I felt like this needed to happen. I'm not sure why, but I thought it should:) I've been having trouble finding inspiration lately, and I'm going with the fact that it's because I was supposed to see Drake Bell this past Saturday, and the concert was cancelled...sheer depression! I think I'm slowly finding muse again...yay;)

Mindy's phone rang a second time that night a little after three. She hadn't been able to fall back to sleep and had channeled her second wind into researching cases. She looked at her phone strangely, seeing another unfamiliar number staring back at her. "Hello?"

"Mindy I…I…I'm sorry about my brother."

A smile spread across her weary face. "It's fine, Josh." She knew she could always count on him to be the one to try to make everything right.

"No, it's not. I'm sorry." He sighed, and she thought he sounded like she'd been through a war. World War Drake, she was sure.

"It's my fault," Mindy replied honestly, taking her laptop off her lap and leaning back on the headboard. "I got myself into this mess. I didn't have to drive him home, and I did, so it's my fault. I deserve the backlash."

"How…just…"

She laughed a bit, and Josh imagined her nose scrunching up and her eyes starting to glisten, an image that was permanently engrained in his head. He loved making Mindy laugh. "I'm sure he told you, but I ran into him and he seemed a little off, so I offered him a ride home. We had a great night just talking about everything, and I gave him my number. I didn't expect him to use it like this."

Mindy could almost see Josh's face changing and jaw stiffening up at the mention of she and Drake having a "great" night. She had no idea that Drake had praised her; Josh wished he could handle this. "You…it was…great?"

Mindy smiled, satisfied that she still spoke Josh. "It was." She ran a hand through her hair before sighing. "Look, Josh, I know it's weird – I agree – but he was so broken when he started pouring everything out to me. He needed a friend, and I was the one who happened to be there. He told me he was really apprehensive about telling you – actually, not in those words. I believe he said he was 'absent' about telling you, but." They both laughed and it helped to lighten the moment. "I knew he wouldn't tell you, so I dropped him off tonight after he called. I had to. I know he needs help, and I know you don't deserve to be left in the dark anymore."

"Well, thanks, Mindy. Would you want…" Josh stopped before he could finish his thought. Whenever he got confused or flustered, he had a very hard time making coherent thoughts.

"If he gets cleaned up, then yes, I'd give it a shot," she admitted, quickly adding, "not until then."

Josh let a grin creep across his face as he let out a chuckle. "I can't believe you still understand me!" he laughed. "My girlfriend still gets confused sometimes!"

"I had a lot of practice," Mindy giggled, imagining Josh picking at his shirt like he always did when he wasn't sure what to say.

Sure enough, Josh was plucking threads out of the seam of his worn pajama shirt. There was a moment of silence and Mindy said softly, "are you okay?"

"Yeah," Josh answered, rubbing his head gently. "Yeah. About okay as I can be." He wanted to break down and ask her why Drake and why did she want anything to do with him and just why in general, but he couldn't, so instead he said, "thank you for asking."

"If you want to talk…"

"I don't, but I told Drake I'd tell our parents if he didn't do anything about all of this. He specifically told me not to tell them, I guess because he's scared or something, so you've got a good chance of him cleaning up even if it's only out of fear."

"Whatever works! Fear works well, I've found," she laughed, and Josh imagined her glistening brown eyes again.

"Oh, yeah, you're a lawyer now, right? I'd imagine you're pretty scary in a courtroom!" Josh told her.

"I've been told I am! Drake said you're a teacher?"

"Sixth grade science."

"Crazy how time flies…"

They went on to fill each other in about pieces of their lives; for a little while, they were two teenagers staying up all night to talk on the phone without their parents knowing. They were sixteen and carefree. They weren't dealing with any issues. And most of all, Josh was pretending he hadn't just learned about Drake's drug addiction and Mindy was pretending that her heart wasn't surrendering to Drake. They were still basically the same people, though they were a little wiser, a little more mature, and a little less quick to laugh. They recalled some of their craziest memories, laughing tear-inducing bellows thinking of the night Josh went to Mindy's house to get her back and ended up pulling her out the window with him mid-kiss. They chuckled thinking of the first time Mindy told Josh she loved him and he frantically replied with, "see ya in chemistry!" before slamming the door in her face, leaving her shell shocked. For a little while, nothing had changed.

In a way, Josh was so glad Drake had run into Mindy simply because he could reconnect with her. Mindy shared that feeling; while they did date, they were each other's closest friend. They had a bond like no other. It was comforting to know the years hadn't caused that special connection to fade.

A little after 4AM, they decided they should both get going and attempt to get some sleep. "It's been nice talking to you, Josh," Mindy told him with a smile on her face. "I hope Drake gets some help."

"Nice talking to you, too, Mindy. Yeah, thanks. For both your sake and mine."

"I think Drake and I could be really great together." Mindy wasn't quite sure why she said it, but it slipped out seemingly beyond her control. She hoped Josh was okay with it; even though it was years ago they dated, she still wished for his approval.

Josh hesitated, but he couldn't let old feelings get in the way of newfound friendship. "Yeah," he said. "You would be."

"Was that a blessing, provided Drake stops with the coke?" she asked, and Josh pictured her with eager brown eyes searching for an answer.

"If he does, go for it," Josh laughed.

"Well, thanks." Mindy smiled to herself. "We should do lunch."

"I'd like that."

"Goodnight."

"Night."

Mindy hung up and smiled, letting her head fall to the pillow. She loved reminiscing with Josh. When Josh hung up, a grin was stuck on his face. Every so often, it was nice to live in the past. The present wasn't always so wonderful.