A/N: Thanks for the reviews, folks. Sorry that some of you aren't fans of Jonah, but try not to worry too much about him, okay? I just needed someone in the hospital to mention Zoe's father and I figured why not a Bluebell-related person, since I have so few canon characters in this particular fic. The Zade will always prevail, so as I say, please don't worry :) In the meantime, Zoe does have some daddy issues to attend to...

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 10

When it came to drinking, Zoe Hart wasn't much of an expert. She liked a glass of wine with her meal, sometimes a couple of cocktails if she was out with her friends or at a party, but that was kind of her limit. She knew it was her limit and, in general, she stuck to it. Even when she was young, in high school, in college, she never really set out to get drunk. Never did a pub crawl or keg stands or anything like that. She was a social drinker, a sensible drinker. At least, she had been, until tonight.

"Fill her up, sister," she said to the bartender with a wink. "Keep 'em coming."

"You sure about that, honey?" asked the other woman with a look of concern. "I mean, I'm not cutting you off or anything, not yet, but from one woman to another..."

"Fill her up!" Zoe insisted, not wanting to hear any concern or advice.

"It's your hangover," the bartender muttered, fixing another drink.

"Yeah, whatever," said Zoe, turning around a little on her bar stool to survey the club.

This was the place she ended up in on Gigi's birthday. Of course, there had been a crowd of them then and it had been all the other girls who were hell-bent on getting drunk just for the fun of it. Tonight, there was just Zoe, since everyone else seemed to be busy or not answering her calls and texts. Not even Wade.

"So much for you, cowboy," she said as if he were there, the point being, of course, that he was not. "Men, huh? I mean, seriously, why do we bother?" she asked the bartender as she placed a fresh drink in front of her.

"You're preaching to the wrong crowd, sweetheart," She shook her head and smiled, showing Zoe a tattoo on her arm - a large love heart with the name Stephanie in script written across it. "That's my girlfriend," she explained.

Zoe's mouth made an O and then she started nodding frantically. "You're smart. Smart women don't even bother with men. Of course, there are some men we all have to deal with. I mean, you have a father, right?"

"Sure. I take it yours is some kind of ass?"

"Ha!" The single burst of laughter from Zoe's lips was far too loud and she only realised it when she realised several people around her at the bar were staring. "Sorry," she told them, lowering her voice as she went back to talking to her new friend. "My father is great. Real nice guy, excellent surgeon, well-loved, totally popular. I always wanted to be just like him. You know what happened?" she asked, shrugging her shoulders as she answered her own question. "I did everything to make him happy, he just walked away. He was in New York last week, didn't even come see me. Never even let me know he was here."

When her voice started to crack, Zoe stopped talking. She was vaguely aware that she was already slurring a little, but there was no way in hell she was going to cry over her stupid father and the stupid fact that he stupidly didn't care about her. It was his loss, all his, and she didn't care. Except suddenly her vision was blurry and the arm she was resting her chin on atop the bar was getting wet. Maybe she cared a little bit.

Reaching for her drink, she tipped her head back and drank it down in one. Unfortunately, it helped about as much as the last half dozen, which was to say, hardly at all.

"You know, I really think we should call you a cab now," said the bartender kindly. "You want me to do that?"

"A cab?" Zoe echoed, shaking her head. "Why would I want a cab?" she asked, sniffing hard and swiping away her tears. "I'm here, I'm... I'm having fun, with my good friend... Um, what's your name?"

"Michelle," the bartender told her, nodding once. "The only trouble is, you don't seem to be having too much fun. Come on, let me get you a ride home. You look like you could use some sleep."

When Michelle reached for Zoe's arm, she whipped it off the bar so fast, she almost overbalanced off her stool. She was saved from a nasty fall by hands grabbing her from behind and keeping her steady.

"Easy there," said a voice, the owner appearing at Zoe's side a moment later. "You okay?"

"I am just fine," said Zoe smartly, shooting Michelle a self-satisfied look. "In fact, I was just thinking I could use somebody to dance with, and look, you're here."

The handsome stranger laughed at that. "Never let it be said that I don't appreciate a woman who knows her own mind," he said, smiling at her. "I would be more than happy to dance with you...?"

"Zoe," she supplied.

"Chris," he replied in kind, holding out a hand for Zoe to take.

She wasn't sure if she was supposed to shake it or use it for leverage to get down from her stool. In the end, she kind of went for a combo greeting and assistance, leading her new friend out onto the dancefloor. She glanced back in time to see Michelle shaking her head, but Zoe didn't care. If she wanted to dance, she would. If she wanted to at least try and have a good time tonight and feel a little less worthless and pathetic than her father had made her feel, she would. Screw what anybody else thought.

When Wade finally managed to get his cell plugged in to charge, he found he had a whole lot of text messages and missed calls. He was just working his way through them all when the phone rang again and he frowned when he saw who was calling.

"Cas?" he said as he put the phone to his ear. "What's up, man?"

"Wade, we kind of got a situation here, and maybe I'm sticking my nose in where it doesn't belong but, well, it seemed like the thing to do."

