He knocked gently on the door and opened it despite hearing no response. Looking in, he saw Emily curled in her bed, cocooned in the foetal position, her arms wrapped up to her face. He walked over and sat down on the bed beside her. She was awake but she didn't look at him. She was staring into space. Again he got that feeling he got when meeting shellshock victims. He reached over and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear and she flinched again. He bit his lip.

"Ok, love. I know something's up. And you know I'm not going to leave you alone until you tell me what it is. I won't be mad, I promise. If you don't want to tell me, I can call your Mum, she can come over." He swallowed as he finished, hoping he would get a reaction from her. If he didn't, he didn't know what other way to approach this.

"Mom's away all weekend." Her voice sounded so small.

"Will you tell me?" he asked.

"There's nothing to tell Dad," she said, shaking her head but still not meeting his eye. Cal winced again.

"Is it girl stuff?" he hazarded a guess. She nodded. He mirrored her action and thought about finding a way around that. He hated girl stuff. He understood how it affected those who experienced, he was just no good at it.

"What about Gillian? Would you talk to her?" Emily said nothing but Cal could see the cogs turning in her mind. She wanted to talk. She just didn't know how to talk to him and that made him worry all the more. He watched her for long enough to gauge her response to his latest suggestion before nodding.

"I'll give her a call." As he moved to stand up, he leaned forward and placed a kiss on her forehead but was once again surprised as she drew back from him, tucking her arms around herself and pulling the bed covers up over her face. Cal took a deep breath and walked out of the room.

He moved into his own room where he picked up his phone and dialled. It rang seven times before finally she picked up, answering in a strained voice, biting back a yawn, he guessed.

"Cal? It's after midnight."

"I'm sorry love, did I wake you?" He grimaced at the thought of it. He hadn't wanted to disturb her. But then if something was up with Emily, she would kill him for not calling her sooner.

"I was asleep on the couch. You've spared me a backache in the morning. I can go to my actual bed now that I'm awake." Her voice strained as she stood up. Cal winced again.

"Before you do that love, would you mind coming over?"

"Now?" He tried to gauge her reaction. Surprise, disbelief, but no anger or annoyance. At least he didn't think so. But then again, she was the expert in voices not him.

"I'm sorry. I've a…bit of a situation with Em. She won't talk to me and I'm, I'll be honest Gill I'm really worried…" He swallowed as the words left his mouth. He hoped she could tell how difficult it was for him to lay himself bare like that. Even if it was just through the phone. There was a pause for a moment and Cal wondered if Gillian had fallen back to sleep.

"I'll be over in ten."

OXOXOXO

OK. Am sure people are drawing their own conclusions by now. I seem to be on a roll with this, or at least the beginning of it so hopefully I'll have more up soon! Click that lil 'review' button down there!