Going through the double-doors at the other end of the medical wing Reed, Susan, and Franklin then began running as fast as they could to reach Ben's position.
As they got closer, they started to hear shouts and loud clanging sounds.
"Argh!!"
Along with several screams.
The instant the three of them noticed these things they picked up their pace.
Then after rounding one last corner, they arrived at their destination.
When the group did, they noticed multiple holes in the walls and ceilings near Ben's containment room, and various guards surrounding an orange-colored rock-like figure, who wore a scared and angry expression on its face.
"Ben." Reed muttered.
[Insert Image of Ben Grimm/The Thing Here]
"Oh Ben." Susan spoke, placing her hands over her mouth. A look of shock in her eyes.
All the while Franklin walked forward. "Stand down, now!" He shouted at the security guards.
Leading all of them, and Ben, to look in his direction.
"Director Storm, stand back." One of the guards warned. "This subject is-"
"-He is not a subject. That is a man who has been through a traumatic situation and all of you are only making it worse for him." Franklin interrupted the guard. "Now as I just said, stand down." He ordered. A fierce look in his eyes.
"No way!" One of the guards replied. "You think I'm going to stand down while this freak-"
"He is not a freak!" Reed shouted. His words drawing everyone's attention towards him. "His name is Benjamin Grimm. My best friend. The guy whose always had my back. The guy who's always gone along with my crazy schemes and ideas. He's the guy I call a brother in all but blood. So, I'll say it once more, he is not a freak." Reed passionately spoke. "And if you think he's a freak just because he's been changed by the accident, well then I guess you can consider me a freak too then." He spoke.
Reed then held both his arms into the air and concentrated to make them stretch to touch the ceiling, before returning them to their normal shape.
"Now then, as director Franklin told you all earlier, stand down." Reed spoke. Before putting a slightly dark expression on his face. "Otherwise, I'll help my friend put you all down." He threatened.
Upon hearing this and seeing the look in Reed's eyes one-by-one the armed guards began to stand down.
"Thank you gentleman." Franklin spoke.
As he did Ben and Susan walked forward, past the guards, and soon found themselves standing next to Ben.
Once they did Reed reached out, ignoring Ben's flinch, and gently placed a hand on his left shoulder. "Hey there Ben." He greeted. "Well, looks like in the two months you've been napping you've put on a few pounds." Reed joked.
Getting a snort from both Susan and Ben in response.
"I see what's happened hasn't made the jokes you tell any better Reed." Ben replied.
"Hey that's not true. My jokes have always been great." Reed defended. Before glancing at Susan. "Right Sue?"
In response to Reed's question Susan put a gentle smile on her face and began patting him gently on the shoulder. "Reed dear, you're wonderful at many things. But jokes are not your strong suit." She explained.
Hearing Susan's words Reed comically placed a hand over his chest and winced. "Ah, what's the world coming too. My girlfriend and best friend don't think I'm funny. Oh, whatever shall I do?"
"You can knock off the poor acting performance. It's really creeping me out." Ben spoke.
"Alright, alright." Reed relented. He then went back to normal. Reed then put a serious expression on his face. "But seriously Ben, how do you really feel, and don't lie to me."
"About how I look." Ben admitted. A complicated expression appearing on his face he raised up his hands and looked at them for a moment before putting them down. He then sighed. "I mean, what am I now? Am I even still Benjamin Grimm?"
"Of course you are." Reed immediately replied.
"Reed's right." Susan agreed. "Ben, no matter what's happened you're still you. You're still Benjamin Grimm."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence Susie, but I mean, look at me." Ben replied. "You saw the way those guards reacted to me. You saw the look in their eyes. They saw me as a monster."
"Which you are not." Reed spoke. "Like Susan said you are Ben Grimm. We know it, I know you know it, and soon everyone else will once again know it. After I help you out."
"You mean, fix me?" Ben asked. Not even trying to hide the hope in his voice.
"Ben, you're not broken. So, I'm not going to fix you. But rather, I'm going to improve on what's already there." Reed explained.
Leading Ben to give him a confused look. "What do you mean Reed? Like I always tell you, speak plain English."
"Well to put it simply for now it makes no sense that Susan and I can control our powers so easily while you can't. Thus, there must be something you're missing. And once I figure out what that is I can make it so you can control your powers just like us." Reed explained.
"Really?" Ben questioned. "You really think you can do that Reed?"
At Ben's question Reed gave him a flat look. "Ben, I created a teleportation device in my garage with spare parts at the age of eight. So yes, I'm confident I can figure out how to resolve your situation." He spoke.
"Okay, okay, no need for the snark." Ben replied. "After all, that's Johnny's thing." He said. "Oh, and speaking of which, where is the little hothead anyway?"
At Ben's words Susan flinched.
Noticing this both Ben and Reed looked at her.
"Sue, where's Johnny?" Reed asked seriously.
"In a...special place." Susan cryptically replied. But before either Ben or Reed could ask questions, she raised her hand in their direction. "Give me a moment to get my dad and then I'll explain everything." She spoke.
Then before either Ben of Reed could reply Susan began walking over to her dad.
As she did the two friends shared a look.
"Well, that doesn't bode well." Reed spoke.
"Stating the obvious as usual Reed." Ben replied. "But who knows, maybe it's not like what we think it is." He hypothesized.
"You may be right." Reed agreed.
Though he wasn't holding his breathe.
After reaching her father Susan whispered into his ear. Then a second after she did the two of them walked back over to Ben and Reed.
"If you wish to see Jonathan, then follow me." Franklin spoke. A worried expression appearing on his face.
Seeing this both Ben and Reed could tell Johnny's situation likely wasn't the best. But deciding to see it with their own eyes first they simply kept silent and began following behind Susan and Franklin, on their way to see him.