Of course I do not own these characters, the dialogue or the story.
I was editing George's Story and a new ending/story came to me- this story also starts during Walking After Midnight but follows mostly Zoe's POV. However, it will not have the same result as George's Story- or the TV show. The first 2 chapters follow the episode (like George's Story), but then things will start to change. Please review! Thanks!
So, the last week has been weird. Strange things keep happening at my house. Things have been moved around, there was a sock in my underwear drawer and the other day- a strange toothbrush showed up in my bathroom!
Lavon thinks Wade is being funny, but he says it's not him… and for once he seems sincere.
I've decided to catch the creeper myself. I have a webcam and (like any good New Yorker) pepper spray. This ends now.
I lay down in bed- can of pepper spray in hand.
I feel like I have just fallen asleep when I sense someone trying to get into my bed! I don't think- I react. Take that! Right in the eyes! Suddenly, I realize I recognize the agonized voice… at the same time my sleep clouded vision clears enough to verify who I've just maced- GEORGE!? Crap!
"What were you thinking?! I could have seriously hurt you!" I chide him. Angry at myself for injuring George- again. Angry at him for scaring me. And above all, flustered- WHY is George Tucker in my house in the middle of the night?
"You did seriously hurt me! Oh my God, how did I get in here?"
"Very funny…" Wait, is he joking? The pain seems overlaid with genuine confusion. "No, I'm serious, what did you do to me?" he demands.
I'm sorry, did he just ask what I did to get him in my house in the middle of the night? "What did I do to you?!"
"Yeah, last thing I remember is going to sleep in my own bed…" My anger is subsiding.
"Are you drunk?" Maybe that would explain this strange behavior- George isn't the 'come over uninvited type'…
His voice goes up an octave, "No! But, to be honest with you, I am freaking out a little bit! Ok...? I mean, I'm really freaking out! This is…"
I cut him off, "Ok, we're gonna figure this out. Has anything else strange been happening to you lately?"
He squirms, "Thursday I woke up with candy corn in my hair and last night I woke up at the gas station… in my underwear…" There's a mental picture for you… Why wasn't I at the gas station last night… Focus Zoe! Suddenly, it all makes sense. I put my hand up to tell him to hold that thought and run to my bathroom. "Uh, where you goin'?"
I return, brandishing the mystery toothbrush. "Is this your toothbrush?!"
"YES! I've been looking for that! Wait… why do you have it?" His confusion is adorable- How is it possible to be that cute when your eyes and nose are running? No, I did not just think that. Monogamous with Wade.
Back to business, I'm completely confident in my diagnosis, "George, you have been sleepwalking." Mystery solved Scooby-Doo.
He snatches the toothbrush out of my hand- didn't his mother teach him that was rude? "NO, NO, NO, NO…" "Oh, yes." "That's impossible. I stopped sleepwalking when I was 9 years old."
Aww, he's embarrassed- well that doesn't change the facts, "So, there's a history. Have you started taking any new medications, or have you been eating anything different?"
"Candy corn?" he offers.
Well, no, that wouldn't do it. "Alright, listen, in adults sleepwalking is usually caused by stress. Has there been anything stressing you out recently?"
"No, actually everything's been great…" Everything's great huh… SO glad you're enjoying the attention as Bluebell's most eligible bachelor... BAD ZOE! He continues, "I've been enjoying life on my new houseboat…"
That snaps me out of my jealous reverie, "I'm sorry, did you say houseboat?"
He grins at me, "Yeah." His dimples… there are more important matters here!
My concern flares into anger again. "Are you kidding?! Do you know how dangerous it is to sleepwalk when you're on a houseboat?!"
The implication of my words crashes over his head like a water balloon, "Oh my God, you're right!" He is seriously cute when he's startled.
"It's alright, we just have to figure out what's causing this. How about tonight, I come over, attach an EEG machine to you and watch you sleep?" That sounds a lot more creepy out loud than it did in my head.
