ceteris paribus: II. Family - SN/DA crossover - R - part 1/2
Title: ceteris paribus
Chapter: II. Family
Fandom: “Supernatural”/“Dark Angel” crossover
Disclaimer: if you recognize them? They ain’t mine. I wrote this because school ain’t nearly interesting enough.
Warnings: spoilers for all of “Supernatural” and “Dark Angel.” AU for “Dark Angel.” Character death.
Pairings: Dean/Sarah, Dean/Sam, Michael(OMC)/Lauren(OFC), Kat/Nathan(OMC), Nora/Billy(OMC), Haley/Charlie(OMC), Ben/Asher
Rating: R
Wordcount: total--12060
Point of view: third
Dedication:
tru_faith_lost. Hope everything gets better soon, darling!
Notes: I’m sick. And twisted. And obsessed. Forgive me.
More notes: ceteris paribus is Latin and means all else remains the same.
Notes cubed: I've taken liberties with supplies in a post-Pulse world, as I believe the Winchesters would have preparations.
Yes-still more notes: I’ve also taken liberty with transgenic abilities, as I’m not too clear on what they actually are.
Chapter I: Out of the Forest
Kat and Asher were first.
Almost a year after the Pulse, Ben was in his room reading Shane when he heard someone walking up the drive. Dean and Sam had left that morning for Indiana and would be back within the week. Michael was headed for New Orleans to pick up a friend who’d finally gotten in touch and begged him to come get her.
So Sarah and Ben were alone. Sarah was napping in her and Dean’s room, and Ben wanted to wake her-she was the adult and it was her house-but froze in the act of flipping the page. Michael trusted him with Sarah.
Dean trusted him with Sarah.
So Ben ghosted down the hall and crouched just out of sight from the front door. Two heartbeats, two voices whispering, and then a soft knock. Ben closed his eyes, focusing on their voices-young, both of them, but one far younger. Ben deliberated for an instant before opening the door slightly. He looked at the humans: a blond woman not more twenty and a boy about his own age.
“Who’re you?” he demanded of them and the woman pushed the boy behind her.
“Do the Winchesters live here?” the woman asked and Ben could hear in the words how rundown she was.
“Who?” Ben responded, trying to peer around her at the boy.
“Please,” she said. “Tell them Kat from Roosevelt Asylum is here. Please.”
Ben looked up at her, assessed her tired, aching brown eyes. “They’re in Indiana,” he said and Kat sagged down, closing her eyes. He continued, “Would you like to come in?”
Kat raised her head and looked at him-measured him.
He tried a comforting smile, like he’d seen Dean and Sam use. She relaxed and reached behind her to grip the boy’s shoulder. With a nod, she said, “Please.”
-
Ben led Kat and the still-nameless boy to the dining room. He could tell they were pure human, like Sarah and Michael, or he wouldn’t have let them in. He told Kat to sit and she pulled the boy down into the chair next to her. Swiftly Ben served them some lemonade and asked if they’d prefer turkey or ham. Kat said ham and the boy nervously raised his eyes from the table, barely glancing at Ben before looking away.
“Would you prefer turkey?” Ben guessed, aiming for what Dean called Sam’s ‘empathy face.’ The kid nodded. Now that Ben could study him, he saw that the boy was actually older than him, by at least a couple of years. Ben made his sandwich first and when he put the plate in front of him, the kid whispered, “Thank you.”
Kat wrapped an arm loosely around the boy’s shoulders, offering strength and comfort. Ben quickly threw together a ham sandwich for her and sat down across the table. The kid picked at his but Kat made short work of hers and drained her lemonade.
“You’re someone they saved?” he asked, covertly focusing most of his attention on the boy.
She nodded, setting her glass down. “My boyfriend, Gavin…” Her shoulders tightened and her broke as she said his name. “One of our dates, he thought it would be cool to check out a haunted place.” Ben shook his head and she huffed a small laugh. “I know. It was stupid, so stupid. But we didn’t believe in ghosts then.”
Ben got up and grabbed the pitcher of lemonade, placed it in front of her before plopping back down in his chair. With a smile, Kat refilled her glass and sipped, then continued her story.
