjoys the feeling of the wind on his face (actually feeling it!) as they drive.

After driving in silence for a bit Johnny says, "So. I've got to ask...you think, now that you've got one week a year, it's going to be enough? I mean, do you think you'll get used to it and in some way that'll be worse?"

Ben takes a minute to consider. "I've missed out on a lot of things, Johnny. I think all one week a year means is I won't ever take it for granted...and I'll 'preciate everything I get."

"Good enough...we're here."

"Where are...oh." He recognizes where they are as soon as he gets out of the car and thinks of Debz. "I don't know if I should..."

"Shut up. You're going."

Ben walks up to the front door and buzzes the intercom. He hears her voice say, "Yes...who is it?" and his heart skips a beat. His mouth is suddenly dry and he swallows before replying, "It's me. Can I come up?"

She buzzes him in and he climbs the stairs getting more and more nervous. He knocks and says, "Hey," when the door opens. She's back lit like some cheesy movie but to Ben she doesn't need the effect. She's his Alicia no matter what happens. He sees she's grown out her hair again and is even more beautiful then ever.

"Hello, Ben," she says looking vaguely in his direction.

His heart drops again and all he can manage to say is, "Hey." again.

"Is something wrong? Why do you sound..." Alicia steps closer to touch his face and he doesn't move. Her fingers pause where his skin normally is and a look of confusion passes on her face before she reaches farther. "Oh...Oh...My..You...You're...Is that really you?"

He can smell her hair and her perfume, she's right there and the world suddenly doesn't matter anymore. Tears come to his eyes and he says, "It's me, Alicia." He sees tears in her eyes as well and acceptance, that blessed acceptance of him being human he had feared she'd never have. Her lips part. He bends and kisses them before reaching out to gather her in his arms. She melts into his kiss and embrace with a sigh.

Outside Johnny sees their silhouettes and says "Good for you, Ben."

5 Minutes ago
The eternity of their kiss ends as all eternities must and he pulls up for air. He remembers the world then and Debz and pulls back. He turns and nearly runs for her bathroom. He says something inane to her worried, "Ben?" but he's not sure what and then the bathroom door is closed.

Alone in Central Park, Ben walks along one of the many paths when he spots the tree that he helped rescue when it was uprooted early in the year. He walks over to it and rubs his hand along it affectionately.

He looks out over the city and remembers all the times he saved the city and the world.

He also remembers all the times he hid himself in that ridiculous trench coat. All the times he was chased and ran cause he didn't want to hurt anyone. He clears his throat as he feels tears coming again. That'd be the last thing he'd need, bawlin' like a baby in Central Park.

He hears a little girl's voice cry out, "Oh my god! Dad!" Fearing the worst he turns, ready to fight, only to see a father and daughter opening their Happy Meals. "I got Ben Grimm!!!" the girl squeals with glee as she pulls out a hideously orange plastic version of himself.

"Me too," her father says and as Ben watches they have a mock battle with the two toys as they eat their hamburgers.

Ben can't help but smile and calls out, "Hey you guys got a pen I can borrow?"

"I may be alone but I'm still the ideal of millions," he thinks at the look of complete awe and astonishment that overtake the little girl and her father.

Hey Debz, on my way down to Yancy Street. I'm gonna pick up yer favorite danish from Gal's and eat it all up since yer not here to give it to. Love you...Debz I gotta say New York ain't the same without you. I'm not the same without you. Ever since the day I became the Thing it's been like I've been fightin' myself, not knowin' which was the real me, Ben Grimm or The Thing. Wit' you I'm just me and I can't tell you how much that means.

Anyway, sorry fer that. I don't mean ta make this harder than it is. Take care an' I love ya.
"Susan, we've got to do something about Ben!" Johnny blurts as he storms in interrupting her just as she was about to dive in for a swim in the saltwater pool.

She takes a deep breath and counts to three before replying, "Ben's a big boy Johnny, he's fine."

"No he's not!"

"Yes..."

"He's listening to Pink!"

Ten minutes ago...
"So what do you think?" Val asks her uncle as the song ends.

He lifts the fifty ton weight a few times before saying, "Well, she seems pretty angry fer one. Are you sure yer parents know yer listening ta this stuff?"

"Yes," Val replies from her perch nearby. If Ben were paying closer attention he would notice his answer disappoints her somehow. "I found it in the popular music database. How about this one?"

Ben finishes his set of twenty as he listens and finally clues in that something is up. He racks his weights, sits up and pats the bench in front of him. "Come here," he says, continuing when she takes the seat. "What's going on?"

"Are you going to leave us?"

"WHAT?!?" Ben blurts taken off guard.

