Fortunately I was off for two days after the party. Why was this a good thing? Cause the more than a couple beers I drank at the party weren't such a great idea. Neither were the shots I had once I got home. Shots for me are a little out of the norm but when I got home all I could think of was that kiss. Opening the fridge, I remembered drinking my last beer. So shots it was.

Somewhere between the couch and my bed I passed out cause that's where I was when I woke up. Remember what I said about being lucky that I had a couple days off. This is where that comes in. I was in no shape to work. Hell, I barely made it to the bathroom before losing whatever was left in my stomach. And if you're thinking it couldn't get any worse, you'd be wrong. Just as I made my way back to the couch, someone knocked on my door.

I called out 'hang on a minute' although thinking back, it took me more than a minute to raise my sorry ass off the couch and actually make it to the door. There stood Alex with that same silly expression still on her face that she'd had at the party.

"Damn Bos, if you feel half as bad as you look," she said with a smile. If she'd have been a he and I'd have been of sound mind, I'd have clobbered her at that point but I don't think I could move my arm if I wanted to.

"So, a little too much Christmas cheer," she replied catching a look at the bottles and shot glass on the living room table.

I didn't reply as I shuffled my way back to the couch. Every part of my body ached, even my hair hurt.

Something tells me Alex either had been in my current state or she'd been around someone who had. Without another snide remark, she made her way to the kitchen, mixing up some concoction. I didn't care what she was doing as long as she left me alone. I spoke too soon however cause it wasn't long before she returned to the living room, destroying my semi-peaceful existence.

"Drink this," she said handing me a glass of something. I knew better than to ask what it was. Whatever she'd put in that glass couldn't possibly be any worse than anything I'd drank in the past 24 hours. One sniff and I shot that little theory all to hell. Alex was quick on her feet, putting the trashcan in front of me just in time.

"What the hell is this stuff?" I demanded to know between periods of tossing my cookies.

"Something that will make you feel a lot better," she insisted although I had my doubts. She grabbed the shot glass off the table, rinsing it in the kitchen sink before returning to my living hell.

"Here, drink," she said, pouring a little of that concoction into the shot glass. "Bottoms up."

I drank that stuff, shot glass after shot glass until I'd finished it all.

"So what's in that stuff?" I asked.

"You don't need to know," she answered. "Trust me, if you're bad enough off to need it, you're not going to be in any shape to make it."

"That bad huh?" I asked.

"Nah, not really," she replied. "Now, for the next step in your recovery.

I was seated on the couch, If you want to call it that. Actually I was sort of slumped against the arm of the couch. Alex crawled over me, sitting on the back of the couch with her legs on either side of me. If I were in any shape at all, this would have been a lot more fun.

A she began rubbing my temples, I relaxed, laying my head back against her as I closed my eyes. She continued for several minutes until I actually started to feel better. Whoever was inside my head usually a sledgehammer had stopped and my stomach didn't feel like a hamster running around in one of those little wheel things. Gradually I opened my eyes, slowly just in case this was all just a dream.

"Feeling better?" she asked.

Hell yes I was feeling better. I could tell because ten minutes ago I couldn't have cared less about her eyes. Now, just mere inches away from her face, close enough to feel her breath on my cheek, I noticed Alex's beautiful eyes.

"Ready for step three?" she asked.

"Step three?" I inquired. "How many steps are there?"

"Just three," she answered.

"Okay, what's step three?"

"A shower," she answered.

"A cold shower?" I asked as she continued rubbing my temples.

"No, a hot one," she said, smiling as if she read my mind.

"You keep rubbing my temples like that and I'm going to need a cold one."

"You think so huh?" Alex asked.

"I don't have to think," I answered.

She laughed again, getting off the couch where she moved in front of me. Taking my hands, she pulled me forward til we were both standing. Close enough for me to place a kiss on her forehead.

"Kissing is not in the plan," she laughed, pushing me towards the bathroom.

"This would be a lot more fun if I didn't have to shower alone," I replied, giving her the eye.

"I don't think so," she smiled. "You're on your own this time."

"This time," I asked getting a glare from her even though I could tell she was enjoying all this. "Fine, but if I drown, you'll have to live with yourself."

"I'll take my chances." she replied, taking a seat on my couch.

"You staying?" I asked wondering why she was still here; giving that this was the final step in her line of torture.

"Sure, wouldn't miss it," she laughed. Now I don't know why but that laugh worried me.

"Miss it? Miss what?" I asked, now standing in the doorway to my bathroom.

"Miss the look on your face when I tell you all about the party last night."

"Oh shit," I thought. The more I tried to remember what'd happened, the worse I felt. What happened at this party any way? Obviously something had happened and I had no memory of it.

"Alex?" I said, hoping my pitiful look would earn me some kindness from her.

"I'll tell you after the shower, now go."

I turned headed into the bathroom. Just as I closed the door, I heard her voice.

"Funny how someone who claims to hate Christmas turns out to be the life of the party."