Title: Brilliant and Beautiful
Author: Janine
Fandom: Dollhouse
Pairing: Bennett/Caroline
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don’t own them.
Summary: A quiet moment between Bennett and Caroline in their dorm room.
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They were lounging in Caroline’s bed together when Bennett ran the pad of her thumb gently across Caroline’s bottom lip, a soft smile touching Bennett’s own as she gazed down at the girl beneath her with wide, slightly dazed, but happy eyes.
Caroline smiled at the expression on Bennett’s face, and with her twinkling brown eyes watching Bennett fondly, Caroline angled her head to the side and captured Bennett’s thumb between her teeth.
She bit down on the thumb playfully, and then pressed a tender kiss to it as Bennett’s lips parted, a quiet “oh” escaping from between them.
Caroline moaned in response to Bennett’s exhalation, and bit down on her bottom lip, chewing on it for a moment before a large smile spread across her lips. She laughed, and her hands moved to Bennett’s slim waist, grasping it firmly.
“It should be illegal for someone with such a large and impressive brain to be so goddamn cute,” Caroline murmured. Her thumbs had slipped under the material of the Bennett’s thin tank top and were stroking the scientist’s smooth, taut stomach.
“I agree that my brain is large and impressive,” Bennett began, making Caroline laugh softly. “But I’m hardly cute,” the scientist continued, looking away from Caroline as the words left her lips.
“Yes, you are,” Caroline said firmly. “You’re brilliant and beautiful. You’re the envy of any woman with an even partially functioning brain in her head. You’re wonderful Bennie, never doubt that. I never have.”
Bennett’s bottom lip trembled, and thick-lashed eyelids fell over her eyes as she blinked back tears.
Emotion overwhelmed her and she looked away from Caroline’s open, caring eyes. She felt a river of tears would flow from her eyes if she looked at Caroline any longer, and she was already making enough of a fool of herself. She didn’t need to compound the situation.
It was just that she had never known anyone like Caroline before. She had never been loved by anyone like she was loved by Caroline.
Caroline was beautiful, vivacious, passionate, adventurous, exciting and charming. She was the type of girl Bennett had hated and yet secretly wanted to be more like throughout her entire life. Caroline was the type of girl who used to specialize in making her feel like dirt. However, despite being popular and pretty, Caroline wasn’t anything like those girls.
Caroline didn’t make fun of her, and speak down to her, or ignore her. Caroline was gentle, and sweet, compassionate … loving.
When they were together Caroline made Bennett feel like she was the single most interesting person on the planet. When she talked about her science and her work, Caroline’s eyes didn’t glaze over, they sparkled and she listened to her speak with a fond smile.
Caroline would show up to their room with presents for her, not because it was Bennett’s birthday but because Caroline had been thinking about her, and wanted to make her happy. And Bennett’s heart would swell with so much love that she sometimes worried it burst – though she knew that that was scientifically impossible.
When Caroline touched her, when strong slightly calloused fingers trailed anxiously up her thighs, and Caroline’s hot breath scorched Bennett’s skin as the other woman panted against her, Bennett felt alive, really alive for the first time in her life.
Caroline had taught her how to experience life, not just study it.
Caroline loved her. She wanted her, and that knowledge never ceased to amaze Bennett.
She had thought that Relámpago del Catatumbo, the cloud-to-cloud lightning that she had seen in Venezuela that had formed a voltage arc more than five kilometers high was the most powerful and wondrous thing she would ever see. But, the fact that a girl like Caroline had fallen for a girl like her, was the only thing that had ever left Bennett awestruck and speechless.
Caroline’s hand gently cupped Bennett’s cheek, and the scientist began to blink, a few tears falling from her eyes and wetting Caroline’s chest as Bennett tried to focus her eyes and clear her head.
Bennett knew her eyes were red and shining with tears when her eyes met Caroline’s again. She knew that her skin was pale and blotchy, and that she looked like a complete mess, but Caroline smiled when she saw her face, and despite her mortification Bennett found herself relaxing.
“I wasn’t trying to make you cry,” Caroline said softly, her thumb tenderly stroking Bennett’s cheek as she spoke.
