Ben looked momentarily confused--much as he had when he'd first received the wounds--but closed his eyes as the blood starting welling up again.

It hurt, but it wasn't the squeezing pain that the torture had been. He shoved his brain's attempt to get him to relive the experience away through sheer stubbornness. The only outer sign that he wasn't calm about going through this was the slight clenching of his jaw.

He'd go to pieces later if he had to. Now it would just be unproductive.