Serpent- ser·pent- [ˈsərpənt]: a sly or treacherous person, especially one who exploits a position of trust in order to betray it.

Jeremy Donovan is a dangerous man with a dangerous mind. He's smart. Gifted. Has a way with his words. Attractive. An exceptional doctor. But he's also a man with his own demons. A man with a past, a history. A man who is continually fighting battles with himself in his own head. Battling right from wrong when the line is blurred. Battling temptation, lust and obsession.

To be officially diagnosed with both Antisocial Personality Disorder and Dissociative identity disorder is life altering for him. It explains how quickly his personality changes. After reading his very personal and private medical files illegally it was noted Jeremy does NOT have some other personality living in his body that has a different identity and name like many do. But he does have these breakthrough moments where it is like he has turned into somebody else altogether. Hense why the flip of the switch mood changes. Then to have a disorder that causes harmful behavior, impulsiveness and the inability to regulate emotions that can severely impact one's life on top of it? That is a dangerous combination.

I understand people have all sorts of mental illnesses. Some that can't be easily controlled, I get that. But to have these two specific mental illnesses trapped in one body is scary as fuck.

How Julia is starting to trust him is alarming. It's downright terrifying. The longer she stays at The Avalon the more she lets her guard down with him. Doesn't she remember what he's done to her? Because me and Paul sure as hell do. It's etched in our brains forever.

Yesterday Julia wanted nothing to do with any of us. Yet you know who she went to help her calm down? Fucking Donovan. I don't know when the hell she forgave him, but he was the one she ran to. It was in HIS arms she cried. Not mine. Not James. 

Her rapist.

Whatever conversation Julia had with James out in the garden, it was enough to set her off and spiral out of control. To the point she managed to push her bed up against the door, barricading herself in so no one could get to her. She screamed and cried all alone. It took me, Jeremy AND James together to push the door open enough for Jeremy to slide in to move the bed away. And once he did, Julia went to him. She unleashed it all on him.

 Just days ago, she would freak out if he so much as walked into the same room as her, now she's letting him wrap his arms around her and hold her??

"I think she's had enough visitors for today." Jeremy looks down at now sleeping Julia who cried herself to exhaustion. She has only ever done that with me.

 James and Casey nod and head out but I don't budge.

"Bullshit. I'm staying until she wakes up to make sure she's fine." I stand in the doorway with my arms crossed. 

"Suit yourself." He places sleeping Julia in her bed and pushes her hair away from her face.

"What happened to her head?!" I notice a small bandage right on her left temple that her hair had been covering.

"She passed out this morning. Hit her head on the corner of that counter." He points to the counter next to the door.

"Why are you just telling me this now?! You should have called me!"

"I took care of it. Want me to call you the next time she has a splinter too? A paper cut maybe?" He scoffs. He's right. They aren't going to call me every single time Julia falls or bumps into things. I let out a sigh, realizing how stupid I sound.

"She really does need 24/7 care. She can't control her outbursts when something doesn't go her way. James should be able to move on with his life and date whoever he wants. He doesn't need Julia's permission." Jeremy explains.

"It's a little more complicated when the person he is moving on with is Trisha."

"Yes, she told me all about it."

"When?!"

"Last night." Jeremy suddenly stalls. His pager goes off and he is saved by the bell. "I gotta take this." He hurries out of Julia's room. I walk in and sit on her bed, pushing her hair out of the way to examine her head. It's a small bandage, nothing to be worried about.

Mike Maloney walks by and then notices Julia in bed so backtracks.

"She ok??"

"She's having a rough day." I grumble.

"Another one?? And I thought last night was bad." Mike invites himself in. He is deep in his detox now. I see all the signs that brings me right back to my own withdrawals. I can tell his whole body hurts. Every bone. I can see the pain in his eyes that he probably has an awful headache, and he doesn't stop shivering. He sits down on the chair next to Julia's bed and hugs his body.

"What about last night?"

"I don't know. She freaked. He had to pull her out of a freezing cold shower. She just.... zoned out." Mike pushes his Jesus Hair away from his face.

"Wait. WHAT?!" I burst. "Jeremy was in the bathroom with her? I fucking told you to keep an eye on things."

"Yeah, boss. I am still required by law to go to my own group meetings. This place is enough of a prison. I'm not going to real jail."

I feel sick.

"Relax. Julia told me he didn't do anything or try anything or even see her naked. He turned off the water and handed her a towel.  He kept the door open too and when I walked by, he made me go in there and talk to her. Like he just knew not to be near her."