“I know. I’m sorry,” Bennett rasped, dropping her head down and looking away before Caroline gently nudged her chin back up so that they were looking at each other.
“Don’t apologize,” Caroline whispered, “don’t ever apologize for feeling,” she continued, in a low but fierce voice. “You don’t have to be afraid to tell me what you’re thinking or to show me how you feel. I’ve always got you. Okay?”
Bennett smiled tremulously and shyly nodded her head.
“Good,” Caroline drawled.
Her expression changed subtly as she looked up at Bennett, seriousness giving way to mischievousness, and Bennett felt a shiver run through her body in anticipation.
Bennett gasped, partly in surprise and partly in exhilaration as Caroline used the hands she had on Bennett’s hips to flip the scientist over so that she was lying flat against the mattress and Caroline was leaning over her.
“Can I … express my feelings?” Caroline asked, looking down at Bennett.
Her eyes were heavily hooded as she stared down at Bennett through thick, dark eyelashes, and as she watched the woman beneath her, she slid her hands under the thin material of the tank top the scientist was wearing, as if it was a necessary for the continuation of her life for her to be touching Bennett’s warm skin.
Bennett smiled happily up at Caroline and nodded.
Caroline leaned down and tenderly pressed her lips to Bennett’s, kissing her slowly and lovingly in the way that never ceased to make Bennett’s heart pound and other parts of her throb.
Caroline’s hand began to creep higher under Bennett’s shirt, and the scientist relaxed against the mattress, giving her body over to Caroline as freely and trustingly as she had given her heart months before, secure in the knowledge that Caroline would always have her.
The End
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Date: 2010-01-11 01:10 am (UTC)I like to picture Caroline trying not to fall for Bennett because she lost her boyfriend and she wants to focus on taking down the man, but Bennett's pull is too strong.
Anyway, this was really sweet. My OTP is still Echo/Claire, but I can get behind these two too.
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Date: 2010-01-12 09:06 pm (UTC)Me too. Honestly, Bennett being completely head over heels for Caroline is the only thing that explains Bennett's later hate for her, because this was the least douchey Caroline has ever been, lol.
I like to picture Caroline trying not to fall for Bennett because she lost her boyfriend and she wants to focus on taking down the man, but Bennett's pull is too strong.
Word. I really loved how relieved Caroline was when Bennett revealed she wanted to help. You could totes tell Caroline was like "Yes. Now I can have my cake and eat her too!"
My OTP is still Echo/Claire, but I can get behind these two too.
My thoughts exactly!
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Date: 2010-01-11 01:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-12 09:06 pm (UTC)And there definitely needs to be more of this pairing. They were the definition of sexy and cute
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Date: 2010-01-11 01:47 am (UTC)And god, this is so canon. I think I love you.
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Date: 2010-01-12 09:07 pm (UTC)And god, this is so canon.
It really is. Nothing will convince me that they weren't lovers. NOTHING!
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Date: 2010-01-11 02:04 am (UTC)Awesome.
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Date: 2010-01-12 09:08 pm (UTC)It really is like the writers wrote this episode specifically to give femslashers something to work with, lol!
(I haven't seen any others, though maybe I'm just not looking hard enough?)
Me either! I thought LJ would be jumping with B/C fics after the ep. too, cause they were SO GAY for each other.
Thanks so much for responding and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
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Date: 2010-01-12 09:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-11 04:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-12 09:10 pm (UTC)I know. I'm digging them so hardcore right now. So beautifully tragic!
What I would give to be Bennett in your story.
Heh. I wanted to be Bennett is ALL of the flashbacks from this episode (well, maybe not the arm crushing one, but the rest of them for sure, lol)
Thanks so much for responding, and I'm glad that you enjoyed it!
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Date: 2010-01-11 05:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-12 09:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-11 06:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-12 09:13 pm (UTC)And that's why we love them. Honestly, it just amazes me how much chemistry Eliza has with chicks on screen. She lights up. This was the first flashback where I didn't want to smack Caroline. The gay makes everything better.
