[NFB]

[conathon]

GOBs special at the bar made him really, really drunk. Sawyer finally made it up the steps to his room without falling over, he swings open the door and slams it behind him. Groaning, he strips off his clothes and sprawls out in bed.

"...I hate alcohol." Closing his eyes tight, hoping Tempe would stop by later that night.

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[fatalvoyage]

Tempe let herself into the West Attic, using the key that Sawyer had *handwavily* given to her. She'd kind of lost track of him after the fireworks, when she'd stopped to grab another lemonade and had lost him in the crowd. But she wasn't worried. She knew he'd find his way back here eventually.

Speaking of which...

As she entered the bedroom, she noticed a sprawled-out lump on the bed. A naked sprawled-out lump, she was pleased to notice, as she took the time to ogle his fine muscular form.

She stepped closer to the bed. Sawyer looked to be pretty out of it, his clothes flung heedlessly to the floor. She picked them up, folded them and placed them on the chair near his bed. She'd noticed as she was folding, how the strong scent of alcohol had permeated the garments.

"Oh, Sawyer," she said a little sadly, walking closer to the bed and sitting down on the edge. If truth be told, Sawyer looked a little pathetic.

[conathon]

Sawyer grumbled in his sleep as he felt a dip in the edge of his bed. He turned to his side and settled back down into the comforter below him. The drinking had honestly gotten out of hand but two days of drunkedness would last him a few weeks.

[fatalvoyage]

She stroked his head gently, fingers tangling in the hair that had gotten a bit scruffier over the last few weeks.

"Are you going to do this every night? Drink your troubles away, instead of finding a healthier outlet? Are you so afraid that I'm going to leave, that you're trying to drive me away now?" Tempe said quietly, not so much to him, as much as out loud and around him. "Because, I have to tell you, that's not going to work. I love you, Sawyer, I honestly do."

"I know you feel like you're a horrible person, considering some of the things that happened with you and Paige. But we all do things we're not proud of, Sawyer, things we wish we'd never done. Things that change our lives so irreversibly, that it seems like nothing will ever be the same again. Things that seem so unforgivable."

"But I believe in second chances, Sawyer. And I believe that people can change for the better. Don't ever doubt that."

She leaned over and kissed his forehead.

[conathon]

After his parents died and Sawyer got a tad bit older he had been drinking to soothe his depression; especially when he got into conning, the drinking increased atleast socially with those he was conning at that moment in time.

Then with Paige, his guilt over rode his emotions and his better judgement. Paige made him do crazy things, he felt as if she was all he needed in life but he really needed self-worth. So, instead of pleasing her and her wants, he went on to change his temperment.

Sawyer felt complete with Temperence, she gave him that stupid butterfly feeling in his gut and made his heart jump into his throat when he was even just standing next to her.

"Mom..don't.." Snapping out of a nightmare, he shot up breathing deep and fevered as he stared right into the eyes of his girl. "Uhm..Hey." Feeling awkward.

[fatalvoyage]

"Hey," Tempe said softly. "Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

She got up and went to the sink, filling a glass with water, and grabbing two extra-strength Tylenol. She walked back to the bed and handed them to him. "I know it doesn't seem like much, but trust me when I say that it'll cut down at least somewhat on the hangover from hell you're going to have tomorrow."

She looked at the incredibly vulnerable look in his eyes and tried to smile reassuringly.

She walked over to his dresser, opened a drawer and pulled out one of his t-shirts. She stripped, and then pulled the shirt over her head.

She sat down on the bed again, and spoke. "I'm not leaving."

[conathon]

"Thanks, darlin'." He managed as he popped the two pills in his mouth and pushed them down with a large gulp of cold water. He was thankful that she was here, atleast she knew what to do with a hangover looming.

Sawyer sighed and rubbed his right temple as he watched her strip, an eyebrow raised as she slipped on one of his shirts. "Did I mention that you could wear those all day and I'd be content?" Smiling his best smile as she sat down next to him. "Thanks, again. You're a true girlfriend." Leaning over he kissed her forehead.

[fatalvoyage]

"I bet I could wear nothing at all, and you'd be content," Tempe said, with a small grin.

She shuffled over to what she was secretly dubbing her side of the bed, and settled back into the pillows. "Come on. Sleep now, and we'll talk in the morning. Or something."

[conathon]

Sawyer curled up next to her, resting his head on her chest and closed his eyes. "Yeah, or something." He mumbled. "I love you."

[fatalvoyage]

Fingers stroked through his hair again, trying to lull him into sleep. "Love you too."

Tempe stayed awake for a little while after that, trying to put together a few pieces of a puzzle that had been eluding her until now.

Could it be that Sawyer actually needed her? Not just for lust, not just for friendship, but to fill a void that had been empty for most of his life?

[conathon]

Neediness was something he was bad at expressing especially to women, he cured that by using sex as a buffer in order to get his true emotions out but with Tempe it was different. He loved her, she had shown him a kind of caring that he hasn't felt since his Mother was murdered infront of him.

Sawyer nuzzled his head against her, taking in her lovely scent as he slowly drifted to sleep, her hands in his hair making it easier.

[fatalvoyage]

And soon after that, Tempe fell asleep as well, keeping her arms around Sawyer while they both slept.

They'd talk in the morning, and while she probably wouldn't bring up everything she'd been pondering, she wouldn't mind straightening out a few things.

For now though, she was content to be the protector, keeping her Sawyer safe from his demons. Or, you know, trying to, anyway.

[conathon]

Sunrises sucked, especially when they sent rays of light right into his eyes. Groaning, he flung his arm over his eyes as he cursed the light.

[fatalvoyage]

Unfortunately, the arm-flinging kind of jolted Tempe out of the rather tense dream she was having. "No! Not the Jello!"

She blinked, even as the words left her mouth. "Sawyer?" she asked quietly, and maybe a bit sleepily.

[conathon]

He cracked open an eye at her with a wide smirk. "Jello?" Propping his head up on his elbow as he faced her.

[fatalvoyage]

"Bizarre dream," Tempe replied, blushing. "Something about a chocolate mousse monster raiding the dining hall."

"How are you feeling this morning?"

[conathon]

Sawyer's right temple must've heard what she asked him because it throbbed lightly with pain. "Uhhhh. Right temple, ache. Sucking big time." Rolling onto his back again. "What do you want to know about me? This is your free for all session."