A/N: I didn't expect to be back with this chapter so soon, but I got on a roll and couldn't stop writing, so here I am. :) As always, I thank you guys sincerely for all of the reviews and feedback. It means a lot to me, and I full heartedly appreciate your words. Well, that's enough out of me for now. Hope you enjoy the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I own a very large nothing.

Chapter 6:

JD ran fast but unseeing, not quite sure himself where he was heading. The only thing that he was really aware of was the ugly truth set on repeat in his head: Dr. Cox doesn't love you. He never did. It was the love potion; all the love potion. He doesn't actually love yo – "I GET IT!" JD screamed aloud while running, not really caring how crazy he looked.

Besides the obvious question, there was another more dominant one in his head as well: What to do about Dr. Cox? When was he going to tell him? How was he going to tell him? And then the more pressing question that weighed heavily on JD's heart:

Should he tell him?

Not telling him at all would work just fine too, wouldn't it? Dr. Cox was in love with him, and JD now knew for sure how much he cared for the older man as well. Would it be so wrong to allow themselves a happy ending? To forget all about the love potion and start what JD hoped would be the beginning of a great relationship? Wasn't that at least an option?

But suddenly the conversation from Perry's apartment started playing in his head.

"I…when did this happen?"

"When did what happen?"

"These, um…these feelings for me. When did you get them?"

"They just sort of happened."

They just sort of happened. "Sort of," as in "Three days after I drank that supposed 'juice.'"

But Dr. Cox was happy to be in love with him anyway, right? So what did any of that matter? Without even meaning to, JD's memory of their conversation did a fast forward, reminding him of the painful and obvious truth. Perry's words, straight from his mouth:

"God, Newbie, this need, this…whatever the hell it is; it's driving me up the wall. I don't like not being in control, and that's what this feels like: like I'm not in control."

JD sniffed, trying desperately to fight back another sob. He still didn't know what he was going to do in regards to telling Perry about the love potion, but he knew one thing for sure: He had to go back to that magician; he had to relocate that shop.

--

Once JD knew where he was headed, his running became steadier; persistent even. He had no idea what he was going to say to the man once he got there, but he knew it was where he needed to be. Still though…what would he say? "Hey, sorry for laughing at you, but that stuff really worked! Who knew? Oh wait, you did." Or there was the more direct approach, "You asshole! Look at all the trouble you've gotten me into!" And then, of course, there was always, "Is there an anti-love potion? One that would reverse the spell?" Out of all of said ideas, JD liked the last one the best. He still wasn't sure whether or not he'd tell Perry about the love potion, but if he chose to crush the dream that had barely even started, he could at least avoid having to do it verbally, and instead get the older man to drink another small vile of "juice."

But wasn't that just adding to the deception, even if it did work? Wasn't that just as bad?

JD swallowed, mind still a wild mess over what he was supposed to do. Thank God he was almost at the shop. Just one more turn and –

For the first time since he started running, the brunet doctor stopped. Where…where was it? Where was the shop!? It was here only weeks ago. Where could it have gone? It didn't make sense. Why would the owner just –? Oh no. No, no, no! He'd completely and utterly forgotten what the magician had told him that day: "Why yes! I'm a traveling salesman. Slash magician, that is. I need to be able to set up my items as quickly as I'd be able to store them all away. I'm not a person who likes to stay in one spot for very long. No, not at all."

JD's heart plummeted to his stomach, his throat becoming uncomfortably dry with despair. The man had left. Gone. He wasn't there to help him; to give him an easier solution. It was up to him and him alone.

--

Appletini's weren't cutting it tonight.

JD didn't want to be tipsy or giggly or whatever the hell you'd call it. JD wanted to be off his ass drunk. He didn't want to think about the love potion or Perry's fake emotions, or the fact that, whenever he did go home, he'd probably have a million and one worried messages on his machine, and if one of them was the voice of his seemingly concerned mentor, then he knew he'd go ahead and break down; letting the tears spill out that he'd been holding back all day.

So after two tinis and a half, JD ordered a beer. Then another beer. Then one more for good measure. But still the raging conflict on whether or not he should let Dr. Cox know about him accidentally drinking a potion, a potion that he hadn't even believed to be real, peeked through his train of thought, forcing him to think.

