So I don't often do the fluffy stuff - well not write it anyway. I prefer a bit of angst when I write... but after the last few chapters I felt it was time for some super-sweet Joey... and here he is, all nicely gift-wrapped, with a bow and everything. Enjoy!

Chapter 6.

After several minutes Joey was calmer and he opened the door to his flat and walked in. He placed the bags of shopping on the floor and made his way into the lounge. He was shocked by what he found.

Lauren was still standing in the middle of the room. In fact, Joey could swear she hadn't moved an inch and she looked really tense, "Babe?" He watched her relax slightly and he walked over to stand in front of her. Her face was blank and he knew she was still in shock after what had happened to her. He took her hand in his, "Let me show you around..." he said to her softly. "It's not a palace but its home... for now anyway." He sees the slight flicker of a smile on her face and he takes that as a good sign. "Come on then." He turns and pulls on her hand gently, "So this is the lounge..." She looks around the room, seeing a couch that actually looked quite comfortable, an armchair, a small table, a TV and DVD player. Some DVDs were piled on the floor too. "I know. I'm missing a few things. I'm still trying to get myself set up." He walked out of the room and picked up the carrier bags in his free hand and pulled her towards the next room. It's a small kitchen and he puts the bags on the side. "The kitchen..." She looks at him and giggles. "I know... I'm stating the obvious." Joey smiles, a blush colouring his face. She lets go of his hand and his heart falls. She walks over to the worktop and starts taking items out of the bags he's just brought.

"Where do these go?" she whispered to him, her eyes flicking to his briefly.

"The cupboard under that counter or the fridge," He said, standing and watching as she put each thing away. She turned to him when she'd done, "Do you want the rest of the tour now?" He asked. She nodded and stepped forward, taking his hand in hers. He squeezed her hand slightly and walked back out of the room. Further down the hallway were three more doors. He stopped by the first one, "This is the bathroom. There's a shower in there that's pretty good and I swear it's clean." He took a couple more steps and opened the next door, "This is the spare room. I've got a duvet and some pillows you can use."

"I don't have any things." She said softly.

"You can borrow some of my clothes if you'd like?" he watched her carefully as he spoke. "If not, I'm sure I can get some things from your house. It'd take some work but I think I could. In a few days we can go and pick up some things for you, if you'd like."

"Your things are okay if you're alright with that."

"Okay." He smiled at her again, "Well, that's the tour pretty much over and done with."

"Aren't you missing something?" she said, tipping her head to one side and smirking at him.

"No. I don't think so."

"What about that room?" she asked, her head nodding to the door behind him.

He looked back over his shoulder, "That's my room." He whispered nervously.

"And I don't get to see it?"

"I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable." He explained softly.

"It's just a room, Joe." She said.

"I know." He looked at her then turned and opened the door, "So this is my room," he said.

"It's nice..." she said as she looked around.

"While we're here, why don't I dig out some things for you?" Joey moved towards the cupboard and pulled open a drawer. He grabbed a couple of T-shirts and hooded tops. He passed them to her then opened another drawer. Saying a silent prayer and looking up to the ceiling he pulled out some boxers and a pair of tracksuit bottoms. He turned again and handed them to her. "They're clean..." he stated quickly when he saw her frown.

"I knew that." She whispered as she rolled her eyes. She looked down at the floor, "Why are you doing all this, Joe?" she asked him.

He stepped closer to her, lifting her chin so she was looking at his face, "You're family, Lauren. I know we haven't known each other very long... but I like you and when I first saw you last night, I wanted to help you."

"I don't need your sympathy!" She said harshly, anger and tears in her eyes as she stepped back from him.

"Tough..." he told her, "You're going to get it," He took another step closer, "I'm going to look after you, Lauren. I know my experience of being a member of the Branning family is pretty limited but I do know that you look after and protect family, so that's what I'm planning on doing." His arms wrapped loosely around her and he pulled her closer. Lauren rested her head against his chest and they stood that way for several minutes. Joey moved his hands, brushing his fingers through the long strands of her hair. Within seconds of him doing this he felt her react, the body shaking sobs began and he brushed her back soothingly, his arms tightening their grip on her. "Ssshhhh," he breathed to her. "It'll be okay."

"It's never going to be okay, Joe." She told him softly. "My life is a mess. My parents don't want me. Nobody does and no one will once they find out what happened to me..."

"Hey!" he said, again he lifted her chin, both his hands cupping her bruised and swollen face. "That is not true, Lauren. Any guy would be mad not to want you. You are beautiful. You are funny. You would make the right guy very happy."

She looked at him, staring deep into his eyes, "Thanks Joe." She whispered.

"Do you want something to eat?" Joey asked her after a couple of minutes. She nodded. "I thought we could get a takeaway, I can't be bothered to cook now." Another nod in response. "Chinese? Or something else?"

"Chinese is fine."

"Come on then, I've got a menu in the lounge." He took her hand again and pulled her into the lounge after leaving the clothes he'd lent her in the spare room. They sat on the couch and Joey reached for a menu for the Chinese takeaway. "You choose what you want to eat. Anything at all."

"Chicken and cashew nuts or sweet and sour pork balls." She said after a few seconds.

He grabbed his mobile and dialled the number, ordering both the dishes she asked for, some chicken chow mien and some rice. "What?" he said when he saw her staring at him oddly after he put his mobile down.

"You ordered a lot of food for two people."

