Author's Note: In regards to what was mentioned in the Chapter 17 about Chuck having melody and or lyric ideas that he wanted to discuss with Dean…it seems like in the series, it is a possibility that he knew how to write music since he knew how to play guitar…but at the same time I say that…I'm thinking more along the lines of Rob's talent in that regard then the character he plays…something along those lines. But no, in this AU…Chuck isn't a musician, even if he still is capable of writing melodies and lyrics and playing guitar. Also, what I THOUGHT was going to be 19 is having to be pushed back to 20, but it'll still happen…so, don't worry about it.
Other: And, a continuing thank you to my beta for this story, vrskaandrea - any remaining errors are solely my own.
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Three Car Garage
While during the filming break from Supernatural, Dean had by no means been able to rest…he'd still had Cons to appear at, and music to sing, play, or write. Then of course, he had minor breaks where he'd drive out to Louisiana and spend some time with Benny. But, what had been most stressful was when after the initial break where Ben was supposed to go back with Lisa, he'd adamantly objected to going back…not necessarily because he wanted to spend more time with DEAN…but because he'd been bonding with Benny and didn't want to have to leave, yet. That ended up putting Dean and Lisa at odds up to the point of Lisa threatening legal action and Dean calling Sam.
Sam attempted to be diplomatic…which flew out the window when Lisa slapped Dean. The sound that came out of BOTH Benny AND Cas' mouths was one that Sam knew was something they only ever did when their fangs were out…and considering Sam could see their eyes…he knew they were pissed, the only reason he could figure that they HADN'T attacked Lisa just then was because Ben was standing behind Benny and Benny had a tight grip on Cas' trenchcoat. When Chuck walked out of the room, he knew that Chuck was either calling the LAPD or Gabriel…and honestly, the LAPD would be safer for Lisa because if he called Gabriel, Gabriel would make it his personal mission to wreck her life...and he would succeed. You do NOT mess with people he cares about and expect to still have a life afterwards, even if it wrecked his own in the process.
Sam, Benny, Cas, and even Ben stood and watched and listened as Lisa yelled and began demeaning Dean, including in some VERY creative ways, but what was surprising to both Benny and Ben, but not to Sam and Cas, was the fact that Dean was allowing it to happen…he wasn't arguing back, he was just standing there, taking it, and keeping his head down.
'What do you want me to do, Lisa?' Dean asked defeated, keeping his head and eyes down. 'Would you like me to slit my wrists or throat? Swallow a full bottle of pills? Or, would you just like me to hang myself?' He added.
All at the same time, 'De!' Sam said concerned, Cas made a sound between a growl and an exhale, and 'Cher!' Benny said disappointed
'I want you to leave my son alone!' Lisa snapped.
'You're not going to start THAT shit again, Lisa…he's MY son too, dammit!' Dean snapped back.
'There's never been any proof of that.' Lisa said smugly.
'You fucking bitch! I had a paternity test shortly after Ben was BORN…I know damn well he's my son! The court records that show my rights to visitation show that he's my son!' Dean argued. 'But, if it'll shut you up, I'll take another one…I don't care! I'm not going to let you disappear with Ben for another thirteen fucking years!' He added.
When the police showed up, Lisa and Dean were still arguing over Ben. The two officers were planning to arrest BOTH Dean and Lisa but Cas being an officer in his own right knew that the easiest solution was video evidence…so, he'd actually been videoing the whole thing on his phone. Lisa still ended up arrested due to the outstanding warrant, but Dean was just told to stay in the area - which stuck for all of three days when he had a Con to attend and sent Ben out to Louisiana with Benny.
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By the time the filming for Season 9 of Supernatural began, Dean's third album had been released, but he'd spent a significant amount of his 'time off' having to fight Lisa in court after she was released from jail - HOW she was released was beyond even Sam…which resulted in him having to be pulled out last minute from a couple Cons…including SDCC* which he was pissed about missing two years in a row, even if the prior time had been by choice.
Sam had ended up working the custody case himself and while Dean was content having visitation of Ben - as long as he ACTUALLY GOT TO SEE Ben, he wouldn't object to shared custody either since he had made significant changes in his life style since he and Lisa were together, but he really had no intent on even wanting full custody because he could not be around Ben as much as he would like to.
The filming of Season 9 ended up being pushed back two weeks because the custody battle had rolled into the filming schedule but thankfully was close to its end - according to Sam. Considering the lengths Lisa was willing to go, she was tying Sam's hands with what he could do and give Dean his best shot at keeping some sort of custody of Ben. Sam admitted that Dean had had a couple of suicide attempts in the past, but he was past those - or Sam HOPED he was, but he couldn't say THAT in front of the judge - and that he did drink more then was healthy but he'd undergone treatment for that - actually, Benny just didn't like him to drink much so both he and Chuck had cut back significantly, but again…not something he could say in front of the judge.
However, he also pointed out that Lisa had been under court orders for Dean to have visitation and it been over thirteen YEARS since Dean had seen Ben when Lisa decided to take off instead of allowing that to happen. When the accusation had been made that Dean was physically abusive to Lisa, Sam saw red and all bets were off. Dean wasn't really surprised after that that he ended up with custody of Ben. He knew logistically that Lisa would end up attempting to take custody back but Sam had agreed to do as much as he could without Dean's presence. In the mean time, Ben was staying with Benny in Louisiana…which Dean found oddly suspicious since THAT had been what Ben had wanted to begin with. If he didn't know any better...he'd think Ben had played every damn one of them and the system itself. He wasn't sure if that thought was cause for delight or concern.
