oom: room 25, eventually

[docscurlock]

After the birthday party to end all birthday parties (or at least, a good amount of rum, and fireworks, and singing, and s'mores, and more rum) out back, Doc eventually stumbles his way back inside. The cask of rum makes it as far as the Bar, who agrees to hang onto it until Doc can get someone to help him carry it upstairs

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[ikissdhimbck]

Who knows what time it is?

Katherine knows what time it is.

She hurries to flip on her light and crawl out of bed, blinking back the sleepiness and adrenaline from being jostled out of a fairly deep sleep by the knocking (and yelling) at her door.

"Doc?"

She opens the door, blinking hard in the light of the hallway.

"What in blazes is goin' on? You got any idea what time it is?"

Then she smells the woodsmoke. And booze.

And her brow knits at the goofy-assed smile currently on his face.

"Yer drunk off your ass!"

[ikissdhimbck]

"Shh," she insists gently, carefully petting that sweaty mop of yellow hair.

She leaves his side for a moment, coming back shortly with a cold, damp cloth that she uses to pat at his forehead.

"Y'think y'can drink a little water?"

[docscurlock]

Doc nods in the affirmative, before he clenches his eyes shut and groans slightly, rolling over, pushing himself up with one elbow, forehead still resting against the mattress as he attempts to get his bearings.

"Can't sit up...feel like m'gonna fall over."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Then you lay yourself back down," she murmurs quietly, hands gently encouraging his back down to the mattress again. "Don't you move none. I'll be right back, okay?"

She leaves him for fifteen minutes or so, making a quick trip to the bar before reentering with a small tray. She's got a long straw, which she plunks into his glass of water and brings up to the bed with her as she settles next to him again.

"Just lift your head a little, sweetheart," she encourages softly, holding the straw steady for him.

[docscurlock]

Doc sits up when she returns, just slightly, and has a few swallows of the water through the straw, before he returns to lying flat on his back.

One hand reaches out for the sheets, to 'steady' himself.

Nevermind that he's not moving.

"Time s'it?"

[ikissdhimbck]

"'Bout ten-thirty," she answers, setting the glass back on the tray (on the floor), and coming back up with a small plate of fresh scrambled eggs.

"Now, listen, honey. I know you're probably not hungry, but it would do you good to put a little somethin' in your belly."

She loads a modest forkful, before giving him a warning look.

"Now don't give me no fussin' about how this ain't dignified; just take a few bites for me, an' I'll leave you alone. Promise."

[docscurlock]

"It ain't dignified," he protests, as he pushes himself up again so he's sitting a little more, the room spinning. "An' I ate the toast."

Doc holds his hand out.

"Y'can hold the plate, but let me hold the fork? I can hold the fork. They got salt on 'em yet?"

[ikissdhimbck]

"What did I say about fussin'?"

No, Doc Scurlock, she isn't kidding.

However, she does relinquish the fork.

"Toast ain't enough. Miss Bar told me y'needed proteins, 'n said to be sure you got some eggs in you. Also gave me them little white pills... you take those yet?"

Yes, this woman did just spend the morning asking the Bar what to do for a hangover. What of it?

"They got a little salt on 'em, but no pepper."

[docscurlock]

"Took 'em a few hours ago, 'fore I went back to sleep."

Doc takes the eggs and eats the bite, then stabs at them, before he nods over (ignoring the woozy feeling) at his desk.

"Go in the bottom drawer, I gots me a bottle of somethin' called 'tabasco'," he says, as he has another bite. "Bring it t'me, will you? Please?"

[ikissdhimbck]

She furrows her brow at the request, but she isn't going to say no. Not when he looks so pitiful.

And he asked nice.

"All right."

She carefully hands him the plate, before getting up and retrieving the bottle of pepper sauce.

[docscurlock]

He places the plate on the mattress, and settles on his side, resting the fork on the edge until she returns with the bottle and hands it to him after removing the cap.

"'preciate it."

Doc liberally douses the eggs in the hot sauce, before he deems them fit for eating, and then hands the bottle back and picks up the fork again, giving her a small, weak smile, before he takes another bite.

He slowly works his way to clear the plate, then nods (carefully) at the leftovers from earlier.

"And that bacon? Can manage the bacon, don't care 'bout it bein' cold."

[ikissdhimbck]

She watches him with a careful eye as he veritably drowns his eggs in hot sauce, worrying that the spice might be too much for his stomach. But she isn't going to argue with him, long as he's eating.

"Yeah?" she lilts, drawing her fingers back through his hair in a few loving strokes, when he requests the bacon from the long gone cold breakfast. She nods, returning the small smile.

"All right. I'll bring it on over, but don't overdo it, sweetheart, okay?"

[docscurlock]

"I won't. Promise."

His throat still feels like he's swallowed glass and he sounds like it too.

"Besides, it'll help. Salt pork s'good after a night'a drinkin', good bit of cornbread, bit of chili. Just need t'soak up the rum." He scrubs a hand over his face after he clears the eggs, and reaches for the water, feeling a bit more human.

Still a bit dizzy, but at least human.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Well, we'll start with the bacon for now, then see how you feel around lunch time," she says, setting the plate of bacon in front of him after clearing the empty plate away.

She sits on the edge of his bed quietly, giving him time to eat and get his bearings before trying to start up conversation. She can tell he's feeling a little better, but there's no sense in pushing him.

[docscurlock]

He appreciates that.

Once the bacon is eaten (he doesn't finish it) and the water drank, he sets the plates aside and then lies back down on the bed, on his back, eyes focused on the ceiling.

A pause.

"...did I come to your room last night?"

[ikissdhimbck]

She helps him clear the plates, shifting so he can pull the blankets back up around his middle if he would like.

She doesn't answer him right away.

But the giggle might just give him his answer.