Dean woke up in a sweat, shivering. He stood and made his way to the bathroom, opening the door to the medicine cabinet and grabbing the pills. Again, he dropped three in his hand and took them.
Cupping his hand so water could fill it. He swallowed down six hand fulls of water. Taking a deep breath before shutting off the water and looking in the mirror. His eyes met Isabelle's. She had her arms crossed over her chest.
"What's going on with you?", she asked.
Grabbing a hand towel, he wiped his hands and chin.
"A headache woke me up", he said, looking down.
"Bullshit", she said.
He met her eyes again.
"If I count those pills", he turned to look at her.
"You're counting my pills now? You don't trust me, Iz?", he asked.
"There are missing pills Dean. Chris told you it was two in the morning and then two in the afternoon", she said.
He sighed. She noticed his hands shaking.
"You don't understand the pain I'm in.", Dean said.
"Then let's talk to Chris. You don't just go and take more pills to ease the pain, if that's really it", she said.
"Don't start that", he said, before passing her and walking into their bedroom.
"Dean, I just don't want you to get yourself into something that's going to be hard to come out of", she said.
"I am fine. Just fucking drop it", he raised his voice.
She walked over to their bed and grabbed her pillow. He sighed.
"Where are you going?", he asked.
"To sleep in my daughter's room", she replied, before slamming the door to their bedroom.
He ran his hand over his head. Sitting on their bed. He couldn't sleep after she left, he paced the room and continued to run his hand over his head. He left their bedroom and went to their daughter's room. He stopped in the doorway, watching them sleep.
He left the room and went downstairs, his throat was dry. Leaning back against the fridge.
"Now who's having night terrors?", Spencer asked, yawning.
"What are you doing up?", Dean asked.
"Heard you pacing. The floor creaks", Spencer said.
"Oh, sorry", Dean said.
"You ok?", Spencer asked, pouring himself some juice.
"Why?", Dean asked, getting defensive.
"Because you were pacing and now you can't sleep", Spencer said.
"I'm fine. Just couldn't sleep with these headaches and Isabelle doesn't help", Dean said.
Spencer took a drink of his juice before speaking.
"How doesn't she help?", he asked.
Dean met his eyes. He rolled his.
"She thinks I'm abusing my meds, I'm not.", Dean said.
Spencer nodded.
"I would have believed you, if your pupils weren't dilated and you weren't jittery right now", Spencer said.
Dean glared at him.
"You were the one to get in her head. She thinks I'm abusing my meds because of you", Dean said.
"I didn't say anything to her. I did talk to Roman and Seth. Dean, you haven't been acting like yourself", Spencer said.
"What do you know. You don't know me. I would never do anything to lose my family. You're trying to take them from me", Dean raised his voice and pushing his finger into Spencer's chest.
"No Dean, you've got it all wrong. I want to help you. I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did", Spencer said calmly.
Paul had helped him a lot when it came to controlling his anger and handing certain situations calmly.
"I'm not you. I would never put my hands on my girl. Stay out of my business", Dean said, before walking past Spencer and back to his room.
The next day, Dean got up and reached for his pills. His hands were shaking, he was fighting with his will power. A hand covered his. He turned his head a bit and Isabelle stood there.
"Try", she said softly.
He swallowed. He didn't know if he could go without it. He knew Spencer was right. He had a problem, a big one.
"I still need the two", he said.
She nodded and took the bottle. She opened it and handed him two.
"I'll keep this with me. You won't get more till eight hours from now", she said.
He nodded. She kissed his cheek.
"You can do this, Dean", she whispered.
He nodded. She hid the pills in Abel's closet in a box of old clothes. Walking back into her room to shower and get ready for work. Once done, Dean was wringing his hands, sitting on their bed.
"Maybe we should talk to Chris", she suggested.
Dean looked up at her.
"No. Let me try to do this on my own. I can do it", he said.
She nodded.
"I'm trusting you", she said.
"I won't break it", he said.
She walked over to him and between his legs. Wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I love you and I want to marry you, but I need you sober. If you break it, I am leaving with the kids till you get your act together. I will not put them through that. I did that with Abel when I was with Spencer, I won't make that mistake again", she said.
He nodded.
Izzy had left about an hour ago. Spencer was getting ready to go to his session with Paul. Dean was drumming his fingers on his thighs. Wiping the sweat from his brow every now and then.