“We got separated. I heard him scream and I ran in the direction I thought it came from. But I got turned around, couldn’t find my way.” She shuddered. “I was so sure I’d die in that place. But then they found me, Dean and Sam. And then we found Gavin. They dealt with the ghosts and got us out.” She sighed, turning her glass between her fingers. “A month later, Gavin took his older brother’s gun and ate a bullet.” She rubbed at her eyes and ran a hand through her hair. “And I hated him for that. I hated him so much.”
She needed a moment so Ben gathered up her plate and a few other dishes littering the kitchen, put them gently in the sink. As he turned back to enter the dining room, he heard Sarah walking down the hall.
“That was five years ago,” Kat said. “Once I knew there were real monsters in the dark, I couldn’t-” She shook her head and sighed.
“You couldn’t turn your back and forget,” Sarah finished, entering the dining room. Kat and the boy jumped, and Kat whirled to face the door, scrambling for the gun she thought Ben didn’t know was tucked into the back of her pants.
But when she laid eyes Sarah, her hand stilled. “Do you have a brother named Michael?”
Ben’s attention was caught by the kid. He sobbed a little, so quietly neither of the women noticed. Ben tried to think of what Dean would do. After a moment, ignoring Kat and Sarah, Ben padded over and sank to his knees beside the boy.
“I’m Ben,” he said softly.
“Asher,” the kid replied without meeting his eyes.
Ben held out a hand. “Nice to meet you, Asher,” he said and Asher took his hand, clasped it lightly, and shook. After letting his hand drop, Ben asked, “You like to read?” Asher nodded, still not looking up. “You wanna see my room? I have tons and tons of books.”
Asher glanced towards Kat, but she was deep in conversation with Sarah. He thought for a moment then raised his gaze to meet Ben’s eyes. “Okay,” he whispered and Ben pulled away, stood up. Asher slid from the chair and Ben tried to smile reassuringly but wasn’t quite sure he managed it. He led Asher down the hall without speaking, unable to think of words. Asher’s bearing reminded him of some of his unit-fragile, breakable, bearing too much pain for someone so young.
Shane still lay on the bed. Asher sat next to the slim novel and lightly touched the cover. “My brother used to read to me,” he said, voice barely a murmur. Ben bet that if he wasn’t a government-made super-soldier, he wouldn’t have heard the words. “His favorite was The Count of Monte Cristo. I didn’t really understand it, but I loved the sound of his voice.”
Asher kept tracing the edges of the book while Ben searched for something to say. He finally settled on, “Where is he now?” though Ben bet that he knew.
Asher almost smiled and a few tears leaked out his eyes. “If there’s a heaven, he’s in it with Momma.”
Ben reached out, laid a couple fingers on the book. “You want me to read to you?” he asked, unsure of what to expect.
Asher kept his gaze on the book and nodded.
-
Twenty pages in, Asher fell asleep, stretched out on the bed. Ben read on two more pages then lay the book next to Asher’s head. Ben slipped from the bed and tucked his comforter around Asher, padded silently from his room.
As he walked down the hall, he replayed Sarah and Kat’s conversation. Even though he’d been out of Manticore for year, he still didn’t fully understand humans, so he needed clarification on what he’d heard.
Apparently, Sarah was Kat’s aunt. And, by the smell, Sarah had broken out the wine. Huh.
When he stepped into the kitchen, Kat raised her head. “How is he?”
“Asleep,” Ben answered. “What happened to his brother?”
Kat lowered her eyes. “A few months after the Pulse, I left home. I didn’t really have any plans, any destination, but I wound up in Wisconsin. A few miles past the state line, I saw these two kids-they were hurt, the smaller one trying to carry the older. So I stopped.” Kat paused and sipped her wine. “I shouldn’t have-it was almost as stupid as going to that asylum. But they were just boys.” She closed her eyes and tightened her grip on the wine flute. “Michael and Asher-Michael was hurt, badly. Maybe if the Pulse hadn’t happened-” She cut herself off, harshly wiped her eyes.
“What was wrong with him?” Sarah asked, reaching out to touch Kat’s hand.
“He’d been beaten. They both were, but Michael was worse. Michael couldn’t talk and blood was welling in his mouth.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Asher begged me to help him, sobbed for Michael to stay awake, and he tried.” Kat buried her face in her hands. “He tried so hard, but he died that night. And he couldn’t talk, couldn’t move-God, I thought Asher would die, too.”
Sarah was crying softly, holding Kat’s hands. Ben stared back the way he’d come, listened for Asher’s quiet breath.
“And then?” he asked softly.
