Nearly There...

Matt entered the Leaky Cauldron shivering even though it really wasn't that cold out. He was pale, pale for a vampire pale. He had dark circles under his eyes and he was fairly skinny. Matt had gone for a vacation, a vacation that turned into a stay. He really needed to see a friend right now. He wanted Emmy...but she was gone. He walked up the the counter and ordered a brandy.

He took it and then went to take a seat at a table by himself. His coat still tightly wrapped around him. He was feeling rather cold that night. He took a sip of his brandy, it didn't taste like brandy. It didn't taste like anything, he was still healing. So much had gone so wrong in such a short time.

Khaat had "escaped" her bodyguards and had gone into Diagon Alley. She had needed some air. A light rain had started as she walked the street, and she had not worn a jacket today. She dodged into the Leaky because she could at least sit for a bit and wait out the rain and the chill.

She ordered a firewhiskey, put a couple of coins on the counter for it, and looked for a place to sit. There wasn't a fire in the hearth today because someone apparently thought it was warm enough without it. She disagreed. She flicked her wand at the fireplace and started a small fire there to warm up with. Then she saw a familair face. He looked like hell, but she still knew the face. Much too well.

She invited herself over to his table, sat down without invitation, and said, "So, Stranger. Long time no see. Fancy meeting you here of all places." She looked at him and said. "This looks like it might be a long story. I've got time."

Matt jumped a little when he heard the voice but calmed when he noticed who it was. He smiled weakly at Khaat and nodded. "Yeah, l-long time no see." he said. She took a seat and Matt knew she was staying until he spilled. But Matt had become about as arrogent as Khaat was while he was gone. "I was just getting a q-quick drink actually." he told her. He laughed quietly and smiled again, "You always know when something is up Khaat." He picked up his glass and swhirled the contents around staring at it. He knew he'd end up telling her with or without her finding him first. But he was still recovering, but he was still addicted.

"Well, obviously I've been gone a fairly l-long time." he begain shivering again. He looked behind his shoulder quickly. "I was traveling the world when I met up with some friends I knew a few years ago. B-but, they were...experimenting with cert-tain things." He looked down at his hands, they were cut up a little bit. He decided the best way to tell Khaat was to show her. "Here, just take a look at my arm K-Khaat..." he lifted his sleeve up. There were scabs and bumbs all along his arm. "I've become addicted to herion Khaat." he said. He covered his face with his hands...

"I know how that sort of thing goes," she said nonjudgementally, her tone now gentle. "Been there, done that. Sorta. I was hooked on one of Rob's illegal potions twice. So, I'm the last one to judge you. But I will stand by you. I figured it wasn't going to be easy after...well, Emmy. There's no easy way to say it. I really am sorry about that. So, as far as I"m concerned, that was then. This is now.

"Where are you staying? Wherever it is, you're not taking care of yourself. Maybe we need to start with some basics." She guessed the last thing he wanted was to be around much of anyone, but Khaat wasn't going to make it easy for him to shake her off him. She wasn't going to dog him. She didn't want to make his situation worse. But she was going to make sure he didn't let his addiction kill him if she could help it. She would eventually offer to help him detox if that was what he wanted. This subject, though, was a tough one, and she wanted to proceed at least a little tactfully. And she wanted to do it one small step at a time.

She snapped her fingers and ordered from the bartender two hot cups of tea. She had seen him shiver. She put one in front of Matt. "You might find that the tea warms your blood a little better than the brandy. It's at least good and hot."

Matt looked up and thanked Khaat as he took the tea. "The brandy didn't even taste like Brandy.." he told her. But he hadn't expected Khaat to become addicted to any form of illegal substance. But she managed to he knew that he would. He wanted to quit, he had read books and seen drug abuse ruin people's lives all because they tried it once. He promised himself when he was a teenager never to be this stupid. But of course, things change when you're twenty five. He sighed heavily, he knew Khaat was going to be on his ass for a looong time. He wouldn't mind, Khaat was company that he wanted with him. Right now, he was alone in a dark world with nothing but Herion to keep him company. Khaat could take that place.

