DT Serum, Primary Testing In Progress

Tramp flinched when Layla's hand grew close to his face then relaxed with a little sigh. It was okay.

Bobo hobbled very carefully toward the stairs. He wanted back in bed now, please.

Layla was gentle, and after his tears were wiped, she sat back again.

Ashton picked up the puppy and carried him back upstairs to his room, but instead of back in the blanket nest, he set Bobo on the bed beside Tramp. he figured both man and dog would have liked that better.

Bobo whined and licked Tramp's cheek. Tramp shook his head and smiled. He looked at Bobo, lucid for now. "Hi, buddy."

Ashton smiled a little and quietly thanked Layla as she left. Ashton then sat in the chair once more and just watched Bobo and Tramp.

"There's no room for Ashy on the bed anymore, Bobo," Tramp mumbled as he lovingly snuggled his puppy. "What are we going to do about Ashy? We can't kick him out into the cold. After all, this is his bed. What do you think we should do?"
Bobo licked Tramp's face a lot.

Ashton laughed softly. "I'm fine, really. This chair is way comfier than a lot of places I've been left in."

"And this bed is comfier than most places I've been in, but that doesn't change that it's yours," Tramp pouted, looking over Bobo at Ashton.

"Are you comfy?" Ashton asked with a smile. "That's all I care about right now, really."

Tramp nodded, his hair flopping into his eyes. It was getting too long. "Comfy as comfy can be."

"Then I am fine." Ashton assured him happily, although he did lean over to gently move some hair out of Tramp's face.

Tramp smiled at the touch and at the last second moved to kiss Ashton's finger tips. "Thank you."

Ashton blushed at that, but didn't mind. He smiled a little. "Your welcome." He said softly.

Tramp snuggled into Bobo and tried to sleep again.
Lex tapped on the door. "Ash?"

Ashton quietly stood and answered the door. "Yeah, lex? What's up?"

"True has a gig. Wanted to let you know," Lex said simply. "You're stuck with me and Layla."

(The younger ones can go if they want.)

"Oh darn." Ashton said sarcastically. "Stuck with you? Whatever will i do? However will I get by?"

(Okay. Paul will compete with anyone for the True's #1 Fan title XD)

"Uh-huh," Lex said, unimpressed. "I'll tell him it's good to go. He said he'd probably take the boys with him if they want to go." He disappeared back downstairs.

Ashton nodded and went back to his chair. He checked on Tramp and Bobo.

Tramp did not have a very good next few hours. He went from quiet and calm to screaming to sobbing hysterically to furious and back, hitting every emotion there was on the scale. He often begged Ashton for drugs, sometimes pleading heartbrokenly, sometimes threatening.

The whole time, Ashton resolutely watched over Tramp, and made sure his outbursts never hurt himself or Bobo. However, not once did he cave and give Tramp drugs, and it was only when Layla came by with the evening dosage of the withdrawal dampening pills did he offer something other than water to Tramp.

The symptoms eased for Tramp after the dosage, allowing him to sleep, but only for a couple of hours before he was raving once more.

And once more, Ashton remained resolute. As the evening grew later, he gently moved into bed so Tramp was more on top of Ashton, and hugged Tramp close.

Tramp lay gasping atop Ashton, muscles convulsing sporadically. He whimpered softly, crying. "I'm sorry," he blubbered. "I'm sorry!"

"It's all right." Ashton murmured, rubbing Tramp's back again. "It's all right... I forgive you."

"I don't want to go home. Please don't make me go home!" Tramp pleaded for the who knew how many-th time. The hallucinations and mental instability of the withdrawal was forcing his worst fears to the surface, and going home seemed to be the major one. That and a few others like losing Bobo or hurting Ashton in many different ways.