*Trisha*

Mortified doesn't even come close to how I'm feeling right now. Somehow my name got dragged into the media attention thanks to Paul and Julia. At least they chose a good photo of me to display on tv.

"She's really pissed." I hear Evan in the background chatting with Jonah and Casey. I on the other hand, am ripping Nate a new one over the phone.

"I had no choice but to reach out to one of your attorneys, Marcus Burke. Fortunately, because you showed initiative and admitted yourself into rehab right away, this won't affect the charges you are already serving from your DUI." I explain to Nate. Does he even think of this stuff? Does he know how good he has it right now? He could have spent a little time in jail for driving drunk. Imagine if someone got hurt?! 

Imagine if he drove home drunk this time? He doesn't fucking think!

"Thank you." Nate chokes out. "I'm sorry."

I soften my tone of voice hearing the emotion in his.

"Your body can't handle this, Nate." 

"I'm sorry." He repeats and I hear my best friend sniff on the other line. "I'm going to do better. Be better. I promise."

"Sweetie, I get it. You know I do. You have a lot going on. But you ALWAYS have a lot going on, Nate. That's never going to change. I need that heart of yours to keep ticking." I swallow back my own tears seeing as I'm right in the living room with everyone, though they are all busy feeding their faces. Welll, Jonah is ALWAYS busy feeding his face.

"I know, Trish." Nate says with sincerity. "And I'm sorry your name got dragged into this too. I never mean to drag you into my bullshit."

"I know, playboy." I let out a forgiving sigh.

*******

*James*

That seizure took a lot out of me. Mentally and physically. I skipped all sessions for today and rested in Julia's bed almost the entire day. I can't stop thinking of ways to protect my family though. Joe knows this got to me. He knows I am on home confinement. If I make one wrong move that Lauren Denault parole officer lady will send me straight to the slammer. She doesn't seem to be the type that would let things slide, that much I can tell.

"Hey, mate. You doing alright in here?" Nate's British accent fills the room. I sit up a little and not, appreciating that everyone checks in on me throughout the day. "Listen, um. Can I come in and talk for a moment?"

"Yeah sure." I sit up fully and Maggie comes into the room and hops on the bed like she owns the place.

"Julia told me about the mail. Your father sending you a message, knowing you can't leave the Avalon." Nate pulls the small chair in the corner over to sit down.

"He's a prick." I inhale sharply.

"Yeah, I know he is. Can I see the mail?"

"It's on the dresser right there." I point to Julia's dresser. Why the hell does he want to see the photo? I watch Nate pick it up and study it and see a flicker of anger in his eyes. He shakes his head and puts it back in the envelope.

 "So, me and Julia were brainstorming, and I think I can help protect your family." Nate sits back down and crosses his ankle over his other knee casually. 

"HOW?" I raise my eyebrows at the man, not knowing how in the world he could help me right now.

"I'd do anything for my little sister. She's all I've got for family in this world. I can only imagine how you must feel having 5 sisters to watch over. Especially with Joe lurking around the way he does. But if your sisters agree to this, I could provide them with a few bodyguards to ensure their safety at all times.  I already reached out to both Dante and Max to see if they were open to this idea before coming to you. I didn't want to give you false hope or anything."

I stare at Nate for a moment, unable to form words for what I'm feeling. He's going to find a way to keep my family safe??

"Listen, Will can do the 4th floor shit, Dante or Max can watch over your mom's house and the other escort the girls for when they are out and about. That's if they are willing to all stay at your mother's house for a few months until you are out? Would that make you feel better about the situation?"

I continue to stare at Nate a bit dumbfounded. And as much as I hate to show emotion in front of another man, I've seen Nate cry. I've seen him cry his heart out. So when my tears build up without notice it doesn't bother me as much. They are tears of gratefulness. 

"Y-you'd do that for me? For my family?"

"Gallo, whether you like it or not, you're MY family now. Which means your family is my family. Unfortunately, that means Ashley too." Nate snorts.

