At Night:
A shortie by Lone Wolf

Kudos to Eric Shwartz and his lovely Sabrina comic for the inspiration for 
this story.

~I am destined to never know love. I will not know what it means to be cared
for.~

	A thunderstorm was passing over the countryside. It played a soft,
haunting tune as it crashed lightning out in the distance. The crickets took
shelter in a windowsill and sang their songs there. The rain pattered onto
the rooftops. It was a perfect evening to be alive.

	A soft sigh escaped the young raccoon as she read her book. It was
another trashy romance novel, the type that made her cry herself to sleep 
from the heartache of being lonely. She never liked it. But she went and did
it anyway. It was a sort of self-torture. She knew that she would eventaully
fall asleep, hugging her ringed tail, pillow doused in tears. That night was
to be a little different.

	Her misery was potent that night. She couldn't stop the tears to save 
herself. She kept the weeping up for a good half an hour longer than she was
used to. "I don't want to be alone," she cried. "I want somebody to love. Is
that so much to ask?" She burried her face into the pillow and let out a
booming sob. The glass on her nightstand rattled. She ignored it and kept 
her tears flowing. A knock on the door, however, kicked her back into the 
real world. She sat straight up, tears stopped for the moment. "Who is it?"
she called, masking her sadness.
	"Are you all right in there miss?" a male voice responded.
	"Yeah, I'm fine. Just the TV."
	"Well that must be some TV. I heard it from down the hall."
	She got up and put her robe on. "Hold on." She didn't know her sobs
were that powerful. She cautiously stepped over to the door and opened it a 
crack. "I'm sorry for disturbing y-"
	The badger who was standing there quirked a brow. "Disturbing what?"
	She blushed. "I'm sorry." Her tail swayed a little. "I...I don't 
think I've seen you around the building before."
	He chuckled. "Probably. I moved in last week."
	She smiled. "That explains it." She extended her hand. "I'm Jennifer
Evans."
	He took her hand and gave it a gentle shake. "Ian Talbot. A pleasure
to meet you."
	"The pleasure's mine."
	"Now that we know each other better, what was the crying all about?"
	"Eh...I'm sorry about that. I was having a nightmare."
	He nodded. "I see. Well, I live just next door, so if you need 
anything, don't hesitate to ask. Okay?" She nodded mutely. "Good night." She 
closed the door, a little dumbfounded. She had just seen the man of her 
dreams, and he cared for her. She crawled back into bed and drifted into her
first peaceful sleep in years.

	The next night was no different from the last, or any other night for
that matter. She again cried herself to sleep. However, the tears and soft
sobs started up while she slept. Ian heard this as he returned home from work
that evening. Being a locksmith by trade, he took out his handy lock pick and
undid the lock. He cautiously opened the door and saw Jennifer in bed crying.
Quietly, he went over to her and looked. She was fast asleep, and yet, she 
was still weeping. Not wanting to see this any further, he put a hand on her
arm to gently shake her awake. To his surprise, she wore no nightgown that
evening. He pulled his hand away from her bare arm, a little shocked at what
he just did. But it was enough. Jennifer rolled onto her back, saw him, and
slapped him across the face. "What the hell are you doing in here?!" she said
while she covered herself with her bedsheets.
	"I'm sorry. I heard weeping again and-"
	"How'd you get in?"
	"I'm a locksmith. I picked the lock." He held up his lockpick.
	"Why'd you come in?"
	"I was worried that somethign was happening other than those phony
nightmares you told me about."
	She calmed down. "Phony?"
	"C'mon. Do you honestly expect me to believe a story like that?" She
shook her head. "I only acted like I believed you because I didn't want to
hurt you by asking what was really wrong."
	"Oh."
	He sighed and sat down. "Listen. You seem like a nice girl. And 
something is troubling you. Wanna hit my place? Maybe talk about it over some
tea."
	She acted a little surprised. "Your place? Um...I don't know if I 
should."
	"You don't have to if you don't want to."
	"Oh what the hell! I'll go." She started to move, but stopped. "Um...
could you step outside so I can get dressed?" 
	He got up. "I'll wait outside." He went out the door and shut the 
door. She threw on her robe (and nothing BUT her robe) and followed him.

	He put his key into the door's lock. Jennifer watched him patiently.
"Oh, one more thing," he said, turning to her. "I've got a lot of junk around
the house. I'd like to apologize for the mess now."
	She smiled. "It's okay. I've probably seen worse."
	"All right. You've been told." He turned the key and opened the door.
"Come in." He stepped inside, leaving the door ajar for her.
	"Well, if I'm gonna get to know him better...." She took a deep 
breath and followed him in.