“It took days before I could convince Asher to leave Michael’s grave. And he’s barely spoken in seven months.” She raised her head, met Sarah’s eyes. “In Nebraska, I found a group-their leader is a woman named Ellen. She sent me here. Said the Winchesters were still alive, that they could help me. Please-something’s after us. I don’t know what. I’ve kept us ahead of it, barely.”
Ben didn’t glance at the women, just kept listening to Asher breathing. “They’ll be back by Monday,” Ben said.
Sarah nodded.
-
Ben leaned against the wall across the room from Asher. The thought of sitting with his brother all night, watching his brother-hearing his brother die… Ben knew that would replace the nightmares of Manticore.
In his sleep, Asher flinched. Tears leaked from his eyes; he whispered Michael’s name and a plea. Ben didn’t know what to do, how to help the older boy. He swiftly ran through his memories, focusing on Dean that night they spoke.
So he slowly straightened and walked across the room, slipped down beside Asher’s head. “It’ll be alright,” he said, gently threading his fingers in Asher’s hair. “Dean and Sam will be back soon. They’ll take care of you.”
-
Michael beat the Winchesters home by three days. He brought with him two people: an older woman about his age and a young man. Ben watched warily as Michael helped the woman into the house. The young man didn’t lift his eyes from the floor as he followed them into the kitchen.
Sarah and Kat waited there; Asher stayed in Ben’s room. He still hadn’t opened up, hadn’t spoken about whatever happened to his brother before Kat found them. But he shadowed Ben around the house, so Ben had started training him, teaching him to fight. Asher wasn’t anywhere near Ben’s level and wouldn’t be for a long time, but he had potential. Ben didn’t even know how long Asher would stay, but he found himself growing sad at the thought of the older boy leaving.
Michael got the woman and boy each a sandwich; Sarah poured them a glass of apple juice. Kat watched from the corner, sticking close to Ben.
Finally, Michael said, “This is Lauren Weston and her son Chris.” He sat beside Lauren and Sarah chose the chair across from him. Kat sank next to her. “Lauren’s husband George was a longtime friend of mine.”
Sarah wrapped an arm around Kat’s shoulders. “This is Kat Evans-her mother was a friend of yours, too.”
Michael focused on Kat, studied her face. “Anna?” he asked and Kat nodded. “Her husband take good care of you?” She nodded again.
Ben assessed Lauren and Chris. Lauren didn’t appear to be a threat; Sarah and Kat could both take her, easily. But Chris-something in him made Ben snarl. He looked about seventeen, blue eyes, black hair. Tall and thin, he moved smoothly, economically.
Like Ben himself.
Christ kept his gaze on Ben as Michael introduced Sarah. His eyes were cold and hard, and Ben resolved to always be with Asher-at least until Dean got home. He and Sam wouldn’t let the dangerous boy stay.
Michael, Sarah, and Lauren got into an in-depth discussion about protection and Ben slipped away after a few minutes. He knew that Chris would follow. He waited just out of sight down the hall and let Chris come to him.
The older boy circled him, appraised him. “You don’t like me,” Chris said, laughter threading through the words.
Ben heard Asher’s footsteps and maneuvered himself around Chris until he stood between them. Chris gazed past him and smirked.
“Leave him alone,” Ben growled. “I don’t care if Michael vouches for you or not-hurt Asher and I’ll kill you.”
Narrowing his eyes, Chris snorted. “As if you could.”
Ben bared his teeth in the parody of a smile and Chris shivered. After a moment, he purposefully turned his back, walked steadily towards the kitchen.
Asher paused at Ben’s shoulder. “Who’s that?” he asked.
“Chris,” Ben told him. “Chris Weston. He and his mom showed up today.”
“Would you really kill him?” Asher’s voice was soft, tired, and Ben wondered what he’d been like before his brother died. He was at least three years older and a couple inches taller, but he seemed so small, so young.
Ben turned to face him, met his eyes without flinching. “I would.” He reached out to grip Asher’s shoulder and herded him back to his room. “Until Dean and Sam get back, don’t stay anywhere alone.”
-
Asher stayed with Ben, Kat, or Sarah. Michael spent time with Kat and Lauren, catching up. Lauren was nice, sweet; Ben liked her. And because of that, he couldn’t figure out where Chris came from.
Chris found one of the gun stashes and shot at the targets in the backyard. He didn’t listen to Michael, he didn’t listen to Lauren, and Sarah forbade Ben from kicking his ass.
