Ben Braeden

ooc: prompt is the lyrics of Cowboy Casanova

2023. He still remembered the date where Bela had found him. It was a post-apocalyptic world where only the rich and the lucky had survived: the rich because they were able to afford to keep moving to the disease-free zones until the chemically engineered malaria half-lifed out somewhere in the late teens. Apparently the thing had a cycle, and Ben's family was rich long enough to keep out of the zones, and he alone was lucky enough to survive the fire that took out the family home and everyone inside while he was out taking a joyride in one of grandpa's ancient cars.

The car that he still owned and slept in as he traveled the roads of what was left of the country with just some clothes, a guitar he found at some abandoned bar, a gun that had seen some use, and whatever else he might have conned or stolen in order to survive.

It was in a smokey bar that Ben had stopped for the weekend, hustling some pool while sharing joints with the bikers he was sharking when the brunette with the British accent walked in. Their eyes locked almost instantly, and for a moment there was a bit of panic in them before she smiled back at him and took a nice look over him as he leaned over a bit more than needed for his final shot.

Taking his winnings, he had walked over to her at the bar and leaned against it, the joint hanging loosely from his lips. "See something you like, sweetheart?" he asked.

Bela took the joint from his lips and took a hit from it before blowing the smoke into his face and laughing. "Maybe I do. Got a name, or should I make one up for you?"

"Name's Ben."

"Well, Ben..." Her finger traced down his chest and he couldn't help but smirk at her boldness, "... I think you're exactly what I'm looking for. You like to have a good time, yeah?"

"Who doesn't?"

She leaned close, her lips inches from his. "Then pardon the expression, but I'm about to show you a whole new world."

( Another world, another day, another dawn. )

What's something people may not know about you?

I'm Fine.

It's one of the phrases Ben uses all the time. How you doing, kid? Everything alright? How's school? Whatever the question was, Ben always had the same answer. It slid off his tongue easily and the quick smile and flash of eyes, change of subject and people believed him.

But Ben wasn't fine, and as he sat alone in his dorm room, far from his family and Anna, he was starting to realize that himself. He had hoped that these feelings were residual emotions that Meg had left in him, but now he was starting to doubt it.

He couldn't explain it. It was like a track in his head that just kept repeating and he didn't know how to make it stop some nights. He hugged his pillow to his face, trying to drown out his own thoughts.

( Self Destruction and Winchester go hand in hand )

A few days before Ben was due to be released from rehab, a letter would arrive at Dean & Beth's place from the center. However, it wasn't addressed to Dean.

It was for Maddie.

( Letters from Rehab )

Standing on a darkened stage, stumbling through the lines
Others have excuses, but I have my reasons why
- Reasons Why by Nickel Creek


There would be a letter arriving at the address that was considered Ben's temporary address, being Beth and Dean's home - since Lisa insisted that it not be where she was actually staying because of the fear of Jeff finding them. The envelope was from the rehab facility to the attention of "The Parents of Benjamin Braeden".

Inside was a letter first from Dr. Goodman, reminding them of the mid-point intervention meeting set on February 11th. This was for Dean and Lisa to get a chance to talk to Ben and tell him what his problem did to them and for him to try and start opening up to them as to his reasons why he had turned to his addiction. It wasn't mandatory, but the meeting was very helpful in helping the rehabilitation in almost 80% of their cases.

The second letter was one in Ben's handwriting, written in a green pencil:

( Letter to Dean and Lisa )

Inspired by this pic - stopsign in the snow

Ben had turned 16 in October, got his license on a cold day in late November, and the next day he had started to beg for the car keys. Lisa had managed to put him off for a week, but tonight was the night of the holiday dance and she had promised Ben that if he had his license by then, he could have the car.

She stood in the livingroom, looking out the window as the snow was starting to fall again. She knew he could drive on it. The boy had been teaching himself how to drive for almost a year now so she wasn't worried about his skill. It was the other millions of drivers she worried about.

( Mom, you ok? )