Thanks so much for the reviews!
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Gables Estates, bedroom, 11pm
Lori: *sits up, turns on lamp*
Scott: *opens eyes, squints* ...*looks at watch* ...Okay, what's up?
Lori: Remember when we were in the treatment facility and you told me you were okay and you left to go to your room where you were planning to kill yourself?
Scott: ...It wasn't one of my proudest moments but yes.
Lori: I'm worried about Tom.
Scott: How do you mean?
Lori: I just...I know him. I know how he thinks.
Scott: *sits up*
Lori: If it were me and Stephanie had died...there is no way I would be doing anything rational. The first thing on my mind would be to get high. Make the pain go away.
Scott: What if you don't know him as well as you claim? What if he doesn't go that far?
Lori: What if he does?
Scott: Lori...if Tom does something stupid, that's on him. Not you.
Lori: I can't accept that. *jumps out of bed, grabs jeans*
Scott: What are you going to do? Perch outside his bedroom window?
Lori: If I have to.
Scott: *gets out of bed, walks over*
Lori: But if I'm right, he's not at home right now. *zips up jacket*
Scott: Lori, this is ridiculous.
Lori: I need to borrow your car.
Scott: Why?
Lori: *blinks* ...I don't want my truck getting broken into.
Scott: Lori, no.
Lori: *walks around bed*
Scott: *grabs jeans*
Lori: What are you doing?
Scott: Through sickness and health, crazy and sane, until death do us part.
Lori: *frowns* I'm pretty sure 'crazy and sane' isn't on the list.
Scott: Does it count as 'sickness and health' then?
Lori: *stares at Scott*
Scott: *looks at watch* Your mother's up every Thursday until 2am because of her pilates parties, I'm sure she wouldn't mind an extra pilates partner. Go get Steph.
Lori: *lifts brow*
Scott: Before I change my mind.
Lori: Right. *runs*
Car, road
Lori: Turn here! Turn here.
Scott: *swings wheel*
Lori: *looks out window* It'll be a brown house with vines up the side. To your left.
Scott: Up there?
Lori: Yeah. Pull up there.
Scott: *turns wheel* How do you know this place?
Lori: This is where I came to sleep around with random guys.
Scott: *looks at Lori*
Lori: It's a crack house.
Scott: *looks back at road* Okay. *turns key*
Lori: *opens door, jumps out*
Inside house
Lori: *shines flashlight*
Scott: You actually lived like this when you were a kid?
Lori: No. This is considered the high life, no pun intended. I lived in a pounded earth hut with aluminum doors with 80 other children. *walks up stairs*
Scott: *lifts brows*
Hallway
Lori: *looks around*
Scott: Were you the only American?
Lori: *lowers flashlight, looks at Scott*
Scott: What? I'm not allowed to be curious?
Lori: I thought I told you everything.
Scott: Apparently not.
Lori: ...I don't remember. Is it important?
Scott: Not really.
Lori: TOM!
Scott: *flinches*
Lori: TOM, YOU HERE? *walks away*
Scott: *shakes head, walks*
Bedroom
Tom: *stares at door* ...How the hell does she do that? *looks down, brings syringe up to arm*
Lori: *opens door*
Tom: *lifts head*
Lori: Put it down.
Tom: Piss off.
Lori: *steps forward*
Tom: *lifts gun*
Lori: *looks at gun*
Scott: *walks in*
Tom: *frowns*
Lori: You're not going to shoot me.
Tom: *cocks gun*
Lori: Don't be an idiot.
Tom: Don't try to stop me.
Lori: You're going to kill yourself with heroin? Why don't you just put the gun in your mouth?
Scott: Lori.
Lori: Well it's true.
Tom: I'm not going to kill myself. I'm not Finch.
Scott: *looks at Lori* You told him?
Lori: *scrunches nose* ...Would it make you mad if I said I told my mother, father and uncle too?
Scott: *sigh*
Tom: *presses down on syringe*
Lori: NO! *runs*
Tom: *lifts gun*
Lori: *stops* ...Ergh, I hate it when people do that.