"She's getting too comfortable around him. That sonofabitch." I'm furious.

"Exactly what I told her. I told her to never let her guard down with him. No matter what." Mike leans in a little. "He can't be trusted. But... she needs help, and he seems to be the one to calm her down."

"I can calm her down." I retort.

"Yeah, sure pal. When you're around. When do you leave for tour again?" Mike leans back in his chair narrowing his eyes at me. "God forbid you call it off and help your fiancé. Right?"

I want to deck the kid. Really I do. Where's James when I need him?

"Either you're in or your out Hollan. Julia needs stability. I sure as hell can't give it to her, and it looks like her best friend is bailing on her now too. So it's you.... or Jeremy Donovan."

******

*Julia*

When I wake up it's dark outside. Nate is spooning me, asleep in my bed with his arms wrapped around me. Paul is in the chair playing on his phone.

"What happened this time, Moretti?" Paul doesn't even look up from his phone. How the hell did he know I was awake? They train him to learn this shit in "Bodyguard school"?

"Where have YOU been?" I slowly move Nate's arm and get out of bed. He doesn't wake. He doesn't budge actually. He's exhausted. 

"Fourth floor shit."

"God I hate that floor." I manage to get a slight smile out of the bodyguard. I sit on the edge of the bed and put my hair up in a ponytail.

"So... spill it. You don't fall asleep in the middle of the day unless you flip your lid. What happened?" Paul finally lowers his phone and makes eye contact with me.

"Did you know about James and Trisha?" I ask. The way he cocks his brow at me answers my question.

"James and Trisha? What about James and Trisha?"

"They're seeing each other."

For a brief moment I see a flicker of heartbreak in Paul's eyes. It was just a split second where he lost composure and you would only notice it if you were staring straight at him the way I am. Hearing Trisha is with James hurts him, doesn't it? He still has a thing for Trisha.

"Hmph." He lowers his eyes and goes back to his phone.

"That's all you have to say? Hmph?"

"It won't last." Paul utters.

"And how are you so sure?" It's my turn to raise a brow.

"Because Trisha is in love with one person and one person only. He's right there lying in your bed, Moretti."

"So... I'm just supposed to sit back and watch her break James's heart?"

"He'll be fine.  He loves you, Julia. But you belong with Nate."

"You keep saying that, Paulie. But you and I both know love isn't enough. Is it?"

"'The hell you talking about?" He studies my face. I get up and begin to pace back and forth.

"I need 24/7 care. Remember? Everyone keeps reminding me. ALL the time. It's not fair for me to hold Nate back. In a few weeks he will be back on tour. Traveling the world. And I've JUST NOW begun my detox because they keep fucking doping me up. I won't be going on tour with you all." I frown, feeling heat rise to my face. "I'll be left behind. And Nate will find someone else while on tour. Or he'll fuck around with Trisha. He always does."

I can tell Paul knows this already by the way he nervously shifts in the chair. He's not happy I'm aware though.

"Know what the sad part is?" I continue. "I really love Nate. I really want to be with him. And I want to take care of James. Just like we planned. But look at me! I can't even take care of a damn houseplant if I wanted to right now!" I cry and attempt to run out of the room right as Jeremy walks in to check on me. My face hits him right in the chest but I continue to cry.

Jeremy embraces me and Paul bolts out of the chair and grabs Jeremy's arm, twisting it behind his back and pushes him up against the wall so his face slams into it. His glasses fall to the ground in the process.

"Don't you dare touch her." Paul seethes. His chest is heaving and bodyguard mode has been activated.

"Relax Rambo. Jesus Christ."

"He's fine, Paul." I wipe my eyes.

"WHAT?!" Paul glances back at me, almost foaming at the mouth while pushing Jeremy against the wall harder. "This prick should never be near you."

"It's fine. Let him go." I shake my head and pick up Jeremy's glasses before someone steps on them.

"Now can you please let me go?"

Paul loosens his grip but is thoroughly confused. "What is happening right now??"

Jeremy slithers away and grabs his glasses from me, making sure they are fine before putting them back on.

"I've been working with Julia. Helping her."

I swear Paul looks like he may puke. He looks at me in disbelief.

"Julia. Hallway. NOW." Paul says sternly. Huffing as he walks out of the room. I roll my eyes and follow him, closing the door behind me.

"You fucking out of your mind?!!!"

I look around the hall at where we are and laugh loudly. "Um... yeahh." I say in a matter- of- fact way.

