It's bright and early the next morning. Essie gets out of bed, slips her black cardigan and white slipper boots on. She walks out of her room and walks to Eddie's room. She knocks on the door.

'Dad, I'm going to make breakfast. Do you want anything?' She asks as she walks in. Once she's finished, two heads pop out from under the covers. 'What the fuck?!' Essie sees Eddie and Shannon, her mom. 'Are you fucking kidding me?!' 

'Essie-' Eddie starts to say but Essie scoffs and walks out of the room. 'I told you this as a bad idea.' Eddie tells Shannon as he gets out of bed and puts his sweatpants and t-shit on. Shannon also gets out of bed and slips her own clothes back on.

'Well, our daughter has never been an early riser.' Shannon reminds him. 

'You need to leave.' Eddie tells her.

'Let me at least speak to her.' Shannon says.

'I don't think that's such a good idea.' Eddie replies. He walks to the door. 'Leave.' He says once more before walking out. When he walks into the kitchen, he sees that Essie has gotten changed and is putting her leather jacket on. 'Where do you think you're going?' He asks his daughter.

'Out.' Essie states. 

'You are not going anywhere.' Eddie says sternly. Essie just laughs and walks towards the door. 'Estelle Josephine Diaz. Get back here right now!' Eddie orders.

'Go to fucking hell.' Essie shouts as she walks out of the front door, slamming it behind her. 

'Dad.' Eddie hears Christopher say. He turns around to see Christopher walking towards him. 

'What's up buddy?' Eddie asks. Christopher stops a couple of feet in front of Eddie.

'Why is Essie mad?' Christopher questions.

'It's nothing, bud.' Eddie shakes his head. 'What do you want for breakfast?'

.

Forty-five minutes later, Essie is sat on her usual bench on the waterfront. She looks at her phone and sees that she has multiple missed calls and texts from Eddie and Shannon. She turns her phone off and puts in her pocket. She sits back and watches as the waves peacefully roll over each other and land on the golden sand. She closes her eyes and takes in the sounds and smells of the waterfront. She stays like that for a couple of minutes before open her eyes and standing up. She straightens her clothes and starts walking in the direction of Buck's apartment. When she reaches Buck's apartment, she bangs on the door continuously until he answers the door. 

'Essie? What are you doing here?' Buck asks confused.

'I needed to be somewhere and speak to someone that isn't home and not my dad.' Essie says as she walks in. Buck closes the door and follows her. When they reach the kitchen, she stops and turns to face Buck.

'What's going on?' Buck asks the young girl.

'I walked in on my mom and dad having sex.' Essie replies.

'Woah, okay.' Buck says slowly. 'I thought your mom and dad weren't on the best of terms.' 

'I thought so too.' Essie nods. 'Why? Why did he run back into her arms when she left us and didn't come back?!'

'You don't know that that's what happened.' Buck states. 'It could have been a mistake. They probably weren't thinking.' 

'I highly doubt that.' Essie laughs as she scoffs.

'They're still married, Essie. Married couples have sex.' Buck reminds her. 'Does Eddie know that you're here?' 

'What do you think?' Essie raises an eyebrow. Buck gets his phone out of his pocket. 'Don't call him.'

'He's going to end up coming here anyway.' Buck replies. Essie folds her arms. 'Fine.' Buck sighs and puts his phone back in his pocket. 'Now, I want you to be truthful with me-' 

'I had a few joints and some speed.' Essie replies. 'I know you noticed as soon as you opened the door.' There's then a knock on the door. 'How much you wanna bet that's my dad?'

'Wait here.' Buck tells her. Essie sighs and Buck goes to answer the door. He returns a minute later with Eddie.

'Car. Now.' Eddie orders. Essie doesn't move. 'I will not ask again, Estelle. Car. Now.' Essie scowls, pushes past Eddie, walks outside and gets into the car.

'Just so you know-' Buck starts to say.

'She's high.' Eddie nods. 'I know.' He adds. 'I found her stash under her floorboards.' 

'What are you going to do?' Buck queries. 

'What I said I'd do.' Eddie responds. 'Send her back to rehab.'

'She won't like that.' Buck shakes his head.

'I know,' Eddie nods, 'but it will only be a few days to a week. Dr Hensley said they'd take her back even if she took one tab. I've already got a bag packed. It's in the car.' He adds. 'I take it she told you what happened?' 

'Yeah.' Buck nods. 'I'm not going to judge, you two are still married, but you could have done it when Essie wasn't there.' 

'Yeah.' Eddie sighs and nods. 'Anyways, I better get out there before she decided the hotwire the car and drive off.' 

'She knows how to do that?' Buck asks shocked. 

'I wouldn't put it past her.' Eddie laughs slightly. 'I'll text you later.' Buck nods and Eddie leaves. When he gets in the car, there's an eerie silence. 

'You're taking me back to Hensley again, aren't you?' Essie asks him. Eddie just looks at her. 'I'm not stupid, dad.' 

'Yes.' Eddie nods.

'Then let's get it over with.' Essie sighs as she looks out of the window.

.

When they arrive at the Rehab facility, they are taken straight to Hensley's office. When they walk in, they see Lukas is in the office.

'Essie, Lukas is going to do your initial intake again.' Mason informs the young girl. 'Even though you'll only be with us for a week this time, we still need a urine and blood sample. Lukas will then take you to your room. You'll be in the same room as last time.'

'Essie.' Lukas motions for Essie to follow him. Essie follows Lukas and Eddie sits at the desk with Mason. 

'Do you know what caused her to use again?' Mason questions.

'This morning, she walked in on me and my wife, her mom, in bed together.' Eddie responds. 'And given how her mom left, let's just say Essie was more than angry. She stormed out of the house. I went into her room, found one of the floorboards was loose so I took it out and found her stash.'

'Just to warn you, we will be making Essie go cold turkey. Hopefully, it will work and deter her from using again.' Mason informs Eddie. 'Due to this, Essie won't be allowed any visitors, it could hinder her progress. Plus, it's best that you or Christopher don't see the state that she'll be in. It will be distressing for both you and her.'

'Okay.' Eddie nods.

'Let's get this admission started.' Mason states.

.

It has been a week. Essie is being released from the rehab facility once again. She walks out to the reception with Lukas beside her to see Buck waiting. Lukas is holding Essie's bag.

'Where's my dad?' Essie asks.

'He's got a meeting at Chris' school. I'm going to take you back to mine for a bit.' Buck tells her. 

'Okay.' Essie nods. Lukas hands Essie's bag to Buck. 

'Thanks.' Bucks nods appreciatively. 

'Dr Hensley wants her to come back for weekly group therapy. ' Lukas informs Buck. 'He will call Mr Diaz later but if you could still pass on the message.'

'I will.' Buck nods again. Lukas turns to Essie. 

'Take care of yourself.' Lukas tells her.

'Yeah.' Essie says quietly. 'Can we go?' 

'Yeah.' Buck nods. They both walk out to the car. As Buck puts Essie's bag on the back seats, Essie gets into the front. Buck gets into the driver's seat and starts driving. After five minutes, he notices that Essie looks distant and her eyes are filling with tears so he pulls over.

'Essie, what's wrong?' Buck asks her as tears start rolling down her cheeks. 'Es, you can talk to me. What's wrong?' 

'You promise you won't tell my dad?' Essie looks at him. 

'Es-' Buck starts to say.

'Please, I don't want him to know.' Essie pleads. 

'Okay.' Buck simply nods.

'I was raped.' Essie reveals. 'By someone at the facility.'

~~~~~

I feel really tempted to write the next chapter now but I need to write chapters to other stories haha!

Let me know what you think!

Much love