It has been two hours. 118 are just returning from a house fire call. Eddie walks to the quiet room and sees that Estelle is curled up on the sofa, asleep. He gets a blanket from the corner of the room and drapes it over her. He strokes her head and sits down on the sofa with her. He sighs, gets his phone out of his pocket and brings up and number he's been saving. He dials the number and puts the phone to his ear. After a few minutes, the person on the other end answers.

'Los Angeles Rehabilitation Facility, how may I help?' 

~

It's the end of Eddie's shift. He gets changed before walking to the quiet room. Estelle is sat up on the sofa scrolling through her phone. He clears his throat. Estelle looks up at him. 

'You ready?' He asks her.

'Yeah.' She nods as she stands up. She walks up to him. Eddie holds his hand out. 

'Phone.' He tells her. 

'Come on.' Estelle scoffs. 'I only went to a party.' 

'Yeah, and you did drugs.' Eddie raises an eyebrow. 'Phone.' Estelle ignores him. 'Now.' Estelle sighs and gives him her phone. 'We're going to make a quick stop before picking Christopher up from Abuela's.' Estelle nods. 'Let's go.' They both walk out of the station, to the car, get in and put their seatbelts on. Once they're strapped in, Eddie starts the drive. 

~ 

Fifteen minutes later, Eddie is pulling up in front of a building. Estelle looks out of the window and reads the sign. She angrily looks at Eddie. 

'Rehab?!' She exclaims. 'Dad, I don't need rehab! I'm not an addict.' 

'Look,' Eddie starts with a sigh, 'it's just for a week or two.' 

'I'll check you in then I'll go home and pack you a bag.' Eddie says. 'Rehab isn't just for addicts, Essie. It's for people that want to stop using drugs or alcohol. If don't want to do it for yourself, do it for Christopher.' Estelle looks out of the window and thinks for a few moments. 

'Fine.' Estelle says quietly. She looks back at Eddie. 'I'll do it.' They both take their seatbelts off, get out of the car and walk up into the facility. When they walk in, Eddie motions for Estelle to sit in a chair in the waiting area. Estelle does so and he walks up to the desk. The receptionist looks up at him. 

'How can I help?' They ask. 

'I called last night about checking my daughter in.' Eddie states.

'Ah.' The receptionist nods. 'Mr Diaz? You called about your daughter, Estelle.' Eddie nods. The receptionist types something into her computer before looking back up at Eddie. 'If you take a seat, the facility director will be out as soon as he can.' Eddie nods and sits in the chair next to Estelle. He sees that she looks anxious. 

'Hey, it's okay.' Eddie assures her. 'You're going to be safe here. I promise.' Estelle stays silent. 'I'll bring Christopher to see you when you're allowed to have visitors.' 

'What are you going to tell him.' Estelle asks. 'He's going to want to know where I am and why.' 

'I'll just tell him that you're staying somewhere to get better or you're staying with some friends.' Eddie replies. 'I'll figure something out.' There are a few moments of silence. 'You realise that I had no choice  in getting you in here, right?' He asks her. 'You're nearly 18, Essie. You can get into any college you want if you just try. Once you reach 18, the police won't be bringing you home. They'll be taking you to a cell.' Estelle looks at him. 'I'm just trying to do what's best for you.' 

'I know.' She nods. 'It's what parents do.' Just then, a tall man with greying hair walks out into the waiting room and up to Eddie and Estelle. 

'Mr Diaz?' He asks. Both Eddie and Estelle stand up. 'I'm Dr Mason Hensley. I'm the director of the facility.' He introduces himself as he shakes their hands. 'If you follow me, we can talk in my office.' They both follow Mason through to his office. He sits down in his chair and they both sit the other side of the desk. Mason looks at Eddie. 'I know you wanted Essie to be placed in the two-week programme, however, we've just introduced a new protocol where we evaluate the patient and go from there.' He then looks at Essie. 'Estelle, when was the last time-' 

'Essie.' Estelle cuts him off. 'I prefer people to call me Essie.' 

'Essie.' Mason nods. 'When was the last time you consumed drugs and had an alcoholic drink?'

'Last night.' Estelle replies. 'I went to a party.' 

'What did you have?' He queries. 

'A couple tabs of Molly.' Estelle replies. 

'You said you only had one.' Eddie says, trying to stay calm. 

'I lied.' Estelle admits. 

'Any other drugs?' Mason asks before anything can kick off. Estelle shakes her head. 'What about alcohol?'

'Tequila, Vodka and Beer.' Estelle says. 

'When was the last time you took drugs and drank alcohol before last night?'

'About three nights ago.' Estelle responds. 'I don't get drunk and high every day if that's what you're trying to figure out.' She raises an eyebrow. 'Well, not all the time anyway.'

'How often a week would you say you get drunk and high?' Mason asks.

'It varies.' Estelle states. 'Sometimes it's three times a week, sometimes it's four, sometimes I'm high every day of the week but I won't have alcohol at all.' There's then a knock at the door and a young man, no older than 25, walks in. 

'This is Lukas. He's one of the nurses here. He's going to take you to one of our clinical rooms and do a blood draw. You'll have to pee into a cup also which will be tested.' Mason informs Estelle. 'You'll have to have these tests every day.' Estelle sighs. 'It's just to make sure that you're not taking drugs or alcohol without us knowing. People have found all sorts of ways to smuggle drugs and alcohol in here.' Mason tells her. 'You'll also have to be searched and you'll be given a fresh set of clothes until your father can get you some from home. It's for your own safety.' He adds. 'If you go with Lukas now, I can talk your dad through the legal and financial stuff.' Estelle nods, stands up and follows Lukas out of the room. Once the door has closed, Mason speaks again. 'What's Essie like at home?' 

'When she's sober, she's a genuinely a nice girl.' Eddie replies. 'When she's high, she can be a handful,' He continues, 'but regardless of whether she's high or not, she always helps out with her younger brother, Christopher. He has Cerebral Palsy.' 

'Do you know when Essie's behaviour started?' Mason queries. 'Did she start hanging around with the wrong crowd? Did she get curious?' 

'It started when her mom left.' Eddie says. 'We used to live in Texas. Her mom had to go look after her mom in California. She asked me to join her but I didn't want to leave my family so I didn't go and then she just didn't come back. My aunt and grandmother live here so I decided to get a fresh start and move here.' 

'Was Essie close with her mom?' 

'Very.' Eddie nods. 'In the first few weeks she was angry and then she just started going out all the time and coming home either drunk or high or both. Her mom and I are still married but Essie doesn't see it that way.' 

'Her first session here will be a therapy session. It's a way of getting people to face up to why they first turned to drugs and alcohol. She'll then have more assessments to determine how long she should stay here. For someone her age, we try to stick to under 30 days, given what I've already heard, I'd say it will be closer to 30 days.' 

'Okay.' Eddie nods. 'What about visiting her?' 

'We want family members to be able to visit whenever they want.' Mason responds. 'If you call the front desk a day or two before you want to come, they'll be able to let you know whether Essie will be allowed any visitors on the day you want to visit.' He sorts out some papers and picks up a pen. 'Are you sure this is what you want to do.' 

'I just want my daughter back.' Eddie replies. 'So, yes. I am positive that this is what I want to do.' Mason pushes over some papers and hands him the pen. 

'Sign on the dotted lines.' 

~~

So, this chapter is acting as the launch of a major storyline coming up that will branch off into a few smaller storylines. 

Let me know what you think!

Much love