“Dean’ll teach him,” she told him firmly. “So don’t make him an enemy, Ben.”
“If he hurts you, Kat, Asher, or Michael,” Ben said, “I’ll kill him, Sarah.”
Sarah tried smiling. “I know that, sweetie. I just hope it doesn’t happen.” She sighed. “I like Lauren well enough, but I wish Michael hadn’t brought Chris here.”
-
Ben and Asher helped Sarah in the kitchen; Michael and Lauren talked in the den. Chris was somewhere else in the house, but Ben had his senses ready for any hint of the teenager. Kat was showering.
Everyone except Chris had just sat down to supper-oven-baked chicken and homemade mashed potatoes-when Ben raised his head. “They’re back,” he exclaimed and shot from his chair to the front door, opening it before anyone else was able to move.
Sam carried in an unconscious guy about his age and Dean held a young woman, who looked around in shock. “Get Sarah,” Dean barked and followed Sam in hurrying down the hall, up the stairs, to the room they’d set aside for doctoring.
Sarah heard the command and took the back way, beating them there.
“Go eat,” Dean told Ben. “We’ll need you strong later.” Ben met his eyes for a moment and saw the warmth, so he nodded and ghosted back to the dining room.
Kat, Michael, Lauren, and Asher looked up as he reentered and took his seat. “Dean and Sam are back,” he explained and ate some chicken. Michael chuckled and shook his head.
-
Chris showed up while Ben and Asher were clearing the table. Lauren had gone to her room, Michael was helping with the injured, and Kat had decided to do the laundry.
Ben heard the back door open and glanced in that direction. Asher kept on running the water, cleaning the plates; Ben placed himself between the doorway and Asher.
For a moment, the first time since his discussion with Dean months before, Ben thought about the Blue Lady. He wondered if Chris would be a good sacrifice for her. With a shudder, he shook that off. He didn’t need her anymore. He had Dean, he had Sam, he had Michael and Sarah, and Kat-and Asher. No matter how long they stayed.
He had Asher.
Ben knew he had created the Blue Lady and now that he’d found a family, he didn’t need her anymore.
But a part of him-the hunter, the predator, the killer-wanted to kill Chris anyway, to eliminate the threat.
Chris paused in the doorway, meeting Ben’s eyes. He smirked and tipped an imaginary hat then turned and walked away.
Ben watched him go and glared, then continued helping Asher.
He’d have to talk to Dean; Dean would know what to do.
-
By the time Dean came down to the kitchen, Ben was the only one still up. He had a plate of leftovers ready and pressed it into Dean’s hands.
“Thanks, kiddo,” Dean muttered and practically fell onto the stool by the counter. He sat there for a moment and yawned, then tore into his supper. While he ate, Ben told him about Kat and Asher-Dean remembered them and shed light on the events that had introduced them.
“I never really met Asher,” Dean said, draining his glass of water. Ben hurried to refill it. “But Michael-he was a brave kid. Would have died for his brother without blinking.”
“What about Kat?” Ben served Dean second helpings and heated it up.
“Knew how to use a gun.” He laughed. “Nearly shot me.” He took the plate from Ben with a smile. “Who’re the other people?”
“An old girlfriend of Michael’s and her son.”
Dean raised his head at Ben’s tone. “You don’t like the boy?”
Ben shook his head. “I hate him.”
Dean stared at him for a moment. “Any particular reason?” he asked.
Shaking his head, Ben looked away. “No,” he said. “I just… can’t stand him, Dean.”
“Keep an eye on him,” Dean commanded. “Don’t leave Sarah alone with him.”
Ben nodded. “I’ve been sticking close to Asher.”
“Ben.” He looked up to meet Dean’s serious gaze. “If you feel like he’s a threat to anyone, take appropriate action.” He paused. “Understood?”
Only Michael, Dean, and Sam fully comprehended what Dean meant by that.
Ben grinned. “Understood.”
Now, Ben could kill Chris without question. He almost wanted to hunt the bastard down now, before he put into motion whatever plan he undoubtedly had. But he refused to give into the temptation because of Dean. Dean would understand and not blame him-but he would be disappointed. And Ben couldn’t stand that.
Dean, Sam, Michael, and Sarah had managed in less than a year something Manticore never had: made Ben loyal. He would do anything in his power to keep them safe, keep them happy.
