Seattle Substance Abuse & Treatment Facility (2) – Lipstick Lies!

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Denise found Ernie at the Nurse’s Station, flirting with Wanda, his current crush of the month. Ernie had a reputation around the facility as a bit of a ladies man, and was under the impression that no woman in their right mind would turn down a chance to date him. Wanda was made of sterner stuff and said no to him every time he asked.

“Give it up, Ernie. Wanda has better taste in men.” Denise grinned, moving around the counter. Ernie made a face at her.

“Aw come on, Den. I was beginning to wear down her resistance.” Ernie grinned. At that, Wanda rolled her eyes.

“He likes to think he’s wearing me down.” she snorted. Denise chuckled.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

“So, Ernie. Got a new patient for you. Hard-luck case, too. Right up your alley.”

“Drugs, alcohol or sex?” Ernie wondered.

“Alcohol. Bit of an obsessive-compulsive.”

“Oooo. A challenge. I love those.” Ernie rubbed his hands together. Denise handed him the file that had been started on Max. Ernie quickly skimmed it and nodded.

“Where’s he at now?”

“Holding. We didn’t have a room ready for him last night so we left him there. He’ll be in Room 225 starting today, though.” Wanda stated after checking Max’s placement in the computer.

“Doc wants him cleaned up and in the general population before breakfast.” Denise repeated Ansel’s orders for Max.

“Hm. I’ll have to take a couple of sets of clothes with me since I don’t know his size.” Ernie nodded, turning to head off to the patient supplies closet. All new patients were issued a standard set of facility clothing; a tshirt, a sweatshirt for cold days, sweatpants, socks and non-slip sneakers, with the initials of the facility stamped across them.

“Be careful with this one. He was a bit wild when they brought him in last night.” Denise warned.

“They’re all wild when they first get here. I’m used to it.” Ernie shrugged. He waved to the two women and went off to make the rounds.

——

Patient Holding

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The holding center for new patients was somewhat similar to a holding area for new inmates, only there were beds instead of chairs. It was on one of these beds that Ernie found his new charge, looking a bit worse for wear after being sedated for the past 12 hours. He dropped a bundle of clothes in a nearby chair and approached Max.

“Well, good morning, Scotch!” Ernie grinned, already deciding on a nickname for Max. Ernie liked giving his patients nicknames, it was easier to remember who they were. “Looks like you had a rough night. I hope you got enough sleep.”

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

After a moment, Ernie continued on.

“Well, let me introduce myself. My name is Ernie Jefferson, no relation to Thomas and I’m going to be the guy in charge of your everyday life here until the doc says you’re cured. Follow the rules and we’ll get along. Don’t follow the rules, and things could get ugly.” Ernie grinned. “Now, I’ve brought you a change of clothes and I’m sure you want to take a shower. We’ll get you cleaned up, get some breakfast in ya, then I’ll take you on a tour of the place so you can get your bearings before I show you to your new room. How’s that sound?”

“Well, good morning, Scotch!” The cheerful yet deep voice of Maxwell’s in-keeper – for want of a better word. Maxwell slowly raised his head, and then the full size of this mountain of a man came to light. Was it possible that the center hired ex football stars to keep the inmates in line? This was starting to feel more and more like prison. The name Scotch was comical, if you were yourself drunk when you heard it. Sober, on the other hand it was more like he was teasing Max.

“I beg to differ.” Max retorted, still coming out of the effects from the sedatives. “Looks like you had a rough night. I hope you got enough sleep.” Sleep? A drug induced coma? Maxwell didn’t regard it as sleep at all, though Ernie was right about one thing, he had had a rough night.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

“This isn’t exactly the Hilton, so I would have to say no, to answer your question. I had a terrible night and feel as though I have been hit by a lorry. That is a truck, since you probably don’t understand the Queen’s English.” Rubbing his head slightly, he then gave Ernie the floor. Well, Ernie kind of took over the conversation. Making it clear that HE was going to be in charge of his every day life until the Doc says he is cured. Now one thing about being an alcoholic was, he didn’t think there was anything wrong with him. He lived in a constant state of denial. Maxwell gave him a foul look to hear that he was going to be bullied by this walking mountain till somehow he managed to get released. The clothes that had been dropped unceremoniously on a nearby chair were intended for him to change into.

Now, I’ve brought you a change of clothes and I’m sure you want to take a shower. 

Maxwell looked at the odd assortment of clothing in the drab colours. They didn’t suit him at all, and he had to wonder what size the pants were. “These? What, the poor reject them?” Maxwell was mortified, and even more so when he discovered it was a group shower block. There was to be no privacy in the holding area. Max didn’t mind showering with a woman, or by himself, but never with other men. This was turning into something out of one of those B grade jail movies. He was actually terrified to drop the soap.

We’ll get you cleaned up, get some breakfast in ya, then I’ll take you on a tour of the place so you can get your bearings before I show you to your new room. How’s that sound?”

Maxwell pinched himself, and then cried out since it hurt. This nightmare was actually real. Being sober made it all the more frightening. He shot a look again at Ernie and then whispered. “I don’t belong here. See, my sister made a terrible mistake. I’m perfectly fine. Not like the rest of these loonies. Look, I have this trust fund at the National bank. I’ll pay you ten thousand, if you get me out of here.” He then did a wink and tried to get Ernie to shake on it. Needless to say, this probably wasn’t going to go well.

<3>