An Affair of the Intoxicated Heart

"All right Lucy, out ya go." After sliding his arms under Lucy's body, Carter lifted her out of the passenger seat of his jeep.

"Carter?"

"Huh?" Carter asked as he kicked the door closed.

"I don't feel so good."

"Well, you usually don't when you drink like that." Truthfully he hadn't noticed how much she had been drinking until they left the party and he had to hold her up.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay," he mumbled as he concentrated on carrying her up the stairs.

"Room 213 John." Lucy mumbled into his neck.

"I know Lucy."

"Remember, 231."

"Okay we're going to room 231, I remember." Finally reaching the top of the steps he began to walk to his apartment.

"What room John?"

"231"

"Good, room 231." Pausing for a moment, as if to think thoughtfully, Lucy then continued. "I'm feeling kind of bad Carter.

"Carter was about to tell her to pick a name but he knew it wouldn't do any good. "I know, we're almost there." Upon reaching the door Carter reached into his pocket while juggling Lucy in his arms. "Hold your arms tighter around my neck Luce." She immediately responded with a firm grip. Finally pulling his keys out, Carter preceded to unlock his door with a humming Lucy by his ear.

"John?"

"What?" he asked as he kicked the door closed

"I really don't feel good."

"Lucy are you going to throw up?" The answer was obvious and he was already headed towards the bathroom.

"I think so."

"Okay, we're almost there." Upon reaching the bathroom Carter flipped on the light and leaned over as he set Lucy on the floor.

Crawling to the toilet, Lucy crossed her arms on it and rested her head on the cool porcelain.

Looking down at her Carter sighed reluctantly. Kneeling down, he gathered up her hair and held it behind her neck. Carter sat there in silence rubbing her back and after a few moments that silence was broken as she began to make gagging noises. Carter listened to her as best as a boyfriend could, with mild disgust. He continued to soothe her though as she threw back up her thirty dollar meal he had bought her earlier that night. With mild humor he wondered if he would get a refund for it. His humor was quenched though as Lucy quieted down and let out a choked sob soon after.

"I'm yucky." Lucy cried into the toilet.

"No, your not." Carter said as he wrapped his arms around her waste and pulled her up. "Your beautiful Lucy."

"Your lying." Lucy said with a hiccup.

Brining her towards the tub he settled her down n the ground. Leaning over her, Carter began running a bath. Once he was satisfied with the temperature, Carter kneeled down in front of her and looked her in the eye. "I am not lying. Now lift up your arms."

"With an innocent pout Lucy obeyed and allowed him to strip her of her shirt. "If I wasn't yucky then why would you be giving me a bath."

"Because I love you and I want to help you feel better." Carter pulled her against him and undid her bra. Once he had her resting against the tub again he pulled the straps down her arms. "Come on Lucy, stand up." After taking off the rest of her clothes without incident Carter was able to get her into the tub.

Lucy sat cross legged and slumped in the warm water as Carter washed her with a soapy sponge. "Your mad at me."

Carter stopped where he was and dropped his head in defeat. With a deep sigh he continued. "Why would I be mad at you?"

"Because I was bad, and when I am bad you ignore me and get this dull monotone sound in your voice." Glancing at him under her stringy wet hair Lucy tried to gage his reaction.

"Lucy I'm not mad, I'm just tired okay?" Seeing her continued pouting Carter tried again in a less tense voice. "Baby, I'm not mad. If I was mad would I be doing this?" After a moment of silence he continued. "Besides, I haven't given you the silent treatment since way before we became involved." When she didn't respond Carter took that as an implication that she had given up.

~~~~~~~~~~~

After bathing her and wrapping her body with a towel, Carter once again cradled her in his arms as she walked to his bedroom. Once in the bedroom Carter sat her down gently on the bed and kneeled in front of her with his hands wrapped around her forearms out of fear of her falling over. "Stay right there."

Lucy bobbed her head forward and back assuring him the best she could in her intoxicated condition. As bad of a state she was in she couldn't her but feel how much Carter cared for her. Even as she eyed him through her hazy vision Lucy smiled. With a content sigh she fell back onto the bed and curled up on her side.

Clothes in hand, Carter walked back to the bed. "Oh no you don't." Reaching Lucy quickly Carter pulled her back up in a sitting position. "Cooperate with me here Luce." Untucking the corner of the towel holding it in place he allowed it to fall around her to the bed. Eventually Carter had the shirt over her body.

"All right John, I'm not incompetent." Grabbing her underwear from him she pulled them on and quickly crawled onto the bed and under the covers.

With a sigh Carter grabbed the shorts he was going to put on her and moved away form the bed.

Through heavy eyes Lucy watched Carter strip down to his boxers. From where she was he looked taller then he usually did. Even in the intoxicated state she was in and through the darkness Lucy could still make out the fine lines in his back which moved under his skin as he undressed. Once he moved onto the bed she continued to watch him. And when he fell on his back and released a sigh she smiled. Reaching out, Lucy placed her hand on his arm.

Carter turned his head and looked into Lucy's half closed eyes. "I thought you had fallen asleep."

With a yawn and a shake of her head Lucy responded. "Not yet."

"Come here." While Lucy obeyed Carter wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him.

Lucy wrapped herself tightly around his body and laid her head contentedly on his chest. One of his arms wrapped around her waste while the other was occupied with his hand placed on her bare thigh.

Cuddling closer, Lucy allowed herself a content sigh before she shut her eyes and fell asleep.