"Please don't touch me."
The words struck deep into Benny's brain, and he turned to see a young blonde woman twisting her arm out of The Man's grip. The dealer smiled smugly, and murmured something in her ear.
"Keep away from me," she warned, her voice shaky, turning to leave. The Man slipped something into her hand, and she whirled to face him, full of bravado.
"We'll call it a favour," Benny heard him say.
The girl opened her mouth to say something, but The Man walked away, whistling.
Benny had walked a few feet away when he heard an anguished sob from behind him. He turned to see the blonde collapsed on the ground, staring at the small packet in her hand with an almost tangible amount of hate in her eyes.
Benny knelt next to her, touching her shoulder. She shuddered at his touch.
"I'm scared," she whispered.
A thought flashed through Benny's mind, a distraught Mimi clinging to herself as if trying to hold her sickness and her sadness inside her.
"I need to go away," the girl told him, frowning at her clenched fist as if trying to will it open.
Benny knew what he had to do. He owed it to this stranger, to Mimi's memory, to Alison's disappointment and Angel's belief in him.
"I know a place. A clinic."
The young woman looked up at him as if only just realsing he was there, and her face held a total lack of comprehension.
"A rehab," Benny explained gently, covering her hand with his and attempting to work his thumb into the gap between her palm and her fingers.
"Maybe…"
Her breath caught, and she shook her head. Her hair fell over her face, and Benny noticed how unkempt and greasy it was.
She looked up at him again, this time pleading. "Could you…?"
He nodded. "I'll pay."
She leaned into him, sobbing, her tears soaking his jacket. Benny put his arms around her and supported her head with one hand.
"Thank you," she whispered.
As he helped her to her feet, Benny reflected that no one had ever really thanked him for anything before.
I had fun with this! Mwaha... I don't own anything, though. More's the pity.
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