The kitchen was quiet a moment as Dean ate and Ben pondered. Then Ben asked, “Who’re those two you brought in?”
Dean chuckled. “Andy and Ava. We met them about four years ago, a couple of months after Dad died.” He gulped down his water and Ben refilled the glass. “Like Sammy, they have abilities-Andy can control minds and Ava gets premonitions.” Dean picked up his glass and studied it for a second, tightening his grip around it. “And like Sam,” he said softly, dangerously, “some factions of hunters consider them a threat.”
“They were hunted?” Ben had tried to wrap his mind around anyone thinking Sam bad, thinking he deserved to be hunted and killed. But he couldn’t do it. Sam was too good, too kind.
Dean nodded. “We got there in time, barely. They’d knocked Andy out, so he couldn’t Obi-Wan ‘em, and Ava was begging…” He met Ben’s eyes. “Andy’s only ever killed one person, and that was to protect his girlfriend and me. Ava hasn’t hurt anyone.” Dean sighed. “Andy’s not gonna live through the night.”
He finished his supper and put the plate and fork in the sink, drained his water again. He stood in the doorway for a minute. “It’s a shame about Michael. He was a good kid.” Dean glanced over his shoulder. “Take care of his brother, ‘kay, kiddo?”
Ben nodded and almost grinned.
-
Andy died just after dawn. Dean disposed of his body. Ben took Asher out of the house, on a trek across their neighborhood. He showed Asher all of his bolt-holes, showed him the animals hiding out and surviving, showed him how to pick locks and sneak around.
By the time they got back, Ava was sitting in the den, right arm in a sling and an icepack on her face. Kat sat on one side, Sarah on the other; Ava was crying and Sarah gently rubbing circles on her back. Dean and Sam sat on the loveseat, to the side of the couch, and Michael had the recliner.
“Ava,” Sam said softly and she raised her head. “Just tell us what happened. Take as long as you need.”
Ben and Asher sank down by Dean and Sam’s feet; Ben leaned back against Dean’s legs.
“After… after we met, Sam,” she began, “I realized Dan was a plant.” She laughed. “Possessed. The man I loved never existed.” She licked her lips and shifted, wincing. Ben heard her ribs creak. “So I ran. I ripped off my ring and I ran. I don’t know what happened to Dan-” She shook her head. “He was alive when I left.”
Sam nodded. “We know, Ava.”
“I just ran,” she sobbed. “You told me there were others like us, and Scott’s tapes said we’d become some kind of army. I freaked.” She sagged back and Kat wrapped her arms around her. “I just… hid. Some demon was after me, and hunters-I didn’t know what to do.”
“Why didn’t you call us?” Dean asked gently and she shrugged.
“I tried, at first. But it never went through. A couple months after, I got a call from a woman named Missouri. She told me to give it up and leave you alone. That you had more important things to worry about than me.”
Dean stiffened and hissed; Ben responded to his rage by sitting up straight. “ Missouri?” Dean repeated softly.
Ava nodded. “It was about a year after I left Dan that I met Andy. I hadn’t had any premonitions since I saw Sam blow up, and I’d almost convinced myself that it’d all been a very vivid, weird dream. And then I was walking down the street in Seattle, going by Eva Smith, and overheard this guy talking himself out of a ticket. He didn’t plead-just said he didn’t need a ticket and the cop agreed.”
Dean sank back into the cushions and Ben let himself relax. He closed his eyes, listening-Lauren was taking a shower and Chris was trying to sneak out the back.
Ben turned to whisper in Asher’s ear. “Stay with Dean or Sam.” Asher nodded and Ben smoothly extracted himself from the room.
At the doorway he paused to look at Dean. He wasn’t seeking permission or validation. But Dean nodded, giving it anyway, the weight on Ben’s shoulders lightened.
-
Ben shadowed Chris out into the desert. He met up with a sleek black man and half a dozen others, all grizzled and hard. Ben didn’t get too close; he focused his eyes, memorizing their faces, and listened.
“So the Winchesters are there?” the leader asked, circling Chris.
“Yeah,” Chris nodded. “And some chick named Ava. There was another guy-Andy something, I think. But he’s gone now.”
“Hmm…” the black guy paused and glanced to one of his men. “Why come to me?” He turned back to Chris and got in his face. “What do you want?”
