Sorry about the delay everybody... I'm a year 10 boy with a ton of revision to do!

Tina woke up at 6am; she had no choice. Sleep wasn't an option at a time like this - she had too much on her mind. Putting on her dressing gown, she fled the bedroom. She tried not to wake up Tommy, who was sleeping on the couch. Tina wanted a brew, but the kettle was too loud so she settled for water, squinting when the tap came on, again, not wanting to wake Tommy.

"I'm awake too." Came the blunt, solid call from Tommy.

"You're never awake this early..."

"I am today."

"Can we go to the hospital? It's open 24 hours. We can get you some replacement pills." Tina suggested.

"Replacement pills?"

"Yeah. So you can come off you're addiction step by step."

"Now?" He asked.

"Yes. Now. Get changed." Tina was feeling that she was wearing the boots, for the first time in a long time in their relationship.

When they arrived at the hospital it was just getting light. They made an appointment with Dr Carter at reception; he recently recovered from his leg wound and had been promoted to work in the hospital.

"I'd like to talk to you individually, first." Carter stated, after Tina briefed the problem.

"Sure." Tina looked at Tommy to signal for him to leave, but then Carter signaled for Tina to leave. Now Carter and Tommy were alone.

"I don't have to Tina tell anything you want to tell me, by the way." Carter started things off. Tommy looked up.

"I know. Thanks. The truth is, I can't be without these pills. They... they keep me good."

"Good?" Carter raised an eyebrow.

"Good. The voices. I can't hear them if I take the pills." Tommy began to rock rapidly back and forth on his chair, breathing unevenly. "But when I'm sober... the voices... they give me such a headache... such a FUCKIN' big headache."

Carter was now shell-shocked. "And these voices... what do they say?"

"I don't know."

Carter jotted something on his pad. "Can you switch out with Tina now, please." He pointed to the door with his pen, then continued to write some notes.

Tommy got up and through the door, and switched with Tina.

"Hi." Tina said.

Carter now looked up from his pad. "Tina I don't want you to feel awkward around me, or this will never work."

"It's not awkward."

"So why are you on the edge of your seat? You're tense, I understand that. Lean back." So Tina did so. "First, I don't know if you are aware of this, but Tommy is suffering with painful headaches... from his 'voices'."

"Huh?" Tina squinted her eyes.

"Yeah. That's what I thought. But it seems to me that those pills are helping him emotionally, not physically. Tina, have you heard of a placebo?"

"It sounds dumb, but I haven't." She replied.

"A placebo is a medication that replicates the real deal: it looks, smells, tastes the same as the real thing, but it's fake. I think if we gave Tommy some placebos then he may get better, because his brain will be tricked into thinking he is getting better, whereas actually he'd be taking next to nothing.

"Obviously, I would need your consent before I proceed." Carter finished.

"This plan sounds fool-proof... are you sure it can't go wrong? We've got a wedding tomorrow, and I don't want anything to go wrong."

"If he were to find out the pills are fake, it would take longer than 24 hours, I can guarantee. Tell Tommy to pick up his usual dosage at the counter."

"Thanks for everything doctor." Tina smiled, as she stood up.

"That's okay. Oh and Tina," Tina turned round. "Have a great wedding." Again, Tina smiled before she walked out.

"So, why am I on the same medication? I thought they were bad for me?"

"Oh no, it turns out you were taking just the right amount. Just you need to take them at breakfast, lunch and dinner and not between." Tina replied, on the taxi journey home.

"How about we go to the Bistro for lunch, before we pick up Joey?"

"Yeah, that would be nice." Tina said, half-heartedly.

"Hey. I love you." Tommy leaned in and gave Tina a kiss on the lips.