A/N: So I know I haven't been posting lately, but honestly I haven't felt like writing. This is a story I started back in January when I found out what the spoilers said would happen in 2x15-2x17. Some of the dialogue is from the show, but most of it is made up. I have already written the next couple of chapters, so let me know if I should post them and continue this story.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, but I wish I did.

Why was the room spinning, Wade thought to himself. He hadn't been drinking that heavily or at least he didn't think so. He entered the competition mostly for fun with the potential bonus of winning the money to buy the Rammer Jammer. The bar wasn't officially for sale yet, but Wally had given him prior knowledge so Wade had a chance to get the money. Since Wade had been working there for such a long time, Wally wanted to give him the opportunity. Prior to meeting Zoe Hart, Wade had never even considered being more than a bartender. She had made him want to grow up and be a better man. So far he had tried to get a loan but even though they approved his business plan, without any prior business experience, they had required some start up capital before giving him the loan.

He had felt pretty good about the competition until Zoe pointed out how terrible Meatball was and how he should play with George. When he really listened, he could hear it himself; Meatball was terrible. One little criticism and he had flaked. Good thing because Donkey Kong and Mighty Mouse actually sounded pretty damn good. He had been excited again until Zoe had shown him just how much was at stake. The sign and her words of encouragement had sent him into a downward spiral.

Her words kept repeating in his head. I believe in you, realizing your dream. What if he failed like he always did, when he actually tried? The main reason he seldom did. What if he failed and he would never be good enough for her? She was right; he had never had a career or ambitions to get one. A doctor and a bartender were all good and dandy now, but what about the future. Could Zoe really picture a future where she was living with just a bartender as a GP in Southern Alabama?

He started with one drink to calm his nerves, but one drink became two and soon he was more than a little intoxicated. The more he thought about Zoe, and how good things were, the worse he felt; the more he doubted himself. It didn't help that Golden Boy George kept bugging him and encouraging him like Zoe did. He ended up ditching him and found a seat at the bar.

"Hey there handsome, what got you so down tonight?" the female voice said with playful concern in her voice.

"Nothing and everything," Wade responded, still looking at his half-empty glass in front of him.

"Sounds like you could use a ride home and a friendly soul to talk to." Wade nodded and looked at the hot female standing very close to him.

"Claudette! What are you still doing here, I thought you would be gone by now?"

"No, I wanted to hear who won. Why didn't you perform?" Claudette asked curiously.

Wade just shrugged.

"Well I think you might have gotten a few drinks over your limit," she continued.

"I can hold my liquor," Wade said with conviction in his voice.

"I am sure you can, but maybe you should stop now and let me help you," she said with a smirk. Wade didn't see it. "That ain't a bad idea." He got on his feet, smiled at her and walked out of the bar with his arm around her for support.

Meanwhile George and Tansy had seen the whole thing from a far. They seemed very concerned about the situation. Wade was leaving with a woman Tansy had told George that Wade had slept with a long time ago when she was married to him.

Outside the Rammer Jammer Wade tried to find the keys for his car, but as soon as he took them out of his pocket, he dropped them on the ground.

"I'll take those handsome," Claudette said picking the keys up from the dirt road. "Wouldn't want you to crash into a tree on the way home." She laughed.

Wade gave her a little smile and opened the passenger door. "Probably a good idea."

They were both silent during the drive, Wade almost falling asleep at the end. She poked him.

"Don't fall asleep on me Wade; I am not carrying you to your bed."

"I'm awake," he said groggy. "I was just resting my eyes."

"Sure, you were," she said chuckling.

Claudette helped Wade out of the car, the lights out in both houses around the pond. She half carried him to the door of the gate house. "So handsome, time for my reward for helping you home," she said with a smirk on her face. This time he noticed it.

"What do you mean?" Wade asked suspiciously, leaning on his door frame for support.

"Don't act all innocent and clueless Wade; we both knew how this would end." Claudette raised an eyebrow and moved closer.

"What! I thought you were just taking me ho.." Wade was interrupted with Claudette's lips on his. He didn't reciprocate the kiss and took a step back almost falling since he was lacking the support of the doorframe. Claudette put a hand over her mouth to cover a laugh. She quickly lowered her hand and gave him a seductive look.

"I can't do this Claudette," Wade said angrily suddenly aware of the situation he was in.

"Of course you can!" she said, surprised by the sudden angriness from him. She moved closer again.

"No, I can't. I have girlfriend, Claudette." He pushed her away.

"Since when did that bother you?" She was upset. "Last time we were together you were married, remember?"

"Yeah, I remember, but it is different this time."

"Why is it different this time?" she asked curiously, tilting her head while her hands fiddled with his shirt.

Wade removed her hands. "It just is, I really like this girl and I have no intention of cheating on her.. in fact I think you should go.. as in right now." He gave her a stern look and pointed his finger towards the dirt road.

"But we came here in your car! I'll have to walk all the way back to town," she said instinctively, clearly upset with how the situation had evolved.

Wade scratched the nape of his neck and gave her his keys. "Take my car and give the keys to whoever is bartending when you get back to the Rammer Jammer. Goodnight Claudette." Wade closed the door leaving her with his keys in her hands and a confused look on her face.

...

Zoe was dragging her feet as she walked home from a long day at the practice. She had wanted to go see Wade and George perform, but she found out from her last patient that they hadn't performed, so she didn't feel so guilty as before. But why hadn't they performed? Wade had seemed so excited yet nervous about it when they parted ways in the morning. She made a mental note to talk to him about it the next day. Right now she was beat and so tired she might not even undress before hitting the sack.

She crawled into bed with a snoring Wade. As she laid down on the bed and tried to sleep, Wade turned in his sleep and she could feel his breath on her. Her eyes almost watered up from the stench. Was that whiskey she could smell? And a lot of it judging from the how strong the stench was, and the amount of hours he must have been asleep. Images from when Wade backed over his dad and brought him to the Practice flooded her mind. That can't be a good sign she thought as sleep overwhelmed her.

Don't forget to review or there will be no more chapters! :)