"I want to quit Khaat," he began ignoring her mentioning of her own troubles. "B-but, I've been at a rehabilitation center in Chicago for the past month. All wizards, mainly stationed there b-because of potion abuse. But they said that it'd be harder to let go of a muggle drug than potions. I've been getting beter but...I-I can't stop." he told her. "I'll do anything possible Khaat, you can keep my stash, I'll move in. Whatever it takes so that I can take care of the twins again....and I don't want Soph to see me like this."

"You're always welcome at my place, Matt. You know that. And I'll keep the stash for you. They were right. Muggle drugs are harder for wizards--and especially for vampires--to get free from, but it can be done. It depends largely on your determination, but you know that. I've heard of a few treatment programs in America. They're supposed to be very good. However, you didn't have there what you really needed to make your treatment as complete as it could be.

"I don't have to tell you this, but if you want to be successful, one of the most important elements is to have family to stand by you to help you and support you. You cut your trouble in half with someone who gives a damn in your life. And its okay with me if you don't want to see your kids until you get clean. That's fine with me.

"So when was the last you ate? And--when was the last time you took care of your need for blood? I've read that sometimes vampires try to substitute the drugs for the need for blood." Right now, he looked like he needed a place to hide away from the world until he could face it again, and people who would help him to take care of the demons within until he could drive them away for himself. She was equipped to do that.

Matt listened to Khaat with a keen ear. She really was one of the few people if not the ONLY person, he could count on for help. And none of that, 'things'll be alright' bull. He realized now that he hadn't eaten in a while. His stomach seemed to answer for him really. But he didn't want to tell Khaat when he last ate. He knew it would upset her and make her fret. It had been a good week, but Vampires didn't require food to live. They were already undead, all he needed was blood and he hadn't had much in the last few weeks. "Well, I mean the drug does keep my natural vampire instincts under control. I haven't had much blood though Khaat..maybe a little here in there since the beginning of the month." he told her shamefully.

"I'm kind of afraid Khaat, not of my addiction but more of the period of recovery." he mumbled to her. "It's horrible isn't it? Going into withdrawls, my life could be completely changed after I recover..." He looked out the window and sighed. He needed to stop, he needed to stop now. He doubted any treatment could cure him quickly. He was aware of the long months ahead of him. He was dreading them greatly. "Just, keep me from making a fool of myself at Order meetings. I'd also rather not tell Jess about my problem yet. It's taken me a year to gain some respect and his friendship. Me being an ex Death Eater after all. This isn't going to help...but I will tell him. Just not now." he told her.

"The physical symptoms are more flu-like," Khaat said. "And they don't last forever. Maybe three days, give or take a couple of days, generally. The psychological addiction does take longer. Its tougher. Your life might change, in all honesty, but my guess is that it will make you a better therapist." She smiled at him. She had every confidence he would recover. He had been through a lot of tough things alone. And even though this was tougher, he was far from alone. He could do this. She believed in him.

"And believe me, your secret is safe with me. I won't let you get weird in the Order meetings, and its up to you to tell Jess in your own time." She had her own confession to eventually make to Jess. She had no idea how she would tell him she had fallen under the spell of Rob's potion a second time. The first time, it had all been a grand accident. She could honestly says she had not had any intention of getting hooked. This most recent time, she hadn't given a damn. She hadn't been looking to become addicted, but then again, whoever really seeks that? In every case she had ever worked with, the addict had either deluded himself or herself into believing they could handle it. Or they had been totally ignorant. Khaat could not claim the latter. Not the second time around. And it did not matter to Khaat which one applied to Matt. He needed her help. It was that simple.

"I'll get you a blood supply," she told him. "That is going to be essential for you. What about just basics? Clothing and such. Where are your things?"