Iridescent

I don't know how you do what you do...

(A/N- Mature content at the end of this chapter! Thanks again to Mikashinoda for always being amazing and commenting! Seriously guys, I'm a nice person and love comments so feel free to leave some. Hate it or love it, comment please! And yes, this chapter title isn't LP lyrics...but it fits the chapter)

He watched her as she moved about her kitchen making them dinner the day after their lunch date.  After their lunch meet up, Chester had told them what had been said outside and all of them, including Mike, were blown away by Mila.  Chester was especially impressed that when she had followed him she didn't force him to talk.  She just met him where he was and gave him the comfort of her just being nearby.  There was no pressure or need for control coming from her and when he told her what he needed she offered to help him without taking control.  He had a choice the entire time, he held control.  It was something Chester said had been missing in that part of his life for a while and she was giving it back to him.

Mike didn't know when she had learned everything she had.  Granted Mila had always been great with helping and giving advice when someone went to her, but what she did honestly seemed to him like some sort of Superhero shit.  He would have never thought of meeting Chester where he was.  To let him have complete control.  When Mike had written Breaking the Habit, which was his way of getting Chester to understand just how much he knew and understood, he thought it would be enough.  It wasn't.  Chester went to rehab and within a couple of months relapsed.  Mike didn't know much about recovery but he saw the struggle in his best friend.  Then there was Mila.  She understood from a clinical sense what goes on and helped them all get it.  They knew it was a long road, but not as long as she mentioned and not the many layers that had to be worked on. 

Mila looked at her boyfriend who sat at the island watching her.  She could see in his eyes that while they were on her, he wasn't focusing on her.  Leaning across from him placing his plate in front of him, she called his name not getting a response.  Walking to where he was she placed a kiss to his cheek breaking him from his thoughts as her arms wrapped around his neck. 

"Welcome back," She smiled taking the seat next to him dragging her plate towards her.  He watched as she began poking at her food with the fork in her hand placing some into her mouth and swallowing before turning to him.  "Where'd ya go?"

Mike shook his head picking up the fork she had put onto his plate.  "Was just thinking over yesterday and how you're seriously fucking Wonder Woman."

Mila laughed shaking her head confused.  "What?"

"Chester told us what you did and said to him outside.  How did you know what to do?"

She looked at him seeing the look of question and possibly even the need for advice.  Setting her fork down she turned to him.  "Not everyone who is struggling is going to outwardly say it.  Some will ask what seems like everyday questions because they are interested in what you do.  When I told him about how I help my recovery clients there was a change in his eyes.  So when I followed him I just let him decide what or when he wanted to talk.  Recovery and addiction is hard because especially if they've had trauma, their control on something in their life was taken from them.  Using is a way they can control when they think about it or how they feel.  Giving someone in recovery control of even something small like deciding when to talk is big to them.  Everyone wants to control their life because of the decisions they are making and they fear what will happen if they do take control.  What people need to realize is that sometimes just being there with them and offering that presence or ear if they want to talk is more helpful than telling them to do it."  Mike looked at her amazed.  "You act like I just told you the winning lottery numbers.  This is just information and techniques I've picked up.  They don't always work but with Chester it did.  It's not a big deal."