The text read, 'Can I drop by to say hello? I was thinking about what you said. I won't take up too much of your time.' It was signed, 'Madison'.

'Certainly,' Makoto replied, sharing her address.

It had been several days since Makoto had stolen Madison's treasure, and she had been resisting the urge to visit the bar to check if he was in there, instead having faith that her efforts would bear fruit. She also had only given Madison her number, so she couldn't reach out to him to check on how he was doing.

A knock came at the door. Makoto slipped on a white tank top, as she had been working in just her short-shorts without a top, and walked to the door. She peaked through the spyhole, then opened the door.

Madison stood in the doorway. Overall, he looked better. He was wearing a green button-up shirt, tucked into jeans, and his hair was messy. He had trimmed his beard. He looked more kempt than before, but something wasn't right. Despite the smile on his face, he looked slightly sweaty and nervous.

"Madison, thank you for dropping by. How are you?" Makoto asked, her eyes scanning him for any clues.

"I, uh, just wanted to come by and say hello," Madison replied, his eyes darting around the room. He raked a hand through his hair. "Now that I did, though, I see that it was kind of silly out of the blue like this, so I apologize. I can go."

Makoto raised an eyebrow. "Is everything okay? You look a little nervous." He looked a little sick, is how he looked.

Madison let out a nervous chuckle. "Yeah, sorry about that. I'm just a bit... overwhelmed."

Makoto nodded, not entirely convinced but deciding not to press the issue. "Well, it's good to see you. Would you like to come in?"

Madison's face lit up at her invitation. "I would love to, thank you."

Makoto stepped aside to let him in, closing the door behind him. As he walked past her, she couldn't help but notice the sweat stains under his armpits and on the back of his shirt. She wondered what could have made him so nervous.

Makoto pressed him for a real answer. "Madison, what's going on? Be honest."

Madison hesitated before finally admitting, "A few days ago, something strange happened. It was like a veil was lifted from my eyes, and I just couldn't bring myself to drink anymore."

Makoto's heart leaped with joy at hearing this. She knew exactly what had happened, with her infiltration of his palace, but she also knew something else. Madison was going through alcohol withdrawal.

"Madison, you're a doctor. You know what's going on with you, you're withdrawing, and you need medical attention," she said, looking at him with concern.

"I know," Madison said, his voice shaking slightly. "But I don't want to go to the hospital. Please, Makoto, can I stay with you? As a doctor, I know how dangerous alcohol withdrawal can be. I just need someone to keep an eye on me." He almost seemed on the verge of tears. "I can't go back to the hospital right now."

Makoto had been resolving to take Madison to the hospital, no matter what he said, but something about these last words touched her. She wasn't sure why, but she strongly didn't want to see him in a hospital, either. Her expression softened.

"Okay," Makoto said, "you can stay here. But I'm not going to take any chances. I'm going to monitor you closely and if you seem in danger, we're going straight to the hospital. I'm trusting you to help me with this though, you're the medical expert."

Madison nodded gratefully. "That is reasonable. I truly appreciate it, and I'm sorry to burden you." His eyes became downcast. "I don't really know anyone else."

Makoto led Madison to the couch, where he laid down and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Makoto went to the kitchen to make some tea, her mind racing with worry for Madison's safety.

Makoto re-entered the room, carrying a big bathrobe. "Give me your sweaty clothes, I'll put them in the washer. You'll feel better if you're clean."

Makoto's face flushed with embarrassment as she watched Madison undress. Despite her best effort to remain professional and detached, she couldn't help but feel attracted to him. It's been too long since I've been with anyone, I'm acting like a schoolgirl again.

She quickly turned away and busied herself with folding his clothes, trying to ignore the heat rising to her cheeks. As she handed him the robe, she noticed how muscular and fit he looks, and she felt a pang of attraction despite her efforts to remain professional.

As far as Makoto could tell, Madison, on the other hand, seemed to be completely oblivious to Makoto's discomfort. He took the robe from her without any comment, as if it was a completely normal thing to be standing naked in front of her. Makoto couldn't help but admire his confidence… though maybe the alcohol withdrawal was making him act unlike his normal self.

Once Madison was settled in the robe, Makoto helped him lie down on the couch and gave him a glass of water. She felt a mix of emotions - on the one hand, she is worried about his health and wants to make sure he's okay. On the other hand, she was acutely aware of how close she is to him and how much she wants to be even closer. Despite her conflicting feelings, she tries to keep her focus on taking care of him and helping him through his withdrawal.

"Thank you," he said, looking relieved. "I don't know what I would do without you."

Makoto smiled. "Don't worry about it. I'm just glad I can help." She paused for a moment, then asked, "Do you need anything else? Water, food, medicine?"

Madison shook his head. "No, I think I'm okay for now. Just this is enough."

Makoto nodded. "Alright then. I'll be in the other room if you need me." She left Madison to rest and quietly closed the door behind her.

—

Makoto woke up abruptly by the sound of Madison's voice shouting out in his sleep. She rubbed her bleary eyes and sat up, her heart racing with concern. She got up from her bed and walked to the living room where she saw Madison thrashing about on the couch. "No, no, no...I couldn't save them!" he cried out, his voice hoarse with anguish.

Makoto's heart sank as she realized that Madison was having a nightmare. She approached him cautiously and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Madison, wake up, it's just a dream," she said, trying to soothe him.

Madison's eyes flew open, and he sat up on the couch, breathing heavily. "I couldn't save them," he repeated, his voice shaking with emotion. "I couldn't save anyone."

Makoto's heart went out to him as she realized that he was reliving a traumatic event. She sat down next to him on the couch. "It's okay, Madison," she said softly. "You're safe here with me. Just breathe and try to relax."

