Jen

If things couldn't possibly get any worse, then this happens. Sigh. I wonder what Dex and VJ will think when they find out. There's no way it could be someone else's baby, is there? I can hope, right? Great writing, and I like your Dex a lot.

Wow. I'm floored. Thank you so much for all the wonderful replies. LauraPhilly, you are more than welcome to use any that you would like. That goes for everyone else too. If you're crazy enough to want to use one of my avatars, then go nuts! Just please upload/credit, is all .

Oh, Dex, what am I going to do with you? I like that he seems to be back to his 'normal' self, but I can't help that think that brushing all this under the carpet is only going to come back to bite him. Also, I was sort of hoping his first time would be special, not a one night stand, but I guess Dex sees sex differently now -- not wanting to be the virgin in the basement forever. Interesting seeing both things from Leah and Dex's point of view. I think you've done a really good job and making it even and fair, so that neither is really copping more blame or guilt than the other. That's not easy to do, so well done.

I seriously adored Big Brother, and yes maybe the episode should have been more Quinn-focused as a result of the massive emotional cliffhanger we got, but ultimately I can't hate the episode for 2 reasons. 1. Matt. 2. Bomer. He was everything a perfect guest star should be. He was hilarious and seemed to fit right in to the world of Glee, and also gave Blaine some more depth. (And I'm saying this now; if you're not a fan of Blaine then the episode is not for you). Favourite moments included: "BlaineyourbrotheristhemosthandsomemaninNorthAmerica", Fighter (which I can't decide whether I laughed out of second-hand embarrassment or was seriously turned on by all the rage and nakedness), SCREAMING ALL MY LINES because I'm really intense and "I know you really meant it because you weren't pointing at me." Also Margaret Thatcher dog and that Klaine hallway scene is one of my favourites. Matt and Darren obvious have a great repore because they got that sibling rivalry down-pat. If there was ever an opportunity for Jesse St James/Cooper Anderson scene I might spontaneously combust. I wasn't looking forward to the Whitney episode this week until I realised that I literally don't know much about it except for the songs that they are doing. Rumour has it that there's some Klaine stuff about college and the future, and as long as they talk about it then I think I'm going to be good.

Thank you so much Beezzz, Cecil, MatildaHunterFan, Kristen, Lesley, Laura, Carina, Sabrina and QA .

No! Dex, what are you doing?! You've done the older woman thing before with Marilyn and it was creepy then, and it's not any less weird now. You were doing so good with the Spiderman references and being adorable and just brushing it off, and now you've gone and ruined everything. Sigh. I'm going to pout until everything sorts itself out. A well written chapter. (I'm not angry at you for giving conflict to the story, but Dex.)

Thank you so much. Y'all are far too sweet.

Your Dexter is wonderful with his many pop culture references and obscure yet endearing way of interacting with others. Can't wait to see how his relationship with VJ, and to a lesser extent, Leah, develops.

^ The result of the car wreck will be this week, I assume. There have been some things released/leaked that would indicate what has happened, so they would be silly to try and drag it out. Only 2 more days, although I plan to watch it online tomorrow as soon as it airs.

Yes! Someone else is writing Dex-centric fanfic and it's sort of awesome so far even though it's only the first chapter.

^ Channel 10 are showing the newest episode (Big Brother) this Thursday night. So again, there is a change of timeslot, but at least Australia only has to wait a couple of days after it airs in the US.

Thank you so much for all the lovely comments and replies .

Yes! All the Sammy/Dex cross-over should exist. It shall be my new project .

Wow. Thank you so much. What a spooky coincidence, although I'm going to run with the theory that your subconscience was telling you to read this fic . I used that particular line because coupled with the title of the original fic it pretty much summed up the insides of both the boys' heads. Yes, I completely agree. This is a very good oneshot, definitely makes me think about Casey's side of the coin and just how everything is never as black and white as it seems. Thank you. I appreciate your comments completely. Ha! The strange thing is every time I try to write something original I get horrible horrible writer's block. I've been sitting on the same amount of words for months now, and yet to find the motivation to continue it. Oops. But then I'm quite happy to start another fic in which Casey and Xavier and Dex are all roommates and shenanigans ensue. No slash though, which is strange for me ...