He noticed. "Ok, normally that would sound super fun," he laughs awkwardly, "but there's a Halloween party tonight. So… "
Weird or not, we need to figure this out before he hurts himself. If direct didn't work, let's try this. "Alright, well good, you know, go to the party, have a couple beers and then go to sleep." "Alright. Thank you Zoe." Cute, he thinks I'm sincere. Sarcasm must not have been taught in his law school. I lay it on thick- "Mmm hmm, you probably won't end up in the middle of the Gulf, but just in case," I pat his arm, "wear a life vest." I give him a hard look.
Unamused, he relents, "See you tonight, Doctor." So he does get sarcasm.
Not to be outdone I call out, "Happy Halloween!" in my most chipper voice. I bet he had a date for the party tomorrow night. Too bad for you. Mental head slap- I had one too.
I dreaded telling Wade our plans had changed- to no plans. I ESPECIALLY dreaded the inevitable 'why'. He was 'thrilled' with the idea of my spending the night with George.
I arrive at the houseboat- my conversation with Wade still ringing in my ears. I will be strictly professional tonight.
After George let me in, he just turned and walked away! Odd... Not important. This is just business. I follow, explaining how the test works. "So I'm going to be taking notes on anything you do, and I'm going to follow you if you sleepwalk." He hasn't looked at me once. I press on. "And hopefully we can discover what's been stressing you out. The most important thing is, to try to stick to your routine as much as possible." Finally! He turns around, it was starting to feel like he was ignoring me. I smile at him. I know this is a little awkward, with our history together, but come on, we're adults right? I'm a doctor- we can do this to figure out what is wrong, and to keep him from getting hurt.
"Ok, well, uh, my routine doesn't usually have you following me around all night, so…"
"You won't even notice that I'm here," I assure him earnestly. He looks skeptical. Trying to push past the elephant in the room, I ask as lightly as possible, "So, what would you usually do next?"
Clearly he's not trying to keep this professional… looking me square in the eye, he starts unbuttoning his shirt! OhmyGod! I can't help but follow his fingers as they descend. Wade's face flashes in my head. I turn away to clear my head.
Stumbling over my words, I try to find a safe place for him to change. "Ok, uh, how about for tonight you change maybe… uh, over there?" I direct him toward his bedroom. I firmly fix my eyes ANYWHERE but his shirt. As if I hadn't dreamed about this moment… what is he DOING?
He moves toward his room, but I'm in his way. I try to make myself as small as possible against the counter so he can get by. He stops in front of me- he is very close. He looks down at me and murmurs, "You really think this is a good idea?" He is really close, I'm having a hard time focusing, and a harder time NOT looking at the gap in his shirt. Man, I'm failing at not staring.
As calmly as I am able I finally say, "It's, um… our only option at this point." Damn, the um gave me away. I lift my head and look him squarely in the eye. I feel like this is a staring contest. He blinks first. I begin breathing again- I didn't know I'd stopped.
He turns away, "Ok… Whatever you say Doc." He sounds a little dejected. There's a pang in my chest. I'm trying so hard to be fair to Wade, and George is making this VERY hard.
The sympathy quickly evaporates though. As he climbed the steps to his bedroom, HE TOOK HIS SHIRT OFF! In my mind, I've seen shirtless George, but never in person, WOW… I resist the urge to follow him. I clear my throat and try to gather my thoughts. Wade, Wade, Wade.
George's cell phone chimes. He has a text message. I can't stop myself, I pick it up. I read aloud, "Someone named Daisy," seriously? Daisy? Like Duck? "Wants to know if she should be a sexy nun or a sexy referee?" Laughing, "Really, those were the only choices?" What costume company dreamed those up?
"Darn it," I look up at the sound of his voice. Mistake. He's suddenly there, leaning against the doorframe in only his undershirt and boxers, "I forgot to tell Daisy I couldn't make it tonight." Daisy's ridiculous name, costume and the fact she has a date with George are all erased. George's arms, chest, body are all I can see. Again, Wade's face flashes in my head.
"Bedtime!" I call out, the false cheerfulness is back- what is this voice? "Get in bed." I order him. That's no better. I'm sure he can tell I'm flustered. GET IT TOGETHER HART!
He lays down. "Scoot over a little." I nudge him.
As I wait for him to get settled, I glance around his room. This is the first time I've ever been in George's bedroom. Not how I expected it would be going… ZOE! Then I notice something, surprised and trying not to drool at the mental picture I ask, "You were going to be a firefighter tonight?" He turns to look, "Yeah… why, is that… It's stupid isn't it?"
