Left Field
Written by: Juana
Story Summary: Ben is completely opposed to a Sheri and Sean pairing and maybe with good reason. Felicity jumps camp to Sean’s point of view which doesn’t sit well with Ben and Sheri makes a startling revelation to Ben on the night he comes face to face with his troubled past.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in my story. They belong to the brilliant writers and creators of the hit WB show.
INT: BEN AND SEAN’S LOFT-DAY
BEN AND FELICITY ENTER THE DOOR OF THE LOFT. BEN COMES IN CALLING OUT FOR SEAN.
BEN: Sean? Sean are you here?
NO RESPONSE.
FELICITY: Looks like he’s gone.
BEN: Yeah. Looks that way.
FELICITY WALKS IN BEHIND BEN AND SETS HER BACKPACK ON THE CHAIR. BEN SHUTS THE DOOR AND WALKS UP BEHIND HER PUTTING HIS ARMS AROUND HER WAIST.
FELICITY: (surprised) Oh.
BEN: I guess we’ll have to find some way to pass the time till he gets here.
AT THESE WORDS HE BEGINS TO LIGHTLY KISS HER NECK.
FELICITY: So…did you have…any thing *particular* in mind?
BEN TURNS FELICITY AROUND TO FACE HIM AND THEY BEGIN KISSING. HE HAS MANUVERED HER BACK ON TO THE COUCH AND IS LYING LIGHTLY ON TOP OF HER, KISSING HER WHEN THE LOFT DOOR OPENS. FELICITY TRIES TO SIT UP KNOCKING BEN TO THE FLOOR. SEAN ENTERS.
SEAN: (slightly embarrassed) Oh…hey.
FELICITY: (embarrassed smile) Hey.
BEN WHO IS SITTING ON THE FLOOR. STARTS TO GET UP.
SEAN: (to Felicity) Might want to…um…do the…buttons.
SEAN MOTIONS TO FELICITY THAT HE SHIRT IS UNBUTTONED ALMOST ALL THE WAY DOWN. BEN REACTS AND STARTS TRYING TO HELP HER BUTTON THEM. BUT JUST MAKES THE PROCESS TAKE THAT MUCH LONGER.
FELICITY: (to Ben) I got it…thanks.
EMBARRASSED SHE GETS UP AND HEADS FOR THE BATHROOM. SEAN TURNS TO BEN.
SEAN: So…the couch…well I don’t mind having company on it…but lets refrain from actually *having* company on it…okay?
BEN: Sorry about that man…it won’t happen again.
SEAN: You do have a bedroom.
BEN: Yeah…Sean…I got it.
SEAN: Good.
SEAN WALKS INTO THE KITCHEN AND GRABS A JUICE OUT OF THE REFRIGERATOR.
FELICITY: (VO) Dear Sally…so after our embarrassing run-in with Sean…Ben and I decided we would wait a couple of days to bring up the subject of him and Sheri. At least that was what I thought we had agreed upon.
INT: BEN’S ROOM-DAY
FELICITY IS ASLEEP IN BED…THE SOUND OF SHOUTING (OC) WAKES HER UP. SHE SITS UP AND LISTENS IN DISBELIEF.
INT: LOFT KITCHEN-DAY
SEAN AND BEN ARE HAVING A HEATED DISCUSSION. FELICITY WALKS OUT OF THE BEDROOM.
SEAN: (angry) I think…you should just mind your own business.
BEN: (angry also) This is my business…Sheri is my friend.
FELICITY: Ben?
BEN: (still snappy) What?
FELICITY: Okay…what’s going on here?
BEN: I’m trying to talk some sense into Sean.
FELICITY: I thought…well didn’t we decide…to wait on this?
SEAN: (sarcastic) Apparently not.
BEN: (miffed) What am I waiting for?…until he does something that puts her back up on that ledge?
SEAN: (trying to contain anger) You’re walking a thin…thin line buddy.
FELICITY: (to Ben) Losing your temper isn’t going to help.
BEN: I can’t help it…he’s being completely deluded about this.
FELICITY: Then maybe you should let me talk to him.
BEN: Fine.
BEN GOES BACK INTO THE BEDROOM SLAMMING THE DOOR.
SEAN: Look…I appreciate you getting him off my back, but the topic of Sheri isn’t really open for discussion.
FELICITY: Okay. Can I maybe just ask one question though?
SEAN: (relenting) Okay…one.
FELICITY: How do you feel about Sheri?
SEAN: (sighing) I think I’m falling in love with her.
FELICITY: Really?
SEAN: Yeah. I mean she’s so different from any other girl.
FELICITY: What do you mean?
SEAN SITS DOWN AT TABLE ACROSS FROM FELICITY.
SEAN: Well for starters…she likes me. I don’t get much of that.
FELICITY: Sean…
SEAN: No. I’m serious…I mean girls *that beautiful* don’t give guys like me the time of day normally…but she did. And did you know she thinks I’m funny?
FELICITY: Really?