"You sure you're going to be ok with the kids?", Spencer asked.
Dean quickly shot up from the couch and nodded.
"Yeah. I've got this", Dean said.
Spencer looked him over before nodding.
"I'll see you later", Spencer said.
Dean nodded. He watched Spencer leave before peeking out the window and watching his car drive away. Dean made sure his kids were ok before going to the bathroom and finding anything that could help him.
Taking a few of everything till he got that drunken feeling he gets with his meds. This was wrong, he knew, but he needed it.
Isabelle had called in sick to work. She wanted to trust Dean, but something in the pit of her stomach was telling her not to. She didn't want to make the same mistakes she made with Spencer.
"Sorry to keep you waiting Isabelle", Chris said, walking into his office.
"Its ok. I called in sick to work. I don't want to put this off", she said.
He nodded.
"So, what can I do for you?", he asked.
"Dean's been taking more than he should, you know with his medicine. I counted his pills and, I'm just worried", she said.
He nodded.
"I hid them, but I need you to cancel the prescription refill. I don't want him getting a new bottle and hiding them from me", she said.
"I understand. I will be canceling that now. As for abusing his meds, it's not uncommon for someone to get addicted to them. Especially after what happened to him and he's not talking about it", Chris said.
Isabelle nodded.
"Should he talk to someone?", she asked.
"Yes. Even if he feels like he can do this on his own, having someone to talk to helps in a different way", Chris said.
"What if he doesn't want to talk to anyone?", she asked, almost afraid of what he was going to say.
"Unfortunately, there is nothing anyone can do. If he doesn't want the help, we can't force him", Chris said.
She nodded.
"I knew you were going to say that", she said softly.
"If you need help finding a sponsor or meetings, call me. I can set him up", Chris said.
Isabelle nodded.
"Thank you", she said.
She left and went home. Getting there, she could hear Austin crying. She quickly went in and found him in the playpen. Tears streaking his little red face. Malia was trying to comfort him.
"Where's daddy Lia?", she asked her daughter.
"Sleeping", she answered.
Isabelle lifted her baby and rocked him.
"Its ok, baby, I'm here", she said.
Once he was a bit calm, she called Jon. She told him what was happening, not being able to hold in her own tears. He said he would quickly head her way. She kissed her son's head. Someone knocked on her door and she went over to answer it.
Baron stood there.
"Hey, Jon called. I was on my way to work and asked if my brother was here still. Then he told me about Dean.", he said, his eyes falling on Austin.
She wiped her cheeks.
"Can you do me a favor and drop them off with my grandma. I can handle Dean", she said.
"Iz", she stopped him.
"Baron, please", she said.
He nodded. Once he was gone, she waited for Jon to arrive. Opening the front door, Roman and Seth pulled up in his truck.
"I called them, just in case", Jon said, kissing her cheek.
"He was fine before I left, I hid the pills from him. I, damn it I knew I shouldn't have left him today. I just wanted to get to Chris and tell him to cancel the refill on Dean's pills.", she sighed and cried some more.
Seth hugged her.
"You couldn't have known he would find them Izzy", Seth said.
"Let's go wake up old sunshine", Jon said.
They made their way up. Izzy behind them. Getting to their bedroom, Dean was passed out on their bed. Jon lifted his leg and kicked Dean's leg.
"Go back downstairs, Malia", Dean grumbled.
That pissed Isabelle off.
"Are you kidding me?", she said.
Dean shot up.
"Izzy", he said.
She shook her head at him. Going into Abel's room. She checked the box, his pills were still there, untouched. Leaving it there, she went back to their room.
"What did you use?", she asked.
He swallowed, his throat was dry so it hurt when he did.
"What did you use?", she yelled.
"A bit of whatever I could find", he confessed.
"How long ago was that?", his grandpa asked.
"I don't know. I don't even remember coming upstairs", Dean slurred.
"What's going on?", everyone turned to see Abel.
"Ab, what are you doing home?", Izzy asked.
"Minimum day. I was going to call you, but I decided to walk home", he said.
She nodded. He noticed the looks on everyone's faces.
"Is this about aunt Mia?", he asked.
Isabelle looked at him confused.
"What about aunt Mia?", she asked.
Abel sighed.
"Abel", Jon said, his tone letting Abel know not to lie.
A/N: Happy New Year everyone!