i'm leaving you my last curse

[bravebartender]

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[camber]

I believe it.

( He holds his hand up, like he's being called on in class. )

But I don't like it.

[acdc_rules]

No one likes it. If people liked it, Dean wouldn't have a job.

[Demons basically suck for everyone but demons.]

[camber]

So, he really is ... a hunter. He hunts - demons and, and changelings and shit.

( "He rides into town, usually off a newspaper clipping or something that flags his hunter antennae and then he and, usually his brother, stop whatever needs stopping. I thought it was brave for a long time. But, it's also another way of keeping few ties. And he knows that." Lisa says. )

And you dated him for like a year. And he was your stepdad for a year.

[acdc_rules]

He was on sabbatical.

[It was supposed to be him quitting, but they can call it what it was now.]

Trying out having a civilian life for a little while. His brother died, or at least we thought he did, so he was working construction and living here.

[And drinking. There was so much drinking. That particular aversion of his makes a little more sense too.]

He wasn't in good shape, but he was trying.

[camber]

His brother with no soul.

( He caught some of it. )

Dude.

( His mind's a little blown. )

So, everything that goes bump in the night, or whatever. The bogeyman?

( "He told me about a Stryga once. Basically the bogeyman. He was a local doctor taking care of the kids he put in comas. Real fucked up stuff hunters find," Lisa explains. )

[acdc_rules]

And they almost all eat people. No one really knows why.

[It's all gross. Ridiculously so.]

Ghosts are a big thing too.

[camber]

( To Rudy, though. )

Get a load of ghosts.

( He sits further back in the couch and lets him sink down. )

So, that's your dad. He's big on excuses.

[acdc_rules]

Apparently.

[Ben runs a hand over his face. "He wasn't all bad" is what he wants to say, but he shoves that down, because he's not quite there yet.]

I don't know what to do.

[camber]

( he smacks Ben's knee once, twice. )

You have a dad. You know it's your dad. I think your step one's stepped. A lot farther than some people get.

[acdc_rules]

Yeah, but I also want to punch him in the face. That's not usually step two.

[He wouldn't actually punch Dean. He'd be real bad at it. But that's just where his emotions are at.]

I'll figure it out. I just need some time.

[camber]

Hey. We're all here. Right?

( He knows they are, but hey, it's good to know reinforcements are behind you. )

Maybe don't punch your dad who just came out of the woodwork in the face.

[acdc_rules]

I'll do my best.

[He glances over at his mom.]

You okay?

[camber]

I'll punch him for ya.

( Lisa looks back at her son.

"I'm okay. You okay?"

She has some damage control, a temple massage, probably some time she'll need to devote to Rudy. But she's okay. )

[acdc_rules]

[He nods slowly, before getting to his feet.]

I should go home. Catch my breath.

[Give his mom some space to process everything without having to worry about his feelings. He's sure that she and Rudy are probably in need of a conversation without him in the room.]

But I'll let you know if I decide to reach out to him again?

[enate]

I'm here if you want to talk anything out.

( she gives him a hug, and then rests her hands on Rudy's back to walk him toward the kitchen. they need a moment and they need to eat.

"Give you a ride?" )

[nextproject]

[Ben nods, before turning and following him out to the car.

Rudy follows her back into the kitchen waiting until he hears the front door close before turning back to her.]

So. That was an eventful morning.

[enate]

Be happy there wasn't something trying to kill us.

( She tries 'light' on for size. )

But, you can say that again. I thought we were going to have a lazy weekend, but instead, we waded really far into my past I didn't know was my past. And - I'm sorry.

[nextproject]

Hey, you have nothing to be sorry about. You couldn't forewarn against what you didn't remember.

[This is something that was done to her, not the other way around.]

And it's probably for the best that you got whatever it is that was done to you reversed.

[enate]

( Still. She knows what it sounds and looks like. She knows what must be going on in his head. )

No, it is. I'm just - thinking about you in all this. I at least had runway to deal with all of this. Not that I knew I did.

[nextproject]

Yeah, that I'm still working on.

[He's not sure he's a believer quite yet, but it's hard to deny an angel flapping their metaphorical (or literal?) wings in their face.]

But I'll get there. And that's not your fault either.

[enate]

I know.

( And there's no timeline for it. )

And - you know you don't have to, right? This is Ben. And me. And the me part of things, I decide on. I remember him. He did save Ben and the other kids. And he was there for us. But if I'm honest, we were there for him. He wasn't all there for us. And when his brother resurfaced - everything changed. I saw it. And maybe I didn't ... include Ben in that, I was also trying to protect him, I never thought Dean would go and -- yank it all away.

[nextproject]

Hey, whoa. I'm pretty sure when I said for better or worse, that included surprise ex-boyfriends with angels on retainer.

[There were no qualifiers. For better or worse is for better or worse.]

Unless you're rethinking things with this new information and that's something we can talk about. But I think you should take some time to process things before we make any rash decisions.

[enate]

Rudy.

( She wraps her arms around his waist. )

I'm not rethinking anything. I wouldn't. You have brought a stability I have needed for longer than you or I will ever admit. ( seriously, don't admit it. ) For me and for Ben. ( And that's meant everything. ) And, as much as I wanted to see where your head is at, I... am worried about Ben. And, I owe Dean his own conversation. And, I don't think Thanksgiving weekend is supposed to be this emotionally draining. Or is it? I've never had a big family.

[nextproject]

For some families it is.

[He rubs her arms gently.]

I know Ben's feelings are a big part of this, but I don't want to lose sight of the fact that he's not the only one affected. So what kind of conversation do you need this to be? You could give him a call or we could have him and Elena over for dinner, just the four of us?

[enate]

( She sighs again. )

I don't know. Honestly, a part of me just has to talk to him alone? He deserves an explanation. ( she shakes her head. ) But at this point, I'm not sure I trust my own judgment.