Author's Note: Just a drabble that I've had on my computer for some time.


Julie's electrifyingly green eyes widened. She stood stock-still in the shadows of the empty doorway, watching her best friend do the unthinkable. Kirsten Cohen, the woman who had been released from rehab a few months earlier, was drinking wine. As shocked as Julie was, she couldn't move. She could barely breathe. What was Kirsten thinking? The brunette didn't know what to do. Should she go over and confront Kirsten? Push the image to the back of her mind and never bring it up? Julie had never been in that situation before, watching a rehabilitated alcoholic fall off of the wagon.

Moving slowly, Kirsten smashed the goblet against the weathered picnic table where she was seated. The blond cradled her head in her hands, making Julie seriously question what to do. She considering going to find Sandy, but decided against that. Julie wasn't entirely sure that Sandy would be able to handle the situation. The brunette did not want to trouble Kirsten and Sandy's marriage anymore than it already was. With a soft sigh, Julie stepped out of the shadows. She had figured out what to do.

"Kirsten?" Julie called out. She made her way toward her friend, preparing for all the scenarios that running through her mind.

The blond sat straight up and attempted to fix her smeared make-up. It was no use, the sticky black mascara wasn't going anywhere, but Kirsten continued with her task. Julie sat down next to her and placed her hand in the small of Kirsten's back, an effort to calm her down.

"Just leave it, Kiks," Julie whispered.

With a small sob, Kirsten rested her head on Julie's shoulder. In return, Julie wrapped her arms around the shaking shoulders of her one true friend. The only sound that could be heard was Kirsten's quiet cries. Julie could tell that the blond knew she had made a mistake.

The one thing Julie didn't know was that Kirsten didn't regret drinking the wine. She was glad that someone had caught onto the fact that she really wasn't okay. She still needed help and as much as it pained her to admit that, Kirsten knew she would have to continue seeking treatment for a long time. Consoled by her best friend's embrace, Kirsten realized that if her husband wasn't there to help her, she had the next best thing. The only woman in Newport Beach that Kirsten had ever trusted; Julie Cooper. There wasn't a doubt in Kirsten's mind that Julie would stay with her, no matter what. Between sobs and quiet gasps for breath, Kirsten managed to whisper a weak, "Thank you," into Julie's ear.

Julie could only nod. And even though Kirsten couldn't see it, Julie had tears upon her cheeks too.