“There’re four women altogether, including Ava and my mom. There’re three men, counting the Winchesters, and two kids. I want my mom unhurt, and I want one of the kids: Asher.”
“Really?” the leader mused. “We can do that.”
“Go now,” Chris said. “Ava’s got everyone’s attention. Dean and Sam just got back, so they’re exhausted.”
“Gordon,” one of the other guys said, and the black man glanced his way. “This may be the last chance we get.”
“Alright. Billy, Nate, George, Adam-follow this pup. Half around the back.”
Chris nodded and started off, the four Gordon named following him. Ben snarled and glared at Gordon before melting into the night.
He could hurry back to the house and warn them, but that left Asher and the rest in danger. Dean and Sam needed sleep-they could fight, but would probably end up hurt. Then there was Ava…
So Ben’s best bet was to pick off the hunters before they ever reached the house.
My Lady, Ben thought, baring his teeth in a grin. Tonight I offer you sacrifices. Please smile on me.
-
Ben struck silently and swiftly; after his first move, only Chris was alive two minutes later. He appeared in front of the older boy suddenly and quietly. “’lo, Chris,” he said and Chris flinched back, searching over his shoulder.
With wide eyes, Chris turned to flee and Ben leapt in front of him. “No, Chris,” he laughed. “You threatened Dean and Sam. You threatened Asher. So,” he smiled, “let’s play.”
-
After he finished with Chris and hid the five bodies, Ben hurried back to where Gordon had been. He followed the trail as far as he could, but the tracks vanished. He rushed as quickly as he could to the house and turned onto the drive at the same time he heard gunfire. He snarled and flew up the drive, sneaking around the back-Gordon held a gun to Ava’s head and his companion had a gun pointed in Dean and Sam’s direction. Sarah, Asher, and Kat were sheltered behind the loveseat and Michael stood a little behind Sam.
“Finally caught up to you boys,” Gordon drawled. “Three shots and the last of you are dead. The world’ll be free again.”
“You’re insane,” Dean told him. “We’ve known that for years.”
“I’m not the one protecting the enemy, Dean,” Gordon hissed. “You’ve refused to see what’s right in front of you since you were little. He’s dangerous, Dean, always has been.”
Ben studied the situation. He could take out Gordon, but the other guy might get a shot off. He could take out the other guy, but Gordon would definitely kill Ava.
He should have come back and warned them.
“Gordon,” Sam said, stepping in front of Dean. “Let her go. Ava’s never even hurt anyone.”
Gordon scoffed, tightening his grip on her shoulder. Ava whimpered. “She killed her boyfriend, Sammy. You tellin’ me you didn’t know?”
“That wasn’t me,” Ava denied. “He was alive when-” Gordon used his gun-hand to smack her face and Ben prepared himself to leap down the stairs.
But Dean moved first, throwing himself around Sam, knocking down the lackey. Before Gordon could react, Ben leapt over the balcony. He hit Gordon’s back and grabbed for the gun, yanking it from the man’s grip and throwing it away.
Sam stepped across the room to pick up Ava and he rushed up the stairs; Dean yelled for the girls and Asher to follow. Kat pulled Asher behind her, shoving Sarah before her. Ben grabbed for Gordon’s neck, squeezing.
“Don’t kill him,” Dean commanded, slamming the lackey’s head into the ground. “First I want some answers.”
“Okay,” Ben muttered, cutting off Gordon’s air. He waited for the instant between life and death, then let go. Dean, with Michael’s help, picked the lackey off the floor and walked to the basement door, tossing him down the stairs. Ben scrambled off Gordon and waited; Dean and Michael lifted him, heaving him onto the sofa.
“Get Sam,” Dean told Ben. “Make sure Ava’s okay.”
Ben rushed up the stairs and down the hall to Dean and Sarah’s room. He knocked on the door, calling, “It’s me,” and shoved it open.
Ava was stretched out on the bed; Asher huddled on the floor by the bathroom. Kat and Lauren were on either side of Ava; Sam had a knife in one hand and a gun in the other, while Sarah held another gun.
“Dean needs you,” Ben said to Sam, but his eyes were on Asher.
Sam nodded and handed off the gun. “Keep them safe,” Sam murmured as he left.
Ben closed the door behind him.
-
The next morning, Ben and Asher cooked breakfast. Sarah, Kat, Michael, Ava, and Lauren sat around the table; Asher put the eggs, strawberries, and toast on a plate, then Ben delivered the plates to the table.
