A/N sorry not updated for a couple of days, this has been sitting on a stick half written, whilst, y'know? The world got in the way a bit. Thanks once again for all the lovely words of encouragement, they make it all worthwhile.
Enjoy.
She slowly becomes aware that the pounding on the door is matching beat for beat the pounding in her head; it takes only a couple more seconds for her to figure it out...Some-one at the door, probably wants to come in. She opens her eyes. Bad mistake. Quickly closes them again. She groans, throws an arm over her head, and rolls over. She's forgotten that she fell asleep on the sofa, and emits a high pitched squeal as she lands in a crumpled heap on the floor. It takes her a few moments to compose herself, fights the almost overwhelming urge to throw up, and rocks upwards onto her knees, from there a hand to the sofa, and she's up onto her feet. She takes a few more deep breaths and squinting with barely open gummy eyes, walks unsteadily to the front door of her flat. The pounding on the door doesn't stop.
"Alright, alright, keep your fucking knickers on" She mutters to herself as she falls against the wall in the hall, staggers, falls against it again, and waits for a moment before carrying on. Waiting for the world to stop moving like a boat on a rough sea.
The pounding on the door stops, as she undoes the latch, and opens the door inwards. Cook smiles at her briefly and then makes a face as he takes in the monument to personal self destruction that greets him. She wears hair by sofa, M&S vest with baked bean juice stain detailing, and vodka spillage overtones, Pyjama trousers that once were flannel, but are now so old they are pretty much just see-through. She stands for a moment looking disappointed before turning away. She staggers back into her lounge, rebounds off the hallway only once and considers this a personal victory. Cook watches her go, watches as half way down the hall she bounces off a wall, laughs as she scratches her arse.
"Fuckin Hell, Naomikins, what the fuck happened to you? "
She doesn't answer. She wobbles back into her small lounge, and starts to rummage around on the small coffee table for the remains of the last of the vodka she knows is there, and with a small cry, finds it, swills it around, to gauge the quantity left, and drinking from the bottle downs it in three large gulps.
"I'm maintaining, "Naomi starts very slowly, as if explaining to a child, "A state of either drunken oblivion, or uncoc...uncon... unconsciousness. " She has to concentrate very hard with the last word, and it takes her a couple of attempts. She smiles when she finally manages it.
Cook has followed her into her lounge and looks around, nodding his head appreciatively at the site in front of him. There are, by his count, three empty bottles of vodka, two each of Jim Beam, and a half empty cooking sherry. His eyes fall upon the half empty cartons of Chinese and Indian takeaway, three half finished pizza boxes, and two cans on Heinz beans, one spilled onto the carpet with a fork still in it. There is, he notices something unidentifiable by the TV which may or may not be a dried puddle of sick. Cook whistles.
"How long have you been on this bender?"
Naomi stops hunting for her cigarettes for a moment. "This?" She raises an eyebrow "This isn't a bender, this is just night time" She finds a bent fag, "Have you got a light?" She stumbles over to him. Cook winces as he gets a lungful of Naomi's breath, and BO. He hands her a lighter, and then takes it back, and has to light the fag himself, as she can't manage it. Finally lit, she takes a hit. Says flatly; "Cheers, Cook, my main man, and gentleman groover". She collapses back onto the sofa, and reaches for her laptop. Without prompting, she explains, as she points at the screen. "This site is what the internet is all about, not only do they have knocked down prices, they will actually bring it to your door, everything the aspiring and well heeled alcoholic agoraphobic could ever wish for."
Cook Nods, "Don't you think you've had enough?"
She looks up at him. "Are you real or am I dreaming you?
"I'm pretty sure I'm real." He smiles at her.
"Then I'm pretty sure I haven't had enough."
Cook rubs his face, takes in a deep breath, when Effy had told him she was worried after not being able to get through to Naomi on her mobile he'd volunteered to look in on her, as he'd had to come to London anyway. A week after watching her leave in a taxi at Pandas house, this wasn't what he'd expected to find.
"Is all this because of her?" he asks
Naomi looks up from her computer. Considers this for a moment, and shakes her head. "My lottery numbers didn't come up. I was gutted."
Cook sighs. "Right then, come on, you need to sober up" he walks to the kitchen starts to rummage around in the sink for a glass, fills it with water, and starts to pour in salt. He walks back into the lounge a few moments later
"Here, drink this" he hands her the glass
Naomi sniffs at the water, "What is it?"
"Just water, come on, down in one"
Naomi shrugs, takes down the liquid in on go, burps. Makes a face as she notices the salt. Realises what he's trying to do. "Ha," she laughs "salty water won't make me throw up, y'know"
Cook doesn't move as he says, "Oh, I know, the salt is just there to disguise the washing up liquid I put in it. Now that will make you heave."
