Between Friends

When everyone wrapped things up at the bar, you and the guys headed home. On the way out the door, you were giggling... a lot. You had gone to the restroom before leaving and started giggling at the tinkling sound of your peeing and now you couldn't stop.

Sebastian was laughing and Chris spoke through a chuckle, "What is going on with you?" He stopped, took your hand to stop you and moved in front of you and crouched slightly, gesturing for you to jump onto his back. "Hop on, hon."

"Pee makes funny sounds." You reached up and put your hands on his shoulders, then hesitated.

"What?!", Chris was laughing harder now at your observation, Sebastian joining in.

You ignored his question, "I can't, Chris. You're like, 80 feet tall. I won't jump high enough."

"You've done it before.", he laughed.

"I wasn't inebriated then."

"You have been when Seb gave you piggy back rides and he's the same height as me, weirdo. Now come on, feel the Tigger, beeee the Tigger.", he was still holding his hands behind him, flicking them up in the direction of his back.

You weren't even terribly short, just the perfect height for either of them to fit your head comfortably under their chin in a hug, but short enough that things like reaching the top cupboards were an issue, as it was earlier that day. Even though he was crouching a bit, for some reason you felt jumping right now, to any height, was a risky endeavor.

Sebastian was standing nearby and watching your exchange, shaking his head and grinning, hands in his jeans pockets. He was beginning to find this argument quite entertaining.

"If I bounce like Tigger, I'll break my ass because I don't have a-", you made the air quote gesture, "bottom made outta string...", you then shifted and stood with your hands on your hips in a very know-it-all kind of way. "I don't have a springy tail."

"You little shit.", Chris chortled and turned.

Before you realized what had happened, he had thrown you over his shoulder as you let out a shriek and laughed. He started for the car. "Chris!", you grunted, bracing yourself with your hands pressed against his back just above his butt, your hair swaying to and fro with his gait.

"We need to get home, princess.", he was fighting the urge to give your ass a good smack.

Sebastian made it to the car ahead of the both of you and opened the back door so that Chris could deposit you on the seat and climb in next to you.

"You're lucky she didn't pee on you carrying her like that.", Sebastian remarked and as he shut the door.

Chris laughed and you started shouting, your statement starting out loud and then muffled after the door closed, "I just went pee!"

Sebastian climbed in the driver's seat, shut his door and started the engine, "On Chris?"

Chris laughed harder and helped you finish buckling your seat belt since you were distracted with arguing with Sebastian as he backed out of the parking space.

You sighed heavily, exasperated, and pointed at Sebastian scoldingly as he was turned to maneuver the car backwards , "Hey!-", you paused, "No! In there!", you pointed out your window your eyes following your finger's direction, your face turning confused.

Sebastian snickered, his eyes looking past you out the back window.

"Where'd the bar go?"

They both laughed and Sebastian answered you, "It's behind us now, doll."

You had actually fallen asleep with your head against Chris's shoulder on the way home. He rested his head against the top of yours. Your hand had ended up absentmindedly on his leg during your potty rant and he now covered it gently with his own. The car ride home was quiet-- once you and your chatty mouth fell asleep. You woke up and lifted your head when Sebastain parked the car in the driveway. He got out saying he'd unlock the door and that he had to pee. He headed across the yard and disappeared inside.

Disoriented for just a second, you looked up at Chris and smiled sweetly. "Oh, hi.", you said quietly.

"Hey.", he was looking at you so attentively, he eyes focused on yours, flicking back and forth between each of them. It roused a warmth in your chest and gave you butterflies for a beat. "Ready to go to bed?", he asked softly.

You took a deep breath and broke the gaze, unbuckling your seat belt and sitting up, "Yeah."

"You need help?", he asked opening the door and waiting before moving further.

"No, I'm okay.", you both slid out of the car, he first and offered a hand to help you out. You felt coolness under your feet and looked down to find yourself barefoot. "Where are my shoes?"

