Cartons head was pounding and he was damp with sweat. Where was he? He hardly remembered anything. He tried to force his head forward and make the rest of his body follow and he was almost up when a gentle hand was placed on his shoulder preventing him from going any further.

"Rest Sydney. You need it."

Carton pried his eyes open and saw one of his best friends, Charles Darnay, standing above him with a worried look plastered onto his face.

"Charles?" Carton said with a dry throat and almost whispered the name. He was down right confused. Why was Charles here? Where was his wife, Lucie? Was he still at the bar? He thought Cruncher was going to take him home when he got too drunk for his own good. Where was cruncher? Was he at home? It didn't seem like his home, it looked fancier and taken care of. Confused panic started to settle in his chest and his heart seemed to work faster and his breath was caught in his throat. "Where-" Cartons breath stopped as he tried to get the words out and swallowed hard as he tried to get his body under control. His breathing increase in speed and his head became lighter.

"Sydney? Sydney, calm down. You are at my place. You're safe." Charles eased Carton out of his panic and brought him back to reality… well, as much of a reality as possible in Cartons drunken state.

"You're place? Lucie's?" Carton asked in surprised and pleased to be here if anywhere.

"Yes Sydney, Lucie's place." Carton relaxed at those words and was able to lay back down and rest.

"Charles? I here to switch places with you." Lucie was standing at the door to Lorry's room where they had put Carton to rest. They had taken turned throughout the night watching over Carton incase he woke up again or started have another nightmare like he did a few hours ago.

Charles slowly stood up from the chair he had dosed off in a few times and kissed his wife on the cheek. "Thank you dear. I will be in the other room if you need me for anything." He left the room quietly closing the door enough so only a little light shined through from the candles in the living room.

Lucie had moved herself into the chair that her husband was just in seconds ago. She looked at Sydney's still form laying on the bed, his eyebrows knitted together as if in pain or worried. She felt sorry for him, knowing how hard he fought to stay away from the alcohol, how many times he had come over anxious and out of breath from needing his daily bottle of whiskey. Some days he would come over crying and in pain from trying to fight off the addiction he had. She knew the pain that he put himself through to be a better man.

A few hours later, Lucie was still wide away watching over Carton when Lorry came in to replace Lucie from her turn to look after Carton.

"How is he?" Lorry asked walking towards Lucie who was still seated in the chair near Cartons bed.

"He's doing alright, I think. He didn't have any nightmares if that's what you mean. He hasn't woken up yet either." Lucie stated not looking away from Sydney.

"I'm sure he will come around." Lorry said, and as if on cue Sydney started to stir a little bit. He tried to open his eyes enough to see where he was as he couldn't remember most of the conversation he had with Darnay.

"Sydney?" Lucie asked hopefully as she stood up from her chair to get closer to her friend.

"Mr. Carton? Can you hear me?" Lorry asked and received no answer, "I'll go get Mr. Darnay."

Lucie nodded in agreement and continued to watch Sydney for any movements. Moments later Lorry and Darnay returned.

Sydney was breathing heavily, his eyes closed but conscious. "Where am I?" Sydney said in a rough and weak voice.

"My house," Lucie responded gently putting her hand on Sydney's arm.

Sydney let out a sigh of regret and shame remember what mistake he made last night, "How did I get here?"

"I don't know. You showed up at our door step shivering then passed out a few moments later." Lucie said, "Do you remember what happened?"

Sydney's breath increased as the memories came back to him.