I rushed through the doors of the emergency room, momentarily putting aside the mystery texts and all the other shit going on in my life right now so I could concentrate on finding out whether or not my best mate was alright. I spotted the reception desk and ran over, slightly starting the woman seated behind it.

"Hi, my name is Naomi Campbell, I got a phone call about my friend James Cook."

"Ah yes, Miss Campbell," she answered with a genuine smile. "Dr. Cooper asked me to inform him when you arrived. Have a seat over there, I'll call him right away."

I nodded absently and turned away from her. She was clearly a nice woman, but I was hardly in any state to show any gratitude for her kindness. From the way she had looked at me, I was sure she understood anyway. I took a seat in the corner of the almost empty waiting room. I was surprised it wasn't more populated, considering it was a Saturday night and all. I guessed they were probably having a slow evening.

The minutes ticked by agonizingly as I waited for the doctor to appear. A million different scenarios ran through my mind as I tried to imagine what could possibly have happened to Cook during the last few weeks. I could only hope that I would get to ask him myself.

Finally, after what seemed like fucking ages, a tall, older man in a white lab coat burst out through the emergency doors and started making his way towards me. I got to my feet, holding my breath and bracing myself for the worst as he began to speak.

"Miss Campbell?" he asked with genuine concern in his eyes. Oh fuck this was going to be bad.

"Yes," I answered quietly, my voice shaking.

"My name is Dr. Cooper. Your friend James Cook was found passed out in an alleyway by a construction worker earlier this evening. He was suffering from a rather severe heroin overdose, as well as a few rather serious infections in his numerous injection points."

My jaw just about dislocated itself from the rest of my face as I listened to him drone on about Cook's long term drug use and infections. I could barely even focus on the fact that he was still forming words. As far as I knew, Cook hadn't touched the stuff in more than four years. Jesus, what had happened to him in the last few weeks? My brain was spinning in overdrive and I had to remind myself to breathe as I suddenly remembered that I was still being spoken to.

"I'm sorry Miss Campbell, are you alright?"

"Yes... I mean no, no I'm not alright " I answered shakily, "It's just Cook, well, he's my best mate and he's never been a serious user. As far as I knew he hadn't touched the stuff in years. I just can't understand how this could happen."

"I assure you, Miss Campbell, that Mr. Cook has a very serious drug problem. It is not clear how long he has been using, but I can assure you that this was not a one time thing. When was the last time you saw him?"

"About, three weeks ago..." I answered, trailing off, "he kind of disappeared."

"Well, Miss Campbell, it appears he was using copious amounts of heroin and several other drugs during that time period. He's lucky to be alive right now, and the road ahead is going to be long and difficult. We're keeping him in an induced coma for now so that his body can recover from the extensive trauma that it has faced. But Miss Campbell, I need you to understand that your friend has been through alot and there's a very real possibility that... he may not wake up at all."

I felt as though my whole world was crashing down around me as the words floated into my brain. No, it just wasn't possible. It wasn't possible that I could lose him, we had been through everything together. How could I let this fucking happen to him?

"You can see him if you like," the doctor said suddenly, snapping me out of my reverie.

I nodded absently, feeling myself trembling as his words continued to sink into my already overwhelmed mind, and started to follow him through the big emergency doors. I just couldn't wrap my head around Cook using again. It had been years since we had been into that shit, and even then we were never hardcore about it. Cook and I had sworn off anything that wasn't a spliff years ago, I just couldn't believe he would do that. And now, there was a possibility that he wouldn't fucking wake up... no I couldn't bare that thought. Cook would wake up, he was too strong for that. Fuck where had all of this gone so wrong? I balled my fists as realization dawned over me; I bet this had something to do with Effy and Tony's fucking Gentleman's Club. Especially now that I knew Tony was fucking drug lord.

The doctor lead me into a small hospital room, holding the door open for me so I could follow him in. I hesitated for a moment, terrified of what I was going to see lying the hospital bed just out of my line of sight. I took a deep breath and took the final step forward to face what was waiting for me in that room.

The doctor stood behind me as I eased my way into the room. My face wore more shock than I thought was humanly possible as I took in the sight of what could only be described as a shell of my best mate. He looked so gaunt, like he had lost about thirty pounds since the last time I had seen him. He had bruises all over his face and exposed skin, he just looked so fucking broken. And perhaps most surprising, he had a disgustingly scruffy beard. In all the time I had known Cook, he never had any facial hair. He always said he thought it was bloody well disgusting.

