~Through the wire, through the wire~

Once it was clear that everyone had to get back to work as soon as possible, they all threw themselves into it with equal fervor. When Harry wasn't at "work", he was practicing his driving skills in the street with a teacher Simon had flown in from his facility in New York.

Perrie was working dutifully on a bomb and her other parts of the plan. Louis was working out a lot, and preparing for what he had to do. Zayn was working through the notes that Ed had left for him on how to do certain things - they became his guidebook.

Today was Liam's turn to finally do something. "Bye, Zayn." He called, all ready to leave as soon as his Uber got there.

"Bye." Zayn said sadly. He really hadn't been himself for a while - none of them had. Liam just hoped that everyone would be better once Niall was there. He was the happy one.

---

"Hello. Liam, correct?" Marcel asked, pushing his glasses up as Liam walked in. The both of them smiled at each other. And once Liam sat down, and were out of earshot, they were talking as if they knew each other. Which they did.

"So, I've got most of the paperwork filled out here, but this needs to take as long as it would if this was a normal interview. The girl over there goes on break in five minutes, so we just need to wait until then and we'll be free to manipulate anything we want on these records."

Harry and Liam chatted softly about things about the paperwork, in case anyone was listening. Once the girl went on break, and the office was empty, Harry got up, beckoning Liam to follow. "The last step is kind of mandatory. We make everyone do it. Just a simple little drug test. Pee in the cup."

Liam took a step back after taking in his words. He thought about it for three seconds. "No." He said.

"What?" Harry furrowed his eyebrows together.

"I can't do it." Liam said, feeling trapped. Harry understood a second later, but Liam said it anyone. "I won't pass."

"What the hell, Liam?" Harry was pissed. "You're using?"

"Not heroin." He said, holding his arms up to protect himself from Mama Bear Harry. "I was in such a dark place after the whole thing in London this spring."

"How did I not realize it?" Harry was crushed.

"I'm really really good at covering it up." Liam said, face looking at the ground. "I was able to have a relationship for three years and she knew nothing about it."

"What is it? The drug." He sat down in a rolling chair.

"X." He said.

"I swear to god, Liam. You need to detox right now. We can't have anything messing up our chance to get Niall back." Liam nodded slowly.

"Okay." He said. "But you have to do the cup thing for me." Harry sighed, standing and going into the bathroom. He came back a second later, sealing the cup. "I'm so angry." He said.

"Please don't tell Louis. He'll lose it. And tell Simon, and I'll be done."

"Fine." Harry said. "I won't tell Zayn either."

"I love you so much, Harry." He said, hugging his friend.

---

A few short minutes after Liam had left, Louis came in, smiling. "Hello." He said, shaking Harry's hand.

"Hi, babe." Harry said, once they were both seated. "Already done with you and Liam's information. It's all set for Zayn to manipulate. Just gotta pee in a cup."

"Righty-o." He smiled. "Have I mentioned how handsome you look as a nerd?"

"Stop it." Harry blushed.

"I love your hair like that. And I love you."

"What are you going on about?" Harry asked, curious as to why there were so many compliments.

"Wanna go out tonight?" Louis asked, reaching over the desk to grab Harry's hand.

"Seriously, Louis. We have to focus on getting Niall out. Not our relationship." Louis was broken by Harry's rebuttal and went silent.

"I'm sorry, babe." Harry said, reaching for him, but Louis scooted his chair back.

"Can we just get this over with?"

"No, we should talk about this."

"I don't want to." Louis said, raising his voice to almost a screaming level. The whole room was silent, and Harry pulled Louis over to the bathroom, and gave him the cup.

"If you're going to be like that, then just do this and go."

"I will."

He did. He gave Harry the cup full of urine a moment later, and immediately left the small business, getting into his car and driving away. Then Harry went on break and cried inside of the bathroom for ten minutes before getting back to work.