"When mommy and daddy fought and split up, she and uncle Johnny left. Are you going to leave too?"

"Oh girl," Ben says with sympathy. That was a hard time for him too, one of the hardest parts of what the media called the civil war. "I ain't goin' anywhere. And me and Debz ain't fightin' really. She's just takin' some time to figure out if she can handle a life like ours. She has a choice fer now, she should consider it."

"So you're not mad at her? The songs suggest you should be."

"Honey, these songs ain't really how life is. They're more like a picture of what the artist thinks it is or could be. Or sometimes what they think it should be. Never think something should be because it is in a song okay? It's kind of like..." He pauses trying think of a simile she'll understand. "It's like comparing pictures of Mars from the Viking missions and pictures from the Spirit and Opportunity. Better yet, more like looking at the pictures verses actually being on Mars. You can't really learn things from songs, you need to live and experience. Life isn't like math or science okay?"

Well the X-men saved themselves and San Francisco. Kinda felt useless yesterday but them's the breaks sometimes. I gotta run but I love ya. 
"So ya barely wanna work the dough? You sure Aunt Petunia?" Ben asks.

"Yes. It's just like Alton Brown says, you want to give the proteins a chance to bond." Aunt Petunia replies form the vidscreen.

"Ben?" Susan calls out as she walks in. "Oh sorry I didn't mean to interrupt. Hi Petunia."

"Hello Susan," Aunt Petunia replies. "And it's no trouble, Ben and I were just arguing over biscuit dough."

"Ben, I was going to take Franklin and Val toy shopping and I was wondering if I could take Turg, Korr, Mik, and Tong with us?"

"Sure," Ben replies a bit distracted.

"See you later then."

"Ben, who are Turg, Korr, Mik, and Tong?" Aunt Petunia asks as Susan leaves.

"Just some kids I rescued. We're taking care of them."

"Oh Ben!" She says excitedly, "I always knew you'd be a father someday."

"What?!? No! Reed and Susan are the parents here. Besides, they're moliods not hu..."

"Benjamin Jacob Grimm!" She interrupts angrily. "Don't you dare finish that sentence! There are plenty of people who would say you aren't human!"

"Right...sorry."

"And if Reed and Susan are the only parents there why did Susan ask you if she could take them? I've got to go now but call back and introduce me to these kids, I can't wait to met them."

Somewhere near Easter island...

"Hey Lion, you ever hear of a Fastball Special?" Ben calls out as the Doombots circle him and the Dora Milaje. She doesn't respond but climbs into his hands. "I've got a fix on the command center, happy landings!"

He throws her just as the Doombots lock their blasters and begin to fire. Thinking quickly, Ben goes limp and drops to the ground, allowing the eight Doombots to blast into each other. For added effect he plugs his ears with his fingers.
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At Area 713, Doctor Doom's secret lab...

"Doom, we have a problem," Walter Declun says as he steps into Dr. Doom's private lab.

"We had better for you to intrude here Declun. My patience with your interruptions grows thin."

"The attacks of the Dora Milaje and the Fantastic Four have become more effective, they've changed their strategy. At this point if they continue unimpeded they run the risk of gathering a large portion of the vibranium."

"Fool, it matters not if they get all the vibranium! Still, this is not like Richards," Doom pauses and rubs his chin in thought. "Of course! It is that cretinous gargoyle Grimm! Begin Phase D, let them face live guardians now."

"As you wish."

"And Declun, do not disturb me again. It is paramount that I complete my work here. Nothing else matters."

"Of course."
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Meanwhile at the Palenque ruins in Mexico...

"We're holding our own. This isn't exactly Doom's A-team. Give us fifteen minutes to wrap this up," Susan says into the communicator to Shuri.

"Nah," Ben says delivering a haymaker to "Crusher" Creel. "Ten minutes tops."
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At the field of Lotho, Symkaria (near the border of Latveria)...

"But be warned," Princess Shuri is saying to Doom as he lays on the ground, the circuits of his armor fried by T'challa's attack. "If you lift a hand against Wakanda again, or put one polluted foot on our soil, then I will hunt you to the ends of the Earth and kill you. And now you know that I can do it. Me...my brother, his wife...and our friends."

Everyone turns and heads back to the waiting quinjets but Ben approaches the fallen dictator. He bends down to be sure Doom can see him and says, "Hey Doom, got a present for ya." and then gives him a knuckle sandwich that sends him flying back into Latveria. Nodding Ben looks around at all the useless tech and then shakes his head and turns to join the others.

As he boards Susan says, "That was cruel."

Ben feigns a look of shock and says, "He was in Symkarian territory. I was trying to prevent an international incident!"

