The Right Treatment Read Online Free Page A

cute little nose, or indeed those hazel eyes, dull and unresponsive though they were. Matt felt sick. All of his feelings about drugs being for losers had just been turned upside down; his Aoife was no loser.
    The bloods results came back showing a small enough amount of MDMA, or Ecstasy, and almost negligible amounts of alcohol—nothing near as bad as he had feared. She had collapsed as a result of dehydration, and he supposed, exhaustion. But she had been unbelievably lucky—even one E from a bad batch could be fatal, he knew that, and surely to God, she did too.
    Fortunately everything seemed to be functioning normally, even though she was still out cold, and Matt went off in search of the ‘friend’ who had come with her. He expected to find him or her in a totally senseless state, another ‘druggie.’ What he found was a distraught, sober young woman who seemed to be very concerned for her friend, and it was someone he vaguely recognized.
    “I presume you’re here with Aoife.” The woman looked incomprehensibly at him.
    “Aoife Devine,” he clarified and she nodded, finally registering. “She is doing fine, she needs fluids and rest. She hasn’t come round yet. Just how much of this stuff has she been doing?”
    “Oh, thank God. I don’t know. I just know tonight was her fourth night out in a row and she was not looking good today. I told her to lay off that shit, but she never listens.”
    “Have you contacted her parents?” Matt asked, praying the answer would be negative. He knew if Aoife didn’t come round soon, they would have to, but he knew how devastating that would be on her.
    “No, I was waiting to hear what’s going on. Do we have to?”
    “Aoife’s not in any immediate danger, but if she doesn’t come round by morning, then yes, I’m afraid we do.”
    “They don’t get on…” Fiona started.
    “I think it’s Fiona, is it? You probably don’t remember me, but I was Aoife’s neighbour, Matt. If she doesn’t come around by morning, I will have no choice.” He saw the recognition finally register.
    “Oh, thank God. I know you’ll look after her properly. Please, just do what you can. Ring them if you have to. But just make her better.” Fiona started crying. Matt understood, it was relief at a friendly face mixed with shock. It was funny how people reacted at times. Had he been a complete stranger, he knew Fiona would have remained anxious but stoic.
    “Come on, let’s get a hot drink in the staff canteen. You look like you need it,” Matt said. He mentally blew a kiss at any thoughts of sleep for now. Between concern for Aoife and compassion for Fiona, he wouldn’t be able to rest anyway.

Chapter Three
     
     
    Aoife was hurting everywhere, and not in any fit state to listen to the lecture she had just heard. With all the hospitals and doctors in London, how in the hell did she manage to have landed under Matt McDaid’s care? She knew she should be grateful to him, but she hated him to see her in this state.
    “You’re one hell of a lucky lady to be here, Aoife. The morgue is full of those who weren’t so lucky. I have a good mind to bring you down there to show you what I mean,” Matt said. Actually, she felt anything but lucky. Her throat, chest, and tummy hurt like hell from her stomach pumping. Her head was hammering from the comedown and the nightmares. But more than that, her pride hurt. She was being treated like an addict, and referred to a shrink. She was no addict; she used alcohol and drugs for recreational purposes, the same as everyone else did. She was just unlucky. And doubly unlucky to have landed on Matt’s doorstep.
    She studied him as he perused her chart. His intense grey eyes were the same as ever, but they seemed harsher, no doubt as a result of his disapproval of her behaviour. His dark brown hair was already starting to pepper ever so slightly with silver, but it suited him. His deep pink, full lips were pulled in a tight line and there was a