Tom: *sighs, lowers gun*
Lori: You're an idiot.
Tom: *drops gun*
Lori: *runs over, sits on bed, grabs Tom's face* I hope you're happy, you probably just ruined everything.
Tom: *smiles*
Lori: *rolls eyes* God. *grabs Tom's arm* Come on, we're taking you...to a home.
Scott: You're not taking him to our home.
Lori: Scott, we have 6 bedrooms and his fiancé can't see him like this.
Scott: What, happy?
Lori: *frowns* He's not happy, he's high. Besides, Steph's with my mother so it's not like she'll be in any danger.
Scott: *stares at Lori*
Lori: I can't believe I just said that.
Scott: *walks over, grabs Tom's arm* Here, let me help. C'mon, get up.
Tom: *stands*
Lori: *picks up gun, tucks it behind back*
Tom: *places hand on Scott's chest* You're a good pal. *smiles, laughs*
Scott: You sure he's not drunk?
Lori: Don't worry, he'll be on the nod before you know it.
Scott: What the hell does that mean?
Lori: Wait and find out.
Car, road
Lori: *looks back*
Scott: He still alive?
Tom: *salutes*
Lori: He's alive.
Tom: *falls over onto seat*
Lori: *pats Tom on the knee*
Scott: I can't wait until we can have a normal night together.
Lori: *smiles* That became out of the question the second you first spoke to me. *leans over, kisses Scott's cheek*
Scott: Great.
Gables Estates, house
Scott: *drops Tom onto couch*
Lori: *sits on couch* Tom. *grabs Tom's face* You still with me?
Tom: *opens eyes slowly*
Lori: *smiles* There you go. Hi.
Tom: *leans forward*
Lori: Oop. *grabs Tom*
Scott: And they gave me valium?
Lori: *looks at Scott* You can't have what he has. And believe me, you don't want it.
Scott: I don't think you understand the magnitude of-
Lori: Scott.
Scott: Drugs are bad.
Lori: Good boy. *looks at Tom*
Scott: *sits on couch*
Lori: *sighs, hugs Tom*
Scott: *stares at Lori*
Lori: *presses forehead against Tom's*
Scott: You okay?
Lori: *shakes head* ...He um...*wipes eye* he sent me to treatment. *sniffs* Now look at him.
Scott: *looks at Tom*
Lori: I should have let him shoot me. At least I would have gotten the fucking needle away from his arm. *starts to cry* He doesn't deserve this.
Scott: *lifts eyes*
Lori: *hugging Tom, crying*
Scott: *blinks*
Kitchen, 9am
Lori: *pouring coffee*
Scott: *walks over, looks at Tom*
Tom: *lying head on table*
Scott: *whispers* Is he still-
Lori: Yeah.
Tom: *lifts head*
Scott: *hands over cup*
Tom: I'm not thirsty.
Scott: Amy called. I told her you were working a double.
Tom: But I'm not.
Scott: Yeah well the truth didn't make you seem like a great catch.
Tom: I have to call her, *places hands on pockets* where's my phone?
Scott: Off and out of sight. You're at work, remember?
Tom: I-I need my phone. *stands*
Scott: *stands* Have a seat, Tom.
Tom: I have to go. I need to get home. Amy needs me. Take me home!
Scott: *looks at Lori*
Lori: *runs over, takes Tom's arm* Tom.
Tom: *looks at Lori*
Lori: *smiles* Take a deep breath, relax.
Tom: *sigh*
Lori: We'll find you your phone but first, you have to sit down.
Tom: *sits*
Lori: *sits*
Tom: Where's Stephanie?
Lori: *lifts brow* ...Scott just picked her up, she's upstairs asleep.
Tom: Can I see her?
Lori: *looks at Scott*
Scott: *stares at Lori*
Lori: Um...you know what, I don't think that would be a good idea.
Tom: I'm not a bad person, Lori.
Lori: You're altered.