"You don't have to tell him. All you have to do is tell him you realized you cared, but you don't have to tell him about the love potion. He'll be happy, you'll be happy, and you can start the beginning of your lives."

"But that's not real."

"It will be to him! And it's not like your feelings are fake."

"But his feelings are. It's not right. It's not fair."

"How is it not fair? Are you telling me you don't want to wake up with him in the morning every day? Happy and content?"

"I do, but whenever he turns to smile at me or anything remotely romantic, I'm going to break inside. I'm going to break inside because I'll know it's all a façade."

"But you care about him so much! How could you turn this down?"

And amidst the drunken mess that was JD, he knew he had his answer: He did care about Perry. A lot. Which was exactly the reason why he had to tell him about the love potion.

How could he say he cared for him and then go about pretending all was well? How could he say he loved him, and then go on encouraging a life where the man of his affection would be under a constant delusion; a spell? No longer able to control his emotions? How, if he truly loved him, could he bring himself to do such a thing?

He couldn't. He could never.

Throwing back the shot he'd just ordered – Scotch! Burning throat! Owies! – JD carelessly threw his money on the counter, swaying, wobbling, and dragging himself out of the bar to go and call a taxi. At least now he was drunk enough to tell him.

--

JD stood outside his mentor's doorway, perplexed. Was this the right one? Or maybe it was the one over there? They all looked the same! Except for the different numbers, of course. JD let out a stupid sounding giggle, though what was so funny, he had no idea. Of course, that thought just led to the thought that, no – nothing was funny. Not right now anyway. He was about to ruin everything that could've been and more some, considering there was no way Perry would still talk to him, even as his colleague, when this whole mess was over and done with.

JD pounded on the door he could've sworn was Perry's, and felt an odd combination of relief and misery when he answered. "Newbie! Dear God, are you okay? Gandhi told us you just ran out earlier, and we were – Newbie…?"

JD, who at first glance – at least when standing still and not talking – would've appeared sober, but when he stumbled over nothing and fell against the door frame, his current state became apparent. Before he could fall any further, Dr. Cox reached out and grabbed him, steadying his protégé where he stood. "Newbie…are you drunk?"

Of course he knew he was, but to what extent was the real question. Was this an appletini induced JD, or a completely and utterly wasted one? "JD…?"

And that was it. That was all the brunet needed to hear. His mentor saying his real name in a soft, caring tone. It was all he needed to hear to completely break down; the sobs he'd worked so desperately all day to hold back flew out of him. He'd come here to be honest; to tell Perry the truth. And yet now all he could do was bawl.

He felt two arms come around him, lifting him up and carrying him to, well, he didn't really know, but he wasn't going to fight it. He cried helplessly into the older man's shoulder, feeling pathetic but not wanting to stop.

He managed to open his eyes when he felt the person carrying him sit down – Perry – but did not feel his own self make contact with the floor. Between drunken tears and puffy eyes, JD recognized the older man's couch. Dr. Cox had taken a seat, but without letting go of JD. The doe eyed doctor was still cradled in his mentor's lap, his face pressed against his shoulder as tears continued to escape him.

Large, calloused hands traced circles onto JD's back, while a chorus of "Shhh's" emitted from the older man in uncharacteristically soothing tones. It was so nice and so comforting, yet it just made JD cry even harder. Because as nice and comforting as it was, none of it was real. If Dr. Cox was in his right state of mind, he would've slammed the door upon JD's arrival. Not this. Never this.

"C'mon, Bethany, talk to me."

Through the drunken haze that was JD, he noticed the girls' name. When was the last time Perry had referred to him in such a way? Not since the love potion, JD realized, but his senses were pretty off right now, so he wouldn't have bet on it. Still though, the tone in which the girls name had been said was a gentle one. The usual mocking behind it had completely vanished. It was the love potion's doing, not Perry's. JD let another sob escape him, the force behind it actually making his body tremble.

The older man tried again, voice still calm and soothing. "JD, what happened today?"

"Is' nah 'eal," he managed through his crying, voice slurred from all he had consumed.

"What?"

"Is' nah 'eal. I-Is fake 'n you hay me and 'n I din't even mean to an' is' all fake."

