AfterMath
The One With The Drug Bust Chapter 2
Later that night Monica was jolted awake by a scream. She turned over and looked at the alarm clock. It blinked 2:30am. She slid her feet into her slippers and walked down the hall to Erica's bedroom. "Honey, Mommy's here. What the matter?"
Erica was shaking and covered in sweat. "Mommy, I had a nightmare about the drug dealers. Can I sleep with you and Daddy?"
Monica nodded. "Of course. Let's go." She took Erica's hand gently and after changing her nightgown they headed back to her bedroom.
"Do I have to go to school tomorrow Mommy?"
Monica's heart fell to the pit of her stomach. "Daddy and I both have to work but Uncle Joey will be here. Are you afraid of seeing Josh's friends who are dealing drugs?"
All Erica could do was nod her head.
Erica climbed into her parents bed, kissed Chandler's cheek and curled into his side.
Chandler's eyes fluttered open. "Erica, are you alright?"
"I had a really scary nightmare that the drug dealers came after Jack Daddy. I don't want to go to school tomorrow."
Chandler's eyes met Monica's with worry and his arms wrapped around his daughter.
"Daddy's right here baby girl and so is Mommy. Go back to sleep okay?"
"I love you." Erica laid her head on her father's chest and fell asleep quickly.
Chandler brushed his daughter's hair out of her eyes and kissed her forehead. "I love you too princess. Everything is going to be okay."
A few hours later Joey, Chandler and Monica sat in the kitchen sipping coffee.
"Joey can you take care of Erica for us today?" Monica asked
Joey's eyes raised in curiosity. "What's wrong?"
" She is staying home because she is afraid of seeing Josh's friends at school. I think she has a bit of anxiety after the drug bust yesterday. Chandler and I both have to work today. We'll call in to check on her."
Joey smiled. "We'll have a great time I promise."
Chandler rolled his eyes. "Don't have too much fun Joe. She has homework to do."
"Have you called Dr. Weinburg?" Joey asked
Monica shook her head. "I am going to call her on my lunch break. We need to definitely set up an appointment for Jack and Erica. I am really worried about both of them."
Two days later Monica picked up her children from school and they headed directly to the counseling office." Jack and Erica sat on the loveseat and Monica sat on the couch across from Dr. Weinburg's desk.
"So Jack and Erica, your mother tells me you haven't been doing too well with the drug bust after math."
Jack cleared his throat. " "Josh, the drug dealer used to me my best friend. After the drug bust I can't trust him anymore."
Dr. Weinburg nodded. "Yes, I saw in the newspaper that there were several bags marijuana and prescription pills in both his regular locker and his gym locker."
"He framed me and my friend Eric as well which is why my friendship with him is ending." Jack whispered.
"How does that make you feel?"
"Hurt angry and frustrated. Josh and I have been best friends since second grade."
Monica interjected. " This is going to be a hard adjustment for Jack. His father and I have been very concerned about him."
Dr. Weinburg shuffled some papers in her folder. "Has Josh asked you for more drug money Jack?"
Jack shook his head. "No, he hasn't but I think he expects me to give him money eventually."
"Are you afraid to tell him this?"
All Jack could do was nod.
Dr. Weinburg's eyes met with Monica's "Monica, do you think you could help Jack with working through talking to Josh? I think this will be very therapeutic for his healing."
Monica nodded. "That's a great idea Dr. Weinburg. I think what Chandler told Josh on the phone really needs to be reinforced." She stood up walked over to the loveseat and sat down next to Jack. "Everything will be all right honey. I promise." she whispered.
Jack's eyes meet with Dr. Weinburg's "Dr. Weinburg, do you think it is possible to put me in a different rehab program than Josh? I have bad anxiety about seeing him in the same place for long periods of time.."
Dr. Weinburg shuffled some papers around in her folder. "I can send you a referral to a rehab center in the next town if that's okay with you, What day are you looking to have appointments on?"
" Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays I have stuff going on after school all the other days.."
Dr. Weinburg nodded. "And how are you doing Erica?""
"I've been having horrible nightmares about the drug dealers. I am scared they are going to hurt my brother." Erica whispered.
Jack reached over and squeezed his sister's hand. " Erica, listen to me You have trust what Dad told you okay? I'm gonna talk to Josh and everything is gonna be fine.
"I love you so much Jack and don't want anyone to hurt you." Erica whispered.
"I love you too. I've got your back. Don't worry." Jack hugged his sister reassuringly.
After they got out of the counseling appointment Monica dialed Josh's mom's cell phone.
"Hi Samantha this is Monica. Is it alright if Jack and I come over to talk to Josh? Great. see you in a little bit.
"Here goes nothing." Jack muttered.
Monica took one hand off the steering wheel and patted her son's shoulder. "We'll get through this together. I promise."
They drove the rest of the way home in silence.
After dropping Erica at home Monica and Jack walked over to Josh's house.
