"When do you think he'll come?"

Severus looked over his shoulder at Remus. He wasn't too keen on this new, nosy sort of Remus that was hanging around. But perhaps it was part of a balance. Remus was certainly everything that Regulus was not. And Severus found himself between the two of them. Remus was a pull into common sense.

"I'm not really sure," Severus replied. "I'm working as hard as I can, but I'm feeling very reluctant to try it out until I'm completely certain that it's right. I think it is, I think it's good, but after the last time I tested it... Let's just say that it wasn't pleasant."

Remus was silent for such a long time, Severus decided he wasn't going to reply, so he continued to work.

Another ten minutes passed before Remus spoke. "I'll try it."

This time, Severus turned all the way around. "Excuse me?"

"I'll test it for you. If it works, then it can't be all that bad."

"What you don't understand is when it doesn't work, it's not a simple sort of overdose risk, it will transport you into your worst memory."

Remus pursed his lips. He let out a long sigh and nodded. "I'll do it, Severus. At least... at least I'd know what happened that night. For sure."

"I don't know about this, Remus."

"If you don't give it to me, I will take myself." Remus' voice was deadly serious. "I don't know how to take it, so you might as well give it to me."

"What happened to 'all the shit in my body,' wanting to get out of this world?"

He shook his head. "I knew when I stayed here that I wouldn't be out of this world."

"You knew that Regulus was still using," Severus said in an even tone.

"It wasn't my place to tell you," Remus said. "And I didn't know for sure. I suspected, though."

"So you never... saw him use?"

"No, I never did. Now, Severus, are you going to give me Elixir? Show me how to use it." Remus' face was set. "If you're so pissed off, give it to me the wrong way, huh? Fuck it up?"

"I wouldn't do that!" Severus snapped. "I may be angry, but I wouldn't try to kill you! I'm not Sirius."

Remus forced a smile. "I know. So, let's get this on."

"All right, if you have to. Go ahead and sit down on the floor. If you're standing or in a chair, you'll probably end up on the floor anyway."

Remus did as he was told, slowly, gritting his teeth has he bent his scarred leg at the knee. He stretched it straight out on the floor. He looked up. "Okay, what next?"

Severus gathered up a syringe and a clean needle, along with a scarf. He sat down next to Remus. "Hold out your arm."

Again, Remus did as he was told. He gave his friend a shaky smile. "Have I mentioned that I hate needles? Can't I drink it?"

"Sorry, no. It works in the bloodstream. It will catch itself on the cells that are going to your brain. That's why it takes a moment or two for it to begin to work."

"It sounds complex."

"Because it is. That's why I've had so much trouble with it. It's possibly one of the most complex potions I've ever developed."

"When does it stop being a potion and turn into a drug?" Remus asked.

"When it leaves the needle and enters your vein," Severus replied. He pulled the scarf tight around Remus' arm and filled the syringe. He sighed and looked at Remus. "You ready?"

He looked warily at the needle and then nodded. "Do it, Severus. Quickly before I change my mind."

Maybe he was wrong about Remus and common sense. Severus stuck Remus with the needle.

Remus waited. "So, it takes a minute?"

Severus nodded.

"I just wanted to tell you that if this works, I'll be seeing you." Remus grabbed Severus around the wrist and did not let go until he was passed out.

Severus wasn't sure when he would know if the drug was working, but he was concerned. He didn't like this at all, and Remus' breathing was shorter, but not knowing what he was seeing, it could be anything.

Remus started twitching and Severus grabbed him by the hand. "Remus? Remus, if you can hear me, if you need out..."

He didn't reply, of course, Severus wasn't expecting it, but he had a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach and Remus began to growl in the back of his throat. Finally, Remus screamed and blood was already seeping through his pant leg.

"Oh god, oh shit!" Severus said. He ran into the kitchen and grabbed the dish towels what was left of the gauze. When we ran back into the living room, Regulus was already there, looking ruffled from sleep, but wide awake.

"What's going on?" Regulus asked.

"Remus took Elixir," Severus explained. "It's not working. Help me get off his pants."

If Regulus was surprised by the request, he didn't show it. He did as Severus asked, while Remus was still screaming.

