The Ends Justify the Means - Chapter 4

[shadownyc]

THE ENDS JUSTIFY THE MEANS

Title: Chapter 4 - Heating Up
Written By: shadownyc
Timeline: Post-513
Rating: PG-13 to R for language and sexual references
Warnings: Some angst
Summary: The lives of the QaF Family move forward. This fic was written for the NaNoWriMo 2007 challenge
Disclaimer: Don’t own the characters, Cowlip does…but wish I owned some of them

Comments

[jule1122]

What a wonderful chapter! You did such an amazing job writing Ben. It's easy to neglect the other characters in favor of Brian and Justin, but I can see Ben becoming a real strength of this story.

I love seeing a friendship develop between him and Brian. And Brian realizing how similar he and Ben are in some ways. Especially in their need to protect and take care of people to the point of assuming they know what is best for everyone. I hope Brian can help Ben.

One of my favorite things about S3 is the relationship that developed between Ben and Hunter. The hug at the end of 314 kills me. You did a fabulous job of showing how that relationship will evolve in the future. Ben and Hunter have such a natural bond, and you included that perfectly. I like the doctor using that to try and convince Ben to go to the hospital.

There were others in the waiting room and Ben thought guiltily that he was happy that they looked a lot worse off than he did.This is my favorite line! It's such a human moment and one anyone who has been sick

[shadownyc]

Thank you so much for that AMAZING feedback! This was the chapter that led to the rest of the fic writing itself. While this particular chapter ended up being Ben-centric it completed what I had called the set-up chapters. From here on in all of the snowballs just started rolling and growing towards the climaxes of the fic.

Each of the four men (I hope) continues that journey of boys to men that I really think was not quite completed by C/L. I felt there was still some growth to be had and that the end was prematurely reached.

I see very important similarities between Ben and Brian and the way they act as the alpha-male or top-partner (so to speak).

I'm so pleased that the waiting room scene worked for you. By the end of the series I no longer thought of Ben as Zen Ben. He was real with real emotions and reactions...which aren't always pretty and selfless.

[herefordroad]

i'm worried about ben...i love his character and i was touched by this:

"He didn’t want Hunter to have to resort to tens of thousands of dollars in loans just to get the education he earned and deserved. This was how Ben could take care of the only child he knew he’d ever have."

"His child...Somehow fate had stepped in and returned with a son. One who he could bond with and love more than any other child."

and now brian can use the "r" word without cringing and justin can mention it without brian freaking out:

“Back then if you had used the word ‘relationship’ when referring to us, just once, Ethan wouldn’t have ever happened. I’m glad to see that some things really do change for the better. You don’t even wince when you say it now.”

the correlation between brian's cancer and ben's condition is very interesting..and brian actually recognizes it:

"As Brian drove off he thought to himself, he’s a fucking asshole-let’s no one help him and thinks he can do it all himself. Then Brian laughed at the irony of his thoughts, sounds like

[shadownyc]

Thank you so much for all your comments and supportive feedback. It means a great deal to me.

I love Ben too. By the end of the series I saw him on a par with Brian, Justin & Michael. I think he parallels Brian in so many ways and the two can learn from each other if they really allowed it.

I also think it's very significant that Hunter, as an adopted child is as much Ben's as Michael's and therefore is a central focus for Ben. This is the opportunity Ben could never dream of and that Hunter once remarked in canon was the thing that would keep him from ever finding someone to love.

[amaranthink]

Oh my god! What a great chapter, especially the last paragraph. Tremendous insight, both yours and his. Fantastic job!

Looking forward to more and thanks for sharing.

[shadownyc]

Thank you so much!

It's so important to me to finish the growth curve from boys to men of all four men. Brian learning to admit to his own feelings and shortcomings is very important to the story.

Each of the men has a journey that was ALMOST finished in canon. I want to take them that final step.

The Ends Justify The Means

[sabina1956]

This is a wonderful story, bittersweet at times but with promises of love and hope. I can't wait to read more!

Sabina

Re: The Ends Justify The Means

[shadownyc]

I'm so glad that you're enjoying this. It's mix of growth, hurdles and definitely the promise of hope and love. That's a beautiful interpretations and points to the growth I hope the fic will convey for all four men.

Thank you!

[llvoncan]

I'm beginning to understand your title. Ben wants so much to be "well" that he is actually going to jepordize his life to do so. Glad he told Brian everything. Your last paragraph was so true and beautifully written. You have a great handle on not just Brian and Justin but Ben as well. Patiently waiting for more....

[shadownyc]

The title was the last thing I wrote in this entire fic. I had a number of ideas as the story progressed but when I finished and thought of all the journeys this was the only one that fit.

Ben telling Brian was a huge step. They are much more alike than either ever gave credit for.

You have a great hanle on not just Brian and Justin but Ben as well. That is a supreme compliment! Thank you so much. Writing commentaries on the show forced me to look very closely at all the characters.

I truly appreciate your wonderful comments!