Long chapter this time. Hope you guys like it. Thanks for all the reviews! I read every single one and they all make me smile. If you liked, please review, it helps me continue the story.

Ch 25

Kenny's eyes fluttered open at the sound of his alarm. He sat up, rubbing his forehead. "Mmm…" he groaned. Time for work. After a quick shower, Kenny pulled on his uniform groggily. He headed out the door, almost forgetting his keys. Karen was standing outside her apartment, locking her door. She eyed Kenny's bruised and bandaged hand, narrowing her eyes at him. She hurried down the stairs and Kenny heard the door opening, then a slam.

Jesus.

Kenny followed out after Karen as she made her way to her own car. They were coincidentally parked right next to each other. Kenny struggled with getting his car unlocked. He cursed quietly, finally inserting his key into the car door. He hopped in as Karen gave him a look that could kill. He ignored her. Kenny pulled out of his parking spot, Kenny pulled out of his parking spot; it was hard to grip the steering wheel with two broken fingers. He settled with just using his good hand as he pulled up to the shop.

Kenny killed the engine as he parked, hopping out of his car. His manager approached him. "Hey, Kenny. How are you…" he trailed off, his eyes surveying Kenny's hand. "What happened? Are you going to be okay? You kinda need your hands for this job, boy." Rick said in his usual gruff voice.

"Sorry. I'm fine. Just… a couple of broken fingers. Nothing big." Kenny explained.

"Did you at least go to the doctor or something?" Rick asked, frowning.

"No. No need."

"Maybe you should-" Rick started, but Kenny cut him off.

"I'll be fine."

"Alright…" Rick looked unsure. "Your first customer is waiting. Go on, boy. I trust you." And with that, he walked away.

Once Kenny was finished with his customer, having trouble tightening a bolt under the hood, he washed his hands, wincing as the cold water made the broken skin sting. He unwrapped the bandage, grimacing. The bruise was terrible now, a big patch of broken skin on the knuckles. It bled slightly as Kenny dabbed it with his washcloth. Grease got into the wound, making it sting worse. Kenny frowned as he thought of the meeting after work. All he wanted was to see Craig.

Two more hours.

Craig didn't show up at the AA meeting. Kenny had a lump in his throat, shaking off a gut feeling that something was wrong. He swallowed his fears as a new member stood up, a man who looked to be about Kenny's age; with dark circles under his eyes, his eyes darting around the room. He shook nervously, putting up a hand and waving quickly, introducing himself as James. James sat down and the group leader motioned to Kenny.

"Have you seen Craig recently?" the group leader asked. Kenny shook his head, frowning.

"Just yesterday, but other than that I haven't even gotten a call from him." Kenny answered, the familiar lump of fear in his throat. "I'm actually kind of… worried for him."

"I'm sure he's fine." The group leader had an expression to match Kenny's. "We can't wait forever. We have to start the meeting now."

Kenny pulled up to Craig's house, killing the engine. He hopped out of the car, approaching the door, hesitantly knocking. "Craig?" he called. There was no answer for several minutes. Suddenly the door jerked open. Craig stared at Kenny lazily, his hair a complete mess and his eyes dark. His shirt was unbuttoned, showing his bare chest.

"Huh?" Craig's words were jumbled as he swayed, grabbing the door frame for support.

"Dude, where were you? You missed the meeting…" Kenny looked Craig over, surveying him closely. "What's wrong?"

"I was busy." Craig slurred.

"Busy doing what?"

"Getting drunk."

Kenny swallowed. Craig pulled him into his house slamming the door. "Kenny." He started.

"What's up…?"

"I can't afford to pay for my meds anymore. I spent all my money on alcohol." Craig swayed terribly, his words slightly incoherent. "I lost my job today."

"W-what? Oh god, man… I'm really sorry…" Kenny's features softened.

"You're all I have." Craig had a pleading look in his eyes. "Please… can you buy my meds for this month? I'll pay you back any way you want me to."

