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It was happening again, he kept hearing music that wasn't playing, he kept hearing her voice, he had looked up why this was happening, and apparently a long term effect of Cocaine use is auditory hallucinations.
Flop had gone to work already, and he couldn't sleep, he needed help, he was gonna relapse if he didn't get help.
"Willow Springs Recovery, how can I help you?"
Ziggy nearly whispers, "Hi, I would like to admit myself, I am in another state, but I will be able to be there very soon."
"Alright sir, can I get your name?"
"Ziggy Buggs"
"Alrighty, and why do you want to admit yourself?"
"I'm having auditory hallucinations, I looked it up and it's a long term effect of cocaine use, which I was addicted to and have been sober for about a year or two now."
He could hear some typing on the other end, "Alright sir, and would you like any emergency contacts to be notified?"
"NO, sorry uh, no I don't," Ziggy quickly said.
"Alright, just get here as soon as you are able to, and we'll get you signed in and admitted."
"Ok thanks"
Ziggy then walked around the house, backing a bag, only taking what he truly needed, hygiene products, clothes, stuff like that. He debated leaving a note for Flop, but he didn't want to worry him, so he just left, going out to the garage and grabbing the buggy Flop got for him, he most likely wouldn't notice it was gone, and made his way to the airport.
He went to the employee, "Am I able to buy a ticket to Waco, Texas? Or somewhere around there?"
"You're in luck sir, there are actually 3 tickets left for Waco. Is it going to be 1-way or a round trip?"
"1-way for now, I don't know how long I'm going to be there for."
The employee pulled everything up, and Ziggy paid for the ticket and the man printed it out. He looked at the ticket while walking away after thanking him, noticing something taped to the back. It was the employees phone number, Ziggy kind of looked back at the man and the employee made a 'call me' gesture, Ziggy just shook his head in annoyance as he was still wearing his wedding ring, it wasn't subtle at all. It was very noticeable. He was just annoyed at this point.
He checked in at baggage, and they took the bag, he did have a small carry-on, just with some small things, he did still have some paperwork for the Rangers, not a lot thankfully, but enough to get him through the flight.
He boards the plane, after takeoff he gets out his laptop and connects to the plane wifi to work on the last minute paperwork, when all of a sudden he gets a tap on his shoulder, "if you're going on vacation you really shouldn't be working on work stuff." A woman says.
"I am not taking a vacation, I have some stuff I need to deal with and I'm finishing up last-minute paperwork so the workload on my officers will be less."
"Ahh ok, sorry."
"Thanks," is all he responds with, getting back to the reports, and looking over other rangers' reports.
Next thing he knows he's landing at Waco Regional Airport, he puts his computer away and gets everything ready for landing. Putting up the seat tray and putting all his stuff away, so that when he is clear to get off the plane, he can just get up and go, he didn’t want to stay on this plane longer than he had to.
After getting off the plane he was wondering if they were going to pick him up or not, and as he was thinking that he saw a sign that had his name on it, he didn’t think they were gonna be this cliche. He went up to them and asked if they were from Willow Springs.
“Yes, yes we are, are you Mr. Ziggy Buggs?”
“Yeah, I am, I just need to grab my bags and I’ll be ready to go.” He goes to baggage claim, waits for and grabs his bag, and follows the man. He gets in the car and the man starts driving to the center, after they get there, he gets the paperwork done, gets checked in and to his room. It’s finally starting to hit him that he’s here.
He was sitting outside underneath a tree, getting some fresh air, reading a book, next thing he knows, all he can feel is pain in his leg, and people are screaming if he can hear them. He could hear them, but when he tried to respond, he heard nothing coming from his mouth. He felt himself getting picked up and put on a stretcher, then he heard himself scream. He was screaming for Flop, his husband, he was able to look down and saw his leg was gone, he had lost his leg.
"Sir, I'm Dr. Ross, you were in an accident and I had to amputate your leg, what's your name?"
"Ziggy, Ziggy Buggs" he almost yelled out in pain.
"Let's get him some morphine to ease the pain." The doctor suggested.
"NO, I'm here for drug addiction, please no drugs." Ziggy pleaded.
"Sir, you are going to be in immense amounts of pain, are you sure?" The doctor looked confused.
"Yes. I'm sure, I don't want to be addicted to something else."
"If you say so, let's get him to Baylor Scott."
He started to feel tired on the way there, he wanted to sleep, but from his years in law enforcement, he knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't help himself.
Next thing he knows he's in a hospital room, he sees where his leg used to be and remembers what happened. He saw one of the caretakers from the facility sitting beside him, he just prayed they didn't call Flop.