"Yeah, who asked you to stick your nose in any way!" yelled a voice in the background.

If Wade didn't know any better, he would think she sounded a little like Zoe, but that didn't make a whole lot of sense. Before he had a chance to ask Cas about it, the security guy explained anyway.

"You did tell me you and the lady we helped out a few weeks ago were friendly these days, right?" he checked. "Because she could probably use a friend right about now."

"Is she okay?" Wade asked worriedly. "Cas, what the hell happened?"

"She's okay, I promise you. Hey, you know I wouldn't let anything happen to her," he swore. "Truth is she's had maybe a few more cocktails than her fine little body was ready for. Michelle tried to slow her down but she didn't exactly listen to good advice, and then she and this guy were getting a little... inappropriate on the dancefloor. I thought it'd be better if I cut in before things got outta hand."

"I am a grown woman!" Zoe yelled from somewhere else in the room. "I should not be treated this way by stupid male men!"

Wade winced at the tone she was using and the slur in her words. He had never actually experienced drunk Zoe before, but if he had to guess, he would say that's what Cas had on his hands right now. Knowing just how strong-willed she could be when sober, Wade did not relish the thought of dealing with her in this state, but it was like Cas said, she needed somebody to take care of her, and clearly, there was nobody else willing.

"Pete took out the rest of the guys tonight, so I'll have to get a cab, but I'll be there, Cas," he said, thinking fast. "Uh, just keep her safe, okay?"

"You know I will," his friend promised as they needed their call.

The next twenty minutes was a blur for Wade as he threw on a jacket and shoes, rushed out to hail a cab, and paid extra for the driver to put the pedal to the metal, at least as much as the New York traffic would allow.

Arriving at the club, he was ushered in ahead of the line by one of Cas' guys and led straight through to the back where the man himself was trying to reason with what seemed to be an unreasonable Zoe, while a woman, presumably Michelle, tried to assist.

"What is this place? A club or a nursery school? I am not a child!" Zoe said crossly.

"Not in that dress you ain't," said Wade, making his presence known.

"Hey, it's Wade!" Zoe exclaimed too happily, rushing forward on her too-high heels and practically falling against him.

"Girl, you are drunk as a boiled owl," he said, holding her steady. "What you been doin' to yourself?"

"Question is, what would you like to do to myself?" she said, with an over-the-top wink of her eye.

Wade swallowed hard and put his focus on the other people in the room or a moment.

"Okay. So, thank you, Cas, Michelle. I really appreciate your help here," he told them with an awkward smile.

"No problem, man," his friend told him.

"Oh, I wouldn't say that." Michelle rolled her eyes. "Just take care of her, okay?" she told Wade with a look before leaving the room, presumably to return to her real work.

"You need help getting her to the car?" Cas asked Wade.

"I got her," he assured his buddy, even if it wasn't easy keeping Zoe on her feet when she seemed determined not to try all that hard. "Thanks again, man."

"It's all good," said Cas, patting him on the shoulder as he left Wade and Zoe alone.

"Hmm, I thought they'd never leave" said Zoe, reaching both arms up around Wade neck and pulling his head down so she could kiss him.

There were a few seconds there where Wade forgot she was drunk, even though she tasted distinctly of too many mixed drinks. Kissing Zoe was no bad thing and it would be so easy to get lost in the moment. Of course, that would lead to no good in the long run and he knew it.

"Okay, then," he said, very deliberately pulling away.

At the same time, he couldn't completely leave go of Zoe, because she was likely to end up in a heap on the floor if he did. Holding her by the shoulders, he ensured she was steady enough, but also made sure she couldn't get any closer. It was for the best, though as he looked at her stood there in a pretty revealing dress, staring up at him with something distinctly like bedroom eyes, it was tough to remember why he had to be so damn decent with this girl.

"Think it's time we got you home, Zoe Hart," he told her, reaching to open the door.

"Sounds like a plan," she said, with a look that was unmistakable.

Wade tried to ignore it as he guided her out through the office door and onward through the club. They made it out into the fresh air, something Wade really hoped would assist in sobering Zoe up, even if it was a very brief interlude before they were in the cab. Making sure she was strapped in, he gave the driver her address and then just concentrated on making Zoe she didn't throw up or anything like that.

"You feelin' okay?" he asked when she got quiet, her head lolling around with every shift of the car.

"Blurry," she admitted, heaving a sigh. "My dad sucks!" she declared then, loudly and without any further explanation. "He really, really does."

"Okay." Wade nodded, unsure what else to say.

"I'll bet your dad is great," she said then, turning to look at him. "Is he great?"

"What, old Earl? Uh, great is not the word I would use," said Wade scratching the back of his head.

Maybe now wasn't the time to explain that his father had, for quite some time, been known as 'Crazy Earl', the town drunk. He did better at keeping sober more recently, but Wade couldn't really describe him as 'great' by any means. He also wasn't willing to talk about anybody else's mistakes with alcohol while Zoe was in this state either.