Before Naomi can answer, she feels the effects of the foul concoction hit her stomach. She barely makes it to the bathroom. In between heaves she looks over at him through squinting eyes, says sarcastically "I've never liked you, you know that, right?"
He starts the shower, he purposefully runs it cold. Before she can argue, he starts to take off her clothes.
"Cook, what the fuck", she tries to cover herself.
"Don't worry Naomikins, right now I wouldn't, even with a stunt cock." He picks her up, throws her into the bath. She takes in a shuddering breath
"Jesus, that's fucking freezing, fucking let me out of here you bastard."
Cook easily holds her in the bath. "Nope, stay there" Cook doesn't have to hold her down for long, as she finally slumps to the side, and begins to cry. "Leave me alone, please, just go" Cook pulls her over to him, and holds her. His arms and chest soaking through in minutes.
"It's Ok" he says as he rocks the gently sobbing woman in his arms.
OooooO
"I put her to bed, and cleaned up a bit" he's on the phone, in the kitchen making coffee; "How long before you're here?" he pauses. "Right." He hangs up. Cook finishes the coffee, brings it into the bedroom, puts it on the bed side table, and gently rocks the sleeping Naomi awake. She groans, and rolls over.
"C'mon, " he urges, "Sit up"
She does as she's told, and he hands her the luke warm drink. She looks at him suspiciously. He laughs "It's just coffee, promise"
She takes a small sip, nods, "That was a fucking mean trick" she mutters
"Works though, right?"
She nods, "How long have I been sleeping? I feel fucking wasted. "
Cook looks at his watch "Fifteen hours." He pauses, "d'you remember the fight? " he rolls up his sleeve, shows her the nail marks she left there.
"Fucking hell, " her eyes go wide, "Cook, I'm sorry, I don't..." she looks down ashamed "I was pretty out of it, right?"
He nods "You were" he smiles mischievously "Although I enjoyed the three way gang bang"
Naomi's eyes go even wider, as her head jerks up, and she almost spills her coffee. Cook can't stop himself, and he bursts into laughter. She realises she's been had, shakes her head, "Fuck off, Cook, you fuck" She smiles. They say nothing for a while, finally the call of nature is too much to resist, and Naomi, moves to get up, before realising she's naked.
"Did you see? I mean, was a naked when...I did that, on your arm." The flush of embarrassment grows as she sees Cook nod.
"Yup, naked wrestling with Naomi over a half drunk bottle of cooking sherry, is one memory I'll treasure" Cook laughs again as Naomi slinks back under the covers muttering "Go, just go..."
She sits on the sofa next to Cook wrapped in her dressing gown, looks around at the now tidy room. She fiddles with her fingers for a bit, before muttering. "Thanks.., sorry" under her breath at him. Cook pulls her into him, and wraps an arm around her. "S'ok". Kisses her on the forehead, "Tell me next time, I'll come and join you." She only half smiles
Cook takes in a long breath through his nose, and holds Naomi close, "Listen, he begins, I've a favour to ask you"
"Yep, anything, ask away" Naomi yawns is still feeling sleepy, snuggles under his arm.
"Will you be my next of kin?" he asks quickly, then adds, "It just a signature on a form, it doesn't mean we have to..." he leaves it unfinished.
"What about your Mum?" Naomi asks, "Your Dad?"
Cook breaths out heavily, "Haven't spoken to her since I joined, dunno where me Dad is, he's a fucking arsehole anyway," he pauses, "You're like a sister Naomi, you're the closet I've got to family, you know?"
She sniffs, wipes her eyes, "Yep, I'd love to be, Cook, " she pauses for a moment, before asking "why d'you need a next of kin..." her words drain away as she realises what he intends. She sits bolt upright, suddenly cross with him "You have to be fucking joking?"
He looks away, cannot face her
"You're going back out there, aren't you?" she accuses.
He nods, still saying nothing. He swallows, "Naomi, I have to, I've got no choice."
"Of course you have a fucking choice, Cook you've done enough."
He sighs at her, "Naomi, I'm good for nothing else, this is all I can do, you understand? There's nothing here for me anymore."
They sit looking at each other. Slowly Naomi leans in, and ever so gently places a kiss on his lips. "Just make sure you'll come back, Ok?"
He smiles at her."Don't worry, bulletproof me".
OooooO
She thinks she must have fallen asleep, as she's woken by low murmuring voices, and she hears the door slam closed. She breaths in heavily, and stretches along the sofa, feeling more rested. She hears the footsteps approaching the back of the sofa, and calls out "Cook, make us a coffee" There's no answer and she sits up, "Fine I'll make them then..." she stops in mid sentence can't quite believe her eyes
"I'll have mine black." Smiles Emily.