SEAN: (smiles) Yeah…and when she laughs…or smiles…well it just lights up the room.
FELICITY: Sounds like you’ve got it pretty bad.
SEAN: So you understand?
FELICITY: Yes…I do.
SEAN: Then why can’t Ben?
FELICITY: Does it really matter that much to you that Ben…well that he approves.
SEAN: Yes…but even more so to Sheri.
FELICITY: To Sheri?
SEAN: Yeah. I never realized how much until yesterday.
FELICITY: Yesterday?
SEAN: After she talked to him yesterday…she was going to break up with me. But I talked her out of it. Told her to let me explain things to him.
FELICITY: And that’s why you two were fighting?
SEAN: He’s so damn stubborn.
FELICITY: What did he say to you?
BEN WALKS UP BEHIND FELICITY.
BEN: I’ll tell you what I told him. He’s too old for her, and she’s too vulnerable right now.
SEAN: And I told you to mind your own business. You don’t have to approve but stop telling Sheri you don’t.
BEN: She asked me.
SEAN: And I’m sure you were more than willing to provide your opinion.
BEN: She’s my friend and she trusts me. I am not going to lie to her.
FELICITY: Ben…I think you are overreacting.
BEN: (stunned) What? Last night you agreed with me, and now you don’t?
FELICITY: It’s just…well I’ve done a lot of thinking about it….
BEN: Stop right there. You have no idea what Sheri needs.
FELICITY: And you do?
BEN: She’s my friend.
FELICITY: (getting angry) Right. So you’ve said like ten times this morning alone. I get it. But Ben she is not your responsibility just because you saved her that day.
BEN: I didn’t say she was.
FELICITY: But you’re acting like she is.
BEN: (getting angry also) No…I’m not.
FELICITY: Yes…you are. Sheri is a big girl. Old enough to make her own decisions. That she continues to defer to yours…isn’t going to help her get better. You need to step back and let her make some of her own choices.
BEN: Don’t you mean mistakes?
FELICITY: Fine. Whatever. At least they will be her mistakes.
SEAN: (to Felicity) Wait. Is he saying that I’m a mistake?…are you saying that?
FELICITY: Not now Sean.
BEN: She needs someone right now…and I’m not going to abandon her.
FELICITY: She has someone…she has Sean.
BEN: Sean can’t help her.
FELICITY: You have no way of knowing that.
BEN: I know that if Sean was right for her he would have known not to rush into anything with her.
SEAN: Rush in? What are you talking about. Sheri and I have been taking things….*painfully* slow.
BEN: (adamant) I know you slept with her Sean.
SEAN: (floored) What?
BEN: She told me.
SEAN: She did? Well that’s impossible…because it’s not true.
FELICITY: (to Ben) She told you that they had?
BEN: Actually…no…I guess she didn’t exactly say those words. But when I asked her if they were…she didn’t deny it.
FELICITY: That’s not exactly a confession.
BEN: I just thought…
SEAN: Well you thought wrong. But for the record…she wants to…I’m the one holding back.
FELICITY: Why?
BEN: Felicity!
FELICITY: I’m just curious…
SEAN: For all the obvious reasons…not the least of which is Marc.
FELICITY: What about Marc.
SEAN: It seems now that she’s happy…he wants her back.
BEN: Well maybe that’s a good thing.
SEAN/FELICITY: (flabbergasted) What?
BEN: He probably knows her better and can help her with her issues.
SEAN: I can’t believe I’m hearing this. Marc is the reason Sheri was going to jump. That you believe he would be better for her then me is insulting. I thought we were friends Ben…How stupid was that?
SEAN STARTS TO EXIT THE ROOM.
BEN: Sean…wait.
SEAN: (turns back around) No…save it. You’ve made it pretty clear where you stand…so I’ll return the favor. You don’t want me with Sheri…so I won’t be. But I’m not doing this for you…I’m doing this for her. I’m not going to subject her to your disapproval of this relationship any longer. I care too much about her to do that.
SEAN ENTERS HIS ROOM AND CLOSES THE DOOR.
BEN: I didn’t mean…
FELICITY: I think it’s too late for apologies. You’re just going to have to let this one run its course and hope for the best.
BEN: You understand…don’t you?
FELICITY: Honestly? No.
BEN: Great. So I guess I’m on my own on this one.
FELICITY: Yes…considering I don’t think Sheri going to be very happy about this either.
INT: LATE NIGHT
BEN IS WORKING AT THE CLUB WHEN SHERI COMES STORMING UP TO HIM.
SHERI: Who the hell do you think you are?
BEN: Sheri…hi.
SHERI: That’s it? Sheri…hi. You’ve ruined my life.
BEN: I think you’re overreacting.
SHERI: Sean broke up with me…but you knew he was going to…didn’t you?
BEN: Yes…I knew.
SHERI: (raising her voice) Did you tell him to do it?
BEN: Look…I was just about to take my break. Maybe we could go somewhere more private.
