Thanks for all your reviews on the last chapter, guys :D Means a lot

Ready to find out what happened next?

Read on and enjoy :) xx

Joey and Max rushed into the house and through tothe living room. Joey noticed that the alcohol cupboard was open and looked at Max, who looked past Joey at the stairs.

'Lauren?' screamed Joey, rushing up the steps, with Max hot on his heels. They skidded to a stop outside of Lauren's room and tried to open the door, but couldn't. Max groaned and kicked at it, while Joey rammed into the door with his shoulder. A crack appeared and Max kicked at the crack, causing it ti get bigger, until Joey went a put his fist through the door and unlocking it. Joey swung the door open and rushed to Lauren's side. His eyes widened as he saw the blade next to her. Hegrabbe dboth of her arms and rolled her sleeves of her top up. He sighed in relief as he saw no cuts. He picked the blade up gently and put it back in the tin, handing the tin to Max, so he could throw it away. A choking sound filled the room, making Joey frown.

'Lo? Lauren?' he asked. Max tapped him on the shoulder, and it was then that Joey noticed the alocohol bottles. He sighed and grabbed the bin, before grabbing Lauren gently by her waist and heaving her up onto her knees, so she could throw up into the bin. Joey scraped her hair out of the way and rubbed her back, soothing her.

'Go get a glass of water' said Joey to Max. Max rushed from the room, leaving Joey to tend to Lauren. He saw Lauren reaching blindly for his hand and he gripped hers in his, noticing she calmed down a bit at the action.

'It's okay, babe! I've got you... Joey's got you' he murmured to her, as Lauren threw up again. Max appeared back in the room with a glass of water and a letter.

'Thanks' said Joey, accepting the water from Max. He gently lifted Lauren's head up and helped her take a sip of the water.

'Joey, I'm sorry!' she whimpered, as he pressed a kiss to her slightly sweaty temple.

'It's okay, baby. I promise' he said, before turning to Max

'Max, can you get me a cold flannel or something?' he asked. Max didn't answer. He was too busy reading a letter.

'MAX!' Joey shouted. Max walked into the bathroom, too absorbed in the letter and did as Joey had asked. He handed it to Joey, folded it up and pressed it to Lauren's forehead. Lauren sighed and slumped backward against Joey's chest. He leane dback against the bed and spread his legs out infront of him, so Lauren was sat between them, occassionaly letting little whimpers escapre from her mouth.

'Joey, will you be okay with her? I need to speak with Tanya about soemthing?' Max asked, not waiting for Joey answer and fled the room, leaving Joey alone with Lauren...

Half an hour later, Lauren seemed to come round and got to her feet unsteadly and headed to her ensuite to brush her teeth. She brushed them for about five minutes, wanting to rid the taste of the sick in her mouth. She gargled her mouthwash, before rinsing her mouth out and dabbing it dry. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and sighed. She looked pale and slightly gaunt. She splashed some warm water on her face, making her feel a tiny bit better. She dabbed her face dry, before a wave of dizziness washe dover her. She gripped the sink, just as a pair of strong arms gripped her waist.

'Lauren? You okay? Come on, you need rest' he said, guiding her back into her room. He pulled the duvet back, watching as Lauren climbed in.

'Can you lay with me?' she asked in a small voice. Joey nodded.

'But first, you're going to eat something. Coffee and toast?' he asked. Lauren nodded and watched as he left the room. She sighed and clamped a hand to her forehead. She felt rough. Really rough. She hadn't been this drunk for nearly two years and it was a killer. She looked at her bedsid table, which was still on the floor and sighed, before remmebering what she had in there. She gasped queitly and got out of bed, putting the table back up right. She frowned as she didn't see her pastic tin anywhere and she started to panic.

'Oh God' she whispered, looking wildly round room, before spotting it on her desk. She sighed with relief and rushed to the tin. She picked it up and opened it, then stopped. She looked at the blades what she had in there, and then thought about what happened just before Joey and Max had found her. She found that she couldn't do it. A voice was stopping her, telling her 'No'. Her eyes burned with tears and she turned back to bin, walking towards it. She stared at the bin and then at the tin, before slowly tipping the blades out of the tin, watching as they fell into the bin. She let out a sound, which sounded like a choke and a gasp, before Joey wrapped his arms round her.

'I'm so proud of you for doing that' he whispered. She turned in his arms and buried her face in his neck, as his arms tightened round her...

Max arrived abck at the hospital, finding Tanya sat in the canteen what had just opened. She was staring into space, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. He sat down infront of her, startling her.

'Max! What are you doing back? Did you find Lauren?' Tanya rambled

'I found her. Joey's with her' Max answered, making Tanya sigh with relief.

'Good. Is she okay?' she asked. Max didn't answer. He pulled out a letter and unfolded it, placing it on the table, watching as Tanya's face paled rapidly.

'When were you going to tell me?' he asked. Tanya didn't answer. She just stared at the letter in silence, when Max remembered something.

'That night Lauren to Walford... She was in tears! She found this didn't she?' Max questioned. Still, Tanya didn't answer, but Max saw the answer written on her face and sighed.

'Who else knows?' he asked

'No one. Just Lauren, and now you' Tanya whispered. Max scoffed lightly.

'So, you haven't told your husband? Or Abi?' Max questioned. Tanya shook her head.

'What not?' inquired Max.

'Because it's no one else buissness, max. Expect mine. Yes, the cancer's returned! And I'm dealing with it!' Tanya said, her eyes burning with tears.

'Are you having treatment?' Max asked. Tanya looked away from him.

'TANYA!' screamed Max

'No! I'm not! I don't want it, Max! If it's my time to go soon, that it's my time to go!' Tanya said, stunning Max into silence...

R&R :D xx