because the lives of the wicked should be made brief

[somanyadjectives]

Comments

[acdc_rules]

[Some tension releases as she speaks - not that he doubted her answer but hearing it will hopefully calm the squirrels in his brain for a little bit longer. He squeezes her hands in return before nodding.]

I was so scared you were going to die and that was going to be the last thing I ever heard you say.

[enate]

That wasn't me. I am so, so sorry that happened to us.

( she is. more than he knows. )

Dean and me, as much as we wanted to be together, the minute he left with his brother, I knew it was over. I don't... think I ever told you that. Not soon enough, anyway. So, I'm sorry for leaving you that hope. For not... giving him a chance.

[acdc_rules]

[Ben takes a deep breath, before shaking his head.]

I mean, I knew that. I had just hoped that he was in this for more than just you.

[He and Ben could have been a separate thing.]

Then again, I was twelve, so what did I know?

[enate]

Ben. ( She takes a second, to try and form her words right. ) He was in it for everything. He loved you. He worried about you. He asked about you. You called and he picked up the phone right away. Right? Came running back when you cried wolf. Came after us with the full force of - apparently, an angel, his brother...

[acdc_rules]

No, I know all that.

[But Ben could feel the distance all the same. He could feel the gulf of a difference from someone doing his due diligence to someone who could come back, whatever those reasons may be.]

But even if he didn't erase the memories, he wasn't coming back. I could feel it, I was just doing everything I could to try and stop it. And maybe if I hadn't things could have been different.

[enate]

How. Ben, what could you have done? Whatever was happening with him and Sam and whyever we were involved, that isn't on you.

( He didn't give Dean the childhood he lived, the brother he lost, the alcoholism, the depression, the night terrors. That wasn't on Ben. )

[acdc_rules]

I don't know. There's a reason I'm going back to therapy.

[He knows the thoughts and feelings are not logical. He was twelve.]

Felt like I was being punished even though I didn't do anything wrong.

[enate]

Well, for what it's worth, I think it's a healthy decision. Will you have to use metaphors?

( She's not sure how that might work, even with Dr./Patient confidentiality. )

When the time came, Dean trusted you. I don't remember all of it. I was pretty out of it, but, I remember you holding your own. You took to the shotgun a lot quicker than I... sorry. I've been replaying it, too.

[acdc_rules]

[Ben tries not to think about everything that came after.]

Yeah, I never want to do that again.

[He'll do it if he has to. But he doesn't want to have to.]

[enate]

That's okay. There's a reason he kept us out of it. Good reason.

( But that doesn't make what happened okay. )

[acdc_rules]

[Ben takes a deep breath and nods, before deciding to shove the rest of the topic away for now.]

I told him I'd be okay with meeting his mom. Seemed like a good middle ground when I don't know how to feel. So if you want to meet her too, I can let you know when she's here.

[enate]

Yeah. It's a little weird, but we were in a relationship for a year. And, I support you. I really do. Always have.

( She squeezes his hand. )

I should go back inside. You going to be okay?

[acdc_rules]

Yeah, I'll be fine. Gotta get to work anyway.

[He leans in for a quick kiss in the cheek before finishing off his coffee.]

Love you, Mom.

🎀

[enate]

Love you, too.

( She gets up, gives her son a kiss on the forehead and heads inside. )