Again, I guess that is something I should have made clearer. The fact that Dex didn't feel safe being with Casey, particularly not in that way. Thanks for the response. Thank you. I really appreciate the feedback. The ending was one of those things I was okay with when I wrote it, but I guess it is sort of incomplete in a sense. This is Dex's story, not Casey's, so the acknowledgement is there, but nothing more than that. How Casey tries to move forward from this a completely independent scenario. Thanks for the feedback relating to April. Considering the sort of response I'm getting maybe I should have left them friends? Dex possibly should have figured he needed to focus on getting his own lift back on track rather than plunging into another relationship. When I was writing I was considering that April was the one person Dex could turn to through it all, the one persion who wouldn't judge or ask unnecessary questions and just accepted Dex as Dex, so it made sense to pair them up. First, can I say that it's comments like this that spur me on to write more. To try again and do better and acknowledge that there are parts of this story that if I could I would go back and change. It's all very well and good to get nice comments that say, "Great fic, update soon!" (and they too are appreciated and certainly make me feel good), but it's something else to have someone read your story and then think about it and give a thoughtful response. That goes for most of the comments throughout this story, particularly after the last part. When someone reads something I've written I'm opening myself up to criticism and given that it's warranted and constructive I can't get mad, and I never will. I completely appreciate what you are saying and understand your point of view, and if I write something like this again I will consider this. The Dex in my head hates confrontation, he doesn't well fighting with others, he wants to almost bury his head in the sand (referenced many times throughout the fic when he wishes that he'd never woke up/remembered in the first place). He has plans and things that he knows he's good at, and knows how things are supposed to work out. The Happily Ever After. The journey to me was Dex having all that ripped away, being stripped of everything that made Dex Dex and having to build himself from the ground up again, redefine who he was. Not that he doesn't deserve that happy ending, but that he maybe has to work for it. That some things don't turn out the way you plan, but that you also get a choice about how you respond to bad situations. So it was Dex's arc that sort of brought me to the final part of the story, where he's back where he started almost, and he had a choice about how to proceed. The right and left fork, as it were. The April vs Casey, and he felt as though he had to make a choice. I never once wrote the story with Casey in mind as the 'bad guy', the cause of the problems. He's the same age as Dex, just a kid, and also just trying to figure out who he is, what makes him tick. I'm not saying your reading of the story is wrong or unjustified, because reading your comment I completely understand where you are coming from and understand why you are disappointed with the way it ended. I promise that I take all of that on board, and can not thank you enough for the critical response. It's honestly made me think and want to do better next time. To everyone who had read and commented on "Lost Your Mind", you are all wonderful and I honestly don't deserve to have people be as dedicated to this story and the integrity of the characters as you are. So, thank you. Seriously. I've never had this sort of response to one of my fics before and it's been an eye-opening experience as an author.

No, don't apologise. I totally appreciate the feedback. In my head it was like, whatever Dex had with Casey may or may not have passed, and after all the drama he wanted things to be simple for a while. Maybe it was a bit of a cop out to not put them together in the end, but when I was writing I was thinking about the "happily ever after" and how you don't always get that. April has been this steadfast support through Dex's ordeal, and Casey's been kind of wishy-washy. Casey acts on impulse and often violently to prove his worth, whereas April will sit and talk and know when to not say anything. Do April and Dex stay together? I don't know. The main point of this for me, was to explore Dex's head a bit and what happens when you take what makes him Dex and erase it, how it changes him. It wasn't ever about the "ship" so to speak. In the end I couldn't justify Dex being with Casey after everything that's happened. All the hurt and angst and needing help, that kind of traumatic experience isn't something you get over or just dive back into, and as far as I could see, Dex being with Casey would be putting himself back in the firing line, and Dex doesn't want to be in that position again. So maybe my message, by putting Dex with April so easily, is that Dex isn't over it, but he's trying to distance himself from that part of his life. I hate those authors who come in and try to justify their writing after it's all over, like they're trying to change people's minds, but let me assure you I'm not. I value everything you've said throughout the fic, and thank you for sticking with it. Maybe there should have been a scene where we get Dex and Casey talking, more than what was said in the hospital, where Casey calls him out on being with April, maybe calls him a coward for taking the easy option, and Dex has to tell him that he can't do it, that he can't put himself through it all again, because he's just tired of everything. The bonus that I included is just Casey's point of view of the main event, so if you want to you can read, but I don't mind if you leave it where this story ends.

mizziette - The role reversal is something I really like writing. It was also something I felt sort of necessary in the arc of Dex's story. Red Ranger - Thanks for reading. Casey's fate will soon be revealed. pembie - Heath is always a jerk in my stories. He's sort of become by go to villain. Thank you for reading. Miranda - I aim to please and provide all the angst . Zetti - Okay, here goes. I see what you are saying but I feel Casey thinks he's respoible but he didn't actually hurt Dex, not in that way. So Casey wants to make it up to Dex, show him that what he's been told and feels is real, but he's not necessarily in the wrong in this situation. Casey doesn't know how to fix things - relationships. The only example he's had are he's brothers who fight violence with violence. That's all Casey thinks he's got to be able to prove himself. I don't do neat and tidy endings, so I hope you're okay with the last part. Now I'm really nervous. Ah!

