Ben had returned the kid to his mother, and sat with Garth on the couch in his tiny apartment. Brooding.
"So," he said eventually. "Ghosts are real. I can't say I'm surprised." And he wasn't. It felt more like a confirmation, someone telling him something he'd forgotten years ago.
Garth leaned in for a hug, and Ben stiffened until the man finally let go, sniffing. "You poor kid. I betcha you're itching to hunt now?"
Ben sighed deeply. "If stuff like that's out there... I have to gank it before it gets someone else."
The word gank seemed to surprise both him and Garth. Garth let out a slight chuckle, seeming almost as young as Ben. "You've got the lingo down already, huh?"
He went as if to squeeze Ben's shoulders again, but to Ben's great relief, Garth's phone rang. He ignored it for a second, long enough to reassure Ben that he'd teach him everything he'd need to know. Then he pulled open his canvas jacket, exposing a grid of cellphones. Ben gaped, but Garth went straight for the one that was spewing the toxically sweet ringtone.
Garth's face lit up as he flipped open the phone and Ben had to hold back a scoff - what kind of phone did you still have to flip open nowadays?
"Bess, sweetheart!" Garth said, sounding somehow even more naive and sweet than he usually did. Ben now resisted the urge to gag.
Then Garth's smile dropped off his face, replaced by an expression that reminded Ben of a kicked puppy. Another second, and the look intensified. Ben found himself wanting to give the other man a hug. He was growing on him, somehow. Like a fungus.
"Of course, sweetie." Garth said, trying to smile at the person through the phone. "I'll make it right back!"
Then he seemed to realize Ben was in the room, and his kicked-puppy expression went to level nine thousand. "Just give me a few minutes, Bessie, I have to sort some things out, then I'll be on the road." A pause. "New hunter." Another pause. "That's a great idea! Love you too." And he clicked the phone shut.
Ben gave him a What the hell was that all about expression for as long as he could, which was approximately two seconds. "Who was that?"
"My wife. She's got a problem up at the church, a new bitten acting up." Garth sighed dejectedly. "And I was looking forwards to helping train you, but family calls."
Ben didn't even try to parse that. "So you can't help me?" It came out harsher than he had intended, and he tried for a smile. It came out as fake as Mrs. Master's boobs.
That image made him smile for real; a cocky little thing that Ben knew made him look innocent. Or at least, above guilt.
Garth muttered another something about an old friend, something about smiles and getting out of things, then shook his head. "Nah. Not gonna leave you with a ghost in your head. I'll call up a friend. She's about a year older than you, she can help."
Ben couldn't help it. "She?"
Garth looked offended as he could, which wasn't very. "Yes. She's the best hunter in this area that ain't tied down to a specific hunt." He stood, grabbing his duffel. "I'll call her on the way home. What's your address?"
We're at my house right now, Garth, be thought, but scribbled it on the back of an auto shop business card, handed it over. Then he looked away; images of the smoking oil drum and ghost on fire playing over in his mind. "...thanks for the save."
"No problem, buckaroo!" Garth said, back to his frighteningly cheery self. He opened his arms, gestured. "C'mere!"
Ben reluctantly gave him another hug and waved as Garth exited, running toward his AMC Pacer, which Ben personally disapproved of as a hunter's car. All he could think about was his apple green Impala, snug in the garage and somehow, after his horrible day, he smiled.
Yay! I think I actually managed to do a pretty good job with Garth, surprisingly enough. It was quite amusing working with him, really. He'll play a part, on and off. I mean, he was the Bobby, and even after he went werewolf, he offered to hunt with Dean. Makes sense that he'd get back to it. And since S&D&C are busy obfuscating random officials elsewhere or whatever it is they're doing without plot right now... Ahem. Anyway. Garth's the man.
Just one more chapter (WITH BIG PLOTTY YAY) and then you get to meet someone else. You haven't technically met her before, but I think you'll like her. And man, has she got some plot behind her. Like, almost more than Ben. Mwahaha. Crowley, you're a genius.
Oh, and it seems I lied about the season. Heh. I've finally caught up all the way, and now it actually seems to work better if it's set in around season ten. After the ghost-in-the-wifi episode, likely. Or later, since I'm totally unable to see the future. So when Dean's got a hold of the Mark and there really aren't any other problems hanging around besides misplaced angst.
I like the word angst. Ha.
Anyway, have a good week! Hope you enjoyed the chapter!