You hadn't noticed that Chris had them in his hand already and he held them up to show you as he started guiding you along the car and up the driveway with a hand at the small of your back.

"Ow! Shit!", you hissed and stopped, grabbing your foot as Chris quickly gripped under your elbow to steady you. "Fuckin' rocks."

He scooped you up and carried you bridal style toward the house, "You okay?"

"Yes, thank you.", you laid your head against the crook of his neck, he was so warm and comforting.

When he reached the door, he set you down gently and opened it for you.

Once inside, you said your goodnights to the guys, brushed your teeth, changed into a tank top and pajama pants and headed to bed. You were already sobering and you could very faintly hear through your barely open door that Chris had the TV in his room on as you lay there, drifting off.

You woke up in the middle of the night, the house dark and quiet. You sat up feeling felt heavy and restricted though you had no problem moving. In a matter of seconds you felt as though something was wrong, very wrong and your heart started racing, thumping so hard in your chest, the sound of it banging in your ears. Where you in danger? What was that feeling? Are you having a heart attack? You felt so confused. Breathing heavily, you stood and started pacing, moving your hands in front of you in a motion that suggested that you were attempting to shake something off them, the energy coursing through you too much to suppress. You thought you should probably get to someone since you didn't understand what was happening.

You walked swiftly to Chris's room and stood next to his bed, "Chris?", your voice was so small. Nothing. You reached your hand out and gave his shoulder a soft shake and spoke up, "Chris?"

"Hmm?", he hummed sleepily.

"Something's wrong.", you let out a quiet sob and he quickly sat up and turned on his bedside lamp to see you, shifting back and forth on your feet, wringing your hands and breathing quickly.

He stood, putting a hand under each of your elbows and ducking his head to see your face better, displaying the panic on his own as he asked, "What's wrong?"

"I don't know. I feel like I'm going to die and I don't know why.", your sobs were slowly getting louder, your voice reflecting you fears and tears started flowing as he gently turned you, sat you on his bed and took a seat beside you.

"Are you in pain?", he asked calmly.

Your breathing was still labored and now jagged as you cried. "No, but my arm is tingling!" The feeling of doom increased ten fold and you started rocking; gotta move, too much energy. 'What's happening to me?! Please, God, someone help me! I don't wanna die.'

Only seconds after your terrified cries were just loud enough to be heard elsewhere in the house, there were thudding footsteps running up the basement stairs. It only took Sebastian a moment to reach the room and rush in. He asked, alarmed, "What's wrong?!"

When he was only a few steps from you, Chris put up a hand to halt him. You needed a little space right now; having them both close could be overwhelming. He trusted his friend completely, so he stopped where he was, but his face was twisted in restraint, worry and concern. He wanted to go to you so badly, to hold you, it pained him greatly.

Chris had already identified the issue, "She's having a panic attack.", he replied, gently sliding an arm around your shoulders and he shifted closer to you, pulled you into his side and dipped his head down to get eye contact with you. "I need you to slow your breathing, okay? I'm right here, it's gonna be okay, sweetheart. I'm here. Now, breath with me.", you were still sobbing while he took long, deep breaths with you pressed against him to feel the rhythm.

Your head was swimming and all you could think was 'I don't wanna die. I don't wanna die. I don't wanna die.'. Your breath wasn't slowing and the tingly numbness was now crawling up your neck to your face. "Now my face is tingling!", you cried out.

Chris took a short, quick breath, "The numbness is from too much oxygen, you have to control your breathing. Focus, (Y/N), you can do this.", he calmly reassured you and continued to breathe.

You still weren't coming down. Your crying had quieted and now you were just shaking, your chest heaving, eyes wide. Chris could feel that you were starting to sweat.

"Seb,", Chris started, seeing that what he was doing wasn't working, "I need you try to get her to slow her breathing." He had only started to stand and Sebastian was already by your side lowering himself to sit and putting a hand on your back gently. Chris continued, "I'm going to get a cool cloth and some water." He left the room quickly.

