Chapter 60
The door opened a little later, Tanya walking in "Did she take any?"
"no I stopped her… her wrist is bleeding though" he pulls back her top showing Tanya the reddening mark on her left wrist. "I've been putting pressure on it…"
"Did she do that today?" Tanya gasped
"I guess so… it wasn't there yesterday."
Tanya moved back over to them and gently lifter Lauren's wrist cleaning the wound. Lauren remained completely still, shocked into silence by what she'd done. "I think we need to call the doctor for her Joey…"
"no!" he said firmly.
"she's relapsed Joey…she's tried to kill herself more than once today" she got up and left the room before Joey could argue.
Lauren shifted in his arms moaning a little when she coughed.
"Babe, I'm going to take you to your room ok?" she didn't talk but nodded "ok. Hold on" Joey lifted her with ease walking them to her room and laying her gently on her bed.
"Don't leave me…"
"I wont baby…I promise you." He shuffled on the bed next to her "promise me Lauren, promise me you wont try anything like that again. Amber needs you Lauren, so do I"
He looked down and saw she had fallen to sleep, he pressed a light kiss to her head and settled himself down too.
An hour later Joey was aware of movement in the room, he looked up to see Tanya, with two police officers and a lady standing by the door.
Joey shook his head furiously and climbed from the bed "No! you are not doing this!"
"Joey she's ill!" Tanya yelled Lauren waking up.
"What's going on?" she looked around the room seeing the familiar face from the clinic "No… please no" she cried looking at Joey
"Lauren your Parents called us and told us what happened… we think it's best if you come with us" the lady nodded, the two police officers moving over to Lauren and holding her arms.
"Get off her!" Joey yelled trying to get Lauren into his hold.
"Please I'm begging you Mum…I'm not ill I just slipped up. I can't go back there I cant!"
"I'm sorry Lauren but you need help" the police acted quickly moving a sobbing Lauren down the stairs and to an awaiting car in the street. Joey ran after her trying to stop her panicking but not able to do anything.
"Joey do something…I love you" she sobbed
"Tanya please… stop them! You can't do this to her. We have a baby! She has a daughter" his words trailed off as Lauren screamed the car door shutting as she was forced into the back of the car.
Her hand pressed against the window staring as the car pulled off an "I love you" mumbled to Joey as she went.
Joey stared after the car as it vanished out of sight. Why had her parents done this to her?
He turned to face Max and Tanya "You have no idea the damage you've just caused…I was handling it. You fix it and fix it now"
"She's our daughter, Joey" Tanya replied "there's nothing you can do about that. Whilst she's a danger to herself and others the unit is the best place for her and deep down you can't deny that"
Joey threw his head back in frustration, "You just don't get it, do you? That place will make her think we've given up on her. You two might have done but I certainly ain't. She's just stressed, Tan. You of all people should know what it's like bringing up a kid at such a young age. Lauren blames herself for Amber getting ill and you doing this just makes her think she's right"
"Joey" Tanya sighed as he began to walk away "where're you going?"
"To see my daughter and see if I can sort this mess out" he informed her
Tanya scoffed and turned to her husband who looked as impressed as Joey… "What?"
"Why did you do it, Tan?" he questioned
"Are you seriously asking me that?! She's ill, Max, she needs help. Why do you care anyway? You don't give a stuff about her, haven't done since the day I told you I was pregnant. You'll have to take her things to her tomorrow, I'm working" she proclaimed, pushing past him and back into the house.
"I won't do it" he informed her shaking his head "I hate that place as much as she does. You're the one that put her there, so you take her things to her, it's about time I stuck up for her"
"Fine, I'll get someone to cover the salon and do everything on my own, as always" she sighed "out of everyone, I thought you'd be on my side"
"There are no sides to this, Tan" he replied "she don't belong in there, end of story. Joey's right, you need to sort this mess out. Your granddaughter's over the road without a Mum, so think about that"
Max left the kitchen and made his way out of the house, slamming the front door behind him.
So bad Tanya's back in business... is there anything Joey can do to stop Lauren being admitted back to rehab? Xx