"I knew it!" Thirteen said accusingly, a small smile emerging. She shook her head and started laughing. Really laughing. Not a fake giggle like when one of her patients tries to crack a joke at an inappropriate moment or a small sarcastic laugh whenever Kutner or Taub do something stupid. It was an authentic, purely happy laugh. She laughed so hard, she almost forget what was so funny, and then she laughed at that.

"You are so drunk," Cameron said, stating the obvious, smiling a little.

"But at least I'm a happy drunk. Tonight anyway," Thirteen said, her voice a little more sober, a little more serious. She stared at her mixed drink, a cosmopolitan or margarita or some strange combination of fruity "sophisticated" drinks combined that would surely leave her with a throbbing headache the next day.

"Thank God I have tomorrow off," Thirteen said, sighing and leaning back against the soft cushion of her chair.

"Me too," Cameron said, "I've only had a third of what you drank tonight, and I'm still anticipating a hell of a hangover tomorrow."

"You have tomorrow off too?" Thirteen said incredulously, her exaggeration of the statement the result of an abundance of alcohol in her system. "You know what we should do?" She asked with a devious smile.

"What?" Cameron asked, beginning to blush a little at the thoughts that were coming to her mind.

"We should order another round."

"You know, as doctor yourself, I shouldn't have to advice you against drinking so much."

"Live a little," Thirteen said with an irresistible smile. Her head tilted slightly as she said this, her hair pushed to one side, her aquatic eyes fixed directly on Cameron.

She could be a model the way she just naturally strikes a pose, Cameron thought. She even looks beautiful when she's drunk.

Thirteen's appearance did not only catch the Cameron's attention, but the bartender's as well. He looked to be about twenty-two at most, and had long bleach blond hair that looked professionally styled.

"I'll have another." Thirteen said.

"I should cut you off," he said, but he complied and gave Thirteen another fruity alcoholic drink.

"Thanks. Put it on the tab."

"No baby, for you, it's on the house."



"She's not your baby," Cameron said, rolling her eyes at the immature flirt. Both Thirteen and the bartender laughed, Thirteen a little more enthusiastically.

"What's her problem?" The bartender asked, still in a jovial mood.

"You pissed my girlfriend off," Thirteen said, attempting to conjure a serious face, but failing miserably.

"Oh, you two are going out? Hot."

"What? No we're-"

"Could you get a drink for her too?" Thirteen asked, suppressing a giggle. Cameron felt her whole body tense up, and her face break into a deep blush. Suddenly she felt uneasy.

"I think we should go," Cameron said.

"Alright," Thirteen agreed," I guess I am getting kind of tired."

They walked towards the door, Thirteen wobbling slightly. Cameron got into the driver's seat and Thirteen slid into the back seat to lay down as Cameron drove her home.

"Try not to get carsick," Cameron said.

Thirteen mumbled something and turned her head to a more comfortable position. She didn't sleep, but she felt very relaxed as the car moved along and the alcohol flowed through her system. By the time Cameron pulled into Thirteen's driveway, she was almost in a meditative state.

"We're home," Cameron said.

"Okay," Thirteen said, opening the door and stumbling as she got out.

"Here, let me help," Cameron said. She walked her to the door, and Thirteen responded with, "Thanks, but it's not necessary."

"Why did you tell the bartender we were going out?"Cameron suddenly asked, the thought just coming to her out of no where.

"What? You're still thinking about that?" Thirteen said, laughing a little.

"Well?" Cameron asked.

"I don't know. Why not?" Thirteen mumbled. She pulled out her keys, and tried to unlock her door. One key didn't fit, so she tried another. She couldn't tell them apart. It was too dark to see them, and they all felt the same. She continued the process of elimination until her trembling hands dropped the keys on her front porch, right into through the cracks on her porch.



"Damn it," she muttered. She bent over to try to get them, and Cameron knelt down to try to assist her.

"I need something to pull them out with, like a coat hanger or something."

"Well, I don't exactly carry those around with me," Cameron said.

"Damn it," she repeated. She looked around her porch, too tired to see a solution.

"I could sleep on the rug."

"No you're not."

"Hey, it's a nice rug. Don't offend like that."

Cameron glared at her.

"Sorry, just trying to add a little humor."

Thirteen shrugged with an adorable guilty smile.

"Well, I guess you're coming home with me tonight. We'll fish your keys out tomorrow."

They walked back to the car, Cameron driving again, and this time, the long drive to her house did put Thirteen to sleep. She slept silently, so vulnerable looking in her unconscious state. So unlike her usual mysterious facade. Curled up in the backseat like a little child, Cameron thought. But Thirteen was relieved off all the pressures and anxieties she felt when awake, all the fears and trepidation she lived with daily. And for the first time in a long time, she was completely at ease.