A few weeks later he was released from the hospital in a wheelchair and a pair of crutches to use later on, he got used to them both very quickly, and got a prosthetic leg oddly quick as well, but he didn't complain, he was able to walk. He was also making tremendous strides in rehab. He didn't have a lot of tremors and no more hallucinations. It got to the point where the workers were comfortable enough for him to go home, getting him in with a psychiatrist in Los Santos. He booked a plane ticket back, packing his bag to go back home.
On the plane, he decided to open up Twitter and see what was going on, and saw a bunch of missing person posters on there, with his face on them. What the hell?
He got off the plane, getting his bag from baggage claim, and went out to where he left the car, thankfully it was still there. He got in, praying it would start, it did, thank goodness.
He was nervous the entire drive back to the apartment, debating what to say to Flop, he unlocked the door, almost expecting to see an empty house, only to be met with a pistol in his face.
"Ziggy?" Flop said, voice barely above a whisper.
"Hey Flop," Ziggy said nervously.
"Are you ok? Where were you? Why the hell do you have a prosthetic leg!?" Flop was asking a million questions a minute.
"I can't understand half of what you're saying Flop, speak slower and one question at a time." Ziggy says, putting his hands on Flop's shoulders. Flop pulls Ziggy in for a hug while tears start running down his face, it almost surprised him, he hugged Flop back and they stood there for a while, Ziggy occasionally rubbing Flop's back and kissing him on the top of his head while rocking side to side. After a bit of this, he noticed his leg, or lack thereof, was starting to ache. "Alright, let's move to the couch, my leg is hurting."
"Ok, do you need anything? Let me get your bags, do you need water?"
"Flop, I'm fine, I just need to sit down, my prosthesis is aching from standing in one spot for so long." Ziggy explained, wincing as he sat down, releasing the lock on the prosthetic, taking it off, massaging the stump.
Flop looked curious, "Ziggy, how did this happen, where were you?"
Ziggy sighed, knowing this question would come up, he had to tell the truth. "You can't tell anyone, but I was in rehab, you remember the voices I was hearing right?"
Flop nods, "Ok, so I did some research, and it's a long term effect of Cocaine use, and I was getting cravings again, and decided I needed to get professional help, I was released earlier today, and flew back in. While I was there, a tree branch fell on my leg, and if they had lifted it with my leg still attached, then I would've died, so they had to amputate in the field." Ziggy looks down after he explains everything, tears threatening to fall. He feels Flop wrap his arms around his shoulders, pulling Ziggy's head into his chest, seeing how close he was to a breakdown. That just set him off, full blown sobbing, making Rhodes and Dark peak their heads out of their room.
Seeing Flop holding Ziggy in his arms, running his fingers through his hair, just letting him cry, knowing how long it's been since he has. He feels like he's being watched, Flop looks up and sees Rhodes looking relieved, probably that Ziggy is ok, knowing how stressed Flop had been. Meanwhile Dark looked confused and kinda pissed at the same time, he still wouldn't get over the fact that Ziggy didn't ask him for his blessing. Even though everyone knew that he wouldn't give it anyway.
After a while Ziggy had calmed down, mostly just sniffling here and there. "Ziggy, I need to make a few calls ok, I'll be right here still." Ziggy nods knowing that no one knew he was back yet.
"Hey Snow, yeah I'm doing good, I wanted to let you know, Ziggy showed up today. Yeah, he's ok. Hun, are you ok with Snow coming over?" Ziggy looks up from Lamp who had jumped onto his lap, nodding. "Alright, he's ok with it. We are at the apartment, Alright see you in a few." Flop hangs up and looks at Ziggy putting an arm around his shoulder. Sitting in near silence, with the occasional sound from the multitude of animals in the house. After about 10 minutes they heard the door open, they look back and see Snow standing there, looking happy and sad at the same time, tears flowing down his face. Walking up to them, putting his hands on Ziggy's face, as if making sure he's really there, sitting there for a few seconds before squeezing Ziggy into a hug, with him hugging back.
"Where have you been? Are you ok? Why do you have a prosthetic?"
"I've been in rehab, yes I'm fine, a branch fell on my leg while I was there. I would've died if they tried saving it." Ziggy says while burying his face into Snow's shoulder, having also missed his best friend. They talked for a while, before Snow had to go back on patrol.
Ziggy yawns, and says "I think I'm ready for bed, I'm already having a bit of jet lag."
"Do you want to put your prosthetic back on or no?" Ziggy gives Flop a deadpan look at that, "Ok, or not." Flop helps Ziggy to his bed laying him down before laying beside him and kissing head, both falling asleep.