How is Joey going to be when Lauren goes back there? Will he be in a better mood? Will Lauren forgive him? You're about to find out... Enjoy!

Chapter 53.

Lauren walked back towards Joey's room. There was a little part of her that was scared of what she was going to find when she went through that door. She thought of something and took a slight deviation from her initial route. Five minutes later she was on her way back towards his room, feeling pretty pleased with herself. She opened the door and found her boyfriend sitting on his bed looking as miserable as he had the last time she'd seen him. "Hi Joe." She said softly. His eyes flickered to hers and she smiled at him. He didn't react. "Still in a shitty mood then?" she asked as she stepped closer. As she reached his side he nudged the iPad in her direction.

Come here!

Usually this would make her laugh but not tonight. "Not going to work, Joe. You can't be like you were with me earlier and expect me to get on that bed with you when you're in a better mood." She crossed her arms and stared at him sternly. Joey pulled back the tablet and pressed a few buttons. He turned it back to her.

Sorry for being an idiot.

"You should be..." she whispered to him. There was a knock on his door and Lauren beckoned them in.

"There's a delivery out here for Joey." A nurse said with a smile.

Lauren smiled widely, "I'll come and get it." Lauren walked out of the room and went to the nurse's station. She pulled some money out of her pocket and paid the delivery man. "Thanks for this." She walked back into the room and put her surprise on the table at the end of his bed. She could feel him watching her but she didn't react. She pushed the table towards him and saw his face when he realised what it was. "I thought you could do with something as a reward for the progress you've made." She said as she opened the carton to reveal the freshly made burger. "I called Maggie and she was more than happy to whip something up for her favourite customer. She sends her love by the way and says get well soon." She unwrapped the cutlery and handed it to him. "Do you think you can manage this?" He reached for the tablet and after a couple of seconds he spun it round to show her.

Where's yours?

She shrugged, "It's okay. I can get something later."

Share mine with me.

"That sounds like a deal." She smiled at him, "So are you feeling better now?" she asked as she cut the burger in half. His hand stopped hers after she put down the cutlery. "What?" she whispered as she met his eyes.

"Sorry." He whispered to her.

Tears flooded her eyes as she realised he'd just spoke. "Joe?" she gasped. Her arms were around his neck and she was hugging him tightly.

"Sorry," he repeated, his voice only failing him slightly.

"You can tell me all about it in a minute. Food first... while it's hot." Joey put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him and she smirked at him. She pulled the food closer and picked up half of the burger and held it out towards him. He stared at her, his eyes gentle for the first time in several days. He moved his head forward and took a bite from the burger in her hand. His eyes rolled back into his head as he chewed it. "Nice?" she asked him gently. He nodded and then moved for another bite of the burger. His hand at her waist tightened and he stared into her eyes. Lauren couldn't help but notice they were several shades darker than they usually were and she had to swallow the lust that shot through her body. After three more mouthfuls his half of the burger was gone and when she went to pick up the other half so she could eat it, he grabbed her hand back in his and pulled it towards him. She arched an eyebrow but watched in interest. He kissed the knuckles of her hand and Lauren closed her eyes. Then he surprised her completely as he sucked one finger into his mouth and licked it clean. He moved onto the next finger and continued this for her whole hand. Lauren was almost breathless with desire when he was done and food was now the last thing on her mind. He kissed the inside of her palm and then picked up the other half of the burger and held it out towards her. She smiled at him and then took a bite as he held it. He was right it did taste heavenly and she went back for a second bite quickly. Within five minutes the burger was gone and she was licking clean his hand. The tension between the two of them was spiralling skyward with each passing second. Joey shoved away the tray and table and dragged her up onto the bed, lifting her so she was sitting on his lap. He kissed her eagerly and Lauren couldn't help but respond to it. She moaned into his mouth; it had been such a long time since she'd felt this way. She knew they shouldn't be doing this. Not here and most certainly not now but god did she want to. "Joey, we need to stop." She said as she dragged her mouth from his. He shook his head, "If you start sulking I might have to punish you."

Joey grabbed the pad and typed in a few things.

I LOVE U

"I love you too, Joe but you knew that already." She kissed him gently, "Do you want to talk about earlier?" He shook his head. "Tell me how your therapy went today." He sighed and his head dropped back against his pillow. "Dad told me you had a fall. Are you okay?" she asked him gently. He stared at her and blinked once. She opened her mouth to say something and he blinked twice. "Yes and no?" she checked. He nodded. "What's wrong?" she asked, brushing the side of his face with her hand. He was tapping the screen shortly thereafter. He turned it to face her once he was done.

It feels like I'm never going to get better.

"Joey..." she whispered. "How can I help?"

You already do. I'm so sorry about earlier. I regretted it as soon as you left.

"I know. I wasn't going to leave you as long as I did but I ended up going to college. I drew again today..." she told him. "It was the first time since I got drunk. I spoke to my tutor as well. I've got to go and see her at the end of the week."

I'm sorry you spoilt all your work.

"It turns out I didn't ruin all of them. There are about five I should be able to fix." He pulled her against his body and brushed his hand up and down her back. Her legs were bent over his lap and she curled against him. "You don't need to get so frustrated, babe." She whispered to him. "You've come so far in just a few days and you will get there. I know you will. I believe in you, Joey. You just need to believe in yourself too."

He nuzzled against her head, his lips brushing the skin in front of her ear, "Love you." He breathed. His voice barely audible but to Lauren he might as well have been shouting it from the rooftop.

"I love you too, babe. So much." She turned her head and kissed his neck softly. "When did this happen?"

I had a bit of a breakthrough this afternoon. Just got a few words sorted.

"What does your therapist say? Does she think you're just going to be able to talk again?"

She doesn't know for sure.

How was your appointment this morning? I'm sorry I didn't ask earlier.

"It was okay. They took some blood for testing," Lauren flinched from the memory, "I've got some scans and tests to go for over the next few weeks. I've got to go and see him again a week after that."

I'm going to be there with you babe. Got to keep my side of the deal.

"I just want to say I think you should be very proud of yourself, Joey. I know you were frustrated this morning but this is just as much of a huge step as walking is." She told him. He kissed her forehead. "I love you too, babe." She replied.

TBC

A/N: I really like this chapter... I hope you did too. Things between Lauren and Joey are being restored... And he spoke. Back tomorrow...