Dean and Sam had taken Gordon and the nameless lackey for a drive. Ben wanted to go along, but Dean told him, “Protect ‘em, Benny-boy.”
As she ate, Lauren asked, “Has anyone seen Chris?”
No one had talked about the night before yet. Once the Winchesters were back the full story would come out and everyone knew it, but until then those with the pieces would keep quiet.
Lauren didn’t know about the supernatural, hunting, or Manticore. Not yet.
“I saw him sneak out last night,” Ben said. “Didn’t ask where he was going.”
Lauren frowned and Ben turned to Asher, asked if he’d ever seen the movie Shane.
-
The Winchesters weren’t back ‘til well into the afternoon. They were covered in dust and smelled like dried blood.
Ben smiled when they walked in the door.
“After we shower,” Dean told Sarah, and Sam followed him up the stairs.
Ava gingerly sat on the couch; Kat sank next to her. Lauren chose the loveseat and Michael collapsed beside her. Sarah paced for a few moments and then threw herself into the recliner.
Ben looked at Asher, who shrugged. Upstairs, Ben heard the shower turn on.
Side by side, Ben and Asher sank into the corner. They discussed the merits of Billy the Kid versus Jesse James and didn’t pay attention to the adults.
The shower went off and didn’t turn back on. Ben smirked and Asher raised an eyebrow. Ben shook his head so Asher made his next point about Jesse James. Ben countered with a little-known fact about the Kid and Asher scoffed.
Dean and Sam came back down the stairs. Sam was toweling off his too-long hair and Dean mocked him. Sam glared, Dean laughed, and Ben smirked again.
“Gordon heard where we live from Ellen. And after getting to Phoenix, he watched for a bit. Then he saw Chris.” Dean’s eyes went to Lauren. “Were you going to mention his father was Steve Wandell?”
Ben turned to look at Lauren; she shrank away and Michael wrapped his arms around her.
Sam put a hand on Dean’s shoulder. Dean subsided and Sam took over the story. He started at the beginning, when he was six months old. Going by everyone else’s faces, Ben knew he was the only one who’d heard the entire thing before. The telling took hours; about the time Dean was fourteen, Ben fetched Sam some water. Sam rested his voice and Dean took back over. They traded off three more times, stopping at Sam’s possession. They didn’t mention everything, of that Ben was sure-just the highpoints. Just what was necessary to convey their meaning.
Dean stopped talking and shared a look with Sam. “We fell off the grid,” Dean said after a moment. “Spent a year in hiding. Let the furor about us die down. Then in February of ’08, we had to rejoin the fight. The demon sent one of his kids to New York and we dealt with the bitch.”
“We stopped in to see Sarah,” Sam continued. “Spent a month. Her father hated us.” He laughed and Dean smirked.
“He really did,” Sarah chuckled. “You pissed him off, Dean.”
Dean smirked again. “It’s not my fault he was dressed like a waiter,” he shrugged.
“Wait,” Kat said. “If Sam and Sarah hit it off, how did the two of you end up married?”
Dean and Sam shared another look, then Dean glanced at Sarah. “A few months after we left New York, me and Sam had a minor argument.”
Sam snorted.
“He ran off to California-again-to visit his college buddies.” Dean shook his head. “Never mind we’re wanted by the FBI.”
Now, Sam rolled his eyes.
“I headed for as far from California as I could get, but ended up at a bar in Sarah’s town. She showed up, we both got blindingly drunk, and woke up the next morning in the back of my Impala. I spent a few weeks there then Sam called and begged forgiveness.”
“Did not,” Sam interrupted. “You called me.”
“Right,” Dean scoffed. “Just like I called you from Burkitsville.”
“You did,” Sam said.
Dean just looked at him . Ben, to his shame, giggled. Asher lowered his head and sniffled; Ben remembered that Asher’s brother was dead. So he laid a hand on Asher’s shoulder, trying to lend strength.
“Anyway, I headed to pick Sammy up and told Sarah to call me anytime she wanted. Five months after, she moved here because her father died and told us we could make her house our homebase.” Dean smiled at his wife and she smiled back.
“A witch cursed Dean,” Sam said. “He turned into a frog.”
Ava choked. “No way.”
Dean looked down, blushing. “I didn’t mean to offend her,” he muttered.