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'Do you know what those shoes MEAN?' Liz asked carefully.
'They mean I'm gay, I'm out, and I'm proud.' Ben said easily.
'You're FOURTEEN, how can you know anything about…your sexuality?' Liz asked curiously.
'I've ALWAYS preferred other boys to girls, it wasn't until I was twelve that I realized what that meant, and I didn't care what the consequences were…I wasn't going to hide who I am.' Ben explained.
'Okay, and what do you like besides the Black Panther comics?' Liz asked curiously. She'd gotten relegated to Ben-sitting since Benny was dealing with the lunch rush and didn't have time to explain every nook and cranny of what he was doing to Ben.
'I like cooking and playing Assassin's Creed with Benny.' Ben said easily. 'I like learning about classic vehicles which mom even admitted is something I had to have gotten from Dean…since she couldn't tell a Ford from a Chevy if it wasn't for the logos.' He added. 'I'm not a big music fan but I do like Dean's, just…don't tell him I said that. And, I love pie! I like The Land Before Time movies. And, while I'm not particularly a fan of Pokémon I do have a habit of playing clone games based on it.' He continued. 'And, I LOVE geometry and graphing…I don't like algebraic geometry though because you don't always get an actual measurement and THAT'S annoying to me. I'm actually in advanced math classes. Ah hell! I'm going to need to find a new school, a new Muay Thai instructor, and a new archery instructor!' He concluded.
'Are you going to be going to school here or in LA?' Liz asked curiously.
Ben shrugged. 'I don't know, I'm hoping Dean will let me enroll here. Does Carencro even have a place that teaches Muay Thai or archery?' He asked curiously.
'I don't know.' Liz said honestly. 'I've never paid that much attention to which branch of what fighting discipline is taught and I don't keep track of hunting techniques.' She explained. 'Can you think of anything else?' She asked curiously.
'Out of the seven Muay Thai competitions I've competed in since I enrolled in classes when I was twelve, I've won five of them. One I lost due to a stupid move that got me disqualified and the other I had to drop out of after making the semi-finals because mom had to work and I had no other way to get there.' Ben explained. 'I've only competed in three archery competitions and I won the most recent. I like gardening and I like painting my toe nails.' He added.
'Do you have ANY shame?' Liz asked curiously.
'Besides the shame of giving up my virginity when I was twelve to a fourteen-year-old boy who it turned out didn't give a damn about me and the very next day called me a faggot in front of half the school?' Ben asked calmly. 'No, I don't.' He added.
'Um, um…I'm sorry that happened to you.' Liz said uncomfortably.
Ben just shrugged in response. 'So, what do you want to do once you graduate?' Liz asked cautiously but deciding that getting off THAT subject was a good idea.
Ben shrugged. 'Go to college, get a degree in Modern Geometry, continue competing in Muay Thai and archery competitions…I don't really have any other plans.' He admitted.
'Do you like being an only child?' Liz asked curiously.
'Uh huh. I don't like a lot of people enough to say I'd want a sibling.' Ben admitted.
'Do you have a favorite animal?' Liz asked curiously.
'I like cats but I'm allergic and while I wouldn't mind taking allergy medication, mom doesn't like cats period…so, I've never had one. I think mom told me that Dean is actually allergic to cats himself.' Ben explained.
'Why do you call your dad, Dean?' Liz asked curiously.
'Because really…he hasn't earned the right to be called my dad, yet.' Ben admitted.
'He's NEVER going to earn that title if you don't spend time with him.' Liz pointed out.
Ben shrugged. 'Do you prefer Star Wars or Star Trek?' Liz asked curiously.
'I don't really have a preference…one way or the other, I've watched both but I don't hold a preference.' Ben explained.
'Okay, King Kong or Godzilla?' Liz asked curiously.
'I don't really have a preference there, either.' Ben admitted.
'Have you ever seen the musical, Cats?' Liz asked curiously, deciding to try a different route…since she was getting NOWHERE with the current one.
'I have the CD set from the original London show but no, I haven't SEEN the musical.' Ben admitted.
'Have you ever done a play or tried singing or playing an instrument?' Liz asked carefully.
'I don't like acting and I can't sing or play an instrument.' Ben admitted.
'Have you ever watched Supernatural?' Liz asked curiously.
'No, I haven't. I haven't read the books, either. And no, I haven't watched or read Revolution, either.' Ben admitted.
'Do you mind the fact that Benny wanted you out of the way during lunch rush and that's why he stuck you with me?' Liz asked carefully.
'No. We can continue my cooking lessons when he ISN'T busy like this. I don't mind waiting. Whether you believe me or not, I can actually be quite patient.' Ben explained.
'Oh, I believe that you believe that you can be patient. That does not necessarily mean that I believe that you can be patient. Does that make sense?' Liz asked curiously.
'Yes, actually it does.' Ben admitted. 'You believe that I believe I can be patient. You do not however believe that I actually can be patient.' He explained. 'Did I get it right?' Ben asked curiously.
'Yes.' Liz said easily.
'So, do you actually work here or are you more of a fill-in?' Ben asked curiously.
'I do the finances but I am also a fill-in, yes.' Liz admitted.
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Author's Note: Damn, I'm tired but at least I finally got this done!
Reviews/Comments/Constructive Criticism welcome!
*SDCC=San Diego Comic Con
Flames will be used to roast marshmallows and then promptly deleted!
