Love Drunk

Disclaimer: I make no money from these stories and acknowledge the sole rights of the owners to do so.

A/N: I have a number of story idea's but I've been struggling to get anything written lately. This wasn't what I had planned to put up next, but I guess it wanted to be written so here it is. As always let me know what you think.

Big thanks to Becks for proofing for me.

Chapter 1

~ Ma-Ti? ~ Linka's emotions weren't as tightly controlled as usual and the young South American could tell that she was afraid.

It still took him a few seconds to shake the last remnants of sleep, before he answered her, increasing her discomfort. ~ What is wrong my friend? ~

Her relief was evident but for some reason her mind seemed clouded and he had to concentrate on her response. ~ Can you ask Wheeler to come and get me please? ~

~ From Gi's friend's house? ~ he asked. ~ Have you had a falling out? ~

~ Nyet! ~ Impatience and near panic made her reply unintelligible and she had to repeat it. ~ We are in a night club, The Raven. It is in the town centre, it will not be hard to find... I think. ~

~ Are you in immediate danger? ~ Ma-Ti demanded ~ Should we call Captain Planet? ~

Linka hesitated ~ Nyet, I want Wheeler. Please Ma-Ti, just tell him to hurry. ~

Wheeler was swearing under his breath as he approached the club, but it was mainly from worry about his two female friends.

Linka hadn't wanted the others to come but she'd insisted he meet her inside, so Kwame suggested that he should wear something a little smarter than usual, in case they had a dress code.

The place was heaving. Unidentifiable music was blaring out and the strobe lights made it hard to see the dance floor. ~ Ma-Ti, tell Linka I'm here and ask her where she is, I'll never find them like this! ~

~ In the ladies room, I will let her know when you are outside. ~ Came the reply.

When the door of the rest room opened, Wheeler only had a few seconds to admire his friend before she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. "Yankee", she breathed, leaning her body against him.

"It's okay, I'm here now." He told her, still in the dark about what was wrong. Wrapping his arms tightly around her, and grateful that the corridor outside the toilets was protected from some of the noise, Wheeler rested his head against Linka's and waited for her to calm down.

After a while she began to move gently in time to the music, making her fond friend chuckle. "I thought there was something wrong?"

"I am sorry." she replied, holding him tighter. "I did not want you to see me like this, I would never want to hurt you."

"Like what Babe?" When she didn't answer he pulled back to look at her, and saw in her eyes for the first time, that overly bright look of someone who had been drinking... A lot. "You're drunk!"

Tears sprung to her eyes. "I know. It was supposed to be a girls night out, we were all looking out for each other, drinking did not seem like such a bad idea but... then we met Edward and his friends."

Alarmed, the fire planeteer demanded to know where Gi and her friend were. "I do not know... Edward started getting too friendly and I could not think straight, I just wanted to get away from him."

She blushed, the tears returning to her eyes. "Gi and Madelyn were encouraging them... they are more used to drinking than I am and... I do not think they have any intention of stopping things, so I hid. I am sorry."

Wheeler pulled her back into his arms, sheltering her with his body from the comings and goings in the background, and kissed her temple. "Don't sweat it Babe, I'm just glad you called me. I'm gonna have a few choice things to say to Gi when I see her though!"

Wheeler got his wish a few minutes later as Gi entered the corridor from the dance floor.

"Wheeler? What are you doing here?" she exclaimed in surprise on seeing her two friends. "Are you okay Linka? I've been looking for you everywhere?"

The American held his intoxicated companion to his side and glared at their friend. "You shouldn't have let her go off by herself in the first place, but I suppose you're as drunk as she is!"

Taken aback, Gi shook her head. "We haven't had that much, Linka can't be drunk."

"She doesn't drink Gi!" he yelled. "Of course she was going to get drunk!"

Linka reached up to stroke his cheek, gently pulling his head down to look at her. "Do not be mad with Gi, Lyubov she did not make me take the alcohol."

His face immediately softening as his gaze met Linka's, Wheeler placed another kiss on her forehead. "She was supposed to be looking after you, Babe."

"She's not a child Wheeler!" The Asian complained irritably, "She can take care of herself, you didn't need to come here and check up on us."

Before he could answer, Madelyn and their new friends burst from the other room, laughing and joking. "There you two are, are you ready, the boys want to get going?"

One of the boys took a step towards Linka and tried to grab her arm, growling at Wheeler. "Hey man, she's spoken for, go chase a tail of your own."

"Call her something like that again and you won't just sound like you're talking out your ass any more!" He was so angry his ring was glowing.

The Russian yanked her arm free and placed it on Wheeler's chest to stop him killing the other man. "I am not spoken for by you Edward, you are disgusting, go away."

Since it looked like Edward was about to accept the American's challenge, Gi stepped between them. "Wheeler is Linka's boyfriend and he's very jealous, you better back off."

The other man was clearly not happy but he did back off.

Surprised that Linka's only reaction to the announcement was to cuddle back into him, Wheeler also calmed down, and slung his arms comfortably around her waist. "Come on Gi. Madelyn, I'll take you back to your place and pick up the girls things."

"No you won't!" Gi exclaimed, turning to face her friends. "We are going to a party with Marc and Padraig, it's all arranged."

"To give them a chance to check out your 'tail'?" He glared.

Gi glared back, putting her hands on her hips. "You're the last person that should be judging anyone, unless you were making up those stories about your teenage years in Brooklyn."

"At least I grew up!" he retorted. "You're old enough to know better but if you want to act like a hoebag go ahead. You're not dragging Linka down with you!"

Seething, the water planeteer yelled back. "I'm not like that! And anyway, it's Linka's choice, not yours!"

"She called me!" Wheeler replied, his voice rising again. "She was worried about that dickhead's familiarity with the word no."

"Gi let's go." Madelyn urged. "If Linka doesn't want to come that's up to her."

The Russian nodded. "I want to stay with Wheeler."

Gi did feel guilty about Linka being frightened so she relented. "Okay, do you need your things, or can it wait until I'm picked up on Monday?"

Madelyn's 'date' was getting impatient to be gone so when Linka hesitated, she pulled her keys out of her purse and threw them to Wheeler. "You can let us in when we get home."

"Fine." He shoved the keys in his pocket and glared after the others as they departed, thinking ungenerously. See you tomorrow sometime.

Turning back to Linka he smiled and said. "Ready to go Babe?"

She pouted. "Nyet, I want to dance. You never take me dancing and it is one of my favourite things to do!"

"I guess it won't hurt if we stay a while." He replied, trying not to laugh and failing when her face lit up.