Benny came back into the loft, feeling more relaxed now that the aspirin was tucked away safely in his car. When he reentered the loft, he saw Mark and Roger talking quietly. They stopped when he came in and Mark stood up. Benny held up his hands in defense.

"I get it. I'm going."

"Benny, that's not what I was going to say."

Benny stopped and lowered his hands. He glanced at Roger, who still sat on the couch, his knees now drawn to his chest.

"He okay?"

"You see the note?"

Benny nodded. "That's why I took the aspirin."

"Thanks. I, um, I need to ask a favor."

"Anything."

"I'm not sure how stable he is right now. Emotionally, I mean. I need you to go through the bathroom and kitchen with me and take anything that could…"

Benny nodded and followed Mark into the kitchen. Without a word, they dug out a bag and began dumping all their knives into it. Mark found a pair of scissors and added those. Benny held up a bottle of aspirin a little less than half full.

"What about these?"

"In the bag."

Mark grabbed a few bottles of beer that were still in the fridge. He opened them and dumped each one down the sink. When they were satisfied the kitchen was purged, they moved to the bathroom.

Mark found the extra razorblades and put them in the bag, adding his own razor.

"How you gonna shave?"

"Ben, we want Roger clean and alive. I'm not chancing him being able to do it because I wanted a smooth chin."

Benny nodded and grabbed Roger's razor. "Other scissors? Needles?"

Mark shook his head. "No, no…that's it."

Benny sighed. "He's been using again, right?"

Mark nodded.

"Here. Hold the bag."

Benny reached into the bathroom drawer and grabbed a pair of gloves. The hospital had been gracious enough to give them a box of gloves after Roger's diagnosis. Benny pulled on the gloves and grabbed the bag back from Mark.

"I'm going to check his room. Why don't you just go talk to him? Let me handle this."

"Thanks, Benny."

He nodded and gave the filmmaker a quick hug. "It's okay, Mark. He'll be okay. So will Maureen."

"Thanks."

Mark managed a small smile as he pulled away and headed back to Roger.

Benny took a deep breath and went to Roger's bedroom. He tried to figure out where to start. The dresser seemed an obvious spot. Sure enough, Benny found a razorblade and a pocketknife. He picked up both and added them to the garbage bag.

Opening each dresser drawer, Benny carefully felt around each corner, ran his hands along the bottom of each drawer and the underside of each. He found a bag of heroin in the third drawer. Hesitating, Benny set the bag down and brought the baggie to the bathroom. When the stash was flushed, Benny returned to the bedroom and continued his search. Nothing else in the dresser.

He yanked open the desk drawers. Roger seldom used the rickety old desk but Benny didn't want to chance missing a hiding spot. Nothing. He lifted the mattress and his eyes fell on a syringe. He picked it up and took it to the bag. Shaking his head, Benny dropped to his knees, staring under the bed. A few more syringes and needles that were promptly dropped into the bag.

When he was through, Benny carried the bag into the living room, he saw Mark and Roger now at the kitchen table. Mark had made tea or coffee, Benny wasn't sure which. Roger seemed a little more relaxed. The filmmaker saw him and nodded to him.

"I'm gonna get going, guys."

"Bye," they both said, Roger's voice quieter than Mark's.

As he headed downstairs, Benny was lost in thought. He knew Mark and the others were still pissed about him and Allison getting engaged. She could be a bitch sometimes, but still, he loved her. Everything seemed so screwed up now. Maureen had an eating disorder and was at an in-patient treatment facility. Roger was suicidal. Benny's thoughts consumed him and he didn't see the young girl until he'd bumped into her. He quickly shifted the bag to the hand furthest from her.

"Sorry. Excuse me," he mumbled.

"Don't worry about it," she said.

Benny turned around and continued down the stairs.

"Hey," she called out. Benny turned and looked up the stairs. The girl leaned over the railing. "Didn't catch your name."

"Benny. And yours?"

"Come to the Cat Scratch Club tonight and maybe you'll find out."

Benny chuckled and shook his head as the girl disappeared into another apartment.