We lock eyes. His intense green eyes are not helping my mental clarity. No… it is many things, but it is NOT stupid… I entertain the idea of postponing the study until after the Halloween party… it's not too late and we could be back in time for him to get SOME sleep… NO!
"No." Again, I shake my head to clear it, I have to stop that, I'm going to rattle something loose. I smile at him, trying to project composure I don't feel. "Ok. Alrighty." It's a process ok? If you were in bed with George Tucker, picturing him in a fireman's uniform would you be able to form a coherent thought? Don't judge.
Moving on, "Can you hold that there for me?" I press the EEG box to his chest. "Yeah," He sighs. I begin hooking George up to the machine. I try not to think about the fact that this is the first time I've touched him since he called off his wedding… for me… and showed up at my door… in the rain…
"You really think this is gonna work?" His voice breaks through my musings. "Sure," I say distractedly. I can still see him standing in my doorway. I wonder what he's thinking of right now. "Now go to sleep," I tell him gently.
"Just…" he trails off. I try to smooth things over. "Yup. Just pretend I'm not here." He's got to think I'm being odd. Maniacally cheerful one minute, bossy the next and too distracted to know my name the following.
"Yeah," he snorts. "That's gonna be pretty much impossible." Apparently, he's affected by my presence too- dangerous territory, best not visited. I give him a warning look. He points to the living room, wordlessly ordering me out of his room, with a smile. "Goodnight Dr. Hart." He's being odd too. When did things get so formal between us?
I sigh as I settle in a chair, notepad in hand, trying hard to focus at the task at hand. "Sweet dreams!" I call out. There's that voice again. He gives me a sarcastic thumbs up, eyes closed. It used to be so easy between us. How is it possible that things got MORE complicated when he was no longer engaged… it's all just so wrong.
I think of Wade again, and then George. I feel a headache coming on. Coupled with exhaustion and the late hour I begin to doze.
I wake suddenly and realize George isn't in bed. I'm worried he could be hurt and I panic. Without thinking I enlist Wade to help in the search. Probably should have thought that one through…
George wasn't at my house. I was sure that was where he'd be. (Wade took that well…) We return to the Rammer Jammer and George walks in, looking a bit like a zombie. A hot, firefighter zombie…
He sees me and smiles- and introduces me to the famous Daisy as his girlfriend. Man, I wish Wade wasn't standing right behind me. Especially not when George pulls me close and grins down at me.
With Wade's help I get George outside. My heart sinks a little when Wade, as always, tries to make a joke of his real feelings, admitting he knew George dreamed about me, but never thought he'd have to participate in one of his dreams. I wish he'd let me in. I wonder if that's how my last boyfriend felt. That thought pulls me up short.
George brushes off Wade's help home and I'm on my own with Sleepwalking George.
I get him settled in a chair on the deck of the boat house. I get a drink of water as I ponder George's words. Girlfriend. I decide to get him back in bed. I think the sleep study is concluded. The cause of George's sleepwalking is now obvious, but I need time to process the results. I've tried hard not to think about George these last few months- which is easier when we're not together. I'd like to go home, to think in private, but when he wakes up he'll want to know what happened. What am I going to tell him?
First things first, he probably shouldn't sleep outside. I pat him on the leg, "Alright, come on, let's get you to bed." Sleepily, he stands up. Hmmm, Sleepy George is cute. "Ok," he nods. He looks down at me, I feel so small beside him. "You going to bed now?" he asks me. I smile and nod. "That's a good idea, it's been a long day and I am… very tired." He takes my hand and smiles. I look down at my hand cradled in his. A jolt of electricity shot through my arm. Shocked, I look up. I can't stop myself, I ask, "So… we're together huh? He gives me a funny look, "Duh. You're actin' weird…" I need to know more. Trying not to alarm him, I whisper, "George, are we happy?"
Taken aback, but with certainty, "How could we not be?" He smiles and leans toward me, "Zoe, you and I…" he leans closer, I'm mesmerized by his face and words. I lean toward him. "We belong together," he says simply. Our eyes close, and his lips touch mine.
What do you think? Please review.