Where do we go from here

Xander felt completely out of it, after his conversation with Joey. Why did he have to be dragged into everything with this so called friend of his? Were they even friends, anymore? Yes, he was helping out with Dakota, who meant so much to him, and maybe Joey did, too. But it was all so hopeless.

He returned to the couch where Ducky was waiting for him, they were watching a documentary on pandas.

Ducky put his arm around him.

"What happened this time?" He wanted to know.

"Oh, Joey's back to talking about Becca, again. I thought she was just another imaginary girlfriend, but evidently not. He told me to ask Dakota about her." Xander shook his head.

"Well, he's never boring." That was all Ducky had to say about it.

"Should I call Patty?" They hadn't talked for some time. "I don't know what he really needs. Another hospital stay?" Xander nursed his bottom lip. "I wish Vada was home. Maybe she would know what to do."

Xander hugged himself, thinking about what Joey said, about something bad had happened to him when he was little.

Xander was in shock and felt so sad for Joey. Of course, all Xander could do.. was think of his own life, growing up. He'd been bulled a lot at school, but he'd never lived in an orphanage nor fallen into the wrong hands. He'd honestly had a simple life, being raised by a hairdresser who taught him at an early age to help out at the beauty salon. It was definitely a pretty good life, compared to Joey's.

"Just ask Dakota about this Becca. See what she has to say." Ducky shrugged and reached for the popcorn.

Xander wasn't sure how much Dakota would know. After all, she was only a five year old.