Craig still looked pale but not as bad as before. Blood was still being fed to him through an IV as well as another clear liquid that Paige guessed was morphine. His arm was in a sling and rested on top of the blanket that covered him. There was heart monitor beating steadily and other wires that Paige didn't know the purpose to. But he was alive and that was all that mattered. She stood beside his bed and ran a finger down his hand then gripped it in her own. To her surprise, she felt his fingers close around her's.

"Craig?" she whispered, her heart fluttering.

He let out a soft moan, his eyes still closed.

Paige gently stroked his cheek. "Craig, hon, wake up. It's Paige."

"Paige?" His voice was barely audible. He frowned slightly. "Wh-what's going on?"

"Everything's okay. You're in the hospital now. You're going to be fine."

Craig's eyelashes fluttered as he opened his eyes slightly. "I am?" She watched as his eyes flicked back and forth, taking in the room. They finally came to rest on her and a smile played over his face. Paige caught her breath. She couldn't believe she had failed to realize how good looking he had become. Even now, the sight of him made her heart skip several beats. She realized that those feelings were stronger than she could have thought.

Paige nodded until she found her voice. "Yeah."

"That's good." Craig closed his eyes for a minute then opened them wide this time. "Did they call Joey?"

"Yeah he's here. He just went to go make a call. He'll be back soon." She noticed a wistful look on Craig's face. "What?"

"He flew all the way down here?" Craig asked. He looked amazed at the idea of it.

"Yeah. He caught a flight as soon as I called and got here in a few hours while you were in surgery. He was really worried, Craig." Paige watched him for a reaction. He stared at the ceiling for a while before turning to her. Then his eyes focused behind her and she turned to see Joey standing in the doorway. She looked back at Craig and realized that she should leave them alone to talk. From the look on Craig's face, she could tell that they would have a lot to talk about.

Craig had thought he would never feel worse than when he thought he was going to die. But now he thought he did seeing Joey standing in the doorway. He remembered what he said about how Joey and Angela weren't his real family. Now, seeing the concern on Joey's face, he realized that this was the only true father he ever really had.

Joey came to sit in the chair beside the bed. "Hey there. How are you feeling?"

"Like I just got shot."

Joey chuckled but his eyes remained worried. "Seriously, though."

Craig shrugged then grimaced at the pain in his shoulder. "My shoulder hurts and I feel kinda like I have the flu, you know? All weak and woozy and stuff."

Joey nodded distractedly. "A-and you're comfortable? You don't need any more blankets or pillows..."

"No, no, I'm fine. Really."

Joey fumbled with the antenna on his cell phone. "Are you sure?"

"Joey. I'm okay. You don't need to worry."

Joey looked up at him finally. "What do you mean, I don't need to worry? Of course I'm going to worry about you, Craig. You're like a...no you are my son. If you hadn't..." He bit his lip.

Craig felt tears prickling at his eyes. "I know. You've been a really great father to me. I haven't appreciated it. But I do now."He took Joey's hand and squeezed it. "I'm sorry that I never said it before."

"Craig that means a lot to me," Joey said earnestly. "I always wondered if you were happy. I know how hard things were after your mother..." He paused, clearing his throat. "And your dad. But Angie and Caitlin and I will always be here for you. You still have a family."

"I know," Craig replied, his voice thick with emotion. "I didn't always know but I know now. I don't think I ever thanked you for taking me in after everything with my dad. It must have been a big burden to suddenly get a teenage son..."

Joey leaned forward. "I admit I wasn't exactly sure what I was doing. But you weren't a burden. Never a burden. I wanted you, I wouldn't have taken you in if I didn't. I wished I could have after your mother passed away but it wasn't possible at the time. I could have just as easily left you with a foster family but I didn't. I love you Craig. More than you think."

Craig couldn't think of any words he could possibly say to convey what he was feeling. Instead he reached out his good arm to pull Joey into a hug. Joey hugged him back carefully, avoiding his injury. After a minute he pulled away and smiled at Craig affectionately. Craig leaned back against his pillows, tired but feeling better than he had in a long time.

"So..." A grin started to spread across Joey's face. "What's the deal with this Paige girl?"

Craig suddenly remembered their kiss and felt his face growing hot. "Uh, what do you mean?"

"Well I mean she was really worried about you. And not to mention the fact that she's a knockout. And blonde. Blondes are good."

Craig laughed. "Yeah they are." He shrugged, looking away, feeling embarrassed. "I don't know. I mean, we did kinda kiss..."

"Hey that's a good sign," Joey said with a chuckle.

"Yeah but I was kinda the one who kissed her, so I don't even know if she was just being nice because I was hurt or what."

"Well how did she react?"

"Um I don't really know I kinda passed out right afterwards."

Joey raised his eyebrows. "That must've been some kiss," he joked.

Craig laughed but his mind was elsewhere now. He remembered Paige's face after the kiss. She had her eyes closed but didn't look like she had minded at all. He knew he certainly didn't.

As though in answer to his thoughts, Paige appeared in the doorway, hovering uncertainly.

"Hey," Craig said, smiling at her. She smiled back hesitantly.

Joey pushed back his chair, getting to his feet. "Um, I should call Caitlin again. She's been threatening to fly down if I don't give her updates every twenty minutes." He patted Craig affectionately on the hand then went towards the door. As Paige walked by him into the room, he winked at Craig over her head before turning away.

Craig tried to suppress a grin.

"How are you feeling?" Paige asked him as she sat down in the chair beside his bed.

"Not too bad." Craig realized he really did feel better. Whatever medication they were feeding him through the tubes seemed to be working. "How are you doing?"

"Oh I'm fine. You don't need to even be asking."

"Well I don't mean just physically. That must have been pretty scary for you. I was kinda out of it the whole time. If I were you, I would have been freaking out," Craig told her.

Paige chuckled harshly. "I kind of was. You probably just didn't notice or else I hid it very well."

Craig noticed tears glistening in her eyes. "Hey, Paige it's okay now. Everything's cool." He took her hand in his, rubbing it soothingly.

She swiped at her eyes with her other hand. "No, I know. It's just that...I was scared, Craig. I managed to keep it inside at the time but now..."

"Paige..."

"I thought you were going to die," she whispered.

Craig swallowed hard. "I know. I did too." He managed a tiny smile. "But I didn't."

"Thank God," Paige said sincerely. "I don't know what I would have done." A smile started to spread across her face. "Who would bug me every day at work?"

"Me bug you?" Craig replied with feigned indignation. "Please, you're the one who—" And then she was kissing him. It happened so fast, he barely had a chance to react. But when he realized what was going on, he kissed her back. After a while they finally pulled away from each other. Craig couldn't think of a word to say. Paige sat back in her chair, staring at him Then she grinned.

"You kissed me last time. I had to get my revenge."

Craig laughed. He never knew revenge could feel so good.