I imagine that from the first moment Caroline saw Bennett's face in the Rossum profile that she was taken by her and tried to keep herself from falling. Makes for a great epic romance, ruined of course by Caroline's selflessness and Bennett's misinterpretation that selflessness.
THIS! OMG THIS! They are so beautifully tragic. They warm my heart and then break it.
Thanks so much for responding, I'm really glad that you enjoyed the story :D
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Date: 2010-01-11 07:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-12 09:14 pm (UTC)It is my canon. Nothing will convince me that they were not lovers. Honestly, Bennett being in love with Caroline is the only thing that adequately explains her loathing of Caroline in the present.
(I love how Caroline calls Bennett 'Bennie'.)
I know. In the episode it made me swoon so much. *dreamy sigh* Caroline...
Thanks so much for responding! I'm really glad you enjoyed it :D
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Date: 2010-01-11 09:50 pm (UTC)"And Bennett’s heart would swell with so much love that she sometimes worried it burst – though she knew that that was scientifically impossible. "
too too too cute <3
I can't believe you love Dollhouse & BitchSlap too! Can we be friends?! lol
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Date: 2010-01-12 09:16 pm (UTC)I can't believe you love Dollhouse & BitchSlap too! Can we be friends?! lol
Of course! Liking both Bitch Slap and Dollhouse is like insta-friend material!
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Date: 2010-01-12 11:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-12 12:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-12 09:16 pm (UTC)Mmm, me too. And these two embody it perfectly. I swooned so hard for them throughout the episode.
Thanks so much for responding, and I'm really glad you enjoyed the fic!
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Date: 2010-01-12 01:02 am (UTC)Bennett, god, she was such a little puppy in Caroline's hands. Puppy love is the perfect way to describe her love for Caroline. So adorable.
ugh, i would have liked to see some Echo ~getting to Bennett, maybe bringing up some ~confusing feelings for the scientist. But alas. NO. I CAN NEVER HAVE WHAT I WANT WHEN IT COMES TO TELEVISION. NEVER EVER. ESPECIALLY IF FOX HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT. UGH.
This is why fanfiction >>>>>>> television.
I loved this, I ship it so hard.
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Date: 2010-01-12 09:19 pm (UTC)This! The way she just lit up around Caroline. I could practically see her tail wagging a while a minute every time they were around each other. Though, Caroline was legit dreamy in this episode so I understand why, lol.
NEVER EVER. ESPECIALLY IF FOX HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT.
lol! I laughed and then I sighed because it's true. FOX kills and ruins everything I love. I have such a bitter sweet relationship with that network. They keep on putting on shows I love and then cruelly ripping them away. *sigh*
This is why fanfiction >>>>>>> television.
Heh. Truth.
Thanks so much for responding! I'm really glad you liked it :D
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Date: 2010-01-12 01:54 am (UTC)Obviously she used Bennett, but it seemed like she was fond of her too so thanks for writing what the relationship might have been like. Hopefully some other authors will explore this relationship too.
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Date: 2010-01-12 09:22 pm (UTC)It is CRAZY how much chemistry Eliza and Summer had. I was in a dreamy haze every time Bennett and Caroline were on screen together. Mad hot, ladies. Mad hot.
Caroline even turned not to be the uber bitch we thought - not just abandoning her in the wreckage but actually trying not to bring her down too.
I honestly haven't liked Caroline very much the other times we've seen her, I've always preferred Echo. But I really liked Caroline in this episode, and it made me really sad that Bennett didn't seem to understand at the end that Caroline was continuing to be a dreamy mofo by protecting her. Their love is so tragic!
Thanks so much for responding, and I'm really glad you enjoyed it :D
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Date: 2010-01-12 05:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-12 09:23 pm (UTC)I'd like to write a longer one, but it's really up to the muse. My track record with long Dollhouse fic has not been good though, TBH. But I'm not gonna paint myself in a corner, lol.
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Date: 2010-01-13 03:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-13 10:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-16 02:39 am (UTC)this was so wonderful
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Date: 2010-01-21 11:36 pm (UTC)Love it ^^
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Date: 2010-02-07 09:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 04:58 am (UTC)i'm sad that i can't find a great deal of it on ljay, so thanks for giving me something to dream/obsess over :D