SHERI: Fine…but I am not done with you.
BEN: Yeah…I know.
BEN AND SHERI GO INTO A PRIVATE ROOM IN THE CLUB.
BEN: (cont.) Sit down.
SHERI RELUCTANTLY SITS DOWN.
SHERI: Did you tell Sean to break up with me?
BEN: Let’s just back up a little here…I talked to Sean…yes.
SHERI: What did you say to him Ben?
BEN: The same things I said to you. I think he’s too old for you…I think it’s too soon for you to be getting involved with someone else. I think you’re still getting over Marc.
SHERI: What? Why would you say that?
BEN: Because I think it’s true. I don’t support you dating Sean because I think you’re using him as a rebound…to get over Marc.
SHERI: I am over Marc.
BEN: And that’s why you slept with him again…because you’re *over* him?
SHERI: It was because I slept with him, that I know I am over him.
BEN: So you’re not using Sean in any way to get over Marc?
SHERI: Ben…I really like Sean. (pauses) But I would be less than honest if I told you he was the only one I liked.
BEN: Ah ha! I knew it!
SHERI AND BEN ARE SITTING ON A COUCH IN THE ROOM. AS HE SAYS THIS HE TURNS TOWARD HER.
SHERI: I also have sort of a *thing* for…well for you.
SHERI LEANS IN AND KISSES BEN…BEFORE HE KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON. HE DOESN’T KISS HER BACK AND INSTEAD SITS BACK STUNNED.
BEN: (stunned) That…I didn’t know.
SHERI LEANS IN TO KISS BEN AGAIN AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS GOING ON THIS TIME…HE STOPS HER.
BEN: (puts his hands out to stop her) Wait.
BEN STANDS UP TO GET SOME DISTANCE FROM SHERI.
SHERI: Are you okay Ben? I shocked you didn’t I?
BEN: Well…yeah. I mean…I didn’t know…that you had *feelings* for me.
SHERI: I have since the day you saved me.
BEN: Really?
SHERI: Yes. You’re one of the greatest guys I know.
BEN: (confused) Sheri…this is really…flattering.
SHERI: (upset) I practically tell you I’m in love with you and you tell me it’s *flattering*?
BEN: I’m sorry. I don’t mean to upset you, but I only think of you as a friend. I thought you knew that.
SHERI: And I thought you felt more. I mean you always go out of your way for me…and you seem to want to take care of me.
BEN: I do. As a friend. I don’t know…I mean maybe if things were different…but there not. Sheri…I love Felicity. I need you to understand that.
SHERI STARTS CRYING AND BEN WALKS OVER AND SITS DOWN NEXT TO HER…HE AKWARDLY PUTS HIS ARM AROUND HER.
BEN: I’m sorry…I really am.
SHERI WIPES LOOKS UP AND HE WIPES THE TEARS FROM HER EYES.
INT. BEN’S LOFT-NIGHT
FELICITY IS SITTING IN THE LIVINGROOM STUDYING. THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR. FELICITY PUTS DOWN HER BOOKS WALKS OVER AND OPENS THE DOOR.
FELICITY: Yes? (realizing she knows the person standing there) Mr. Covington?
FELICITY: (VO) So there I was…face to face with Ben’s dad. The man he hated most in the world. I didn’t know what to do. So I invited him in.
LATER THAT NIGHT FELICITY IS SITTING IN THE LIVINGROOM. BEN COMES WALKING INTO THE LOFT.
HE WALKS OVER TO FELICITY AND KISSES HER.
BEN: Hey.
FELICITY: (appears nervous) Hey…I uh…I need to tell you something.
BEN: Yeah…I need to tell you something too.
FELICITY: I think I should go first.
BEN: (grins) Okay.
FELICITY: There is someone in the bathroom right now.
BEN: Okay…who?
FELICITY: He’s here to see you.
BEN: Who’s here to see me?
THE BATHROOM DOOR OPENS AND MR. COVINGTON WALKS OUT.
BEN: (cont.) Dad?
SALLY: (VO) Dear Felicity…I just got back from a week in the Bahamas. Elliot surprised me! It was a lot of fun, and a lot of stress, being as it was the first vacation that I have taken with Elliot. He really is a doll. I never thought after losing John that I would ever feel the same way again….and it may not be exactly the same…but it’s up there. I know you must be feeling the same way now that Ben is back in your life. On another note…I have been thinking about Sheri a lot lately and have come to the conclusion that she…okay and this may seem way out in left field…but she may actually be using Sean to stay near Ben. My reasoning behind this being…Ben saved her life. And since then has been her sole confidante save maybe the therapist she is seeing. Which brought me to the forgone conclusion that Ben has been very important to her and the more time she spends with him the more time she has to fall for him. Which I’m sure you can attest is an easy thing to do. I’m not suggesting you do anything about this…other than keep your eyes open. Saving someone’s life can form a pretty strong bond among people who would otherwise be nothing but strangers. Love Sally.