Josh's mother Samantha answered the door. "Come on in. I'll go get Josh for you. Have a seat at the kitchen table and help yourself to some cookies." Under her chipper exterior Josh's mother knew exactly the reason why Monica and Jack were coming over to talk to Josh and was a little nervous for the outcome.
Josh came downstairs five minutes later. "Hey Jack. Hi Mrs. Bing." Josh sent an awkward glance at Jack and Monica.
Monica cleared her throat. "Josh, we hope you know the expectations that Mr. Bing has set are very important for you to follow. We are both concerned for Erica and Jack's safety."
Josh nodded. "I fully understand Mrs. Bing. I'm really sorry for everything I put Jack through.
"Do you realize that your behavior has hurt our whole family and not just Jack?"
Josh's jaw dropped. "What do you mean Mrs. Bing?"
"Mr. Bing and I are never going to forgive you for manipulating Jack the way you did. How dare you tell him that we don't love him?
Jack interjected "My sister also told me to tell you that she has had nightmares about the drug dealers coming to our house to come after me."
Josh looked surprised. "Gosh, I never realized that. I'm sorry your sister has bad anxiety man. I would have never wanted that to happen to her."
"Are you being sincere about that?" Monica asked
Josh was taken aback. "Why wouldn't I be sincere about it Mrs. Bing?
Monica's eyes met Josh's sadly. "I want to believe you sweetheart but honestly after the way you treated Jack I'm not sure I can."
Jack stared at Josh. "I am setting a boundary with you Josh. I can't give you drug money anymore. I'm sorry. Please stop asking me for it,"
Josh nodded. "No problem man. I'm really sorry for everything Mrs. Bing. I hope things will be okay between me and Jack now."
Jack and Monica looked at each other. Monica let out an exasperated sigh.
"Josh sweetheart, I don't know what caused you to all of a sudden go down this path of dangerous self destruction but the fact that you got Jack mixed up in everything related to your addiction problem is not also concerning for Mr. Bing and I but also very scary."
"I'm getting help though Mrs. Bing. I started rehab on Monday."
Monica reached across the table and took Josh's hands in hers. "I know." Tears started to form at the edges of her eyes.
"What's wrong Mrs. Bing? Why are you crying?" Josh asked.
"As parents your mother father Mr. Bing and I are scared for you and Jack with this drug addiction. We're actually very scared about you being able to follow through with the therapy you will get in rehab Josh."
Josh and Jack looked at each other. Jack squeezed his mother's hand. "Dad said everything is going to okay though didn't he Mom?"
Monica nodded. "Josh, you have put our son in a lot of unsafe situations lately as well as manipulated him to keep secrets from us. Unfortunately I think your friendship has to end."
Josh's jaw dropped. "Jack, come on say something, We've been friends for a long time buddy."
Jack shook his head. "I can't trust you anymore Josh not after how you planted those drugs in my gym locker. I've never felt like such a fool in my entire fucking life."
"So you're just going to throw our friendship away over this?"
"Don't you fucking dare to try to make my son look like the bad guy in front of me Josh!" Monica screamed.
Jack had tears in his eyes. "Josh how can you even think we still have a friendship at all? I just fucking told you that I can't trust you anymore. You haven't only hurt me but you've hurt my family too."
"Can't you put this behind you and forget about it?"
" Fuck you Josh! No we can't! Jack said angrily.
Monica stood up. "Come on Jack let's go home.. I think we are done here."
Jack nodded. "Goodbye Josh. Don't fucking call me ever again."
Jack and Monica walked out the door slamming it behind them.
Jack and Monica walked back to their house in silence and then sat together on the couch in the living room.
"How are you doing honey?" Monica whispered as she planted a gentle kiss on her son's forehead.
"Thanks for all your help Mom. I have been really scared about confronting Josh. We make a great team. I'm feeling a little better"
"What are you thinking about?"
"Ending the friendship with Josh was not easy at all. Do you think I'll find another friend like him that is not hooked on drugs?"
Monica suddenly noticed that her son was crying.
"Oh Jack, of course you will. I'm so sorry you are still hurting so much. Please don't cry."
"You know the friendship that you have with Aunt Rachel and Aunt Phoebe Mom?"
Monica nodded.
"How do I find friends like that? You know a friendship that lasts a long time?
"You are so young sweetheart and you have a lot of time to form strong bonds with people just like the ones I have with Aunt Rachel and Aunt Phoebe and your father has with Uncle Joey and Uncle Ross."
Jack sighed. "I guess you're right."
"You also have to think about how much stronger your bonds with Ben and Emma have grown in the past year too. They always have your back no matter what Jack. You know that right?"
A small smile came across Jack's face. "Yeah, you're right Mom,"
"You'll find your way honey. Your father and I are not worried about that at all."
Jack curled into his mother's side. "I love you Mom." he whispered.
Monica enveloped her son in a warm hug. "Jack Chandler Bing, I will always love you no matter what my darling boy." Jack fell asleep and Monica laid a gentle kiss on her son's forehead and wrapped a blanket around him as she headed to the kitchen to start cooking dinner.