“You hit on her, Dean,” said Sam, sounding reasonable.
“Well, she was hot.”
Kat laughed again and Ben would swear Dean was pouting.
“The only way to break the curse,” Sarah took up, “was for a woman to marry him.” Michael’s lips twitched. “Of course, no woman would marry a frog.”
Kat buried her face in her hands, trying to stifle her snickers. Lauren was looking from Michael to the others, her expression disbelieving. Asher openly laughed.
Dean hadn’t mentioned his sojourn as an amphibian when he and Ben exchanged stories. Ben could guess why.
It was slightly embarrassing.
“Sam called me up and explained the situation.” Sarah shrugged, unable to keep the laughter from her voice. “I agreed to wed Dean the frog. Bobby, an old friend of theirs, was a preacher for a while, so he came down to marry us. After I kissed Dean, he turned back into the beautiful man we see before us.”
“And we’ve been together ever since,” Dean said.
Sarah smiled sadly. Dean strode across the room and leaned down to gently kiss her lips. “I understand,” Sarah whispered so softly only Ben heard her. “I really do.”
Dean cupped her face with his hands and deepened the kiss; Ben watched in fascination. Then his eyes drifted to Sam, who looked-
Huh, Ben thought. Hungry. Sam looks hungry. And that just cemented his belief that there was something between his two idols.
Dean pulled back and ran his fingers along Sarah’s jaw. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and straightened back up.
“If Gordon knew where we are,” Ava asked, and no one missed her use of past tense, “could others?”
“Yeah,” Sam answered. “We’ll have more visitors soon, so we need to see what all of you can do. If you wanna stay, that is.”
“Where,” Lauren demanded suddenly and coldly, “is my son?”
Dean glanced to Ben and Ben nodded, standing. “I killed him, Ms. Weston. He threatened people I care for, so I dealt with him. As I deal with anyone who proves themselves a danger.” He didn’t smirk, but it was a close thing.
Lauren paled and her eyes widened. Then she glared and shot to her feet. “You murdered Chris?” she snarled and moved toward him.
Michael reached out to grab Lauren’s arm but Ben shook his head. “He told Gordon that Dean and Sam were home. He asked only that you be spared. And he demanded Asher.” Ben’s voice turned Artic. “He got what he deserved, Ms. Weston. Now: calm down, leave, or join him. It’s entirely up to you.”
Sarah shot to her feet. “You can’t kill her, Ben!” she protested. “I won’t let you.”
Ben looked at Michael. Michael smiled sadly and nodded slightly-he wouldn’t like it and he wouldn’t condone it, but he would forgive Ben for killing her. So then Ben glanced at Asher, whose eyes were wide but unafraid.
“You killed Chris for me?” Asher whispered and Ben knelt next to him.
“Yes,” Ben answered. “You and Michael and Sarah and Sam and Dean-you’re my family.”
Asher’s smile was brilliant and Ben stood back up.
The final person whose permission he sought was Dean. He knew that Dean had killed for Sam in the past, so he wasn’t worried about that. Dean looked at Sam first, before meeting Ben’s eyes.
I’ll do it, Dean’s gaze said. Not you.
And Ben nodded.
Lauren collapsed back onto the couch, buried her face in her hands. “You killed my baby,” she sobbed and Michael pulled her into his arms. Ben studied her defeated form and decided not to worry about her anymore.
So he sank back down next to Asher, leaned against the wall. “You don’t mind that I’m a killer?” he murmured into Asher’s ear.
“He wanted me,” Asher murmured in reply. “He wasn’t the first.” Ben met his eyes. “Chris deserved whatever you gave him,” Asher said softly.
-
Lauren left at dawn the next morning. She left with only the clothes on her back, without a word. Michael watched her go silently and Ben told him, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Michael responded. “I shouldn’t have brought them here.” He sighed and turned to face Ben. “You shouldn’t kill people, Ben. Not so young.”
There was no judgment in his voice or face, only sorrow.
“It’s what I was made for, Michael,” he said. “It’s what I’m good at, all I’m good for.” Ben tried smiling but couldn’t keep the expression. “I’m okay with it, honest. I came to terms with it a while ago.”
“You shouldn’t have to,” Michael argued. “You’re just a boy, Ben.”
Ben shrugged and Michael said nothing else.
When Michael went upstairs, Sam left. Ben didn’t mention it to anyone, but he bet Dean knew.
part 2