"'It's fake?' Newbie, I'm lost. What's fake?"

"Is' nah 'eal and is' nah fair an' you don' 'eally 'uv me an' is jus' a potion."

"JD; kid…I can't understand you."

The brunet let out another miserable sob. He was already feeling guilty enough about showing up to the man's apartment late at night, drunk and sobbing and bringing with him not the happiest of news, but now he couldn't even get what he wanted to say across, not to mention he was most definitely staining his mentor's t-shirt. "I'll buy you new one," JD mumbled into his shoulder, sniffing loudly. "Is' all gooey."

The doe eyed doctor could both hear and feel the low chuckle of his mentor. Great. He was coherent enough to get his point across about the shirt, but not about the damn love potion. Still, it was nice to hear him laugh. He'd probably never hear that sound again; not after he finished telling him what he needed to. "It's okay, Newbie," Perry finally answered, a smile in his tone. "It's just a shirt, alright?"

JD nodded into his neck, suddenly feeling exhausted. He wanted so badly to get it over with; to tell the curly haired doctor the truth, no matter how much he hated the idea of saying it aloud. But he could barely stand, let alone talk, and the day's events were suddenly weighing down on him, making his eye lids much heavier than they were just moments ago. He managed a, "Mmhmm," so Dr. Cox would at least know he was listening. But it was said, "Mmhmm," that made Perry all the more aware of JD's current condition.

"How about we get you to bed there, alright Newbie?"

JD squirmed. He was exhausted, but he didn't want to sleep. He wanted to stay awake as long as possible; to enjoy the first and last night he'd be able to be this close to his mentor; to hear his voice, soft with care, and to feel his arms around him; gentle but strong. He wanted to stay awake and embrace this last opportunity as long as possible, before the inevitable of having to tell him the truth came to fruition. But when he opened his mouth to voice his protest, the only thing that came out was a long, weary yawn.

"Good answer."

JD tried not to fidget as he felt his mentor stand, carrying his protégé with him. He lazily wrapped his legs around his mentor's waist, trying his best to help.

JD suddenly felt one of the arms that had been supporting him let go, followed by a "swooshing" sound, as if someone had just pulled away something soft. The brunet was suddenly lying down, his back pressed against something very comfortable. A bed. Perry's bed. Just as he was figuring out his current location, he felt someone wiggle his shoes off, and then heard the clear but calm voice of his mentor. "Arms up, Newbie."

Slowly and sluggishly, JD obeyed, raising his arms up over his head. He stayed silent as Dr. Cox pulled off his scrubs top, leaving his undershirt on for pajamas.

And then, as Perry went about pulling the comforter over his protégé, JD's eyes met his own for the first time all night.

They were blue and sharp and definitely a little worried. But the care in his gaze was deep and present. Dr. Cox gave him a small smile, if not a little concerned, as he reached out to wipe away a stray tear JD hadn't even realized was still rolling down his cheek. "Go to sleep, Newbie. You're going to have a headache when you wake up, but I'll be here, alright?"

Dr. Cox went to walk away, his hand reaching out to turn off the light, but JD couldn't bear to watch him leave. Not yet. Not now. "Stay," he managed, voice slurred with alcohol and sleep.

Perry turned from where he stood, eyebrows furrowed. "Newbie?"

"I don' wan' you to goes. Stay…?"

Dr. Cox nodded, turning on the bedside lamp before flicking out the main light. He climbed into bed with his protégé, who immediately wiggled over to where he lay, pressing his body against him as much as humanly possible. JD knew this would never again happen when the night was over, so if his body was really forcing him to fall asleep, he was going to do it snuggled up against Perry.

The curly haired doctor had once again gone to drawing circles on JD's back. The brunet soaked in the sound of Perry's soft tones, the warmth from his body, the feel of his hands. The last thing he remembered hearing was a low and gentle, "Go to sleep now, JD," and the last thing he remembered feeling was a small, soft kiss on his forehead.

A/N: Not the happiest of chapters, but I still think it's a bit nicer than the last one. (Or at least I hope so) Anyway, chapter seven is already being worked on, so it should be up in a few days or so. Well, that's about it from me. Until next time!