Co-Dependents

Summary: Wheeler helps Linka as she confronts the consequences of her cousin's actions as she struggles to deal with her own addiction...Set just after the episode "Mind Pollution."

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters and I'm not profiting from them in anyway.

Author's Notes: This fic was inspired by a conversation between LouiseX and I about how we were surprised there weren't more fics out there that took place after Mind Pollution, dealing with Linka's struggle with addiction and withdrawal and a certain Yankee helping her through it. That then turned into a "You should write it," "No, you should write it" challenge, which then led to a "You write Linka really well," "You write Wheeler really well" conversation and then a "Wouldn't it be cool if you wrote one side and I wrote the other" "Yes, that'd be fun!" conversation. And it has been fun! It's been almost a year since we started! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it!

Co-Dependents:

2. Relationship of mutual need: a situation in which a person such as the partner of an alcoholic or a drug-addict needs to feel needed by the other person

Chapter 1 - Day 1

I am sitting next to Linka, who is lying in her makeshift hospital bed in front of the Capital Building. I've been holding her hand this whole time and she is not objecting. That's how I know that she isn't herself, allowing me to be affectionate and care for her. She's fallen asleep, so I take the opportunity to stroke her hair to try and soothe her…to let her know that I'm still here. I guess it's kinda for my own reasons too. I think that if she feels my presence, maybe it'll keep away the demons that are surely going to haunt her. She needs her rest. If I can keep her calm, if I can keep away the nightmares, she'll get that much needed peaceful sleep.

The doctor comes over to us and begins talking about admitting her to a rehabilitation program. No! I can't be away from her. Not now. Not when she needs me…umm, us…the most. We can't just abandon her with a bunch of strangers! She needs her friends with her to help her though…people she trusts. She has a hard enough time opening up and trusting people. She's not going to feel comfortable being taken care of by strangers. And there are hundreds of kids here. How can we be sure that she's getting the proper attention?

Wait, I'm being self-centered. Am I really thinking about what's best for her or am I just being selfish…not wanting to be away from her. I'm too emotionally involved. I need to step back and look at this from a different perspective. This has got to be about her, not me. Maybe this program can help her in ways I…we can't. After all, they are professionals and have the proper training. I should really start paying attention to what the doctor is saying.

"It could take several weeks depending on her levels of…"

"Nyet!" she says firmly, sitting up despite our efforts to keep her calm and lay back down, but she is persistent, "I am going home."

The doctor tries to explain to her that the drug is still in her system; that she's still in shock over the loss of her cousin. I can tell he's wasting his breath.

I feel her grip on my hand tighten as if she is holding on for dear life…as if she feels that as long as she is holding onto me, they cannot take her away. As much as I want to side with her, as much as I want her to come home with us, I know that what the doctor is saying is what's best for her.

But I also know that Linka is stubborn. Unfortunately for me, I know that better than anyone else. She's insisting that she's going to deal with this her own way. Is no one else going to tell her that she's wrong? Is no one else going to tell her that what the doctor is suggesting is what's best for her? And why are they all looking at me? Oh, I get it. They're afraid. I am too. But I guess since I'm the one that is always getting yelled at by Linka, I should be used to facing her rage. I spread my fingers within her grasp to try and loosen her grip. She eases up a little, just enough to allow me to lace my fingers with hers. I get her to look at me and I can see that she trusts me. She's silently pleading with me to side with her.

"Babe, I know you wanna go home, but listen to the doctor. He knows what he's saying. You're not ready to deal with this by yourself. You need professional help."

She yanks her hand out of mine, and I'm afraid that she's going to use it to hit me. The anger in her eyes is like nothing I've ever seen from her before. But underneath the anger, I see something more. I see the hurt. And I know deep within my heart that I'm the reason for that hurt. She needed my support, and I've betrayed her…or so she thinks.

"I will be fine. I will deal with this in my own way," she says defiantly.

This isn't going to be easy for any of us.

To Be Continued...

And don't forget, to get the full affect of the story, you HAVE TO read Linka's side of the story in Chapter 1 of LouiseX's Codependence! Let us know what you think!