Disclaimers: Apply. As always.
Author's Note: This fic was written for Alias School: Fanfiction Characterization. Double-drabble, POV, Missing Scene. Spoilers for all broadcasted episodes.

AT CANYON CREEK BRIDGE,
written by Whipper

He wasn't surprised by the dark figure leaning against the railing of the bridge.

People were looking for Jack everywhere; the bars (both local and otherwise), the park that Laura had loved ... someone was probably on the way to the graveyard too see if their missing friend could be found grieving at his wife's empty grave. But for him, Jack's best friend, there had been only one logical place to search. Only one place where he honestly thought Jack could be found.

And that was, of course, here. The place where Laura Bristow had "died".

Through the window of his car Arvin could see how Jack stumbled and almost fell over the railing, into the ocean below. His irritation at the situation grew as he drove past the drunk man. The urge to get out of the car and shake some sense into his friend was almost overwhelming but he couldn't very well park in the middle of the road. No need for another "accident" at the Canyon Creek Bridge.

Finally finding a suitable place to stop he quickly got out of the car and began walking briskly down the road. As he reached the place where he had spotted Jack earlier he was pleasantly surprised to find the man standing instead of laying face down in the dirt. God knew that wouldn't had been the first time he'd found Jack like that.

"Drunk again, Jack?"

Jack didn't seem at all surprised by his appearance. Probably too drunk to think twice about it. He didn't even turn around to great him.

"Not drunk enough," he answered, speaking with a obvious slur. "I'm never drunk enough these days."

"Really? To me it seems like you're always drunk these days."

Jack didn't seem to have any answer to that. The moon, reflecting in the water, illuminated his face as he took a big gulp from the bottle in his hand. The hurt in Jack's eyes was so obvious that it made Arvin sick and he found himself wishing that things could be different.

"Sydney's nanny called us," he told his friend quietly. "Your daughter wants you to read her a bedtime story."

"Considering the money I pay that woman I'm surprised she's illit... an ana... that she can't read."

Arvin sighed and reached out for his friend; not at all surprised that Jack didn't react to the small sting of the needle. He didn't really want to do this to his friend but didn't feel that he had any choice.

"Let's go home, Jack," he said patiently.

"I don't want to go home."

"Sydney wants you to come home."

"Sydney wants her mother to come home," Jack answered. "And Arvin, she's not the only-"

The drug finally took it's toll and as Jack relaxed against him Arvin thought that this would have to end soon. Jack had to stop grieving for the past and begin to focus on the present.

As for the future... well, Arvin had plans for his friend's future.

THE END