Warning: There is a part where a woman kind of feels up Ben (don't worry, it doesn't get too far), but your guy's triggers are more important than a spoiler. I'm just giving you all a heads up.
It starts at: Ben retorted, "Why are you picking up hitch hikers?"
And ends at: "I said sto-"
Chapter 9
Ben Braeden was walking down a dirt road and the only light to guide him was gifted by the moon. A heavy bag was draped across his shoulder as he trudged along the gravel. He had one hand in his pocket, his eyes staring in front of him, and an unknown destination.
The kid had to get out of there. He needed to get away from Dean and the nightmares… at least for a little while. He was out on his own, again. Living in a screwed up life he didn't ask for; a life even stranger than the average messed up teenager. It was full of absent fathers, a dead mom, hunting actual monsters, and Dean Winchester. Ben walked down the road, not wondering where he was going, but how his life had taken a harsh and abrupt turn. It was so unpredictable and impossible to control. It started normal and kind, but soon turned into strange and dark. Ben was one of the unfortunate wayward sons.
Everything was beginning to make sense. The dreams, well the nightmares, were real. Dean Winchester really was there, fighting for the both of them and cooking breakfast. The kid's mom had really almost died. The hunter was no longer some stranger who took him in when they met at the vampire nest. He was the man that became part of the boy's family, but was quickly torn away from it.
When Dean stayed with Ben and Lisa, things were nice, but then something came back. The Winchester began drifting away and ruined everything they had. He basically walked out on family. It was obvious that Dean blamed himself for everything and maybe Ben did, too. The teenager was more upset about the guy leaving more than the demons. He was angry that Dean ran away instead of facing his problems. If the guy stayed then maybe they could still be living all together and having BBQ's in the backyard.
A pair of bright headlights was traveling down the road. Ben put a hand up, like he's done so many times before. Luckily, the car slowed down and stopped right next to the young man.
"Where do you need to go?" a woman asked, leaning towards the open car window. The kid hesitated, trying to think of an answer.
"Anywhere" Ben finally answered. The woman motioned him to come into the truck. The boy opened the door and climbed in. He put his bag on his feet and didn't bother buckling up. The lady started the engine and drove.
After a few minutes of silence, she stated, "Seatbelt" Obeying the driver, Ben clicked in.
"So, what are you doing on the road alone?" the lady asked.
Ben retorted, "Why are you picking up hitch hikers?"
The woman laughed and showed a toothy grin. Her lipstick was blood red and she had short, black, straight hair. Her eyeliner made her eyes seem bigger, but her skin was pale and colorless. She was wearing a short sleeved black top with faded jeans and dark tennis shoes. Something was off about her, but Ben couldn't put his finger on it.
She continued, "So, no one is waiting for you to get home or looking for you?"
"No" he lied. The kid was staring out the windshield and didn't notice the smirk that spread across the woman's face. She reached over and rested her hand on Ben's knee and slowly went up his thigh.
The young man slapped her hand away and yelled, "What the hell are you doing?"
"Oh, c'mon, it's fine. No one's looking for you. It'll be fun" She kept coming back with her hand, but Ben fought her. She was still driving, but managed to touch the kid.
"Stop being a little brat and-" Ben had kicked her, but it only made her focus on the boy more.
"Lady, stop it!" Ben was screaming at the top of his lungs.
"I said sto-" A blared horn rang in the air. The kid was smashed against his car door and the impact made him loose his breath. Something hit the vehicle. Glass shattered and sprinkled on the boy's face, while his seatbelt desperately tried to hold on to him. Metal was being crushed and damage was being done. His vision was getting blurry and everything soon faded to black.
…...
Dean let the kid walk out. He was still stunned at the whole situation and stood in the middle of the room. The hunter put up a hand to wipe away the tears, but realized he had already done so. Dean walked to the kitchen and grabbed a beer, but then put it back. He needed something stronger. He made himself a couple drinks of scotch and poured them down his throat. The hunter winced at the burning sensation that quickly faded. As he was drinking the liquor, he was trying to push back kind memories and thoughts that made his heart sink even further.
Once Dean was drunk enough not to feel the pain and could still stand, he went out looking for the boy. The Winchester got into his Impala and headed down a dirt road. Other than his headlights and the moonlight, there was nothing else to illuminate the pathway. After 10 minutes of driving, there was no sign of the boy. Dean was considering turning back until he saw a smoking truck leaning to one side on the side of the road. Quickly, the hunter parked Baby and ran over to the other car.