"Well, my dad sucks. All men suck," she declared then. "Except you," she said, giggling some as she reached across to Wade, her fingers crawling across his chest. "You're a nice guy, Wade," she told him, leaning heavily on his shoulder.

It was a funny thing. Not many people ever described him quite like that, certainly not girls he dated. It wasn't that Wade didn't consider himself perfectly decent and all, he'd been raised right and everything, and where Zoe was concerned, he supposed he had been a gentleman when it counted. The problem was, if she kept on acting the way she was right now, he was going to get stupid, be a less nice guy, and just give in to temptation already.

It was actually a relief when the cab suddenly came to a halt outside of Zoe's building, putting a stop to their conversation and wherever it might have been headed. Wade made a break for it out of the door, paying the driver some more cash, then running around to the other side to open Zoe's door for her and unclip her seatbelt that she seemed to be struggling with. He held out his hand for her to take and tried to guide her carefully from the cab. Of course, that didn't work so well, the heel of her shoe catching on the kerb as she tried to stand and breaking off completely. She landed in a heap on the pavement and promptly bust up laughing.

Wade looked from her to the building to the cab driving away and back again.

"Yeah, this is just great," he told himself, leaning down to try and pick Zoe up.

She seemed more willing about that than he was really going for, looping her arms around his neck and seemingly expecting him to sweep her up bride-style. Wade figured it wasn't the worst idea in the circumstances and wasn't exactly surprised to find Zoe weighed next to nothing in his arms. He easily carried her over to the building, awkwardly helped her find the key to get them inside, and headed on to the elevator.

Five minutes later, they were outside her apartment door, where another awkward key situation ensued that sent Zoe into further fits of giggles, and then, finally, he got her to the couch and set her down. Unfortunately, just when Wade was trying to extricate himself from her grasp, Zoe just held on tighter.

"Where are you going?" she asked, all girlish and sweet. "You just got here, don't leave," she urged him.

"Zoe, sweetheart, I really don't think you wanna start this right now," he told her, pulling her arms loose and backing up a step. "You should really get some sleep."

"On the couch?" she asked, looking down at where she was. "Noo!" she exclaimed then, getting up onto wobbly legs and staggering away.

Wade assumed she was going to bed, which was the best thing for her, of course, but he was worried about her falling and seriously hurting herself, so he had to follow. This really was not how he saw his first visit to Zoe's bedroom, but there wasn't much of a choice in the matter as far as Wade could tell. By the time he got to the door, Zoe had kicked off both shoes - the whole one and the broken one - and was doing her damndest to wriggle out of her dress too.

Muttering curses, Wade turned his back and wished he could make some kind of escape. Actually, he wished he had less decency about him than he actually did. If Zoe was any other woman, just some random willing woman from a bar, then things could be so different, but she wasn't. She was Zoe. She was special, he had said so enough times already, and that meant he really, really did not want to screw this up.

"Wade?"

He turned at the sound of his name without thinking it through and there she was, in nothing but her underwear and a seductive kind of a smile.

"Zoe..."

"You look nervous," she said, tripping towards him with a giggle on her lips. "I never thought the great Wade Kinsella would be nervous about..."

"Zoe, please. I am begging you, do not finish that sentence, and please God, just... just get in your bed and go to sleep already," he told her, eyes going to the ceiling because it was so much safer to be looking up than down right now. "Please."

"You know, I thought you were different," she said, sounding hurt and angry, but thankfully moving away from him as far as he could tell. "Men are all the same. Fathers, boyfriends, everybody. They don't care. They say that they do, but they're all liars!" she declared loudly, even as she climbed into her bed.

Wade felt it was safe to look then, glancing at Zoe just in time to see her lean down and grab one shoe from the floor, pitching it at him with a force. Thankfully, she was a lousy shot and it sailed pointlessly past his head, hitting the door with a thunk.

"Go away, Wade!" she told him then, tears streaming down her face. "If you don't want to make anything better, just go!"

With that, Zoe threw herself down amongst her pillows and blankets and cried like her heart was breaking. It broke Wade's heart too, just to see and hear her be so upset, but there was nothing he could do for her right now. The one thing she wanted from him was the one thing he simply couldn't give her, not like this. In the morning, she would hate him for it, even more than she seemed to hate him now. If he tried to be kind, she was either going to throw more stuff or try to drag him into her bed again, and at this point, he might just be stupid enough to give in if it'd make her happy.

"I'm sorry, Zoe," he said instead, turning to go. "I hope you feel better in the morning."

Wade had intended to leave entirely, but when he reached the front door, he turned back. The state Zoe was in, well, he didn't think she would do anything too stupid, but there were no guarantees. Besides, she could get sick yet, or try to get out of bed after he was gone and hurt herself falling down again.

With a sigh, he headed for the couch, threw himself down along the length of it, and pulled the blanket from the back to cover him. It was not comfortable and doubtless he would get very little sleep, but at least if Zoe needed help, he was there. It was the best he could do for now.

To Be Continued...