CHAPTER 4 – "Morphine please."

LPOV

I woke up with a start and inhaled sharply, as I felt my ribs protest at the movement. I looked around the room and noticed a doctor looking at a clipboard at the foot of my bed.

"Ah, Miss Lopez, you're awake." Duh. "Your friends were very worried about you, you know." He said looking at me. I started to talk once I found my mouth didn't hurt as much as before.

"Am I okay, Doctor –?" I asked, hoarsely.

"Martin. Well, you can walk and talk, and you'll definitely live, so yeah you're OK." He smiled. "But you upper right body seemed to suffer the most. Your jaw was unhinged and your arm is broken –" No wonder it felt heavy. " – You've had several fractured ribs. You've had to have stitches on the side of you face but the worst has to be your shoulder, so try not to move so much. And you've had to have several blood transfusions due to blood loss from your wound." He finished.

"Oh."

"I'm going to go let your friends know they can come in, you gave them quite a scare. Glad you're okay Miss Lopez." Said Doctor Martin.

"So am I." I smiled weakly.

I closed my eyes again, listening to him exit the room. I could hear several muffled voices and then the door bang open. I was met with a collective gasp and opened my eyes. Did I really look that bad?

"You look like shit." Deadpanned Brolden.

"Not so good looking yourself, B-Hol." Referring to his bandaged head. The guys laughed and came over to the bed, Joe sitting right on my left in the empty chair.

"So what's the damage?" Asked Darren sitting at the foot of the bed.

"Well, I can still walk so that's ok. But my jaw was unhinged, my arm's broken," I said lifting my arm.

"So is mine!" said Rosenthal, raising his too.

I smiled at his cheerfulness and continued, "Some of my ribs are fractured and my face had to be stitched up. Oh and I have 31 stitches in my shoulder so I can't move it." The guys winced. "Wanna know something cool?" I asked them, grinning.

"Sure, Lo, why not?" said Joe flashing me a dazzling smile.

"I have other people's blood sloshing around in me." I giggled.

"Only you would find that funny." Laughed Dylan. At that moment a plump nurse came waltzing in claiming visiting hours were long over but I could have one person stay the night. I looked at Joe hopefully and he nodded. The others caught this and after several "We'll see you tomorrow" 's and "Don't overdose on morphine" 's, the boys left, leaving Joe and I alone.

"I'm glad you're OK, Lolo. You had me worried there for a minute." He looked at me with a look in his eyes. I blushed under his gaze and felt my tummy turn in a pleasant way. Stop it Lauren, he would never like you, I chastised myself.

"Well, jou taught me something once. That no matter how hard jou get knocked down, jou always got to get back up." I said in my Taz voice.

Joe laughed and got into a more comfortable position on his chair. I looked at the clock on the table beside me and noticed it was four in the morning.

"You must be tired." I commented slowly moving to the right side of my bed.

"Naw, I'll stay up with you." He yawned.

"Sure, but you can't sleep on that chair, so jump in." I motioned to the spot next to me.

"No, no it's ok Lo, I'll be fin –"

"I won't take no for an answer, Joe. So get in the dead goddamn bed."

He relented and got in next to me, minding my hair and leaning back, closing his eyes at once. I curled into his side and relaxed immediately, but my stomach and shoulder were starting to hurt.

"Hey, Joe?" I whispered, hoping he wasn't asleep yet.

"Mhmm?" He hummed.

"Can you push that button above the bed? I can't reach and I need meds." His eyes shot open and he looked down at me.

"I'm so sorry, Lo. I forgot to ask how you were." He gushed.

"It's OK, all you have to do is push the button." I winced. He nodded and reached up, pushing it without hesitation. The relief was instantaneous.

"Thanks." I mumbled, the liquid sleep kicking in.

"No problem, Lo." He kissed my forehead and started stroking my hair. I smiled, slowly drifting to sleep.

"Oh, I forgot." He exclaimed suddenly. I cracked my eyes open and saw he had something in his hands.

"What's that?" I asked, curious.

"A unicorn Pillow Pet." He said, smiling and handing it to me. I squealed and grabbed it, cuddling it close to me.

"Thank you, Joseph." I stretched up and kissed him on the cheek. I could see a faint blush on his cheeks and giggled.

"OK, time for bed now." He said, pulling the covers over us and pulling me against him. I couldn't help but smile.

Before I fell asleep I was sure he said, "I love you." Maybe that's just the meds talking?

LPOV

"Lolo, Lauren?" A voice sing-songed above me.

"Go away." I mumbled, turning over in, not wanting to wake up so soon. I soon found that impossible due to my bulky cast and swore. I heard laughter and opened my eyes slowly, I am definitely not a morning person.

"Morning Sunshine." Waved Joe, from his card game with Darren, Nick and Dylan.

"She's awake!" smiled Rosenthal.

"Finally, I'm starving." Said Joey.

"When are you not?" I teased. "So what's for breakfast?"

"It's lunch time Lauren." He motioned to the clock; 12:30.

"What? Why didn't you wake me up?" I turned to Joe accusingly.

"I tried, but those meds knock you OUT!" he laughed.

"Whatever, give me food. I'm so hungry I could eat Bambi's mom." I joked. The guys had brought McDonalds back and spread out everything on my bed table. After I was done I watched T.V while everyone was doing their own thing. Joe soon lost his card game and came to sit next to me.

"How you feeling?" He asked motioning to my head and shoulder.

"Like crap, but I just wanna go home."

"You haven't even been here a day?" he exclaimed.

"So? Neither were the Brian's but they got out." I reasoned.

"Fine, I'll go find your Doctor and talk him into letting you out early." He smiled down at me and left.

I smiled too, despite myself. You would think after all this time I'd been over him, but I'm not. I feel the same way I did one year ago.

"Well, Miss Lopez. After checking your charts, you seem to be alright to go home." Doctor Martin told me, pulling me out of my thoughts. Thank dead god for Joe. After a few minutes I was on my way home with a big smile and bag full of medication.