"Why are you trusting him? Or letting him near you?? I leave for a few days and you're besties with the guy that raped you?" He speaks lowly so only I can hear him.

This is the most talking I've gotten of out Paul in a while.

"He's not going to hurt me. I'd know."

"You're letting your guard down. You DON'T know, Moretti. You're playing with fire."

"So fucking burn me already." I deadpan and walk away.

******

*Nate*

"And you're ok with this?" Paul grills me about this whole thing with Julia suddenly trusting Dickhead Donovan. 

Julia is with Mike in the cafeteria getting food. She has barely eaten all day thanks to her shutting down. Paul and I talk candidly in her room while we wait.

"What would you like me to do?" I watch Paul pace the small room like I would, unable to wrap his brain around it all. "Besides, I have Mike here watching her."

"Not good enough, Nate. Mike won't be here forever. Julia signed herself up to be a full-time resident. How can we protect her now?"

This is killing Paul. He has invested so much of his time keeping Julia safe and now feels like she is slipping through his fingers. I get it. But all of this is out of my control. There's nothing I can do.

"Jesus. You spend more time here for Julia than you EVER have for me." The little British voice fill the room.

"Hi Cara." I say with a sigh. She will forever be jealous about the things I do for Julia.

"Where is your broken toy, anyway?" Cara looks around the room to see it's only Paul and I here. "Hi Paulie."

"Hey Cara." Paul nods. 

"She's getting some food." I answer.

"Probably with that hot guy with long hair, huh? She always attracts the hotties." Cara plops down on Julia's bed and sits right next to me, putting her little head on my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her and take advantage of the good mood she is in because I never know when I will see it again.

"You're happy today." I study my little sister's face.

"Yeah, guess what??!" She smiles up at me. It's an evil little smile though and I can tell Cara is about to drop a bomb on me somehow. Before I can answer, Cara continues talking.

"A new patient came in this morning. You'll never guess who it is."  Her cheshire smile widens.

"Who?" I cock a brow at her. 

A lot of people come through these doors for rehab. Celebrities, famous athletes...

"Mom."

********

*Julia*

"Just grab a few things. No one expects you to eat a ton. But you gotta eat something." Mike is one to talk. He's struggling just as bad as I am. 

"Fine but you're eating too then." I grab a tray and shove it into Mike.

"I feel like I've been detoxing forever. How long does it usually last???"

I laugh a little. "I wouldn't know. Every time I detox, something happens to put me right back on my addiction." I frown after thinking about what I just said. I've never really gotten a chance to be sober. Maybe this will be my time. Maybe I will pull myself together and not let my bipolar interfere.

 Right as I think that, the familiar face walks into the cafeteria.

Rita Hollan is escorted into the room by a nurse. She sits down at the first table near the door and doesn't notice me. But I notice her. I will never forget her face. Her yelling at me, telling me I caused Nate's heart attack. That day will never be forgotten

*****

"YOU! YOU DID THIS TO HIM!" Someone screams hysterically, too close to me. I look up and lock eyes with Nate's eyes. The same ocean blue eyes but much duller.

I stop dead in my tracks, despite Paul hovering over me. Nate's Mother.

I've never met Nate's mom before, but this woman resembles him, and they share the same eyes. She's clearly upset and being escorted harshly by a large security guard who looks like he's had enough of this woman.

"YOU CAUSED HIM TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK! AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN SEE MY OWN SON!"

*****

It was all over the news. The woman yelling in my face is the same woman who just sat down at a table in the Avalon.

"Holy shit." I stare at the beautiful woman. And she is. She's a stunning woman. A stunning woman who is currently strung out on.... something.  Rita's dull blue eyes dart around the room while her nurse gets her food for her. She scratches her arm, runs her fingers through her long blonde hair and bounces her knee nervously. 

Then her eyes meet mine. Rita cocks her head to the side and squints her eyes at me before an evil smile forms on her face. A chill runs down my spine. I quickly look away and swallow hard.

"We need to hurry up and get out of here." I whisper to Mike.

"Oh? Is there a fire?" He laughs but I shake my head.

"Nate's mother is here."

"No kidding." Mike follows my eyes to see Rita, still looking right at me. "Looks like you're not one of her favorites of Nate's girlfriends. Guess addiction runs strong in that family."

"That lady scares the shit out of me." I admit. "Can you hurry so we can go, already?"

"Yeah." Mike throws a few random things on our tray. We have no choice but to pass Rita to get to the exit. I walk past Nate's mom, feeling her eyes like daggers. Right when I think I'm in the clear, Rita stands up and wraps her long fingers around my wrist. She tugs me back, making me stop and turn around.