Tom: I feel fine.
Lori: I know you do.
Tom: I want to see her.
Lori: No.
Tom: I need to see her. *stands, walks away*
Lori: *looks at Scott*
Scott: *runs*
Upstairs, hallway
Tom: *looks around*
Scott: *runs over* Hey!
Tom: *looks at Scott* What the hell do you want?
Scott: To take you back downstairs so you can have some coffee.
Tom: You realize coffee does nothing to help drunks and drug addicts, right?
Scott: Stephanie's tired, she just spent all night at my mother in-law's place where I'm pretty sure she got no sleep. I don't want anyone to disturb her.
Tom: *leans against wall*
Scott: Tom, I'm sorry...about everything. It must have been horrible.
Tom: *sigh* All I wanted was a family. Y'know? A real one. I never had that when I was a kid. My mom left us and my dad was a heroin addict. You know I have 7 siblings?
Scott: *shakes head*
Tom: All of them were destroyed by gangs and drugs. I was the only one who made something of my life, I became a police officer. I wanted so badly to...break from the mold. My plan was to make an honest living, find a beautiful, smart woman and marry her, then have some kids of my own.
Scott: It's a great ambition.
Tom: One stupid mistake fucked it all up. When I got back from my undercover work, I lost my job, I lost my daughter, I lost my girlfriend, my home...I didn't care about anything, at least nothing but the drugs. *laughs* And then Lori came along and...suddenly I started caring again. I thought I could reclaim what I'd lost or at least build something new and good. And now look at me. Making the same mistakes all over again.
Scott: Then do something about it before it's too late. You still have a home and a fiancé. You still have your job. And on top of that, you have Lori. She's a great person to have fighting on your team and she seems to understand where you're coming from. You're not alone in this, Tom.
Tom: *nods*
Scott: But you need to stay clean.
Tom: I know.
Scott: Go downstairs and hang out for a while. *places hand on Tom's shoulder*
Tom: *nods, walks away*
Scott: *scratches head*
TBC........................................
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gables Estates, bedroom, 11pm
Lori: *sits up, turns on lamp*
Scott: *opens eyes, squints* ...*looks at watch* ...Okay, what's up?
Lori: Remember when we were in the treatment facility and you told me you were okay and you left to go to your room where you were planning to kill yourself?
Scott: ...It wasn't one of my proudest moments but yes.
Lori: I'm worried about Tom.
Scott: How do you mean?
Lori: I just...I know him. I know how he thinks.
Scott: *sits up*
Lori: If it were me and Stephanie had died...there is no way I would be doing anything rational. The first thing on my mind would be to get high. Make the pain go away.
Scott: What if you don't know him as well as you claim? What if he doesn't go that far?
Lori: What if he does?
Scott: Lori...if Tom does something stupid, that's on him. Not you.
Lori: I can't accept that. *jumps out of bed, grabs jeans*
Scott: What are you going to do? Perch outside his bedroom window?
Lori: If I have to.
Scott: *gets out of bed, walks over*
Lori: But if I'm right, he's not at home right now. *zips up jacket*
Scott: Lori, this is ridiculous.
Lori: I need to borrow your car.
Scott: Why?
Lori: *blinks* ...I don't want my truck getting broken into.
Scott: Lori, no.
Lori: *walks around bed*
Scott: *grabs jeans*
Lori: What are you doing?
Scott: Through sickness and health, crazy and sane, until death do us part.
Lori: *frowns* I'm pretty sure 'crazy and sane' isn't on the list.
Scott: Does it count as 'sickness and health' then?
Lori: *stares at Scott*
Scott: *looks at watch* Your mother's up every Thursday until 2am because of her pilates parties, I'm sure she wouldn't mind an extra pilates partner. Go get Steph.
Lori: *lifts brow*
Scott: Before I change my mind.
Lori: Right. *runs*
Car, road
Lori: Turn here! Turn here.
Scott: *swings wheel*
Lori: *looks out window* It'll be a brown house with vines up the side. To your left.
