Disclaimer: I do not own Benny and Joon, or any of the characters. I just love June and Sam, and kind of have issues with Benny. He seemed to blame June for a lot of his own problems. I mean, she and Sam were the ones who could function in a healthy relationship! Benny was a mess with Ruthie on their date. And calling June crazy and insisting he knew best- was NOT okay. June may have a mental illness, but this does not make her incapable of love or decisions pertaining to her own life! I love this romantic comedy because it allowed for that growth in Benny to realize that the way he handled things with his sister was harming both of them more than helping her. But, unfortunately, I think he will also go a bit mad with that perceived freedom for awhile, make harmful decisions and hurt people before he realizes he's got his own issues.

"That was beautiful, man." Benny clapped Sam on the back. "You are a born performer."

"Thanks, Ben." Sam stirred his ice water with a tiny umbrella. He sighed. The bar was loud and crowded.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Ben," Sam looked up. "When do we get to go home?"

"Sam, we just got here! I don't want to drive back tonight! Look, I know you're worried about June, but I promise, she's fine. I asked Ruthie to check on her. Let's just have some fun tonight, okay? Great job!" He clapped him on the back again, before leaving to order himself another drink.

Sam sighed again. Ben didn't get it. He wasn't worried. He just missed her.

He watched Benny flirt with women, and Ruthie immediately came to mind. Sam couldn't help but feel intense disappointment as he watched Benny chat up a woman with red lips and short, dark hair. Before seeing how Benny's impromptu date would go, he left the hotel bar for their room, brushing his teeth and changing into pajamas by 10. He sat on the bed with his hands on his knees, facing Ben's empty bed. By midnight, Benny still hadn't returned, so Sam went to bed. Benny finally stumbled in after 2, waking Sam from dreams of strange smelling pillows and unfamiliar sounds.

"Sleeping already?"

"It's late," Sam said, pulling the covers off and eyeing the digital clock. "Early."

"Well, I'd love to sleep," Benny crooned. "But I gotta go first." Sam wrinkled his nose as Benny stumbled into the bathroom to relieve himself. When he came out, he dramatically fell onto the bed. Sam avoided looking towards him. Benny made things like that hard sometimes.

"Where were you?" Sam asked.

"Out," said Benny.

Sam nodded.

"Don't judge me, Sam. You never get tired of it? I mean, I know how June is. You can't know that she's the one you want. Not for sure. I know I'm not ready to be married to Ruthie. Not like she wants to ask me for my opinion." Benny pointed a finger at his chest.

Both women wordlessly watched as the credits rolled over the screen.

"So you and my brother..."

"Yes?"

"How...is it?"

"Oh. Fine, I guess."

"You don't sound fine."

"Well...he's just been...distracted lately. And he never wants to talk about where this is going."

"This?"

"Our relationship. I mean, by now, I thought I'd be married. But it's fine. It's fun, most of the time. And Benny is handsome, funny, charming."

June cocked her head, then looked up. "Are you two in love?"

Ruthie laughed. June just stared.

"I guess I don't know. I don't know if anyone can tell this early on in a relationship."

After a silence, June said "I can."

"I am sure." Sam said. "I always was."

"Bullshit. It's only been two months, how can you know?"

"From the first time I saw her."

"No," Ben shook his head. "No, sorry, that's just not how it works." Sam looked at Ben, but didn't say any more. Ben ran his fingers through his hair and stood up. He began to pace. "I mean, I know, you like her, and I'm happy for you. I am. But you've got so much potential. Don't you ever wonder about dating someone more, I don't know, normal? Prettier? Easier?"

"She's better than normal. She's perfect."

"Okay, alright, fine." Ben sighed, then gestured towards Sam. "Don't you ever think about trying other girls? You seemed to have your pick tonight. Didn't it even occur to you to buy one a drink? See where it goes?"

Sam's brow furrowed. "Like you did."

"No, well...yes." Ben sighed again. "Look, I like Ruthie. I do, I just...don't you ever look at some other girl, and think 'hey, maybe I'd like her better?'"

"No." Sam shook his head.

"No? No?! What about, I don't know, Ruthie?"

"Ruthie is nice." Sam said.

"Yeah. And pretty."

"But there is no one like June."

Ben stared at Sam from his bed. Ben's hands dangled lifelessly between his legs. "I'm not a bad person."

Sam sat silently on his bed.

"I just needed some time to think. I had to get away from her. She wanted to talk about our relationship, and I don't even know what I want."

"Have you told her that?"

"Sam, women don't like hearing thing like that."

"But it's honest."

Ben continued, ignoring Sam. "I spent so long taking care of June, worrying about her problems. I couldn't have a relationship. She'd never have let me. Now, I spend two days away from Ruthie and I meet someone else. And I forget about her! I forget and I like it!"

"Maybe it was never June."

"What?" Ben's eyes snapped up, as if he forgot Sam was there.

Sam's eyes met Benny's. "Maybe June was never the problem."

"Benny still doesn't want us together."

"I don't know if it's that..."

"I think he needs to leave us alone and focus on his own life!" June shook with anger.

"I think he still needs to figure things out for himself." Ruthie agreed, hoping to soothe June. "And I always thought you and Sam were wonderful together. I envy it. I don't see how he didn't see it."

"He's not as perceptive as he wants to be." June snorted.

"No, he's not."

"Is that part of the problem?"

"What?"

"With you two."

"I just don't know if I do want this, you know? Sheesh, I just got June out of the house!" Ben sighed. "I'm sorry, Sam. I shouldn't be talking like this to you. I've just been..." he sighed. "and I drank too much. Right? Don't mention any of this to them."

Sam sighed, and nodded.

As soon as Benny fell asleep, Sam snuck out of the room. He hurried down the hall to the payphone.

"June?"

"Sam!"

"I miss you." He could hear her sigh over the phone.

"You do?"

Sam nuzzled the phone. "I miss you."

"Me too. How did it- how was it?"

"Good." He nodded.

"Are you coming home?"

"Benny says tomorrow."

As they hung up, Sam rested his forehead on the wall. It would be a long night.