Dean thought, "That better not be him"
Out loud, he called, "Is anyone hurt?" He walked over to the car and shined the flashlight he had into the front seat. There was a woman with black hair and red blood on her forehead. She was lying on the steering wheel with her arms at her sides. The hunter could see his breath inside of him in the cold night and realized how hard he was breathing. He moved his flashlight around only to see Ben Braeden lying back against the seat and knocked out. There was also blood on the kid's forehead and arm. The huffs of smoke in the cold air increased.
The Winchester quickly ran over to the other side of the vehicle and ripped open the car door. He unbuckled the child and put an arm around his back and under his knees. Dean picked up the kid and carried him in his arms over to the Impala. On the way there, the hunter could feel the teenager breathing subtly. Despite the situation, he seemed so peaceful. Even though, Ben was 16 years old, he seemed so young and fragile in the Winchester's strong and protective arms.
Dean looked down at the boy and wished he could be carrying the kid from a couch to his bedroom, instead of a car crash to the hospital. This is not how he wanted this to go. The hunter noticed that due to the circumstances, he was becoming his own father. Dean was teaching Ben how to shoot and clean a gun and going on hunts with him. He was fighting with the kid and pushed him away. Even in the beginning Dean was acting like John. Dean would go out on a hunting trip with Sam when he came back and leave Ben and Lisa behind. This is not how he wanted any of this to go.
The hunter opened the car door and gently set the child down in the back seat. Dean ran over to the driver's seat and started the engine back up. The Winchester almost floored it and raced to the hospital. Every couple minutes, he would look over his shoulder to check on the bleeding kid. If anything, all Dean really wanted was for Ben to be safe.
…
Repeated beeping was the first thing the kid heard; then, came the bustling of feet against smooth floors and quiet chatter. Ben opened his eyes to see thin sheets, a heart monitor, and a fast asleep Dean. The hunter was sitting in a chair, next to the bed. The beeping kept going.
In the kid's sore throat, Ben croaked, "Dean"
The hunter stirred, so the boy repeated himself. The Winchester woke up and looked around the room. Once his eyes landed on Ben, he got closer to the boy and his bed.
Dean blurted out, "Are you okay?" Other than the slight headache the kid had, he was fine.
Ben reached a hand up to his head and replied, "Yeah, I think so. What happened?"
Dean licked his lips and answered, "I was driving around, trying to find you when I saw a truck banged up on the side of the road. I dragged you out when I saw you were inside. Then, I brought you to this hospital, and you've been out for a couple hours" His voice was laced with pure worry and concern. Ben could see the hunter was a little angry, but calm. They both were quiet for a moment.
The hunter added, "I'm glad you're safe now" Dean gave a quick smile. Another long pause followed.
Ben broke the silence by saying, "Dean, why didn't you stay?"
The hunter rested his elbows on his knees and responded, "Ben. I need to tell you something. Those demons were coming after you because I wouldn't do something for them. They wanted me to back off from trying to stop their 'evil plan'" Dean made air quotes. "Anyway, I left you guys because I knew they would try to hurt you. I've thought of how I could've done things differently over and over in my head. I've thought of what if I just never met you guys or if I wasn't there, but look where that got us. Maybe if I did stay then things would be better, but I've learned that's in the past and there's nothing I can do than live with the guilt and that's what I'm doing"
Ben looked down at his hands and said, "You're right. I'm sorry, Dean. I was mad because I thought you were running away from your problems and you were too much of a coward to deal with them, but now I see what you were trying to do" The hunter looked up at the boy.
The kid continued, "You really need to stop blaming yourself, though. Sure, you didn't do what those bad guys wanted you to do, but they were bad, right? You personally didn't want me and mom to die. You weren't the one who took us to that warehouse. It was those sons of bitches that did that. Not you. So guess what Dean Winchester? I don't blame you" For once, someone didn't. That brought a small smile on the old man's face that meant so much more on the inside.
With no smile, but eyes filled with gratitude, Dean softly stated, "Thank you, Ben" Sam and Castiel entered the room a few seconds later.
"You're awake" Cas said.
"How are you doing?" Sam asked.
"I'll be fine" the kid replied and no longer felt his headache.
