Chapter Eleven.

"Why on earth have I got to be in this thing...?" Lauren grumbled as Joey pushed her down the corridor of the hospital.

"It's hospital policy when patients leave, babe..." Joey said, not for the first time in the last twenty minutes. Lauren was finally being discharged today, leaving hospital almost five months after the fire and her arrival. The last three and a bit months had been difficult for her... and Joey. After a discussion with Max, Joey had decided to quit his job and focus his time on helping Lauren with her rehabilitation. They had grown closer as the days turned into weeks; turned into months and Joey had been able to support her through some tough times. Today was a landmark step though. Today Lauren was going home and Joey could tell she was slightly apprehensive about it. "It's going to be okay, you know, Lauren…" he told her, squeezing one of her shoulders reassuringly.

"I wish I could believe you…" she said.

Joey pushed her through the front entrance and they paused outside, Max's car pulling up in front of them after just a few seconds. Joey walked round to the back door and opened it, holding his hand out towards Lauren. She stood slowly, clutching his hand with one of hers as she reached for the side of the car. She moved the couple of steps to the car carefully, wary of each step… particularly on her left leg. Once she was sitting in the car and putting her seat belt on, Joey shut the door and then pushed the wheelchair back into the hospital. He jogged back out of the hospital and climbed into the car beside Lauren. Max drove out of the car park and soon they were heading back to Walford.

*JL*JL*

Joey put his arm around Lauren's shoulders, pulling her close to him and kissing the top of her head, "Love you…" he breathed.

"I know you do…" Lauren murmured, a hand running over his chest. His hand brushed up and down her arm, trying to help her relax but not actually achieving it. The closer they got to her home the tenser Lauren became. Joey could feel it ebbing through her frame and he hated it. She pulled away from him as the car drove down Bridge Street and through the market. He could see her eyes were locked on her hands as they were clasped in her lap. He knew she was avoiding looking out of the window, at the people milling about, at the house where she was hurt. Max pulled the car up outside the house and Joey leapt out of the car, rushing round to Lauren's side and opening her door for her before Max had even got out of the car. Lauren hadn't moved at all.

Joey crouched beside the door, "We're home, babe…" he said softly. Lauren nodded but still didn't move. "Do you want me to help you?" he asked, lifting his hand and brushing some hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear. Lauren lifted her head and he thought that meant she'd heard him but he quickly noticed her attention was locked on a house in the corner of the square. A house that was now a burnt out shell. "Babe…" Joey whispered.

Lauren turned her head sharply to look at him, "Gonna be sick…" she mumbled. She leant forward, out of the car and Joey supported her as she started to vomit into the road.

"It's okay, babe…" he told her, his free hand holding her hair out of the way.

Lauren stopped heaving and sat back up, wiping her mouth on her sleeve. "Thanks Joe." She whispered.

"Come on, babe… let's get you inside…" he said, standing and then reaching into the car and lifting her into his arms.

"My leg is working now, Joe…" Lauren reminded him.

"I've kind of got used to carrying you everywhere though, babe…" Joey said, smiling at her softly, "besides, I like carrying you," he told her. Lauren rolled her eyes but rested her head on his shoulder. He carried her up the steps and through the front door. He lowered her gently onto the sofa, sitting down beside her, "Are you okay?" She nodded. "Are you sure?" he asked again, "You were sick outside…"

"It was seeing the house…" she told him, not needing to tell him which house she was talking about.

"It's okay, babe…" Joey whispered, "I understand…"

Max appeared in the doorway, "I took your bags up to your room, babe…" he said, "I put yours in Oscar's old room, Joey…" he added.

Lauren and Joey looked at Max, a little surprised by what he'd just said. "Dad…" Lauren said quickly. She could feel her chest tightened as she realised that for the first night in five months… she would be on her own. Alone. She was suddenly petrified.

"It's fine, babe…" Joey told her softly.

"But…" Lauren murmured, her body shaking slightly.

Joey leant forward, "I'll be there, babe…" he breathed in her ear. She relaxed against him and nothing more was said.

"Do you want some lunch?" Max asked them.

"Please dad…" Lauren said, "Something better than hospital food…"

"How about I go and get something from the chip shop?" he suggested.

"That would be great, dad…" Lauren replied. She glanced at Joey and then back at her dad, "If anyone asks, I'm not up to seeing anyone just yet…" she said, "I just need a few days to settle back in…"

"I'm sure they'll understand, babe…" Her dad said. "I won't be long." He walked back out of the house, the front door shutting behind him.

Lauren turned her head and looked at Joey, "It feels weird to be back here." She admitted to him.

"You feel weird to be back here?" he said and she giggled when she looked at his face, "The last time I was here…" his words faded and he hugged her against him.

"If I remember rightly, the last time we were here alone…" Lauren whispered, "was the first time we…" She trailed off with a shy smile.

"Babe, you're killing me here…" Joey said. Lauren giggled and leant over, kissing him gently. "Tease…" he added softly before kissing her back.

A/N: So we've skipped forward few months and Lauren is now home, although she's not completely healed yet. Joey has pretty much given up everything to look after Lauren… bless him. Send me a review and let me know what you think. Back tomorrow…