1A/N: Okay here goes chapter two. I hope you like it.

CHAPTER 2

Craig ran down the stairs at the sound of the door, looking at his watch wondering who it could be this late. He was upstairs putting Angie to bed since Joey was out with Snake having a "guys night". Whatever! He got to the door and swung it open laying eyes on a very uncomfortable looking Emma. He wasn't sure what to think. He and Emma hadn't really talked that much since the whole Manny and baby thing like a year and a half ago. They did talk though just not a lot... they kind of had to talk to each other though, their parents were best friends.

"Emma... Uh Hi...ummm come on in"

She walked in and headed to the couch.

"Sorry Craig I know it's kind of late... I just headed out the door for a walk and and not really with anywhere to go and then I realized that it was like after ten, but I just real-"

"Okay Emma your rambling. Slow down take a few deep breaths and tell me why you are here"

She felt a little uncomfortable since they weren't friends anymore, but Craig knew more about anything than anyone else she knew right now and she just needed someone a little older but yet close to her age that could understand. With Ashley gone and his little episode he had with throwing out his meds and running away; she just felt like maybe hopefully he would be a little sympathetic. I mean their parents were close why couldn't she reach out to him and hopefully he wouldn't see her as weak.

" I know you are probably thinking what the hell am I doing here", she went on at the nod of his head, " I can't talk to any of my friends anymore and you are like the only person I have known like my whole life it seems. I mean our dad's are best friends... and you know I just... I need a friend right now that won't look at me like I'm insane..."

She kind of trailed off at the last word hoping she hadn't offended him.

He knew all the stuff that had happened in her life just cause he would over hear Joey ans Snake talking about and he felt sorry for her. He didn't pity her he just understood how it felt to be lost. And in a weird way he was very happy and flattered that she had chose him to talk to, he knew from Joey that she had like even pushed Manny away. CHILL... that name still made him feel strange. He wasn't sure why anymore, it just him feel weird.

He wasn't sure what possessed him but he reached over and grabbed her hand surprising her that she flinched a little.

" Thank you Craig. Even though I can't stand like anyone..." she laughed bitterly, " I can't stand anyone even patting me on the back... I really miss physical contact."

With that she leaned her head on his shoulder, when he wrapped his arms around her and started to soothingly rubbing her back; she finally was able to let the much needed tears fall down. When he felt the tears start to soak his shirt, he pulled her into his lap and started to rock her like he did when his little sister was sad. She felt safe finally, she wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed.

Craig felt for the girl in his arms. Emma was such a strong girl, she had just lost herself in all the turmoil since the shooting and the stuff down at the ravine.

He knew that she was not the girl that had gone down there. He wanted to beat the hell out of Jay Hogart. Then everyone really would think he was nuts. She needed a big brother, like they were when they were little and he would be there for his friend.

He held her in his arms and rocked her and soothed her with kind words of " Everything will be okay"; rubbing her back and soon her breathing slowed down and her body relaxed in his arms. She was asleep. "Good" He had a sigh of relief. He was afraid if he moved that she would wake up and be upset. So Craig leaned back into the couch and fell asleep holding Emma, thinking of ways to make her feel better and ways to make her back into her old self.

Two hours later Joey came home to a quiet house.

That's strange?

"Craig?"

"Shhhhh"

"Craig what are doing" He whispered walking over to the couch and seeing a sleeping Emma laying im the crook of Craig's arms while he lay with his legs off the couch. He couldn't smiling, he hadn't seen them like thins since they were kids.

"Dad can you call Snake and Spike, tell them so they won't worry."

Joey still got a little prideful when he heard Craig call him dad. Craig had started that after he brought him home from the shelter and Caitlin left. He had his son back to the way he wanted and things were fine. He didn't have to worry about his illness anymore and he trusted him. He was glad that they had their relationship back the way it use to be but now it was stronger.

He grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch and covered the two up and went and called Snake.

When he got off the phone with Snake he started up the stairs.

"Thanks Dad." Craig whispered loud enough for him to hear.

"Love you Craig, goodnight"

"Love you too Dad..."

"...night", then he fell asleep holding his friend.

A/N: So I know that was sort of long but not that really. More like long winded. My next chapter I'll get down to business with Emma and we'll see where it goes from there. Hopefully you'll like it.

PEACE ISA