DT Serum, Primary Testing In Progress

Tramp pressed his face into Bobo's fur again, his voice barely audible.  "No one helps.  Not just helps.  Everyone takes and takes and takes... I got nothing left to give for help.  Nothing.  Home is better than getting help."

"Then dammit, let here be your home!" Ashton told Tramp. "Believe it or not, I was once in your position! And you know what, I'd've been dead if I hadn't let Lex literally pluck me off the street and take care of me. I know there's people who'll screw you over, but I swear on my life that anyone in this house is not like that! All we will ever want is to help you, genuinely."

Tramp flinched when Ashton raised his voice, and Bobo whined, clearly unhappy.

Lex looked into the room.  "Everything okay in here?"

Ashton looked up at Lex. "Yeah... sorry I raised my voice. Tramp... well, he isn't sure we won't screw him over here, and I am trying to tell him we only want to help."

Lex looked down at Tramp.  "Hey.  Look at me."
Tramp slowly raised his eyes to Lex, anxiety in their grey depths.
Lex looked at Ashton.  "You realize he's high as a kite and probably won't remember any of this, right?"  He looked at Tramp.  "We won't f-k with you, you won't f-k with us, and the dog won't eat anyone.  Deal?"
Tramp nodded slowly, looking lost.

Ashton sighed and looked down. He had just wanted to help his friend.

Lex reached over and patted Ashton's shoulder.  "You're getting farther.  This is good.  Let me know if you need help."

Ashton nodded and smiled a little at his best friend. "Thanks, Lex."

Lex nodded and stepped out, leaving them in peace.
During the time that Ashton and Lex had been talking, Tramp had passed out.  He lay a limp lump on the bed, half buried under Bobo.

Ashton sighed a little and drew the blanket up to gently cover Tramp.

Tramp mumbled sleepily, burrowing down under the blanket.  Warmth!  Warmth was good.

Night hopped up onto the end of the bed and almost fell right off again.  He faced Bobo, ears back, and growled.

Ashton tapped the kitten's head. "Night, behave." He murmured to him. "They're quests. It's okay. Don't make me put you in Time Out."

Night gave Ashton an insulted look.  This Thing was on his Bed!  what was it doing on his bed??  HIS bed!!

Ashton plucked Night off the bed and onto his lap. "Settle down, tiger. It's okay. His master isn't feeling well, and he feels better when Bobo is with him. So it's okay."

Night gave a deep sound of pure disgruntlement, but he lay down in Ashton's lap, glaring at the puppy.  Stupid dog.

Ashton sighed a little. Entitled cat.... acting like he owns everything. He scratched Night's head.

Night still grumbled softly.  He didn't own everything, just anything that was attached to his person.

Ashton just kept petting Night, as he said he would, he stayed by Tramp's side until his friend woke.

"So how is he?" Lex asked Gaster downstairs.  "Both of them."

"Ashton was unharmed." Gaster reported, adjusting his glasses. "The other one... Tramp, is it? He is sustaining injuries that appear to have been a result of a beating, but the worst damage seems to be his broken fingers in his one hand and some broken ribs. Some lacerations, but nothing too deep, and not infected. Ashton recommended he recover here instead of the lab." He smiled a little. "And on the fly, Layla makes a good medical assistant."

"Why here and not the lab?" Lex asked with a slight frown.

"Ashton figured it would be more comfortable for Tramp, as well as himself, since he promised to not let Tramp endure this alone." Gaster explained.

"And hell if he's going to stay in the lab again," Lex muttered.  "Thanks, Doc."  He turned to find Layla, not sure where she'd gotten off to.

Layla was in the kitchen, looking through the cabinets. She was making a list.

"What are you doing?" Lex yawned, watching her.