Eric: (opens the door) Hey, guys. Come on in.
Daley and I sit on the couch in the living room.
Daley: (sets a dish onto the table) I made you some grilled chicken and fries. You might not be hungry, but you need to eat.
Eric: (sits in a chair) Thanks.
Me: You doing any better?
Eric: Not really.
Daley: We're really sorry.
Eric: (looks as if he's going to cry) Yeah. Me, too.
Melissa: I can't believe she's dead.
Me: Yeah. Me neither.
Melissa: (shakes her head to get her mind out of those thoughts) So did you find Cody?
Me: Yeah.
Melissa: Is he doing okay?
Me: Not at all.
I climb the stairs after putting the hood of my jacket over my head to get out of the pouring rain. I go to the first door: Jackson's apartment. There is a piece of paper on the door: an eviction notice. I sigh, then decide to drive around. Maybe I'll find him in the neighborhood or something.
I find Jackson next to a creek under a bridge. He's soaking wet and muddy. His clothes are torn. He's high on heroin, so I help him into my car as he stumbles along.
Jackson: What am I doing here? Where am I?
I'd put Jackson in my bathroom: the only room without a window that he could escape through. I am sitting in a chair in the doorway, blocking him from leaving.
Me: My house.
Jackson: I thought I told you to leave me alone.
Me: Well, I changed my mind.
Jackson stands and tries to get past me, but I hold him back.
Jackson: What are you doing? Let me go!
Me: You're not going anywhere.
Jackson is wrapped up in a blanket that Daley had given him. He is shaking madly, pulling at his hair, craving another shot.
Jackson: (speaks through clenched teeth) Nathan, you gotta let me outta here, man! Please! It hurts! (whimpers)
Jackson weakly crawls over to me and tries to get past me, but I push him away. He sobs.
Jackson scoots toward me, saliva dripping from his lips and down his shirt. He is sweating. He cuddles with my leg. Small cries escape his mouth.
Me: I'm gonna give you two options.
Jackson: (ravenously takes a bite of the breakfast Daley had made for him) What?
Me: You can either check yourself into rehab. Or I'm gonna call the cops and have them put you back in prison.
Jackson: (looks at me helplessly with unshed tears in his eyes) Nathan, c'mon. Please, don't do this.
Me: (holds up the phone) Which one is it?
Jackson: (nods as he contemplates, as if thinking of the pros and cons of each) Prison.
Me: What? No. You're supposed to choose rehab.
Jackson: But there are ways to get drugs in prison, Nathan. You just don't understand. I need it.
Me: You don't ne…. Fine. But, if you were to get cleaned up, I'm sure that Melissa would let you see your kids again. And maybe even give you another chance. But do whatever you wanna do. (starts dialing)
Jackson: Wait. She'll let me see them again?
Me: Yeah.
Jackson: (sighs) Fine. I'll go to rehab.
I got Jackson checked into rehab. He'd started to refuse when they told him to sign a paper that said that, if he were to leave, they could call the police. But I talked him into it.
I'm glad he's finally getting cleaned up. Just think about how much better his life is gonna be now.
Daley: (lays in bed next to me) Did he check in?
Me: Yeah.
Daley: That's good. I can't wait until he gets out.
Me: (nods) Yeah.
Daley: (kisses me)
Me: So how about we work on that baby?
Daley: I told you that I don't want kids.
Me: Why not?
Daley: I just don't want any.
Melissa: I don't believe you.
Me: I'm not lying. He checked in a week ago.
Melissa: And he's lasted this long. No way.
Me: Yeah. He's doing this for you, you know. And the kids.
Melissa: Yeah, right. Cody never cared about anyone but himself.
Me: You don't believe he's gonna stay clean?
Melissa: Of course not. He loves his drugs better than his own family.
Me: How could you expect him not to when you have no faith in him?