Shooting Star- going to be a 3- shot now.
Lauren drifted in and out of conscious throughout the night. Joey was beside himself and never left her side. He was tired, very tired but after countless cups of coffee and crying himself out a few times, he just felt numb to everything.
Max and Tanya walked in with the doctor, all looking concerned.
"What's wrong?" Joey asked, his voice broke.
"Lauren needs a liver transplant" Max replied, his head in hands before pacing the room.
"Right so we get her a liver, yeah?" Joey proclaimed, sounding hopeful.
"That's the problem. There isn't any available transplant matching Lauren's blood type" The doctor told him, taking some notes.
"So what does that mean?" Joey asked, now worried.
"It means" Tanya cried, taking a breath "She won't make it to tomorrow"
"You mean...?" Joey couldn't finish his sentence as tears threatened to pour.
"She's gonna die" Max said, quietly, fighting his own tears. Joey stared at him and then back at Lauren. He gasped as tears fell from his eyes, not being able to control his breathing as he went into a state of shock. Max tried to put a comforting arm on him, to calm him down but Joey pushed away. He was finding it hard to breath, the room was spinning and closing in. Alice suddenly came in the room, as if on cue, and walked towards him, pointing to the chair. He sat without question as she kneeled in front of him, her hands on his shoulders.
"No, no, no, she can't die. I won't let it. She can't die!" He said under his breath, shaking his head. Alice's hands moved to his face, wiping his tears.
"Look at me, Lauren needs you to be strong for her. She'll pull through. She's a fighter and she's a Branning" She told him, looking at him.
"Didn't you hear them, Alice? She won't make it to tomorrow. She is gonna die and it's all my fault" He replied, gasping then looked at Lauren.
"It's not your fault. No one could of predicted this" She said, pulling him into a hug.
"Will she wake at all? Or will she slowly go?" He asked the doctor, pulling away from Alice.
"It's hard to say but it's best if you start saying your goodbyes soon but we have put Lauren on alert for a liver if one comes up" The doctor replied, before leaving.
"We'll give you guys some time alone" Alice said, standing up and took Joey's hand "Come on, we'll come back later"
He obeyed and let her guide him out of the room where they found Abi holding Oscar whilst being comforted by Jay. Joey sighed loudly and punched the wall hard. Alice sighed, went to see the damage and saw his knuckles red, probably going to bruise the next day but no broken bones.
"This isn't going to solve anything" She told him, sighing, sitting.
"Nothing is going to solve this, Alice. Nothing! She is going to die and there's nothing I can do to stop it. She'll never know that I know the truth" He cried, his head in his hands.
"Just because she isn't awake, I'm pretty sure she can still hear you" Alice told him, smiling weakly.
"Abi. Oscar. Your sister is asking for you" Max suddenly said, stepping at Lauren's room. Joey looked up, shocked at this.
"Lauren's awake?" He questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah mate but she doesn't want to see you" Max replied, sighing. Joey stared at him, hurt as Alice took him, taking him away and Abi walked in to see her sister.
"Abi!" Lauren said, as she walked in, trying to sound happy as she could.
"Lauren!" Abi dived on the brunette, crying and hugged her for dear life.
"Be careful with your sister, Abi" Tanya said as Oscar walked towards Lauren's bed.
"Where are you going?" He asked, sad and Abi picked him, placing him on the bed.
"I'm going on an adventure. I'm off to see Bradley and Billie and Uncle Derek" Lauren replied, trying to smile for the sake of her little brother. Max couldn't take it and walked out, trying not to cry.
"What's she saying?" Joey asked him, another coffee in his hand.
"She's told Oscar she's going to see Bradley, Billie and Derek. She's being so calm about it, Joe. I can't bury another child. I can't do it" Max cried, sitting down. Joey sat next to him, sighing.
"I guess she needs to be calm for Oscar's sake" He said finally, sighing and Tanya walked out.
"She wants Alice then Whitney then she wants to sleep" She told them, smiling a little before going to find Alice.
Joey stood up "So wait, she wants to see my sister and someone who shut her out but she doesn't want to see me? What's that about?"
"You shut her out too, to be fair" Max replied, sighing.
"Oh, I get it. That's her punishment. I have to live with what I did whilst Whitney gets to make her peace. No. She isn't doing that to me" Joey proclaimed, walking forward.
"Joey, don't. She doesn't want to see you" But he pushed past Max and walked into Lauren's room, seeing her hug Abi.
"Abi, can you give us a few moments please?" He asked, sighing as she pulled away from Lauren.
"Abi, don't" She said, looking everywhere but Joey.