"You." Rita glares at me. I look up at the woman who is only a little shorter than Nate himself, making me feel much smaller than I am. She's wearing a plain light blue t-shirt that brings out her fierce eyes and black jeans, yet to need to switch into Avalon attire which means she hasn't ruined her clothes with detox nausea. She still looks high to be honest.

Her arms are a mess. Worse than Cara's. Black and blue and red marks show her heroin addiction like Mike.

"Nate paying for you to come here, Julia?" The way she says my name, though. The way she squeezes my wrist. The way tears prick my eyes.

"Mom. Let her go." Nate appears in the doorway. His eyes are sharper than his mother's and Cara stands right next to him. Paul behind them both. Cara is sharing her mom's evil grin bringing chills back to my body.

"Nice to see you too." Rita lets go of my wrist. "You a patient here too or just visiting your sister today?" She asks in an antagonizing way.

"You're still strung out, aren't you Rita?" Nate scoffs.

"Mom..." Cara corrects.

"RITA." He says with eyes glued to Rita. "How are you even here? Who paid for you?"

"Ron."

Nate and his sister both glare at their mother and I have a feeling whoever "Ron" is, he's not liked.

"Why the hell would you take money from Ron? Of all people, mom, seriously?" Cara gives her mother a face filled with disgust.

"We are back together. Anyway, he wants to see me get healthy. It was very kind of him to do this. Nate, you aren't paying for Julia to be here, are you?" Rita stares me down and I suddenly wish I could bypass them all and escape the room. All I want to do is take my food to my own room and eat. That's it. I don't want any drama or trouble. Rita wreaks trouble.

"Don't worry about it. C'mon Jules." Nate takes my hand.

"You know, it amazes me..." Rita continues, making Nate stop, sigh and turn around.

"What amazes you, Rita?" He asks with irritation.

"How you care so much for your sister and girlfriend but not your own mother. How you would even be with Julia with all the stress she puts on your heart. I can spot a gold digger when I see one."

She's not serious right now, is she?

"EXCUSE ME?" I let go of Nate's hand.

Nate grits his teeth, trying to hold in his anger. "Cara wouldn't even BE an addict if she had a mother to care for her. And Julia could care less about my money, which just proves you don't know what the hell you are talking about, Rita."

******

*Nate*

Once we are back in Julia's room, I find myself pacing. Which is hard to do when you also have Paul, Mike, Cara and now Jeremy taking up space. Rita now knows where Cara lives. I've tried to keep my sister secluded and away from all negative people and attention. Now my mother knows she is here.

"When did she get here?" I ask Jeremy.

"She was admitted earlier this morning." Jeremy leans against the doorframe, watching Julia quietly eat.

"Ron. Ron. He paid for her?  I can't stand that guy!" Cara says and I nod my head in agreement. Only dad loved Rita properly. This guy is a jackass.

"Well, your mother is trying to get the help needed so if we can try to keep the peace here..." Jeremy is looking at me now.

"Yeah? She will be back shooting up in no time." I scoff.

"Is that what you think of all the patients here, Nate?  Your sister? Mike here? They are all trying to recover from addiction. You should be proud of your mom for making this huge step."

"She's not to go near these two. I mean it."

"I can't guarantee that, but I will try to make sure their schedules don't collide.  I have no control over the common areas such as the cafeteria, rec room or outdoor garden area. But Rita will have a nurse with her at all times. Unfortunately, I am not her doctor here. I deal more with mental health issues. Dr. Cohen specializes in addiction and detox. Julia is my patient because of her multiple disorders. She just happens to always be detoxing."

I frown hearing that. Poor Jules hasn't had a chance to get herself on track and finish a detox in months. Her body is exhausted.

"The first week your mom won't be participating in group. She was dropped off under the influence so will need to go through withdrawals. I do know her bloodwork came back showing she was on multiple things so her detox will not be an easy one for her. Please cut her some slack right now, Nate. She's trying. And she's still your mom."

"She was never a mother to me." How many times do I have to repeat myself?! "Cara, just please. Don't get your hopes up here, ok?  I know you want a mom. She's not one. She's a manipulative liar."

"Ok. We're done here. Cara, you have your own therapy session to go to. Nate, please. Just give Rita a chance. She may surprise you."  Jeremy looks back at Julia. "I'll come back to log your food intake and check on you in a bit." 

Of course you will. 

