Glad so many people liked the last chapter so much. Here is the next chapter. I hope you like it.

Chapter 38.

Max wiped his hand over his face. He was exhausted. He looked at Lauren and Joey and smiled slightly as he saw his daughter asleep on the pillow. She'd fallen asleep within ten minutes of putting her head down next to Joey's and when the nurse arrived with a tray of food for her she'd taken it away again and said she'd bring her something when she woke up.

He was just thinking of waking her when one of the machines began to blare and he could immediately tell it was not a good alert. Lauren stirred and she lifted her head as soon as she was aware of the noise from above her head. She looked at her dad in terror and he quickly moved to her side. The doors opened and people ran in, moving Lauren and Max out of the way so they could get to Joey. Max wrapped his arms around Lauren's shaking body as they watched Joey get treated.

The doctor rushed in and all the nurses began to talk to him, using some sort of code that Max and Lauren had no hope of understanding. The nurses began to move the machines and bed out of the room and the doctor walked over to where they were. "It's not good news," he said softly to Max. Lauren began to sob even harder as her heart broke. "They've taken him for a scan to confirm it but it looks like he's had a stroke."

"You said he was getting better," Lauren said, "YOU SAID HE WAS GETTING BETTER!" She screamed.

Max crouched beside his daughter and tried to calm her down. "I'm sorry Lauren. Things can happen like this all the time. I'm very sorry." The doctor said.

"So what happens now?" Max asked softly.

"Once we get the confirmation, I'm going to operate. If I'm right the haemorrhage is worsening and I need to try and stop it. It could take several hours before I know any more."

*JL*JL*

The door to the now quiet room opened and Max looked up, "It's a mild stroke." The doctor stated. "But the clot is much larger than I'd like to see." He looked at Lauren who was asleep in Max's lap, "How is she?"

"The nurse came in and sedated her after you left earlier." Max told him.

"I asked her to... It could be a while before we know one way or another and I thought it would be easier for her if she slept through that time." He paused, "Would you like me to get someone to take her back to her room?" he asked.

"It might be better. I need to contact Joey's mum and my family, let them know what's happened." It was something Max really didn't want to have to do but he knew he had to.

*JL*JL*

Max was dreading making this call but he knew he needed to make it. "Hello?" was whispered at the other end of the line.

"Lesley, it's Max." He started gently.

"Is it Joey?" Her voice was more alert this time when she spoke. Max sighed and told her the details, not sugar coating it at all. She ended the call, telling him she'd be there as soon as she could.

He immediately began to dial again, "Max?" was Tanya's bleary response.

"Babe..." his voice broke and he had to stop speaking.

"What is it Max?" she asked, concerned when she heard her husband unable to respond. "Is it Lauren?" she asked worriedly.

"Joey's had a stroke." He told her softly. "They're operating on him now..."

"God Max..." she breathed down the line.

"The doctor thinks it's mild but he was concerned I could tell."

"How's Lauren taking it?" Tanya asked.

"They sedated her. She was very upset."

"Do you want me to come down there?"

"You can't, babe. You need to stay with Abi and Oscar." He reminded her, despite how much he needed her support.

"Why don't you call Jack? He can come down to the hospital..." She said softly.

"I don't know what to do, Tan..." He told her quietly, "How are we going to help Lauren if Joey doesn't make it through this?"

"Do you think that's likely?"

"I don't know. He seemed to be getting better earlier and then he had a stroke. I had to call Lesley and break the news to her over the phone."

"Call Jack, Max. He won't mind." She said in a whisper, knowing how much this was upsetting her husband.

"Sorry for calling so late..." he whispered.

"I told you to, darling. I'll come in tomorrow, once I've got Oscar to school." She promised him, "Give Lauren a hug from me."

"Night babe." Max said before ending the call. He stared at his phone for a few seconds before hitting speed dial number 4 on his phone. "Jack?" he said when it was answered.

"What's happened? Is it Lauren?"

"No. Joey." Words failed him again and he had to pause before speaking, "They're operating on him Jack. He's had a stroke and they had to sedate Lauren."

"I'll be there as soon as I can," Jack said, without needing to be asked.

"I can't lose her, Jack," Max whispered. "I can't lose her too."

"I know, Max." Jack said, already moving around his flat as he got ready to go and support his brother. He scribbled a quick note for Sharon and left it on the side in the kitchen. He grabbed his car keys and wallet and dashed from the flat. Max was quiet on the other end of the line but Jack didn't want to hang up. He could tell how close to the edge his older brother was. Tanya was standing on the pavement by his car. He put his phone on mute briefly while he spoke to her, "You okay?" Tanya nodded and he could see she was upset too. He pulled her into a hug and whispered softly in her ear, "I'll make sure he's okay..."

"He's not handling it very well..." she told him.

"I know..." he told her, "I'll look after them both." He kissed her forehead, "I'd better go. Sharon should be able to look after Oscar after school tomorrow... I know you'll want to be at the hospital."

"Thanks Jack." Tanya said. She watched Jack pull away just a couple of minutes later. 'Could this day get any worse?' she asked herself.

TBC

A/N: Oops! I know a lot of you didn't want me to make this happen to Joey... hope you're not too disappointed. Are you up for a second chapter tonight... let me know. :-)