The scar on Remus' leg was stretched open wide, the bone visible.

"This isn't going to work!" Regulus said, trying to pull the skin together. "It's too much! We have to get him to the clinic. Now."

"How? We can't carry him, not like this," Severus said, trying his best not to panic. It wasn't until after the words were out of his mouth the realized what to do. Living among Muggles, Severus rarely used magic anymore. He pulled his wand from his pocket and froze Remus' leg.

"How did you...?" Regulus asked. "I never knew that spell."

"It doesn't matter. It'll keep the wound as is until we can get him to the clinic. Come on, Regulus, help me."

Severus and Regulus together, lifted Remus off the floor and out of the apartment.

"For being so thin, how is he so heavy?" Regulus asked as they walked up the hill.

Severus did not reply, he simply put his energy into heaving Remus to the clinic.

They went in and didn't have to wait. However, the doctor, someone Severus did not know, was terribly suspicious about Remus' unconscious state and the freezing on his leg.

"What happened here?"

"Who gives a damn, just stitch him up!" Severus shouted as they took Remus down the hall on a gurney.

Half an hour later, the doctor, who then introduced himself as Dr. Dolen, came back out. "Your friend will be fine. His leg will probably end up looking much worse, what with another layer of scar tissue. Any chance he had of the scar fading is now gone."

Severus nodded. "But he didn't lose a lot of blood?"

"No. You did the right thing, pressure and bringing him here. However, there are a few things that we need to talk about."

"Is he awake?" Regulus asked rudely.

"Yes, he is."

"Can we see him?"

Dr. Dolen scowled, but then he nodded. "Perhaps we should talk about this with him anyhow."

They went down the hall to a room where Remus was awake, but looking paler than usual. "Hey, Severus. I'm sorry."

"It's fine," Severus replied, patting his hand. "Don't worry about it. I'm just glad you're all right."

"Now," Dr. Dolen said, "first thing's first, Mr. Lupin, there were traces of drugs in your system. However, we can't identify either of them."

"Either of them?" Remus looked to Severus.

"Now, I don't know what you've been experimenting with here, boys, but one of those drugs had integrated itself with your bloodstream, and it looked you have the blood of a wolf."

Remus choked on the water he had taken a sip of. "A wolf, huh?"

"The other," Dr. Dolen said, ignoring him, "is something I don't know how to even explain."

"Then maybe you should just mind your own business," Regulus snapped.

"I'm a doctor, boy!"

"Look, you fixed up his leg, right? Then what else are you supposed to be doing? Nothing." Regulus got up in Dr. Dolen's face. "So butt out."

"Regulus," Severus said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Let it be."

"It's not like he can do anything about it," Regulus said. "It's called patient confidentiality. He can't report us to the cops."

"No, I can't," Dr. Dolen said, "but I can impress upon you the seriousness of your actions, Mr. Lupin. If you don't want to overdose again, I would recommend stopping now. What I can't understand is how you cut your leg open, in the exact same place where you had before, in the exact same way, the same angle even."

"Luck of the draw," Remus said dryly.

"I don't know what you do when you're all high, three young men, like yourselves, but you all need to stop it now. I'm assuming that you ended up outside, which was luck for than anything, because it probably saved Mr. Lupin's life. However, it's not cold enough to engage ice like that. I'm rather confused and curious."

"And nosy," Regulus muttered.

"Freezer," Severus said. "Regulus works at a restaurant, and we, like fools, were shooting up in the freezer."

Dr. Dolen sighed. "Whatever the case may be, it seems all three of you have more than enough problems without including drugs into your lives."

"Maybe if we didn't have so much pressure from society telling us to quit, we wouldn't be so damn set on doing them," Regulus said.

"Look," Dr. Dolen continued, "what it comes down to is that Mr. Lupin is very fortunate to be able to walk, he'll probably be resigned to using a cane."

"I already do," Remus said. "It's fine."

"Then I suppose you should find your way home," Dr. Dolen said before leaving the room.

"What a jackass," Regulus said.

Remus ignored him and turned to Severus. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I can continue to test your drug."

Severus touched his hand again. "It's all right."