"Yeah, she can be a bit- much." I crack up. Another thing I didn't ever expect out of Hollan. Considering me family. But he has gone above and beyond for us. Especially me. If it weren't for Nate and that good lawyer of his, Addison Landry, I would be in prison. I don't have money for a real good lawyer. I don't have money for A lawyer.

A lone tear escapes and that's all Nate needed for an answer. He flashes his million-dollar Nate Hollan smile.

"I will reach out to your sister, Gwen and tell her everything for you, ok?"

"Thank you, Nate. Really." I'm still a little shocked and he can tell.

 To be honest, no one in my entire life has helped me as much as this man right here has. Not one person. Not like this.

****** 

*Trisha*

These meetings are always nerve wracking but much more so when I wasn't aware of shit before it hit the news. No one knows who tipped off who or how it became public overnight, but it did, and now i have a mess to clean up. I also have to pretend like I knew about everything beforehand so I can cover for Nate. Downplay it. But it's hard to downplay something that really happened. Whoever leaked out this news leaked out true information, not false. Nothing was blown out of proportion; these things really did happen.

Nate really did go to Sullivan's Tap. He really did drink himself into oblivion. Nate really did sign the papers and admit himself into the Avalon's in-patient detox program.

Just like Paul really did have a relationship with me and Paul really did dump me for Julia.

It's been two days since shit hit the fan, giving me a little time to absorb the information properly. But now it's time to face the music with Richard and Elliott.

Evan escorts me down the hall of the studio for the meeting, since Nate can't be here to defend himself, I have to be his PA AND defend him. What fun!

"Miss. Banks." Elliott stands and shakes my hand while Evan stays behind me. "Thanks for coming in in such short notice.

"Not a problem." I flash a smile and glance over at Richard who I can already tell is in a foul mood. I sit down and Evan sits next to me while I open my laptop, ready for the meeting at hand.

"Is this going to be an ongoing issue?" No Hello how are you, no handshake, nothing. Richard gets right to the point.

"Addiction? Yes, Richard. I'm pretty sure addiction is a lifelong problem."  I glare at the producer. Shit, where is Paul to reel me in when I need him? "If you're worried about tour or any interviews, don't be, Mr. Benson."

"No? Because I feel like we are sitting in these very chairs discussing these very things often lately." He snaps.

I inhale sharply and plaster a fake smile on my face. 

"Richard, give him a few days to get back on his feet. Two. He doesn't have anything planned over the weekend. Come Monday he will be ready to rock." I assure him. It only takes Nate a few days to bounce back. Richard is right. We've been here before. It's not like Nate is gonna need to go through detox and withdrawals. He slipped up. No big deal.

"I'm going over to the Avalon to check on Nate today. Elliott, plan to hold a press conference this evening and I will tell you what Nate says, or how much he wants you to say on his behalf, sound good?"

"Always, Trisha." Elliott nods.

I get through the meeting with flying colors. Everyone is happy. I can cancel the small shit the next two days but the big interviews aren't until Monday, so Nate will be fine by then. Richard is happy. The band will be happy. Everyone will be happy.

Evan makes me drive from the studio to Panera Bread to pick up lunch for Nate, and I do. Sweaty palms and all but I did it. Little by little the bodyguard has me behind the wheel like I'm sixteen years old again, and little by little I am overcoming my fear.

"See? Not so bad." The L.L. Bean model smiles at me. 

"So long as I don't see an accident or get sideswiped or something I feel like I'm getting over shit."

"Because you are. You just needed a little push is all. Now drive from here to The Avalon."

I freeze for a second. 

"That's like ten minutes away."

"So?"

"You've had me driving a little here and there but not for long and not on the highway." I clam up.

"Did the accident happen on the highway??"

"No, but-" I don't have a reason behind the but and Evan can tell right away.

"You'll be fine. What's the worst that can happen? You get nervous and need to pull over?"

"Or I crash and die." I retort.

