Chapter 45

"Right, I'm back" Tanya informed who she expected to be Joey as she made her way into the kitchen "I've got the essentials for now. Nappies, formula, dummies, that sort of thing"

"Not Joey or Lauren, Tan" Jack chuckled

"You're back then?" Tanya questioned, ignoring her brother-in-law's comment, turning to her husband who was sitting drinking a glass of whisky

"This is my home, Tanya" he informed her taking a swig from his glass.

"You're lucky it still is after the stunt you pulled at the hospital" she proclaimed "did he tell you what he did earlier, Jack?"

"Yes he did, and he knows my view on it" Jack informed her "how is Lauren? She okay?"

"She's overwhelmed, clinging to Joey, won't let the baby out of her sight for more than a few minutes but it's to be expected. Everything's been a bit traumatic for her in the past 48 hours" she replied "but all-in-all she's okay"

"Do they have everything sorted?" he questioned

"Yeah we do thanks, Uncle Jack. And thanks for the baby things, they're lovely" Joey replied appearing in the doorway.

"What baby things?" Tanya inquired

"Max told me what happened, last night .so I brought them some bits over" he explained "I'm glad you like them, Joey, Ronnie will be pleased she was pretty excited "

"You didn't have to do that, Jack, thank you" she stated, kissing her brother-in-law's cheek

"Well I guessed they'd need some things and I wanted to help" he informed her "how's your Dad taking it, Joey?"

"Don't ask" he sighed "can you show me how to do a bottle please Tan?"

"of course I can love…"

"Well we're all here for you Joey" he assured him "I'm gonna get off. Give my love to Lauren, yeah?"

"Actually, Uncle Jack" Joey proclaimed as he stopped what he was doing "we might need your help tomorrow. We want to move to the flat in Brighton as soon as we can"

"Tomorrow?" Tanya questioned "you said end of the week?"

"I'm sorry but we can't stay, Tan" Joey sighed "Lauren was crying when I went up to her earlier , that bedroom holds too many memories for her. One night will be more than enough and I can't put her through any more than she's already been through "

"I never thought about that" she admitted, guilt washing over her

He smiled at her weakly… "So, are you okay to help us tomorrow, Uncle Jack?"

"Of course" he replied "just give me a call when you need me"

"thanks" Joey smiled

"right come on lets show you how to do this …" Joey nodding in response as Tanya showed him how much of the formula to use, how hot to do the bottle Etc.

It wasn't more than a couple of minutes before the sound of crying upstairs caught their attention, Max placing his paper down looking to the ceiling. The crying continued for a while seeming to grow a little louder by the second. "I should go up to her" Joey said going to leave the room

"give it a few minutes …" Tanya said "she needs to learn"

"I can't Tanya…" Joey shot as he ran up the stairs bottle in hand. He pushed open the bedroom door more, slightly worried by what he saw. He walked over to the Moses basket picking up Amber and soothing her. Moving over to the bed he looked at Lauren laying back on the bed eyes closed. "Lauren ?" looking closer he saw she was a little despondent her body looking a slightly limp. "Baby can you hear me?"

He got no response. Panic struck through him as he lay Amber back into the bassinet and began to check Lauren over for any signs of self-harm. He hated himself for automatically assuming the worst but he needed to know. "Lauren? Stay still babe…" he turned her into the recovery position and called for Tanya and Max, who appeared seconds later.

"Oh god What happened?" Tanya asked panicked

"I think she's had another fit…" he sat on the edge of the bed running his fingers softly through her hair. "she hasn't been sick or anything…"

"what did the doctors say to do?" Max said staring in fear at his daughter

"just to wait, he said they can last up to two minutes and that the unconsciousness could last up to the same" there was a slight murmur from the bed as Lauren began to come round. She moved on the bed quite frantically as she got her bearings.

"easy baby…" Joey said softly. She gasped sitting up sharply only for Joey to ease her back down.

"Amber!"

"she's fine… do you remember what happened?" she shook her head "Did you feel another seizure coming on?"

She closed her eyes nodding "I had a rush in my head, like a really quick headache, I'd got Amber, I could feel…I don't know I felt strange I put her down and she was crying… that's all I remember…I'm sorry"

"hey it's ok, no harm done… you should have called me up, promise me next time you feel one coming on you'll call me"

"I promise… can I have Amber please?"

Tanya lifted her granddaughter from the Moses basket and passed her across to Lauren "Joey's done a bottle for her… are you sure you're ok ?"

"I'm fine" she said quickly drawing Amber closer to her. Tanya nodded leaving the room, she went to shut the door behind her "Don't shut it... please" she looked horrified at her Mother. Joey squeezing her hand tightly looked up at Tanya, their earlier discussion about the room holding bad memories becoming all the more clear.

"it's ok Lauren, I'll leave it open"

so just as things have settled down Lauren has another seizure! Back tomorrow ... and something for you all to look forward to, I'm working on another story a much lighter one than this ! Xx