I promise I'll catch up with reviews tomorrow night... this cold has hit me really hard... and at the weekend too... Thanks to each and every one of you who's reviewed so far... they're greatly appreciated. xx

Chapter Seven.

Joey went into her room again, his heart sinking as he saw the swathe of bandages over her back and leg. The oxygen feed into her nose was no longer there, replaced by some sort of breathing apparatus into her mouth and probably down her throat. He glanced at the nurse beside him, she was dressed in a gown, gloves and face mask, just like he was.

"The ventilator is to help with her breathing, she's getting all of the oxygen she needs now." She reassured him.

Joey didn't feel that reassured by her words but didn't respond to what she'd said. "Can I sit with her?" he asked.

"You can… but no skin on skin contact… not until the drugs for the infection have started to make an impact. She's not strong enough to handle any other germs running through her system."

"Okay…" he said, hating that he wouldn't be able to kiss her or touch her. He walked over to the bed and took a seat, pulling the chair a little closer to her. He lifted his gloved hand and pushed some hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear. "Hi babe… I'm here… just like I promised I would be…" he told her softly. The door to the room opened and closed and Joey knew they were alone once more. "I love you so much, Lauren…" he said softly. "I never thought it was possible for me to love anyone… I was definitely more of a fuck 'em and leave 'em kind of guy… taking what I wanted and then making a run for it… moving onto the next girl as soon as I could…" He stopped speaking, staring at her face, his eyes taking in her features as best he could from the way she was lying. "Everything changed when you walked into my life… right from the first moment I saw you, babe. Of course we were cousins… so that made things… complicated." He smiled as he said that, "but you know me… I like complicated, don't I babe?" he said. He paused, almost as if he was waiting for her to say something in reply. "Those months we wasted…" he sighed, "we could've been together and I would've been there for you… Lucy wouldn't have been an issue then, would she, eh?" He told her, "I never should've got together with her in the first place… I think I even knew that at the time… I didn't like her anywhere near as much as I liked you…" He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "I wish things between us had worked… so much, Lauren." He murmured, "I didn't want to leave at Christmas… not really… and most certainly not without you…" He opened his eyes again, staring at her face once more, "I wish you'd come away with me… left the square with me… We were going to do it once before, weren't we?" He wanted to touch her but knew he couldn't and it frustrated him no end. "What I wish, more than anything in the world though, was that I could switch places with you right now... that I could take the pain for you... I hate the thought of you being in pain... like I hate the thought and sight of you crying... it kills me inside." He closed his eyes, taking a few moments to compose himself before he continued, "Kat and Alfie came to the hospital this morning... wanting to know how you are. They were singing your praises, babe... saying how you saved their boys and they couldn't ever thank you enough for what you did. Your dad was practically glowing with pride, babe... he's so proud of you... we all are. You're a proper little heroine, Lauren Branning and I'm going to remind you of that every day for the rest of our lives..." He smiled, "If you were awake now I know you'd be rolling your eyes and telling me to stop being ridiculous and that you're nothing of the sort... but you are, Lauren. Not many people would do what you did... would put the safety of others ahead of their own... Those little boys are alive and uninjured today... because of you, babe... Your mum asked if the police were any closer to knowing what had happened and Alfie said that they're not sure what it was that started the fire... maybe a cigarette... but the explosion was because of some dodgy hairspray Mo had 'obtained' from Fat Elvis... I'm pretty sure her name has just been scrubbed off the Branning Christmas card list... Kat said Mo was devastated... knowing that it was because of her that you're in here... I think you might be able to wrap Mo around your little finger when you get out of here, Lauren..." he paused, closing his eyes and saying a silent prayer that she would get out of here. "I need you to fight, Lauren... fight as hard as you possibly can to beat this... to get well again because I'm not ready to let you go... not again. I can't do it... you're too fucking important to me to even consider doing it... so I'm not going to let you... even if I have to shout at you to encourage you when you're down... to hug you when you're upset... to be there when you need someone to lean on for support..." he leant forward, "I'm here, babe... here for you... forever and always... for eternity..."

A/N: Poor, poor Joey… he really poured his heart out to Lauren then, didn't he? I hope she heard it… Will things get better for our fave couple soon? Send me a review and let me know your thoughts. Back tomorrow…