A/N: Merry Christmas... or whatever isn't offensive. This will be my last chapter before the holiday, but I hope to have one more up before the New Year.

A week after the party, Charlie took Dorothy to the Black Dog for a date. Partly because Dorothy kept asking about the restaurant and partly because Charlie hadn't seen her friends since the party. They were seated at the bar pretty quickly by Jo, a girl Dean had grown up with, who was now working part time as the hostess, as far from the liquor as Dean could get her.

"A gin and tonic for the lady," came a smooth voice. Benny grinned and looked at Dorothy, "And what can I get for you, miss?"

"Whiskey, neat." Dorothy said civilly, looking sideways at Charlie. Once Benny left, she turned on the stool, "So, how does he know what you drink?"

"I thought you weren't jealous, Dor." Charlie said, smirking, "But FYI he and I met in a bar, it just so happens he's friends with Dean. He and I clicked, which helped a lot since I was fighting with Dean after he walked in on us."

"I see. Sorry, Charlie, I'm not used to being so jealous, I'm normally not. You're just different, I guess," Dorothy smiled and put her hand on Charlie's.

"Yeah. I have that effect on people." Charlie laughed as Benny sat down Dorothy's drink.

"You girls look like you're having fun."

"Benny, you don't want to know." Charlie said, still grinning, "Oh! Benny, this is Dorothy, my girlfriend. Dor, this is Benny, he was in the Army with Dean."

"Nice to meet you, Benny, sorry that I've been kind of less than warm to you." Dorothy smiled, "It's just I'm not used to being with a girl who doesn't like guys at all, so I see most guy friends as competition."

"No need to worry about me, girly," Benny said laughing lightly, "Charlie is like the sister Dean never wanted, so she's the same to me."

"Wait! That's my title," Jo said, with a laugh. "Oh wait, I'm just the little sister he never had, never mind."

Everyone broke up laughing at the teenager.

"What's so funny?" Dean asked as he walked up to his friends.

"Your sisters," Benny said, before going back to tending bar.

"My... sisters?" Dean asked, before realizing what it was going on, "Charlie, Jo, what did you two say?"

"Oh we're just getting our titles straight," Jo said, laughing again, "Oh look customers, gotta go!"

"That kid. I dunno what I'd do without her." Dean said, as he sat next to Charlie and grabbing a beer from under the counter.

"Stay sane?" Charlie pitched in.

"You know, probably. God, the things that family's seen me do over the last few years. Alcohol, college, twice-"

"The Army?" Benny said, raising his eyebrows. His sudden arrival made Charlie jump, the man could be stealthy when he wanted to.

"Damn, Benny, you're quiet enough to be a vampire. Are you sure the books are why you're the Vampirate?"

"The stealth may have had something to do with it, bro. I mean, being a vampirate in the desert is a little tough." Dean joked.

"OK, OK, would you two prefer I wear a bell?"

Dean and Charlie looked at each other and broad grins grew on both their faces.

"NO! No way in God's green Earth will I wear a bell." Benny said, backing away with his hands up.

After Benny went back to work, Dean took his beer back to his office to work some more and left Charlie and Dorothy alone. They stayed until last call, talking about this and that, a little bit of nothing and everything all at the same time. Benny would stop by every now and again to bring them drinks and would talk with both of them before going back to work. More often than not, those little chat sessions ended in both the girls laughing till their ribs hurt.

A/N: So, what did ya'll think?! Reviews are the way to my heart ladies and germs, so if you liked it, let me know, if you didn't, let me know. Anyway, so I'm planning a collaboration with an awesome fellow author... hopefully that'll be up soon.