I didn't know he took meds. But for what? Kenny pondered.

"It's very important I get these meds. I ran out a week ago. I take them for depression." Craig looked down, looking ashamed, rubbing his arm.

"A week ago?! Craig, you can't do this. You need your meds. You can't just stop taking them like that." Kenny had a worried look on his face.

"What do you expect? I have no one to help me!" Craig shouted. "My parents and friends abandoned me because of my drinking problem! I have nobody. Nobody until you came along."

Kenny swallowed. "I'll help you."

Craig clasped his hands together. "Oh, thank god…" he whispered. "Thank you."

"You stay here. You can't go out like this." Kenny frowned. "Are you sure you can be alone? I'm worried about you."

"I'll be fine." Craig reassured.

Kenny pulled up to the local supermarket. He hopped out of his car, approaching the door. He opened it, walking in. Kenny passed through the store, looking for the counter to pick up the medication. As he was walking through the aisles, Karen passed him. Kenny cleared his throat as she glared. "Karen." He called as she stopped in her tracks. "I need to talk to you when I get back."

"There's nothing to talk about, Ken." Karen growled, turning around to face him.

Jesus Christ.

"You need to end this rift." Kenny snapped.

"Me?" Karen scoffed. "This is all your fault!"

Kenny felt eyes glaring him down around him. "Can we not do this here?"

"Fine. Meet me at my apartment when you get back." Karen replied angrily, turning to leave. Kenny picked up Craig's meds and left.

"Craig?" Kenny called as he opened the door to Craig's house. "I'm back."

Craig appeared from his bedroom, swaying slightly. Kenny could tell he was still drunk. "Kenny…" Craig trailed off, hesitating. He walked up to Kenny, grabbing the hand that wasn't holding the bag of medication. "You're a fucking life saver."

"I have to go talk to Karen now. I told her I needed to talk to her." Kenny looked down as Craig gripped his hand tighter.

"Oh… well…" Craig whispered. "I was hoping you would stay for a while."

Kenny bit his bottom lip, looking away. Maybe for a little while. I'm worried for him.

"Alright."

Craig smiled, taking the bag of medication from Kenny's hand. He removed its contents upon the kitchen table and fished out the three medications from their separate bottles. Kenny stopped him when he was about to take them with alcohol.

"Uh, I don't think you should do that," Kenny started, moving to the kitchen sink and taking a glass from the cabinet, filling it with sink water. "Here." He handed it to Craig, who frowned.

"Thanks." Craig chugged it down along with the pills, wiping water away with the back of his hand. "Mmm…" he stared at Kenny for a few moments before looking away and rubbing his arm. "So, uh…" he whispered, looking back up at Kenny. "You're going to try to get back with Karen?"

"Keyword 'try'." Kenny sighed. Craig felt his heart ache.

"Ah." Jealousy coursed through Craig and he grabbed the bottle of Jack Daniels on the kitchen table, taking a long drink. I hope that doesn't work out. He thought bitterly. "Maybe you should just go, then."

"Craig-" Kenny started, but Craig cut him off with a hand.

"Go." Craig whispered inordinately.

"Eric, I don't know what to do…" Karen had tears in her eyes, her voice wavering. "I love him. I love Ken, I really do. But he's too far down now. I want to help him- no, I need to. But I don't know how."

Butters had gone out to get cat food and Cartman was left alone with Karen, an awkward air filled the room between the two. Cartman rubbed the back of his neck as Karen covered her face in her hands. "Why did you come to me?" asked Cartman, his voice a low mumble.

Karen swallowed her sobs. "Because Stan and Kyle went out on a date tonight…" she looked up at Cartman, her vision bleary. "And you're the only one I can talk to right now. I know we don't see eye to eye, but please, I need someone to talk to."

"Well, I'm here… I guess." Cartman frowned. Karen surprised him by quickly wrapping her arms around him, Cartman flinching slightly. Karen looked up at him, the tears drying from her eyes. Her bottom lip quivered.