"You need to hear him out and say goodbye" Abi replied, squeezed Lauren's hand and left.
"What do you want?" She finally asked, moving to get a glass of water. He was by her side in a flash, helping her. She rolled her eyes, taking the glass from him.
"I know and now it's too late. This is the worst possible karma there is" He said, taking her hand but she pulled it away, turning her head.
"Yes. You should of believed me. I stopped for you and you didn't believe in me" She replied, not knowing if she was more anger or upset.
"I need you to forgive me, please, babe. I know it's a lot to ask but ju-"
"But what? You think because I'm dying everything is good? Your conscience is clear and you don't have to live with the guilt? Do me a favour" She snapped at him, bitterly.
"Lauren, please, I love you" He said, sighing.
"Oh, that makes it alright does it? You think I'll say oh it's alright, Joey. I'm dying it doesn't matter. I love you too. And we kiss and it makes it easier for you? Get real" She exclaimed, managing to lay on her side, her back facing him.
"So that's it then? This is it?" He asked, sighing, pinching his nose, breathing heavily.
"Yes. Just get out. Because you may love you but I feel nothing but hate for you. I hate you" Lauren regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth because she didn't hate him. She never could.
"If that's how you feel" Joey said, quietly before leaving.
After leaving Lauren with Whitney, Alice found Joey on the hospital roof.
"What are you doing up here?" She asked, crossing her arms.
"Lauren needs a liver. I'll give her one" He replied, standing on the edge, looking down.
"Don't you dare, Joseph Branning" A voice proclaimed. It wasn't Alice's voice. It was Lauren's. She was in a hospital wheelchair, lead by Whitney.
"What are you doing out of bed, Lauren?!" Alice demanded, staring at her
"I'm gonna die anyways. What's the point being stuck in bed whilst waiting for it to happen?" Lauren questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Come on, Alice. We need to give them a moment" Whitney said. Alice sighed and nodded, both of them leaving. Lauren sighed and wheeled herself towards Joey.
"What are you doing, you prat?" She asked, looking up at him.
"Giving you a liver. You need it more than me" He replied, looking down.
"Then you're a total idiot then. Come on, you are gonna put me in an even earlier grave, standing like that" She told him, holding out her hand. He looked at it, narrowing his eyes in confusion.
"You said you hate me so why are you doing this?" He asked, his eyes not leaving hers.
"Don't you know me by now? Total drama queen? Most of the time meaning the opposite of what comes out of my mouth" She questioned, raising an eyebrow. He nodded and took her hand, jumping down.
"Lauren, I'm so-" She stopped him, by managing to stand up and kiss him.
"It really is alright. I love you too" She told him, resting her head against his.
"I didn't believe you. I deserve you hating me" He replied, moving his hand and tucked her hair behind her ear.
"I don't hate you. I never have, no matter what I tell myself" She smiled, squeezing her hand.
"So what now? Goodbye?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No that's just too painful. Come and be with me. You're the only one I want there when I go. Holding me" She replied, smiling a little. He nodded and kissed her again before she sat back down in the wheelchair and he wheeled her back to her room.
By the time they had reached Lauren's room, she had began to fall weak. Really weak. He picked her up out of the chair and carried her to the bed, placing her down before laying down with her and she laid across his chest, her eyes drooping.
"No, you don't. Not yet. Stay with me, as long as you can" Joey told her, lifting her chin to look at her.
"I'll try my best" She replied, sighing, feeling at home again finally, laying across his chest, smelling his scent.
"That's all I ask" He said, kissing her hair as they began to talk about the most random things.
About an hour later, he noted she haven't spoke or moved in a while. He nudged her but didn't have any luck.
"Lauren?" He shook her but still had no hope. Her skin was freezing but warm at the same time. She looked pale, no life in her when Joey realised she had gone.
"Oh, Lauren, baby" He said, wrapping his arms around, crying, kissing her hair. Tanya came bursting in, her face falling on the sight.
"We are too late. We are too late" She whispered, her voice lost. The doctor pushed past her and walked towards Joey cradling Lauren's lifeless body.
"Put her down" The doctor ordered. He sighed and nodded before the doctor felt Lauren's wrist then listened to her heart.
"We have a liver for her and if I'm not mistaken, that's a pulse. A faint one but it's one. Lauren is going to fine. The liver is half an hour away. Lauren has about an hour in her. She is going to be fine" The doctor said to them. Joey gasped from joy, looking down at Lauren, crying now from happiness.
"We need to prepare her. You can celebrate later" The doctor added. Joey nodded, quickly kissed Lauren's forehead then left.