What a horrible night. Everything was a sudden mess, one that didn't seem to have a solution. How come they'd been in the highest state of happiness, the top level of glory and then it had all just crushed into a hellish bottomless abyss. Even if their EQ's hadn't been compromised they wouldn't have been able to make sense of it. How in the world had this happened?
Sylvester had his favorite Super Fun Guy statue hugged tightly to his chest. He felt so crushed, so wrecked inside… his brain was telling him he was about to hyperventilate and that it wouldn't feel nice if he did but he just couldn't help himself. Now that Ralph was asleep in Walter's room, he could let go and boundlessly grief for Toby and Happy.
-Megan, I so wish you were here- he gasped and promptly jolted as he heard something metal abruptly falling to the floor.
What…? Wasn't he alone?
Sly began to sweat, thoroughly panicking, but slowly making his way to where the sound had come from.
-SHHH! YOU'RE GOING TO WAKE THE WHOLE COUNTRY!-
It was Toby… A most likely drunken Toby who was talking to the metal tool box he'd accidentally knocked down. There was a bottle of tequila on his hand that he assumed was the reason why his friend was trying and missing to throw the things in the box again, his aim totally off.
Sylvester swallowed. As much as he wished to be far from there, he couldn't let Toby do this to himself.
-Come on, Toby. Give me that- he whispered, but Toby waved off his hand.
-No, no. We're busy here. We discuss if tomatoes are really a fruit.- he muttered.
-Well, they are. It's settled, now give it to me.- Sylvester said, engaging on a tug war.
-But they're not usually used in desserts.- Toby argued, pulling harder.
-But it can be done.-
-No, it can't be done- Toby whispered brokenly, abruptly releasing his grasp on the bottle and slowly collapsing to the floor- she said it can't be done.-
Sly felt a dark hole on his chest by just watching Toby cry his heart out. He wiped his own tears with his hand before sitting on the floor next to Toby and rounding him with his arms, begging his brain to come up with something that could take away all the pain.
-Damn it, I can't stop seeing her in my stupid sadistic mind!- Toby wailed, tears streaming down his face. Sly rubbed his friend's back up and down.
-We'll figure this one out, Toby.- Sylvester whispered, his voice unstable.
-Just give me back the bottle.- the doc moaned.
-No, you've had too much already. I won't let you harm yourself, you're already knocking things down; do you have an idea of how much damage you can do to your brain with alcohol?-
-I'm not as drunk as you think, my eye-hand coordination just sucks. For the record, I've just had half your mug, but I'm gonna fix that right now.- Toby argued, stretching towards the bottle.
-Wait a minute.- Sly frowned, moving the bottle further away.- it's been a few hours, why haven't you drunk your weight in alcohol?-
-Because I'm a stupid sentimental arse that can't stand the thought of her image being erased even though thinking of her is effectively killing me, now give me that!-
-Toby, you're just saying it, you don't really want it.-
-I want to stop being in so much pain!- Toby yelled.- I'm an idiot!-
-No, you're not.- Sly argued.
-Yes, I am! I didn't see this coming! I convinced myself that I'd be able to be happy for once in my life and look at what happened!- Toby said angrily.
-But you will, as soon as we fix this.- Sylvester calmly answered.
-I hinted at it weeks ago, why didn't she do anything?- Toby asked painfully
-There has to be a reason for that, Toby.- Sly said, Toby staring at him.- It's been a long way, but everyone can tell she loves you. And you can't even drink to forget her for a few hours, you love her too. You forced me to take a shot with Megan and it was scary but gave me so much joy. Now, I'm going to do the same for you. Because it's worth it, because she's worth it.-
-She said no.- Toby whispered weakly.
-Yes, but what did she wanted to say?- Sly asked him, tickling his behavioral skills.
-She wanted to say yes.- Toby said quietly after reflecting about it.
-Aha.- Sly smiled.- and that makes all the difference.-