Comfort

[wildcat9040.livejournal.com]

Title: Comfort
Characters: Jack/Sawyer
Summary: AU jack and sawyer. jack is drunk sawyer offers some help and then they talk about old times.
Rating: PG-13 to be safe
Feedback: Rocks my sox!

    The air in the bar was cloudy from cigarette smoke and thick with the smell of stale alcohol. Sawyer walked through the door and scanned the room quickly. In the far side of the bar a few men were playing pool, laughing and joking. There was only one other person in the bar. It was a man sitting at the counter in front of the bartender.
    He wore a worn, black leather jacket, faded blue jeans and a grey Red Sox tee shirt. He sat with his head ducked so that his chin was almost resting on his chest, and there was a glass of scotch clutched tightly in his right hand. Sawyer crossed the floor and took the seat next to him.
    “Hey Doc.” He said in his thick southern accent. The man blinked twice, head swaying slightly before he met Sawyer’s gaze. The eyes that looked back at him were not the eyes of a hero or a leader. They were the eyes of a man that had been through hell and back, the eyes of his best friend, the eyes of the real Jack Shephard.
    “Sawyer? What are you doing here?” He slurred, already a few drinks ahead of Sawyer.
    “Just comin’ to get somethin’ to drink. You?”
    “Just trying to forget everything any way that I can.” He said with a drunken and somewhat sad smile.
    “I see. So how have you been?” He asked quietly.
    “I’ve been all right. Nothing really new happening. Did Hurley call you about the reunion he’s planning?”
    “Yeah, I’m gonna go I think. Are you?”
    “Planned on it.” Jack replied. There was a silence between them that was only filled by the sound of the pool balls. Sawyer took a good hard look at him now. Taking in every detail. He’d lost some weight and the bags under his eyes were darker then Sawyer remembered. He also had more stubble covering his cheeks. All in all he looked like hell on steroids.
    “I talked to Kate last week.” Jack said finally.
    “Oh yeah? How is she?”
    “She sounded good. She lives in Santa Monica now. We’re supposed to have lunch next week.” He said without much enthusiasm.
    “That’s good.” Sawyer replied, drinking some of his beer.
    “Yeah I guess.”
    “Are you sure you’re okay Jack? You look terrible.”
    “I haven’t been sleeping or eating much. All I do is wake up, go to work, go home and start all over again. It’s like I’m just going through the motions.”
    “Jack, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry you blame yourself for what happened there. It wasn’t your fault.”
    “I know. But when I close my eyes I see them. I see all the people that died. I see their faces in my sleep. It’s haunting me Sawyer. Why won’t it leave me alone?” He said, his entire body trembling. Sawyer grabbed his forearm tightly and steadied him.
    “C’mon Jack. I’ll take you home.” He said, paying the bill and helping Jack to his feet. He then helped him stagger out the front door into the cool night.
    “Here Doc, we’ll get a cab and take you back to your place. How’s that sound?”
    “Why are you doin’ this for me Sawyer?”
    “ ‘Cause you’re my best friend.” Sawyer said with a grin. Jack let out a small snort.
    “No, really, why?”
    “That’s really why.” He replied flagging down a cab. Jack grinned as he slouched into the torn leather seat. Once Sawyer was in the car they started off towards Jack’s apartment building.

    “Is this really where you live Doc?” Sawyer asked admiring the spacious apartment.     
    “Yeah. Just me and my dog Bailey.” He said gesturing to the yellow lab puppy on the couch.
    “Well, I’ve gotta say that you’ve got great taste.” Sawyer said after letting out a whistle. Somewhere behind him Jack chuckled as he walked into his bedroom. He laid down on the bed as Sawyer walked in. “C’mon Jacko, lets get those jeans and shirt off so you can sleep this thing off.” He said crossing the floor.
    “M’kay.” Jack slurred wearily. He lifted his arms over his head and stared at Sawyer.
    “You want me to…” Sawyer stammered, his heart in his throat. Jack simply nodded and kept his arms raised. Sawyer took a deep breath before removing Jack’s tee shirt, revealing his tanned and toned chest.
    “Jeans?” Jack asked, cocking his head to one side. Sawyer’s eyes grew wide but he nodded any way.
    “All right.” He said. His shaking hands reached for the button on Jack’s jeans and clumsily unbuttoned them. He then unzipped and pulled them off. His eyes scanned Jack, who was now standing in front of him wearing nothing but a pair of powder blue boxers. Sawyer led Jack to his bed and helped him climb under the fluffy red comforter.
    “You good now chief?”
    “Uh huh.” Jack nodded as he snuggled further under the blanket.
    “All right then. I’ll call in the morning to see how you’re doin’.”
    “Wait, Sawyer.”
    “Yeah Doc?”
    “Don’t leave me alone here. Please just… stay?” Jack pleaded, looked Sawyer in the eyes.
    “I… uh… all right. I’ll be on the couch if you need me.”
    “Sawyer…”
    “What now jackass? You gonna ask me to stay in here with ya?” He chuckled.
    “I…uh…well…” Jack stammered nervously.
    “Jesus Christ, you were weren’t ya?”
    “Well…what do you say?”
    “I say… scoot your ass over Doc.” He replied with a cocky grin. Jack moved to the other side of the bed while Sawyer removed his shoes and socks. He then crawled under the blanket beside Jack.
    Jack closed his eyes and tried to sleep. Beside him Sawyer looked at the multicolored tattoo on Jack’s left arm. His hand extended and brushed it softly. Jack groaned his approval.
    “Sorry Doc. Didn’t mean to wake you.” Sawyer grinned.
    “I wasn’t sleeping yet, Sawyer.” Jack replied.
    “Have I ever told you how much I like this tattoo?”
    “Yeah, but why don’t you tell me again any way.” Jack grinned.
    “I love it, it’s colorful and exotic and purely you.” He winked.
    “That’s all?” Jack replied playfully.
    “Not to mention how incredibly sexy I find tattoos.” He murmured moving closer to Jack. His breath was hot against Jack’s throat, causing him to shiver.
    “It’s been too long Sawyer. Why’d you have to leave?” He asked, eyes tightly closed.
    “Why didn’t you ask me to stay here, with you?”    
    “Because I didn’t think you would.”     
    “Of course I would have, Jack. Do you remember what I told you that day in the jungle? The day we launched the raft?”
    “You said you loved me.” He said with a smile. “Do you remember my reply?”
    “I remember there wasn’t much talkin’.”
    “Good point.” He moved forward and kissed the spot just below Sawyer’s left ear.
    “That drives me nuts. I’m surprised you remembered.” He growled.
    “How could I forget?” Jack mumbled. He took in the scent that was Sawyer. He smelled like sweat, cologne, dirt and coconut shampoo.
    “God, I’ve missed you Jack.”
    “I’ve missed you too Sawyer.” Their lips finally met. At first the kiss was aggressive and passionate. It was flavored by alcohol and Sawyer’s mint toothpaste. Then it turned soft and was flavored by loved and unshed tears of joy.
    “I love you Jack.” He whispered, leaning his forehead against Jack’s.
    “I love you too. I need you to make me a promise.”
    “Anything.”
    “Promise you’ll never leave me again?”
    “Cross my heart.” Sawyer smiled. Jack returned the grin as he looked deeply into those sea foam green eyes.
    A new meaning to ‘Southern Comfort.’ He thought to himself as he crushed their lips together again. That was what Sawyer always had been and always would be. That was what he wanted to be for Sawyer. Comfort…