"Thank you…" Karen placed a hand on Cartman's cheek, surprising him slightly.

"What are you-?" Cartman started, but was cut off as Karen kissed him. Cartman's eyes widened as Karen wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him again.

Kenny climbed the flight of stairs, noting that Karen's door was slightly ajar. He rubbed the back of his neck, approaching the door, peering in quietly. He heard a pair of voices, one was Karen's voice and the other he couldn't distinguish, but it sounded male. Kenny swallowed as he saw two figures intermingling, the silhouettes dark against the single light flooding from a room in the back.

"Wait, Karen, I don't think this is right." Said the male voice, a low whisper.

"No one has to know, Eric." Karen answered the voice, a small pause. Kenny's eyes widened as he recognized the voice as Cartman's. A lump formed in Kenny's throat as he narrowed his eyes. Kenny rushed down the stairs, his hands balled into fists.

Karen is with Cartman now.

It really is over.

"Alright, alright. Start from the beginning." Craig tried to calm Kenny down as Kenny paced the room, his eyes wide.

"She's with Cartman now." Kenny's voice was unsteady.

"Karen?" Craig questioned.

Kenny nodded furiously.

"No way, man… You saw them?" Craig frowned.

"They were kissing." Kenny's voice was hoarse. "I shouldn't even be angry. I did the same thing to her with you. But that's a different circumstance. We were drunk."

Craig frowned, rubbing his arm. Stop reminding me.

"But we aren't together anymore, Karen and I. She's given up on me." Kenny still paced the room, sighing. He balled his hands into fists, gritting his teeth. Anger surged through him suddenly. "I'll have a little talk with Cartman when I get back."

Kenny sat in his car, dialing Cartman's number. He sat outside Craig's house, his hands trembling.

"What up, Ken?" Cartman answered.

"Hey. Wanna go out? Just you and I?" Kenny asked, his voice calm. "You and I haven't hung out in a while. I miss your company."

Strange. Cartman thought. "Alright. Where?"

"The bar in Fairplay. Off of 16th street. Twenty minutes." Kenny answered.

"Ken, I don't think we should meet there. You shouldn't be drinking. Have you been going to you AA meetings? Karen says you have, but you've been drinking anyways. Court orders, you kn-" Cartman was cut off by a growl on Kenny's end.

"Shut the fuck up. You coming or not?" Kenny snapped, his patience running thin. There was a pause on the other end.

"Not if you're going to act like a total dick to me."

Kenny sighed. "Sorry. I won't drink. I have no money until I get paid tomorrow anyways."

"Alright." And with that, Cartman hung up.

Kenny leaned against the brick wall of the bar, smoking out back. He took a long drag of his cigarette, sighing. Cartman approached him slowly, his hands in his jacket pockets. "Hey, Ken."

Kenny look up, stomping out his cigarette. He grunted a response. He walked quickly up to Cartman, making sure no one else was around, and backed him into a wall.

"W-what's up?" Cartman stuttered, his eyes darting from Kenny to Kenny's fist.

"You know damn well 'what's up'." Kenny snapped. "How long?"

Cartman narrowed his eyes. "How long what?"

Kenny grabbed Cartman by his jacket collar, raising a fist.

"Woah, woah, Kenny." Cartman raised his hands. "Why are you acting this way?"

"You've been fooling around with Karen. I saw you." Kenny breathed angrily, his fist shaking inches away from Cartman's face. Cartman swallowed, his eyes darting to the ground.

"Look, man… she kissed me first. There's nothing between us. She's… distressed. She doesn't know what to do anymore, Kenny. She's worried about you. She loves you. She needed someone, so I was there for her-" Cartman was cut off by Kenny, who pressed him further into the wall.

"Shut up." Kenny spat, his teeth gritted. "You're a master of lying, I know this. How can I believe you?"

"Why should it matter? You two aren't together anymore, Kenny. Besides, I know you've been fooling around with Craig." Cartman's voice was a low mumble as he looked down at his feet, ignoring Kenny's fist.

