Ellie had been on the phone with Ashley for nearly two hours and still hadn't gotten the chance to tell her about the rehab center. She had barely been able to get a word in edgewise. All Ashley talked about was Craig and her new fiancé, Peter.

"I mean, with Peter and me, it was love at first sight," Ashley was saying. "I knew in an instant that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. Craig and I were more friends at first before it turned into anything else. And when I was with Pete in Italy I realized that was how I felt about Craig. Just friends." She sighed. "I just wish he hadn't come to surprise me in the airport like that. I wanted to break it to him gently. I tried calling him a few times before but there was no answer at his house."

Ellie frowned. "I hope everything is okay. Craig's not exactly stable, is he?"

"Well he's been fine for a really long time now. I really think he's got it under control." Ashley didn't sound too convinced. "He...he wouldn't do anything crazy, right?"

Eliie looked at her arm, which was now decorated with two fresh cuts. "I hope not."

Joey gripped Caitlin's hand tightly as they sat together in the empty waiting room of the emergency room. They had been waiting about an hour but it felt like a day.

The doctor had taken Craig into a room and a nurse had pretty much shut the doors in Joey's face when he tried to follow. One of the other nurses told him that it would be better for everyone if he just waited outside. So he did. But no one had come out of the room yet to let him know what was going on and he was debating about just barging in.

A minute later, however, the doctor finally emerged from the room. Joey leaped to his feet and hurried to meet her, Caitlin trailing not far behind. "What's going on?" Joey asked. "Is he okay?" Please let him be okay.

The doctor held up her hands. "Calm down. Why don't we have a seat?"

A seat? Joey thought as he reluctantly followed the doctor to a cluster of chairs. A seat as in everything's okay, so we can relax, or a seat as in you'd better sit down for this?

"I'm Dr. Hollands," she said.

Joey bit his lip to keep from blurting out that he didn't care what her name was.

"You are Craig Manning's stepfather?" she continued. She consulted a chart in her hand. "Mr Jeremiah?"

Joey nodded. "Please, just tell me, is my son okay?" he asked desperately.

Dr. Hollands nodded. "Of course, I'm sorry. We got the medication before it hit his bloodstream. We pumped his stomach and removed what we believe is the majority of it. He's resting now."

"So that means he's okay?"

"Yes, he's going to be okay."

Caitlin's arms were around him in a crushing hug and he squeezed her right back. His eyes stung with tears of relief. "Thank God," Caitlin was murmuring.

Dr. Hollands cleared her throat after a minute. "There are a few things I need to discuss with you."

Joey pulled away from Caitlin, nodding. "Yes of course."

"From the information I gleamed from you, the paramedics and Craig's record, this looks like a...suicide attempt."

Joey nodded, swallowing hard. "I-I know."

"Were there any events that could have possibly triggered this? Anything recent that you know about?"

Joey glanced at Caitlin then down at his hands. Before he could answer, the doors to the room swung open and a gurney was wheeled out by two nurses. Joey immediately got to his feet and hurried over. Craig was lying there very still, but his chest moved up and down steadily and some color was returning to his cheeks.

He felt Caitlin's hand close over his shoulder. He turned to face her. "I did this," he whispered. "How am I going to tell them that it's my fault?"

"It's not," Caitlin told him firmly. "Craig has an illness that caused this. You didn't do anything."

Joey just shook his head. "If he hadn't have made it I don't know if I would have been able to forgive myself. I still don't know if I will be able to. Or if Craig will be able to."

Caitlin stroked his arm soothingly. "He will. I know he will."

Joey wasn't so sure.

Okay I know it was short but I have some good stuff coming up soon (nice and long!) Don't forget to leave any thoughts or comments!