Collins had somehow managed to find a cab the instant he stepped onto the street.

"Christmas miracle," he muttered to himself.

He slipped the cabbie an extra twenty to speed. Four minutes later, they screeched to a stop in front of the loft. Collins shoved the fare at the driver and bounded up the stairs, glad that he still had a copy of the key.

Collins heard their shouts and screams before he even reached the loft. He could hear Mark and Roger screaming at each other, every now and then Maureen's voice was added to the noise. He threw open the door in time to see Roger get knocked backwards by Mark's fist.

Maureen sat on the ground, screaming at both of them. Collins jumped into the fray. He reached one hand out and yanked Roger to his feet. Mark jumped up on his own.

"Hey! Knock it off!"

Mark stood back, glaring at Roger. Collins kept his fist tightened around Roger's shirt while Mark picked up his glasses from the floor. The frames were bent slightly, but they were wearable. Maureen took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself.

"Let go of me!" Roger shouted.

Collins backed him up to the wall. "I don't know what the hell's goin' on but I ain't about to let you two beat the shit out of each other. Now quit shouting and calm the fuck down!"

Roger took a deep breath, swallowing. Collins stared at him a minute before letting go of him. Roger eyed the door. Collins leaned down closer to him, staring into his eyes.

"Don't so much as think about goin' for that door. Got it?"

Roger nodded. Collins took a step backwards, testing his friend. The musician stared at him, anger glittering in his emerald eyes, but didn't move. Collins turned and crossed back to the door of the loft. He locked it and slid the seldom used deadbolt into place.

"Now," he said, turning back to the trio. "Somebody care to tell me just what the hell is goin' on?"

"He took my—"

"Roger took Mo—"

"Uh-uh! Not you two. Maureen?"

"I'm not sure…" she said. Not looking at Mark or Roger, Maureen calmly repeated to him the events of the afternoon.

"Where's the bag?" Collins asked when she was finished. She pointed to an empty bag, crumpled and forgotten on the floor. Collins stooped and picked it up. He examined the bag and the white powdery residue within.

Roger sank to the ground. Collins turned to face him.

"Maureen, Mark, go in the other room for a minute," he said over his shoulder.

Mark opened his mouth to argue, but Maureen grabbed his arm and shook her head. She dragged him by the arm to the bedroom and shut the door.

"How long?" Collins asked.

"What?"

"Don't tell me this isn't what I think it is. You and I both know what it is. How long have you been using again?"

"Since last night."

"Last night?" Collins raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Roger nodded. "Look, I just need a little bit. I know you don't want me doing it at all but—"

"No, Rog, there is no 'but' to this. You're not doin' this anymore."

"You don't understand," he said softly.

"I understand enough to know that this shit is killing you."

"I'm dying anyway!"

"So am I! And I don't go around using it as an excuse to fuck up," Collins said, kneeling in front of Roger.

"I can't do this."

"You were doing this, Rog. You were doing fine."

"I only need a little bit. I'll cut back, I promise."

"This isn't somethin' you can just 'cut back' on, Roger. You're quitting. Forever. It's done."

"Maybe I don't want to quit," Roger said, his voice a little louder than before.

Collins chuckled. "You hear me askin' if you wanted to?"

"It's my body."

"Yeah, it is. And I can promise you that if you so much as touch that shit again, I will use my body to kick the shit outta yours."

"I'm sorry."

"I know. And that's good. That's real good that you're sorry. But sorry don't change what you did. And it doesn't change what you're gonna do."

Roger's eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry. I-I'm so sorry. I…I can't do this. I can't. I—please, Collins…I can't…I don't want to be like this."

Collins sat beside him and hugged the younger man to him. "It's okay, Roger. You can do this. I'll help you and so will Mark and Maureen. You can do this. And it won't always be like this."