"Well, firstly, I'm starving. I've not eaten anything all day and nor have you, might I add. Secondly, I figured what we don't eat today, we can re-heat tomorrow for lunch."

"A man with a plan..." she teased him gently. "Would it be okay for me to have a shower?" she whispered.

"Of course you can," he told her. "And I have something to help with that too." He stood and held his hand out towards her. He pulled her into the kitchen and went to the cupboard. He bent down and reached into the shelf. He pulled out a roll of bin bags and some parcel tape. "It's not too glamorous," he said when he saw the confusion on her face, "but it will keep your casts dry." She smiled slightly, "Why don't you go and change then when you come back out I can put these on for you."

"Change?"

"Ah... stay here," he dashed from the room and came back a few seconds later with a long dressing gown over his arm. "You can use this." He tells her softly, "It'll keep you covered up and feeling comfortable." He brushed her hair back from her face, tucking it gently behind her ear, "Is that okay?" he asked her softly.

She nodded, "I'll be back in a minute," she said, turning and walking to the spare room.

Joey walked to the bathroom and got her a towel out. He also checked there was shampoo, conditioner and shower gel in the shower cubicle. As he walked back into the kitchen he heard Lauren step out of the spare room. He stood on the far side of the room as she walked through the door. She had her arms wrapped around her body, holding the gown tightly in place. "You okay?" he asked her gently.

She nodded, "Yeah," she looked down at her feet, "I feel dirty," she whispered.

"Hey, babe..." he said, pushing away from the wall and stepping towards her. He watched her carefully as he got closer to her, "You don't need to think that way, Lauren. None of this is your fault, you do know that right?" She didn't react to him at all. He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes, eyes filled with tears and sadness. He pulled her over to the kitchen counter and lifted her easily to sit on the side. She grabbed for the gown and made sure she stayed covered. He picked up the bin bags and pulled one off the roll. He picked up her left hand and carefully covered it with the bag. He put tape over the end of it so water couldn't get in. "Will you still be able to use it to wash your hair?" he asked. She flexed her hand and then nodded her head. Joey lifted her right hand and repeated the process with her other arm. This bag covered more of her arm than the first one. "There all sorted." He lifted her down from the side, an arm round her shoulders and under her knees so she didn't strain her ribs. He walked her slowly to the bathroom, making sure she knew where everything was. "I'll be in the lounge when you're done. I'll put the food in the oven to keep warm. Just yell if you need anything, okay?" She nodded.

*JL*JL*

Joey was beginning to worry about her half an hour later when she still hadn't reappeared. He was seriously considering kicking down the door but knew that would only do more harm than good. He sighed in relief when he heard the door open. He sat waiting for her, getting more agitated as the minutes passed.

"Joey?"

He was on his feet and half out of the door before she'd even finished saying his name. "Yeah?"

"Have you got something I can use on my hair?" she said, avoiding his eyes.

"Yeah, sure." He walked into his room and found a comb he'd probably only used once. There wasn't much need with his hairstyle. He walked back to the spare room and found the door open. She was dressed again in his dressing gown; it was tied tightly around her waist. She stood in front of the dresser, staring into the mirror on top of it. Joey walked up behind her and was soon gently pulling the comb through her long hair. His actions took him by surprise but at the same time it didn't feel wrong either. He glanced at her face in the mirror and could see she'd been crying. He wished there was something more he could do for her than combing her hair. He felt a bit useless really. And he seemed to be turning into a girl... It was too confusing. "Are you ready for some dinner?" he asked her once her hair was tangle free.

"Yeah, that sounds good. Thanks Joe." She said softly.

*JL*JL*

Lauren had eaten more than Joey had thought she would. Of course, there was some food left so he tidied it up and left it in the kitchen to cool down. When he walked back in the lounge he found Lauren studying the small pile of DVDs he had. "Eclectic taste in films, Joe." She giggled.

"What? They're classics."

Lauren turned around and Joey winced slightly when he saw what she was holding, "Mighty Ducks is not a classic."

"Alice gave it to me when we were both young. I didn't have the heart to throw it away." He said softly, "It's a good film." He added.

"I've never seen it."

"How can you judge it when you've never seen it?" He said, standing and taking the disc from her. He put it in the machine and then nudged her towards the couch. By the time the movie started Lauren was leaning against Joey, much like she'd done earlier that day. He wasn't sure what time it was that she fell asleep but she was still there when the film ended and Joey knew he needed to get her to bed. He turned off the TV and DVD player and tidied up the food in the kitchen, then carefully lifted Lauren in his arms, feeling her turn into his body as he moved her. He walked her to his spare room and carefully placed her on the mattress. Making sure not to startle her he shook her slightly to wake her.

"Joe?" she whispered when she opened her eyes.

"It's time for bed," he said. "You get ready for bed." He stood up, "I'll go and get the duvet and pillows for you. Do you want a drink or anything?"

"Some water would be nice."

He returned a few minutes later to the room and found Lauren wearing some of the clothes he'd gave her earlier that day. He tried not to notice how they looked better on her than they did on him. He walked to the bed and placed the duvet on it, passing her the pillows and then moving the duvet so it was draped over her. She stared up at him from the pillow and he smiled at her, "Night Lauren." He said, leaning forward and kissing her forehead gently.

"Night Joe." She replied.

TBC

A/N: So what do you think? So that's it for tonight. I'm switching to one chapter a day from tomorrow but the chapters are longer. So I'll see you tomorrow.

I liked all the little Lauren/Joey scenes in tonight's episode... this is what I've been missing.