"You could crash and die at the next red light. Or you could have gotten run over walking from Panera to the parked car.  You really want to play that game Trisha?"

I huff. He's got me there.

****

"Well look who it is..." Nate smirks, knowing I HATE coming to the Avalon. Jonah lets me and Evan in ."Thought you didn't like coming to the Avalon? Hmmm?"

"Well, you're in luck Playboy. Because I came with Panera soup for you. You're welcome." I throw a little attitude Nate's way.

"Luck. Yeah. I'm full of luck all right." He glances up at the TV broadcasting his life for all to see. "Bad luck."

"Are we in the self- loathing stage now??" I kick off my heels as Evan says hello then heads outside to say hi to James and Casey.

"He most certainly is." Jonah rolls his eyes and gives me a nod. He then takes the remote from Nate and turns off the TV altogether.

"Where's Crazy and her big ogre double crossing bodyguard?" I scoff and hand Nate the container of soup.

"Bitter much?" He takes the container and it's the first thing I notice. Nate's hands are trembling.

"I didn't think one night of drinking would bring you right back to this..." I put my hand on his forehead then look at Jonah. Nate is burning up.

"Low grade. Completely normal. It will take a few days." He answers like he could read my mind.

"So I really DO need to cancel your interview with IHeart Radio in two days...." I plop down next to my best friend.

"You haven't cancelled my shit yet???" His eyes widen, like I haven't been on top of things. I've been on top of EVERYTHING for him!

"I didn't think you'd be here long, Nate. I thought you'd sober up and be fine, not go through a full detox. It was one slip up." I shrug. Then I remember the meeting with Richard. FUCK! I drop my head in my hands. "Shit. I told Richard you'd be fine."

"I don't know how long he will need to be here, Trisha. But you should cancel everything on his work calendar for at least the next two weeks." Jonah chimes in and I feel my stomach drop instantly.

"TWO WEEKS!?" I gasp. Oh my God. Now I'm going to have to go back and tell Richard this. After I JUST led him to believe Nate would be fine in a few days. Two weeks cancels a lot of promos and interviews. Two weeks... Richard is going to be furious with me now. Motherfucker, now I'm going to have to tell Elliott this for the press conference tonight.

"He's going to need time to get back on his feet. You really can't rush the process."

"I need a fucking raise." I pinch the tension at the bridge of my nose. "I just got out of a meeting with Richard and Elliott. I thought you would just need a few days to bounce back. Nate, I told him you'd be fine for your interviews next week!"

"Trish...." Nate looks at me with sympathy, knowing what I have to do now and what I'm up against. "Why would you tell him that? You should have waited for me to attend the meeting with you."

"You were SUPPOSED to attend the meeting you asshole! It was the Agenda meeting! Instead, you went off and got drunk and I had to pick up after you!! God, Nate. Now I have to go back with my tail between my legs like a fucking dog. What am I going to tell Elliott? He's holding a press conference in a few hours. To fucking TELL everyone you will be FINE for next week." I feel my cheeks burn.

"Ok. Take a deep breath Trisha." Jonah sees my mind is all over the place now.

Take a deep breath? I need to take a long vacation is what I need. I can't believe this.

"I will call Elliott myself. Ok? Hell, I will call Richard myself if you rather." Nate puts a hand on my nervously bouncing knee.

"You will??"

"I will, angel. I will call them myself and explain everything. And if they have any medical questions or questions about the timeline of detox, Jonah can answer them, right Jonah?" He raises a brow to the nurse.

"I sure can. Your health is my number one priorty. It comes before your job, Nate. I have no problems letting that guy know this either." He says with boldness. I have no doubt in my mind that Jonah would put Richard in his place. Jonah is a calm man, a fair man, but a bold man. He sugar coats nothing, tells it like it is. 

I breathe in a long cleansing breath and let out all the tension and stress, now feeling relieved. For once, Nate is taking over and cleaning up his own mess. I don't have to worry about it.

Until the next time he does something stupid...

*****