Chapter Twenty-Five: Meanwhile...

"Hello?" Phoenix crawled out of bed to answer the phone Saturday morning, stifling a yawn, "No, I was getting up anyway. How are you? How's the trip going?"

"Are you sure everything's okay? You sound... disappointed."

"It's probably just cultural differences," Phoenix tried to assure her, "Why don't you get some sleep, I'm sure you'll be able to get it all straightened out in the morning."

"I love you, too."

After hanging up the phone Phoenix puttered around the house, not sure what to do on his day off. Eventually he decided to head down to the library and try to be productive.

A few hours of not being able to concentrate on his studies later, Phoenix realized it was a fruitless endeavor and gave up.

He hopped on his bike and rode aimlessly through the town, which he quickly came to realize was much smaller than Anne Arbor, where he had grown up. Randomly making his way down one street after another, he eventually found his way to an area with a couple of bars and a club, and pulled over to check them out.

He walked into the closest building, which turned out to be a bar called The Dirty Dixie. Phoenix wasn't sure what he thought about the country decor, but he was here now, so figured he might as well order a drink.

He had never actually been in a bar before, so he took a seat and hoped the bartender would notice him when she was done with the other customers.

Luckily, it was still early and the crowds hadn't started showing up yet, so he didn't have long to wait. He ordered something easy to pronounce off of the menu.

He watched, impressed, as the bartender tossed bottles and glasses around to mix his drink.

Well, that was... interesting, he thought after taking his first sip.

Actually, it's pretty good, he decided, as he finished the drink and ordered another.

By the third, he was less focused on the beverage, and instead found himself confessing his woes to whoever would listen.

"I mean, I'm glad she gets to have her dream job, but I left a great opportunity to move out here, and I don't know if she even realizes it," he griped, as the bartender nodded in trained sympathy.

Having drunk himself maudlin, he was considering heading home when he heard someone start to moan loudly.

"Oh, god, the pain!" the man cried out.

Phoenix rushed over as the other patrons stood nervously around, uncertain what to do, "I'm a doctor, what seems to be the problem?"

"It's my stomach, ow! It's burning so bad," the man replied.

"Hmm, sounds like you might have an ulcer that was aggravated by the alcohol you were drinking. I think I might actually have something that can help."

As the growing crowd watched, Phoenix dug out a bottle of pills from work that he had forgotten to take out of his jacket and handed one to the suffering sim. He looked somewhat skeptical, but was in too much pain to argue, and accepted the offering. Phoenix had him get a glass of milk from the bartender while waiting for the medicine to take effect, and stayed close to watch for side effects.

Not much later, the man was out of his seat again, but this time looking much better.

"Thank you so much, I don't think I could have handled that for much longer," he said.

"Just make sure you make an appointment with your doctor before drinking anymore," Phoenix advised.

"Yes, of course, but I can at least buy you a drink for your help," he insisted.

Part of Phoenix new that he really shouldn't drink any more, but he felt it would be rude to refuse. Also, he was basically a hero, so he felt deserved the reward.

Bottoms up!

A little while later...

"I dedicate thish shong to Shadie, the love of my life... hic!"

Go home, Phoenix, you're drunk.

When he did finally go home, he was still a bit too inebriated to drive, so he left his bike behind and chose to walk instead.

He was almost to the beach by their house when he nearly tripped over a small object on the ground. He wouldn't have even seen it out here in the dark, had it not uttered a loud chirp right before he stepped on it.

"Hey now, who are you, then?" Phoenix peered down and was able to make out a ruffling bundle of feathers in the dim light.

Bending down for a closer look, he was surprised when the small bird hopped awkwardly up onto his arm.

"Oh, are you hurt?" he wondered aloud, noticing the odd angle one of its wings stuck out, "Guess I shouldn't leave out here all alone, then."

"Here we are, little guy," Phoenix told the bird when they arrived home, "You can stay here with me until you're feeling better."

After the incident with the man at the bar, and now saving an injured bird, Phoenix was starting to enjoy the feeling of coming to the rescue.

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I've had this one basically finished for awhile, but there were a few extra pictures I needed to go back and take to fit everything together smoothly, and I just did not have time to load up the game hardly at all last month. Next update should be much more timely!