Once they leave, I take a seat and drag my hands down my face. I give Julia a sympathetic look. She is going to have to deal with Rita now that she lives here. God, what did she sign herself up for!

"Did Rita do that to you?" Mike is sitting next to Julia on the bed eating and he pulls up her sleeve. Her wrist is bright red from Rita holding her.

"She's got a pretty strong grip when she's strung out." Julia frowns and pulls her sleeve down.

"Jesus. There has to be a way I can stay here overnight to be her bodyguard, Nate. Your mother is a psycho." Paul stares at Julia's wrist, beating himself up over the fact he can't keep her safe.

"I'll see if I can talk Donovan into it."

"Maybe I can stay in one of the apartments sooner rather than later?" Julia's eyes gravitate my way but then realizes I have no clue what she is talking about.

"Apartments?"

"There are four vacant apartments here that are big like Jeremy's. He showed me one and said I could live in it for no extra cost to you. It even has a separate entrance, a full kitchen, my own bathroom..."

"What the hell are you talking about, Julia?" I ask.

"He showed me one. It's really nice."

"When did he show you one? Were you alone with him??" I can see from the corner of my eye Paul stiffen up and sit up straighter now, on high alert.

Julia leans in a little, making Mike and Paul also lean in to hear her. "Do you know he's a patient here?"

"WHAT?!" Both Paul and Mike blurt out in unison. I say nothing. I can't. What Jonah and I did...what I did.... was completely illegal. I will tell Julia how we hacked into the system another time. In private. Without Mike Maloney in the room.

"He didn't mean to do those things to me."

"You've got to be kidding, Moretti." Paul clenches his jaw, and a weird vein pops out I've never noticed before in the bulky bodyguard's neck. "I was THERE! Nate... Nate was THERE!"

 Paul catches us all off guard with his explosiveness. He is usually very calm, cool, and collected and rarely shows emotion. Right now, Julia broke down that barrier and he is acting like a real human with real feelings, not some robot trained to protect.

"Don't you DARE let your guard down.  Don't you DARE forget how he hurt you! The bruises.... the bloo-" Paul can't finish his sentence, completely distraught now.  He stands up and points his finger at Julia. "Don't you DARE let him fool you.  He's dangerous. You're smarter than that, Julia."

He leaves Julia wide eyed with tears, and storms out of the room. She is stunned. We all are. I've never seen Paul so angry. Ever. I can tell talking about the second rape brought Julia right back to that day. I remember how devasted she looked coming out of the ER room after having to have an invasive rape kit done to her. I remember how her entire body was black and blue. I remember how she scrubbed her skin in the shower until it was raw.

I remember it all, and as much as Julia loves to shove things in the back of her head so she doesn't have to deal with them, she remembers too. Her body begins to shake as tears stream down her cheeks.

"I'm not hungry anymore."  Julia pushes the tray away, forfeiting on eating any more. Even with Mike sitting next to her, she's able to lay down and curl up in a ball facing the wall.

"Jule..." I rush over and put my hand on her shoulder, but she flinches, making me remove it quickly. 

"Please. Please don't touch me." She whimpers. She's reliving that horrific experience.

Jeremy doesn't have a chance now.

*****

Julia managed to have eaten a good amount of food before she shut down and fell asleep. Mike headed to his own room to detox which just left Paul and I.

"Why the hell would you bring that shit up?" I ask Paul while we get ready to head out.

"She needs to remember how dangerous he is. Nate, he is tricking her."

I pull Paul into the empty rec room and close the door.

"I'm going to tell you something and you cannot repeat any of it, ok?" I wait for Paul to give me a nod before I tell him all about what me and Jonah did. How we hacked into the hospital portal. How we read Jeremy Donovan's files on his diagnosis. I tell him how we did two hours' worth of research on both mental disorders that turn him into a monster when he is not on his meds or taking care of himself. I tell Paul everything.

"That doesn't excuse shit and you know it, Nate."

"No but at least it explains it a little. So long as Jeremy stays on top of things and focuses on keeping his mental disorders in check, he won't turn into that monster. Julia needs closure on this. She needs to be able to move on. Because right now, she's not living. She's stuck and can't move forward."

"I will NEVER trust that man." Paul sneers.

"And YOU don't have to.  If there's a way we can get it so you can be her bodyguard great. Till then at least we have Mike to care for her. But Paul, if you become her full-time bodyguard, it would mean no going on tour with me. You'd have to stay behind and practically live with Julia. It's a huge commitment, Paul. This is your life we're talking about.  You'd be altering your entire life."

"She's worth it."

******