	He was right. There was a lot of junk. But she thought he meant 
trash. If you consider piles of artifacts trash, then she was right. "Wow. 
You've got a lot of nice stuff here." She picked up a blue garment, unsure of
what it was.
	He looked at her and chuckled. "Be careful with that. That's a silk
evening gown from 5th century BC China."
	Her eyes widened. "This must be worth a fortune."
	"Nah. I asked. The museums have too many already. You can take it if
you want. I have no use for it."
	She shook her head. "No. I couldn't..."
	He smiled. "Do you I would wear it?"
	"Well, if you were...No, I couldn't."
	"Then take it. It's my gift to you."
	She smiled. "Thank you." She tucked it under her arm. "This is a 
first in a long while."
	He went over to a small kitchenette and put on a kettle. "You sound
like this is the first gift you've ever recieved."
	She sat down on an old looking couch. "Actually, it's the first gift
I've gotten since college."
	"Whoa. That's gotta be harsh."
	She nodded sadly. "You wouldn't know the half of it."
	He quriked a brow. "Is something the matter?"
	"Nothing's wrong."
	He sat down next to her. "Please. You can tell me. I won't tell 
anyone else."
	She sighed. "The reason I cry when I read those romance novels at
night is that I envy the girls in them."
	"What do you mean?"
	"They have guys that love them. It seems everyone does. Except..."
	"...For you?" She nodded, eyes starting to well up. "Oh, please don't
cry. A pretty face like yours shouldn't be worn by tears."
	She turned from him. "I don't have a pretty face."
	He took a deep breath. "I hope I'm not crossing the line..." He took
her hand. "I think you've got a beautiful face."
	She looked at him, then at their joined hands. She blushed. "I...I...
Thank you." She wrapped her other hand around his.
	"You're welcome. Anything to help." The kettle started to whistle. He
got up to fetch it and the other makings of tea. "So you're alone?"
	"Basically. Nobody wants to bother with me."
	He brought a platter with some china over to her. "Why do you say 
that?"
	"That's what I've overheard in the bars."
	"Yes, well, bars aren't really joints to pick up people." He poured
out some water for them. "You really shouldn't rely on what you hear there.
Most of them are full of drunks anyway."
	She smiled. "Ian...you act as if you wrote the book."
	"Me? Nah." He finished preparing the tea and handed her a cup. "I 
just call it as I see it, know what I mean?"
	"Can't say that I do." She took the cup. "Thank you." She took a sip.
"This is pretty good. What is it?"
	"Peppermint/orange tea mix."
	She took another sip and closed her eyes. "It's so soothing. Where'd
you get it?"
	"I made it actually." He took a sip of his. "Ordered the ingredients,
the tea bags, and just made it myself." He took another sip. "It tastes so
much better when you know it was made by your hands."
	She chuckled and finished her cup off. "Well, it is pretty tasty." 
She yawned. "Anyway, tell me more about yourself."
	He looked at her. "What's there to tell?"
	"Oh I don't know." She leaned a little closer. "You could tell me 
about your job...your idea of fun..." She yawned again. "Where you get all of
this neat stuff..."
	"You mean the junk?" He turned his gaze from her. "I used to travel 
alot. I would pick this stuff up while I was away and bring it home. I've 
long since quit that job and took up locksmithing. Let's me stay in one place
and relax. Don't you think?" He waited for an answer. "Jennifer?" He looked
towards her and saw she was asleep. He smiled. "Looks like the tea helped..."

	The morning sun pulled her from the blissful sleep that held her. She
sat up and stretched. "What a dream," she muttered. "Too bad that's all it 
was." She rubbed her eyes with her sheets. But wait, she wasn't in her bed.
Her eyes took a second to focus. When they did, she saw nothing but piles of
junk. "Oh cool! It wasn't a dream!" She got out of bed and snuck over to the
couch. Ian was asleep, snoring away. She smiled and lightly touched his 
cheek. "Thank you, Ian."
	His eyes snapped open. "Hmmm?" He looked up at her. "Oh. Good morning
Jennifer. How'd you sleep?"
	"Did you put me in your bed?"
	"That I did."
	"And did you spend all night on the couch?" He nodded. She smiled,
leaned over, and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for doing that."
	He blushed. "Um...you're welcome." He sat up. She hopped over the 
back of the couch and landed next to him. "Can I ask you something?"
	"Sure. Anything."
	"Um...okay. I'm probably crossing the line again, but why weren't you
wearing any...."
	She quirked a brow. "Any what?"
	"Uh...of your unmentionables?"
	Her eyes widened. "You peeked?"
	"I didn't want to. I noticed it when I put you into my bed. That's 
the reason why I spent the night on the couch." He turned from her. "I'm 
sorry. It was an accident. I swear."
	She smiled. "Well, I was hoping to get lucky last night. Can't blame
a girl for trying, eh?"
	"So...you're not mad?"
	She smiled. "Of course not."
	He breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good."
	She smiled and got up. "Well, I should get back to my apartment and
get ready for work. Thanks for the tea and letting me spend the night."
	"My pleasure." She smiled and opened the door. "Oh, Jennifer?"
	She turned and looked at him. "Hmm?"
	He blushed a little. "Um...I was wondering...not that it's anything
important...but...are you...doing anything this Saturday?"
	"No, why?"
	He grew more nervous. "Well, I was just wondering if...ya know...
since you're not too busy..."
	She smiled. "Of course. I'd love to go out with you. Saturday it is."
	He smiled. "Thank you Jennifer. See ya then."
	She nodded and closed the door behind her. She took a look at the 
silk evening gown that she clutched tightly in her hands. Ian was one of the
nicest guys she'd ever met. And he had just asked her out on a date. 
"Perhaps," she told herself. "Perhaps we will hit it off together." She 
entered her apartment, got dressed, and headed off to work. She wouldn't be
able to concentrate, however. She was too preocupied by her dreams of 
Saturday.