Sebastian wrapped his arm around your back and slid the other under your legs and shifted you onto his lap. Chris seemed to have taken the light handed, clinical approach, but something in Sebastian's gut said you needed more. He curled his arms around you securely and gently laid your head on his shoulder, your forehead resting against the side of his neck. He kissed your forehead a couple times and cooed, "Seb's here, doll. I've got you. You're safe. I won't let anything happen to you. I've got you." And then he just held your trembling body, his cheek resting on your head.

Chris had reappeared with the cloth and a glass of water. He stopped and waited at the foot of the bed when Sebastian held up a finger to tell him to wait a moment.

You could smell Sebastian now, feel his warmth wrapped around you, his strong arms protecting you, feel his soft breath on your hair, his chest rising and falling, slow and steady, silently willing yours to do the same. His voice echoed in your head; You're safe. I won't let anything happen to you. I've got you... Your breathing slowed along with your thoughts and you suddenly felt exhausted.

Your eyes closed and having felt the change, Sebastian asked softly, "You with me, doll?"

"Mm-hm.", you hummed.

Chris handed Sebastian the cloth and he gently wiped the sweat from your forehead and then doing the same on your neck and collarbones. Chris traded Sebastian the glass of water for the cloth and Sebastian held it near your mouth, "Here, take a drink of water."

You opened your eyes only long enough to take a sip. The water soothing your throat, dry from the labored breathing. You shivered, the thin coating of sweat on your body cooling you now that your core temperature had come down. Sebastian handed the glass back to Chris, hooked an arm behind your knees, the other still wrapped around your back and he stood up. He turned and laid you on Chris's bed, covered you with the blankets and kissed your forehead once again. You were already falling asleep. He straightened up, and looked at Chris next to him, his face painted with anguish.

Chris saw this and gestured for him to step away from the bed. They stopped near the door and Chris leaned close enough that only Sebastian could hear him whisper, "Hey, I know that was really hard to watch her go through, but she's going to be okay." Chris has had some experience having panic attacks himself, but he luckily got the help and stress management he needed to keep them in check a long time ago. He continued when Sebastian didn't respond, his face unchanging, "Panic attacks aren't harmful or fatal in and of themselves. It's the stress that causes them that can be a problem. If she continues to have them, she'll need help getting them and her stress under control. Being that she had one tonight, we'll make sure she sees a doctor as a precaution." Sebastian nodded, his face softening ever so slightly as he sighed. Chris put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a gentle shake, "Now, go get some sleep, bro. She can sleep in my bed with me tonight so I can keep a close watch on her. No sense in moving her."

Sebastian nodded and whispered, "Okay." He turned and went to your side again, giving you a long and gentle kiss on the cheek and giving your hair a stroke. He was worried. He believed Chris's words, but it didn't take back the horrible feelings he had watching you go through it, nor did it erase the dread he felt knowing it might happen again. But, he knew he would do whatever he could to help you... And it would start with being the one who grounded you should it ever happen again. I've got you.

Sebastian went back to bed, though it took him a long while to fall asleep.

Chris turned off the lamp and climbed under the blankets, nestling in close to you. He wrapped his arms around you and pulled you close to his chest, bringing you out of sleep just enough for you to recognize his scent, your eyes still closed. You hummed in contentment and murmured, "Chris."

You noticed that he took a deep breath at the sound of your voice softly saying his name, "Yeah, hon. I'm here."

You fell back to sleep. You had still been a bit cold and after a few moments, his warmth melted your body into a state of complete relaxation while you slept.

He laid there awake to make sure you were okay until his eyes got too heavy to keep open and, even though he knew you were asleep, he whispered into your hair, "I'm so sorry that happened to you, sweet girl. I'm going to help you... I'll always take care of you." He kissed your head and fell asleep holding you close.