Stop time
He sat on the floor, knees drawn up to his chest, peeking through his fingers at Joey laying on the floor. Joey was bleeding, and Caitlin and Angie ran to him, concern twisting their faces. He'd done that. He'd hurt Joey just like his dad had hurt him. Craig blinked and looked away. He couldn't look at what he'd done anymore.
Go
Joey sat up, pushed Caitlin gently away.
"I'm fine," he said, wiping the blood from his lip. Caitlin spared Craig a dirty look, having no affection for him at this moment. He was out of control, out of her ability to deal with him. She looked away, upset that she was so angry with an obviously disturbed teenager. Her eyes caught Ashley's for a brief moment, and Ashley saw what she was feeling. Ashley's feelings were different, sympathy and love kind of riding a wave inside of her head, ready to crash against the hard bone of her skull.
Joey wasn't angry with Craig, understanding his lack of control, and he'd seen the look of fear when he had grabbed his arm to prevent him from leaving. He knew this had a lot to do with Albert. He knew something was wrong inside of Craig's head. He could separate the child he had come to love from his actions.
Angie looked fearfully from her father to Craig and back again. She loved them both unconditionally and had never been scared of either but now she was scared of both of them. Scared of how her father had insisted Craig stay when he wanted to leave. Scared of Craig's violent reaction. She was breathing hard and fast, knowing that things were calming down now. Craig was shaking and crying in the corner of the room, Ashley trying to pry his hands away from his face. Her father was methodically cleaning the blood from his face, rubbing spots that were sore from punches.
Caitlin looked down, surprised at her anger. How dare he do that to Joey, how dare he hurt the one person who had stood by him through all the mess of his father beating him and then his father dying. She would not accept that Craig couldn't control it. She went into the kitchen and stared out the window.
Angie stood stalk still, afraid to move, afraid to even breath. The only sounds now were the sounds of the water running in the downstairs bathroom, Ashley's soft voice telling Craig it would be okay, and Craig's gasping, sucked in breaths.
"Caitlin, I'm bringing him to the emergency room. Can you stay here with Angie?" Joey's voice was calm and purposeful. Caitlin would barely look at him but she nodded, her lips pressed together.
Pause
"Craig," Joey said, bending at the knees to be almost on Craig's level. Craig wouldn't look at him.
"Craig," Joey said again, patient. Ashley looked at Craig expectantly, wondering if he'd answer. He had his hands up and covering his face. Joey took them and pulled them away. Craig blinked at him, staring at the lip that was still bleeding, staring at the cut near his eye.
"I'm sorry," he said, his voice thick.
"It's okay. Something is wrong with you. You need help. We're going to the hospital," Short statements, calm tone of voice. Ashley looked grateful that someone besides her was in control.
Joey pulled Craig to his feet, and Ashley noticed how much taller Craig was, towering over Joey. He led him to the car, instructed Ashley to sit in the back seat with him. Crraig leaned his head against the cold glass of the car door, and Joey recalled that was how he had sat in the car when he drove him home from the cemetery when he had run away in grade nine. Looking at him he could almost feel the cold glass against his own cheek.