'cause i'm just holding on for tonight

[coppelganger]

WHO: Sarah + you!
WHERE: Various Porter cities
WHEN: Throughout June
WHAT: Sarah is going through a thing
WARNINGS: Violence, drug use, language

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[coppelganger]

Are they?

[ She can tell that he's lying, but she keeps her voice light. ]

Will you still be up if I take a shower?

[puppydoctor]

Yeah, go right ahead.

[A few months ago, he would have offered to join her. He doesn't pause to question what's changed. Instead, he finishes up at the sink and steps into the hall.]

[coppelganger]

[ Sarah showers quickly, washing the smell of the bar out of her hair and skin, and then she walks into the bedroom to put on a tank top and underwear before going to find George again. ]

[puppydoctor]

[He's on the couch, with a beer in one hand and the other rubbing at his neck. It was a long day on his feet, and coming home didn't quite relieve any of that tension. When he sees Sarah though, he puts on a smile and motions for her to come sit next to him.]

[coppelganger]

[ Sarah sinks onto the couch beside him with a tired sigh, and leans her head on his shoulder. Sorry about the wet hair. ]

Telly? [ She's not sure anything's on at this hour, but it might be nice to have some background noise. ]

[puppydoctor]

[He doesn't mind. In fact, he just pulls her closer.]

Yeah.

[Blessed background noise. He doesn't quite know what they're going to talk about, if anything, but the TV helps him feel like they're less alone.]

Um. What did you do today?

[Light, conversational. Not interrogative.]

[coppelganger]

I... went out.

[ Not to work. Just out. ]

Got into it with some wanker. I won. [ No, okay, she got kicked out of the bar, but so did the wanker, so she counts it as a victory. ]

[puppydoctor]

[He tries not to look overly concerned, but it's difficult.]

I should see the other guy, right?

[coppelganger]

Oh, he's in the hospital.

[ She's teasing him. Gently. But it doesn't take long before her eyes look sad again. ]

Sorry I'm like this.

[puppydoctor]

[His heart clenches up, and he reaches over to put his hand on her shoulder, stroking gently with one thumb.]

You think I'd want you to change? I just don't like seeing you hurt.

[coppelganger]

I've been thinking a lot, um... about Beth. It's been hard.

[ She doesn't know if he'll remember where he's heard the name before, or if he'll connect the dots, but she has to say something. ]

[puppydoctor]

[He pulls her in a little closer, trying to comfort without smothering, and presses a kiss to her shoulder.]

I'm so sorry, Sarah.

[coppelganger]

I have these dreams about her.

[ She leans against him, closing her eyes. ]

[puppydoctor]

Do you want to talk about them?

[coppelganger]

I just wanna stop having them.

[puppydoctor]

[He pulls her in closer, casting aside his worry of being too much. He just wants to hold her right now.]

Is there anything I can do?

[coppelganger]

Can you give me something? Prescribe something so I can sleep?

[ She knows, she knows, she knows that she shouldn't ask this of him. It's probably against all kinds of rules, and she's already had him break too many. ]

[puppydoctor]

Yeah. Yeah, of course.

[He shouldn't, he so shouldn't, but...]

... Just a sec.

[George pulls away, sucking in a deep breath, and gets up to step into the bedroom. There's the sound of him rummaging in his backpack, and when he reemerges it's with a little orange pill bottle in one hand. It's this world's answer for Trazadone, and it's prescribed to him.]

You can have these, in the meantime - I mean, if you want them. They were making me too groggy on the job.

[coppelganger]

When did you get these?

[ She can't hide her surprise when she sees what he has and who the prescription is for. She takes the pill bottle, though, because of course she does. ]

[puppydoctor]

Last month.

[He doesn't go into more detail than that. No need to worry Sarah with the details of worsening depression and nightmares about killing his friends.]

One pill at bedtime. It's good for sleep.

[coppelganger]

Thanks, babe.

[ She opens the bottle and deposits a single pill into her palm. ]