"Craig means nothing to me." Kenny narrowed his eyes. "Every time I'm with him, I'm always drunk and we end up fooling around. I'm… I'm using him." He felt a lump in his throat.

"Exactly." Cartman growled, looking up. "You need to stop this. Cut off Craig altogether. He's like a drug to you, isn't he? Same as the alcohol. And those two don't mix well, Kenny."

"Don't tell me how to live my life." Kenny hesitated, raising his fist again. Cartman braced himself for a blow.

"W-wait, Kenny." Cartman swallowed, squinting. "I'm sorry."

"'Sorry' isn't going to cut it this time, Cartman." Kenny snapped. "You've went too far this time."

"Hey, what's going on back here?!" a man exited through the back door, eyeing Kenny, who was still gripping Cartman's jacket collar firmly. Kenny whipped his head toward the source of the voice, letting go of Cartman.

"Nothing." Kenny growled, stepping back slightly. The man's eyes narrowed.

"I'm the owner of this place, now if you're going to be causing trouble here, go home before I call the police." The man warned.

"Fine." Kenny grunted, backing up from Cartman, who dusted off his jacket. "I'll leave."

Craig blew a cloud of cigarette smoke into the air, clearing his throat. "Well?" he asked, sitting on his couch. Kenny had returned to Craig's house after confronting Cartman.

"Cartman admitted to kissing Karen." Kenny grunted, sitting next to Craig on the couch. "He also told me to stay away from you."

Craig narrowed his eyes. Kenny turned to him, frowning. "But fuck what he says. He can't tell me how to live my life."

There was a deafening silence for a few moments.

"…Maybe he's right. All I've been doing is causing you trouble, Kenny." Craig whispered, dousing his cigarette in the ashtray beside him.

"No." Kenny answered shortly. "I'm not going to listen to anything anyone says about you. Everyone agrees with Karen about you being trouble for me, but I don't see it."

"How can you not?" Craig stood up, walking to his fridge and fishing out a Coors Light. He popped the cap, taking a long drink. "Look at me, Kenny. I'm a fucking wreck. I've gotten back into my old habits. I lost my job due to drinking. Did I tell you I was drunk on the job?" Craig looked down, guilt crossing his face. Kenny swallowed.

"No, you didn't." Kenny started carefully. "W-where exactly did you work, Craig?"

Craig turned to him, gulping down the remaining liquor in the bottle. "Construction. Not exactly the best place to be drunk."

"…I'll help you for now. Until you find a new job." Kenny frowned.

"At this rate, I don't think I'll get one any time soon." Craig replied hoarsely. "What's the fucking point? I'm a fucking joke."

"You're not a joke, Craig."

"I need another beer." Craig opened the fridge again, peering in. He grimaced when he came to find that there were no more left. "Great. I'm out of fucking liquor." He turned to Kenny, a pleading look in his eyes. "Do you mind if you buy me something?"

Kenny swallowed the lump in his throat. "You're already pretty drunk, Craig. I think you've had enough."

Craig narrowed his eyes. "Don't tell me when I've 'had enough'." He slurred. "You said I could pay you back any way I needed to. Go get me alcohol."

"How do I benefit from that?"

Kenny gasped in surprise when Craig grabbed him roughly by the shirt collar, pinning him to the wall. "Don't fight me, Kenny. I need it." Craig growled, his eyes narrowed into slits.

"You don't need it, Craig. I'm leaving." Kenny murmured, pushing his friend off of him.

"No, wait…" Craig hesitated. "…don't leave me."

"I'll see you in the morning when you're not drunk." Kenny mumbled as he moved to the door, opening it with a jerk.

"Stay with me, Kenny." Craig pleaded. "I know you don't want to leave."

It was true. Kenny didn't want to leave. He didn't want to go to his own apartment, confront Karen or Cartman again. He just needed… comfort. He turned around slowly to face Craig. "Alright. I'll stay."