Totally fine to save and use whenever. Thanks for asking. So sexy. Okay, can we talk Dance Academy because I'm sort of obsessed with that show?! Dexter v1.0 as a dancer who has a sexuality crisis and may be in love with his best friend and roommate, and the second season has just started and he goes and makes out with a whole bunch of girls and promptly gets them all sick, and he's really not into them anyway, and I just have a lot of feelings about Sammy and Sammy/Christian, okay? Also, I had this crazy brain crack of Dex (Charles Cottier) meeting Sammy (Tom Green) in some weird alternate universe where Sammy comes to Summer Bay and they bond over like, not being able to surf, because Christian teases Sammy mercilessly for not having that skill, and Sammy tries to teach Dex how to dance but Dex totally has two left feet and so a lot of the time they just end up giggling together and Dex likes it how Sammy sometimes corrects his technique by putting his hands on his hips and angling them the right way. And maybe they kiss once? I don't know, my mind is a very very strange place so ignore my ramblings ... I use ArcSoft PhotoStudio to make my graphics. I think I've seen one other person on the face of the internet who has heard of it! Thank you so much to everyone else who commented as well. You guys always make my day! #swag

Red Ranger - thank you. The Dex/Indi relationship is one of my favourites; what with the way she teases him and he constantly rolls his eyes behind her back and they seem to have nothing in common, and yet when things get tough they will defend each other and Indi feels that big sister protectiveness. Zetti - The show has actually been doing a good job at portraying the Walker's in recent episodes, so I'm pretty stoked. Dex makes me smile too. That is when I'm not torturing him physically or emotionally for my own (and your) enjoyment. pembie - Dex is definitely caught in the middle and feels this weird pull towards both of them for completely different reasons. The "River Boys thing" definitely comes back into play. elikell - Thank you for reading and commenting. JosieTash - I torture Dex because I care. That's normal, right? MatildaHunterFan - That's what it felt like when I was writing it. Dex and Casey and their complicated relationship sucked me in and before I knew it I have 17000 words. Oops! Thank you so much for reading and enjoying. The penultimate part is coming up.

Wow. Seriously. I'm floored by all the comments. You are all so wonderful. I present ... Dex in a cowboy hat. You're welcome .

MatildaHunterFan - Thank you very much. Miranda - I don't know if it's lust anymore. Maybe originally that is what drew them to each other, but now it's sort of ... plateaued? I don't know, there's something inside, but it's definitely different than the very beginning. I do have a small piece that's a sort of companion one-shot to this 'verse from Casey's point of view and deals with The Beginning. I'm going to be posting that after this fic is completely finished. Thank you so much for reading, I always get very excited to see your responses and your take on things . Pierced Musie - Wow, thank you. Ha! Dexy! Someone needs to call him that on the show. I will pay good money for that. Zetti - You know how I feel about this comment. It's so perceptive and very in tune to the sort of feel I want for the story. It's almost so accurate it hurts. I'll be curious to see what you think of the last couple of parts. (There are 13 parts, incidentally.) HighwayUnicorn - Thanks! *blushes* JosieTash - Thank you!!! Red Ranger - It's assumed that April and Xavier have been together this whole time. Sorry if that wasn't clear enough. They just aren't really a focus and I don't really know how to Xavier so he's sort of stayed out of all the shenanigans. pembie - I'm glad you like Ruby. I tend to write her a bit younger and more immature than she actually is on the show, just a bit too overenthusiastic about things, so yeah. Glad you liked. I like the April/Dex relationship too much to let it go that easily ... Stay tuned. On to Part 11.

HighwayUnicorn - Thanks again. (I actually didn't realise it was you, Carina, what with the name change and different avatar and signature, until after you posted that!) elikell - "It's just so true to character." I think that's the biggest compliment you can give a fanfic writer; that the words and actions you write for a character actually fit and seem realistic. Thank you! Red Ranger - Although Dex has been feeling pretty lonely through all of this, he definitely isn't alone. pembie - Ha! Well, I'm sure you're much more comfortable now . Zetti - That's what I really like about the April/Dex relationship on the show; they understand each other in a way no one else does. April knows when Dex is lying or not coping, and also knows how to try to make it better. JosieTash - Thanks! MatildaHunterFan - Wow, thank you so much. Weekly installment coming right up.

Heeeey Bec! Long time no "see". I can always rely on you for my fix of Mattie/Lucas and/or Indiana/Rhys. Awesome stuff.