Madison nodded, his body still trembling with fear. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to wake you up."

Makoto smiled kindly at him. "It's alright," she said. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Madison hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. "It was a car accident," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was driving, and I lost control of the car. There were people with me...I couldn't save them. I had been drinking that night… I didn't think it was too much, and an investigation into the accident concluded that I hadn't made a mistake driving."

Makoto felt a catch in her chest when she noticed Madison was crying. He continued, "I blamed myself anyway. Even if I was under the legal limit, maybe if I hadn't drank at all, I could have reacted faster, or seen the accident coming, or something." He wiped tears from his eyes. "My wife was in the front seat, and my sister was in the back seat. My car was crushed in the front. I was pinned to the steering wheel, and my wife had some shrapnel cut her neck… she bled to death right next to me… I could have stopped the bleeding if I could reach her, but I was stuck. The engine of the car that hit us exploded behind us, and my sister had severe burns. She died a few days later, in the same hospital that I was in."

Makoto sat with Madison in silence. This wasn't pleasant to hear. Makoto put a hand on Madison's shoulder, and Madison covered it with one of his own.

Madison closed his eyes. "Until a few days ago, I could close my eyes like this and remember how my wife's eyes looked at mine as she bled to death next to me… I could remember them, and then I would become angry with myself, so angry I couldn't allow myself to be happy. I could remember, except when I drank. Drinking made me hate myself in a different way- how pathetic, that I was hiding from something I had done, but alcohol is good at damping memories I suppose."

"Until a few days ago?" Makoto asked.

Madison opened his eyes and looked deep into Makoto's. "At the bar. You said that I was not alone, that you would change my heart. In the morning, I woke up miserable as usually, but when I closed my eyes to remember the accident, my thoughts kept returning to my wife's smile, to good times, to good childhood memories with my sister."

Madison's gaze was searching. Those eyes… Makoto thought. She opened her mouth, then closed it.

"As a favor to me," Makoto said, "Can we talk about it in the future."

Madison gave a weak smile. He was shivering. "Sure." He had seemed so strong in his determination to think about the accident, but now he seemed fragile.

Makoto sat with Madison in silence a few moments more. Finally, she spoke up softly. "Madison, whether the accident was your fault or not, you can't live the rest of your life controlled by it. Your wife, your sister, anyone who loved or loves you, they wouldn't want that."

Madison looked at her, his eyes filled with tears. "I know," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "But it's hard to let go."

Makoto nodded, resolute. "I know," she said. "But you're not alone. I'm here for you, and I'll help you get through this."

Madison gave her a grateful smile before lying back down on the couch, his eyes heavy with exhaustion. Soon, he fell asleep.

As Madison's breathing started to slow and become more regular, Makoto got up to leave, but something made her pause. She looked at Madison, asleep and vulnerable, and felt a strange pull towards him. Before she could think too deeply about what she was doing, she lied down beside him, her head on his chest, and his arm around her.

Makoto felt a sense of comfort and safety, of purpose, lying there with him, and for a moment, she allowed herself to forget everything else. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, feeling content and warm.

When she wakes up a while later, Madison is still asleep, but she quietly got up and returned to her own room. As she lay in bed, she thought about what just happened, flushed with excitement but apprehensive. Strangely, sleep came easily.

—

Makoto woke up feeling well-rested and refreshed. She slipped on a pair of shorts (longer than usual), and a t-shirt, pulling her short hair into a tight ponytail.

Exiting her bedroom, she noticed that Madison was already awake and sitting at the kitchen table, looking much better than the night before.

"Good morning, Madison," Makoto said, a small smile on her face.

"Morning, Makoto," Madison responded, smiling back at her. "I hope I didn't keep you up too late last night. You look well rested."

"No, not at all," Makoto assured him. "Are you feeling any better today?"

Madison nodded. "Much better, thank you. I think I just needed a good night's sleep. Sometimes withdrawal can be much worse."

"I'm glad you did so well, then," Makoto said, getting to work making pancakes for breakfast. As she worked, Madison sat at the table, watching her.

"Is there anything I can help with?" he asked.

"No, it's okay," Makoto replied. "I've got this. Just sit back and relax."

As she finished cooking the pancakes, Makoto and Madison sat down to eat. They chatted about their plans for the day, with Makoto telling Madison about her upcoming student council meeting and Madison sharing his plans to catch up on some work.

The conversation flowed easily between them, and they both enjoyed the pancakes. As they finished eating, Makoto felt a sense of contentment wash over her. Despite the unexpected turn of events, she was glad that Madison was there with her.

After breakfast, Madison said, "I think I will head home. I really appreciate your help, Makoto."

They walked to the door together, and Madison opened the door to leave. He paused, and turned back to Makoto. He leaned towards Makoto.

Makoto felt her cheeks flush as Madison kissed her on the cheek, but she managed to compose herself and said, "Take care of yourself, Madison. Don't hesitate to call me if you need anything else."

Madison smiled and nodded. "I won't, Makoto. Thank you again."

Makoto walked Madison to the door and watched him leave, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment. She knew that helping Madison was the right thing to do, but a part of her wished that he would have stayed a little longer.

As she turned to go back to the kitchen to clean up, Makoto noticed a piece of paper on the table. She picked it up and saw that it was a note from Madison.

Thank you for everything. Reach out if you ever need me. You have my number.

Makoto smiled to herself as she put the note in her pocket. She knew that she probably wouldn't need to call him, but it was nice to know that he was there if she did.

With a contented sigh, Makoto began to clean up the breakfast dishes, feeling grateful for the unexpected connection she had made with Madison, even if it were over now.