Scott: Up there?
Lori: Yeah. Pull up there.
Scott: *turns wheel* How do you know this place?
Lori: This is where I came to sleep around with random guys.
Scott: *looks at Lori*
Lori: It's a crack house.
Scott: *looks back at road* Okay. *turns key*
Lori: *opens door, jumps out*
Inside house
Lori: *shines flashlight*
Scott: You actually lived like this when you were a kid?
Lori: No. This is considered the high life, no pun intended. I lived in a pounded earth hut with aluminum doors with 80 other children. *walks up stairs*
Scott: *lifts brows*
Hallway
Lori: *looks around*
Scott: Were you the only American?
Lori: *lowers flashlight, looks at Scott*
Scott: What? I'm not allowed to be curious?
Lori: I thought I told you everything.
Scott: Apparently not.
Lori: ...I don't remember. Is it important?
Scott: Not really.
Lori: TOM!
Scott: *flinches*
Lori: TOM, YOU HERE? *walks away*
Scott: *shakes head, walks*
Bedroom
Tom: *stares at door* ...How the hell does she do that? *looks down, brings syringe up to arm*
Lori: *opens door*
Tom: *lifts head*
Lori: Put it down.
Tom: Piss off.
Lori: *steps forward*
Tom: *lifts gun*
Lori: *looks at gun*
Scott: *walks in*
Tom: *frowns*
Lori: You're not going to shoot me.
Tom: *cocks gun*
Lori: Don't be an idiot.
Tom: Don't try to stop me.
Lori: You're going to kill yourself with heroin? Why don't you just put the gun in your mouth?
Scott: Lori.
Lori: Well it's true.
Tom: I'm not going to kill myself. I'm not Finch.
Scott: *looks at Lori* You told him?
Lori: *scrunches nose* ...Would it make you mad if I said I told my mother, father and uncle too?
Scott: *sigh*
Tom: *presses down on syringe*
Lori: NO! *runs*
Tom: *lifts gun*
Lori: *stops* ...Ergh, I hate it when people do that.
Tom: *sighs, lowers gun*
Lori: You're an idiot.
Tom: *drops gun*
Lori: *runs over, sits on bed, grabs Tom's face* I hope you're happy, you probably just ruined everything.
Tom: *smiles*
Lori: *rolls eyes* God. *grabs Tom's arm* Come on, we're taking you...to a home.
Scott: You're not taking him to our home.
Lori: Scott, we have 6 bedrooms and his fiancé can't see him like this.
Scott: What, happy?
Lori: *frowns* He's not happy, he's high. Besides, Steph's with my mother so it's not like she'll be in any danger.
Scott: *stares at Lori*
Lori: I can't believe I just said that.
Scott: *walks over, grabs Tom's arm* Here, let me help. C'mon, get up.
Tom: *stands*
Lori: *picks up gun, tucks it behind back*
Tom: *places hand on Scott's chest* You're a good pal. *smiles, laughs*
Scott: You sure he's not drunk?
Lori: Don't worry, he'll be on the nod before you know it.
Scott: What the hell does that mean?
Lori: Wait and find out.
Car, road
Lori: *looks back*
Scott: He still alive?
Tom: *salutes*
Lori: He's alive.
Tom: *falls over onto seat*
Lori: *pats Tom on the knee*
Scott: I can't wait until we can have a normal night together.
Lori: *smiles* That became out of the question the second you first spoke to me. *leans over, kisses Scott's cheek*
Scott: Great.
Gables Estates, house
Scott: *drops Tom onto couch*
Lori: *sits on couch* Tom. *grabs Tom's face* You still with me?
Tom: *opens eyes slowly*
Lori: *smiles* There you go. Hi.
Tom: *leans forward*
Lori: Oop. *grabs Tom*
Scott: And they gave me valium?
Lori: *looks at Scott* You can't have what he has. And believe me, you don't want it.
Scott: I don't think you understand the magnitude of-
Lori: Scott.