"Right then, I'll leave you to it," the doctor said, reminding me of his presence. "Just remember that visiting hours are over, so just don't stay too long."

I smiled gratefully at him as he left the room before turning my attention back towards Cook lying motionless on the hospital bed. I took a few tentative steps toward him, almost expecting him to jump up and scare the shit out of me screaming that it was all one big joke. If only, I found myself thinking. I took a seat in the chair next to his bedside and reached for his hand. His skin was cold, and I immediately noticed the large amount of bandages on his arm, probably covering up the infections he got from injecting himself. Fuck injecting.

"Jesus Christ Cook," I whispered, tears forming in my eyes, "what the fuck happened to you? How did any of this happen? One minute we were happy, well maybe not happy but content at least, and then the next you're lying in a fucking hospital bed and I don't know what the fuck is happening."

I wiped the tears away from my eyes, and suppressed a sob. I couldn't keep the tears at bay anymore.

"Cook, I don't know what fucking happened to you, but I need you to wake up so we can sort this out. So you can help me sort out everything. Something's wrong Cook, and I think it's something to do with that club. I don't know who I can trust Cook, please... Cook... I fucking need you."

I laid my head on his hand and just finally let go. I cried about everything, the messages, the drugs, Cook, Effy... Emily. Sobbing freely for no one to see, I let it all out. I must have cried for a solid half and hour before I realized I had probably stayed longer than I was supposed to. I dropped a kiss on Cook's forehead, promising I would come back as soon as I could even though I knew he probably couldn't hear me.

I dragged myself through the corrider of the hospital and out the front doors, but not before stopping off at the reception desk to make sure that they would call me the second that Cook woke up. I also double checked with the security in the building that they would keep an eye on him, I couldn't be too carefull after the latest text from my friendly neighborhood stalker.

I stepped out into the cool night air and took a deep breath. I checked my watch, suprised to find that it was after midnight. Jesus Christ, where had the time gone? I knew I was too tired to do anything else, including thinking things over, tonight. So, I resolved myself to go home and get a good nights sleep and start fresh in the morning. Where I'd start? Well, I hadn't gotten that far yet, but that was something I would have to face in the morning.

The drive from the hospital to my flat seemed to take seconds, and before I knew it I was standing at my front door fumbling through my bag to find my keys. In my frustration, I flicked the latch and was suprised to find it already open. I guessed I had forgotten to lock it when i left earlier today. Fucking brilliant Naomi, someone's stalking you and your girlfriend might be a dangerous criminal and you go and leave your door unlocked all evening. I can be so fucking smart sometimes.

I was too exhausted to be bothered being apprehensive of what could possibly be waiting for me inside my dark flat, so I just walked inside and flicked on the lights without hesitation. My heart leapt in my throat as a came face to face with quite possibly the last person I wanted to see right now.

She smirked at me when she first caught my eye, but her lips fell into a frown once she caught sight of what a disheveled mess I was. She took a tentative step towards me, her dark eyes filling to the brim with concern.

"Sorry," she started, explaining herself, "I let myself in with the key in your lockbox and... Christ Naomi, what happened to you?"

I was too tired for this. I was too tired to have this conversation, to yell and scream at her about Cook and the messages and everything else, and to finally get some fucking answers. I was too tired to try and decipher whether or not the immense amount of emotion shining in her eyes right then was genuine or forced. And I was too tired to fight off the fact that I loved her enough for nothing else to matter but the fact that she was here, and I fucking needed her right now.

"Emily..." I started, my voice shaking heavily with the sobs I was trying to hold in, "so much has happened... and so much is happening... and I have so many questions... but.. I just... I just..."

My voice broke and I crumbled into myself, leaning backwards and sliding down the door until I collapsed in a heap on the floor. Emily stopped hesitating and rushed towards me, dropping herself to my side and wrapping her arms around me. She brushed my hair out of my eyes and kissed my tears away, just as she had done the night before. I leaned into her neck and inhaled her scent, allowing her to surround and calm me, for the moment anyway. I could feel her heart racing in her chest as I held her close, alerting me that she probably knew that this was just the calm before the storm.

It was amazing really, how she could be both the last and only person I wanted to be with at the same time.


I'll have the next one up ASAP, and trust me... it'll be worth the wait. ;)