“Why have you been such a stranger lately?” Kit demanded, leaning against the bar across from Dana.

“I’ve been busy,” Dana said with a small shrug.

“So I’ve heard.  Congratulations on winning Wimbledon, girl!  You really kicked *****,” Kit told her with a smile.

“Thanks,” Dana replied, her tone flat.  “Can I get a drink?  Something stronger than usual?”

“Hmm, stronger than usual?” Kit said, thinking of Dana’s usual beer.  “How ’bout this?” she asked, extracting a bottle of margarita mix from under the bar.

Dana shook her head.  “Stronger.  Like, just skip the mix and give me the tequila.”

“You sure about that?” Kit asked, reaching for a shot glass.

“Yes,” Dana said firmly, watching Kit set the glass in front of her.  “As a matter of fact, just lay three of those out there and get them ready, and then keep ‘em comin’.”

Kit observed her for a moment, and then did as she said, laying three shot glasses out in a row and filling them all.  Watching as Dana picked up the first shot and threw it back with a wince and then moved onto the next, she said, “Something must be really bad.”

Dana felt the tequila burn down her throat as she slammed down the empty glass and went for the third.  “Nope.”

Refilling the three shots, Kit continued conversationally, “Cause, you know, nobody drinks like that unless they got ***** on their mind.”

Wiping a hand across her mouth, Dana went after one of the refilled glasses.  “Everything’s fine,” she lied, raising the shot glass to her lips.  It almost seemed to blur in front of her.  Drinking so much alcohol in a short period when she wasn’t used to it may not have been the best idea.  It was getting to her already.

Kit leaned forward, a serious expression on her face.  “Dana, I don’t know what’s wrong, but no matter what you tell me, I know something is.  Whatever problems you have, you’re not gonna find the answers at the bottom of a bottle.  You’re only going to find more problems.  Trust me on that.  I’ve been there, done that, and I got the t-shirt to prove it.”  Hoping she’d gotten through to Dana, Kit began ***** the top back on the bottle of tequila.