Scott: Drugs are bad.
Lori: Good boy. *looks at Tom*
Scott: *sits on couch*
Lori: *sighs, hugs Tom*
Scott: *stares at Lori*
Lori: *presses forehead against Tom's*
Scott: You okay?
Lori: *shakes head* ...He um...*wipes eye* he sent me to treatment. *sniffs* Now look at him.
Scott: *looks at Tom*
Lori: I should have let him shoot me. At least I would have gotten the fucking needle away from his arm. *starts to cry* He doesn't deserve this.
Scott: *lifts eyes*
Lori: *hugging Tom, crying*
Scott: *blinks*
Kitchen, 9am
Lori: *pouring coffee*
Scott: *walks over, looks at Tom*
Tom: *lying head on table*
Scott: *whispers* Is he still-
Lori: Yeah.
Tom: *lifts head*
Scott: *hands over cup*
Tom: I'm not thirsty.
Scott: Amy called. I told her you were working a double.
Tom: But I'm not.
Scott: Yeah well the truth didn't make you seem like a great catch.
Tom: I have to call her, *places hands on pockets* where's my phone?
Scott: Off and out of sight. You're at work, remember?
Tom: I-I need my phone. *stands*
Scott: *stands* Have a seat, Tom.
Tom: I have to go. I need to get home. Amy needs me. Take me home!
Scott: *looks at Lori*
Lori: *runs over, takes Tom's arm* Tom.
Tom: *looks at Lori*
Lori: *smiles* Take a deep breath, relax.
Tom: *sigh*
Lori: We'll find you your phone but first, you have to sit down.
Tom: *sits*
Lori: *sits*
Tom: Where's Stephanie?
Lori: *lifts brow* ...Scott just picked her up, she's upstairs asleep.
Tom: Can I see her?
Lori: *looks at Scott*
Scott: *stares at Lori*
Lori: Um...you know what, I don't think that would be a good idea.
Tom: I'm not a bad person, Lori.
Lori: You're altered.
Tom: I feel fine.
Lori: I know you do.
Tom: I want to see her.
Lori: No.
Tom: I need to see her. *stands, walks away*
Lori: *looks at Scott*
Scott: *runs*
Upstairs, hallway
Tom: *looks around*
Scott: *runs over* Hey!
Tom: *looks at Scott* What the hell do you want?
Scott: To take you back downstairs so you can have some coffee.
Tom: You realize coffee does nothing to help drunks and drug addicts, right?
Scott: Stephanie's tired, she just spent all night at my mother in-law's place where I'm pretty sure she got no sleep. I don't want anyone to disturb her.
Tom: *leans against wall*
Scott: Tom, I'm sorry...about everything. It must have been horrible.
Tom: *sigh* All I wanted was a family. Y'know? A real one. I never had that when I was a kid. My mom left us and my dad was a heroin addict. You know I have 7 siblings?
Scott: *shakes head*
Tom: All of them were destroyed by gangs and drugs. I was the only one who made something of my life, I became a police officer. I wanted so badly to...break from the mold. My plan was to make an honest living, find a beautiful, smart woman and marry her, then have some kids of my own.
Scott: It's a great ambition.
Tom: One stupid mistake fucked it all up. When I got back from my undercover work, I lost my job, I lost my daughter, I lost my girlfriend, my home...I didn't care about anything, at least nothing but the drugs. *laughs* And then Lori came along and...suddenly I started caring again. I thought I could reclaim what I'd lost or at least build something new and good. And now look at me. Making the same mistakes all over again.
Scott: Then do something about it before it's too late. You still have a home and a fiancé. You still have your job. And on top of that, you have Lori. She's a great person to have fighting on your team and she seems to understand where you're coming from. You're not alone in this, Tom.
Tom: *nods*
Scott: But you need to stay clean.
Tom: I know.
Scott: Go downstairs and hang out for a while. *places hand on Tom's shoulder*
Tom: *nods, walks away*
Scott: *scratches head*
TBC........................................