The call came as they were leaving Ascension Island and heading toward Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. Ben was tired and almost just pushed the call through to voice mail until he caught site of the caller's ID. "Debz, aww jeeze," he thought as he activated his ear piece and connected. "Babe I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." The weariness in his voice is plain though he tries to hide it.

"Ben, finally. I've been trying to reach you for hours! Where are you?"

"Over Saudi Arabia I think. I missed our date haven't I?" How many hours have they been fighting anyway?

"Our date was yesterday," comes her cold reply. "I haven't heard from you for nearly two days. What's going on?"

"Doom's got something big going on and I hate ta say it but it looks bad. I'm sorry I didn't call, I got wrapped up in things ya know?"

"No I don't. First you disappeared for nearly a week chasing after those cities or whatever and now this. Couldn't you have called?"

"Yer right I should have, I'm sorry. We've been fightin' straight fer a while now and it slipped my mind. Ain't gonna happen again..."

"Don't...just don't. Don't make a promise you can't keep."

"Drop zone in 10 minutes," Sue says from the cockpit of the Quinjet.

"Debz...I..."

"This is the way it's going to be isn't it Ben? There are going to be times where I simply won't know what's going on aren't there."

Ben wants to argue but he can't. "Yeah," he says quietly.

"Okay," she replies equally quiet, "I knew I had to share you with the world. It's just harder than I thought it would have been."

"I'll take ya out somewhere's when I get back, somewhere's special."

"Oh Ben," Debs replies tears clear in her voice. "I just want you home."

"I will be, promise."

"Ben...I'm going to Europe with a friend. Nicole from school?"

"Where? I can join ya there. Heck, chances are I'll be in Latveria before this is over."

"No Ben. I..." Her voice cracks but she goes on. "I need some time to think about things. To decide if I can share you. I'm sorry."

"Babe, I'll give it all up! You won't have to share, after this fight, I'll quite." He's sounds desperate he knows but what else can he do.

"No Ben. The world needs you. I just need some time. Give Doom a knuckle sandwich for me?"

"Yeah okay. This ain't goodbye is it?"

She laughs and cries. "No you big lug. I love you. I just need some time. Take care of yourself."

The line clears just as Sue says, "We're in the drop zone. Drop in 2 minutes." The jump doors open as Ben stares at the head set in his hands helplessly. He was never good with words. Blinking he looks up and sees everyone getting ready for the next fight.

"No Ben, not yet!" Sue calls out. "We aren't ready!"

The wind washes away his tears as he plummets. He needs to clobber something to pieces so bad he can taste it.


On the ground he flips the first Doombot that charges him and then catches its legs as it sails by. Bracing himself he spins and the Doombot arcs to crash into its fellows. Lost in his hurt he doesn't see the Dora Milaje as they land near him. They give him a clear path but use his rage tactically.

"Ben. BEN!" Sue calls again finally getting through to him. He stops, panting and looks around.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?" she asks seeing she finally has his attention.

"Nothin'"

"Bull. I've know you too long to believe that."

Ben throws aside the metal club which was once the leg of a Doombot. "I don't wanna talk about it."

"Ben," Sue says taking his hand. "We need you here. Tell me what's wrong."

"BEN!" Johnny yells as he lands. "What the heck man? You turning Wolverine on us?!?"

He blinks furiously and his voice cracks as he replies, "Debs wants some space. Ta think about if she can handle all of this."

"Is that it? Get it together man."

"Jonathan Spencer Storm! You apologize right now!"

"No sis I will not!" Johnny says rounding on her. "We can handle it if Ben loses it. We have powers, we know how he can be. They," and here he points to the wounded Dora Milaje, "don't. Do you have any idea how many of them threw themselves between you and Doombots? You didn't even notice, did you Ben? Look I know you love Debs. We'll get her back. You and me, we'll figure something out. What girl can resist both of use working together huh? But right now we need you. They need you."

Back in the plane Ben carefully carries one of the Dora Milaje wounded to the medical bay. As he helps her settle in she says, "You fight like an elephant who has lost his mate. It was an honor to be by your side."

He looks at her wounds and wonders how many he caused by his inattention. He remembers a black shape darting near him as he fought and replies, shaking his head, "An' you fought like a lioness protecting her cub. The honor was mine."

She laughs, "I shall heal and the elephant and lion shall defeat these metal men."

"I look forward to it lady."


(And that Marvel is how you can end a marriage without either party looking like asses. Walking out of his own wedding and leaving the bride at the alter indeed.)

This coming September does not seem like good news for Ben. This all could just be a smoke screen and likely is (see Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four and The Death of the Invisible Woman) but still just the hint of this is disturbing.