Safe In Your Arms (Joe Sugg/ThatcherJoe fanfiction)

Chapter 24 - The Truth

I screamed then shot up in the bed. "Kat?" Joe sat up beside me and Zoe's eyes shot open in the chair. "What happened?" Joe gently took my hand and I flinched at his touch. "Kat it's okay" Zoe stood up and sat at the bottom of the bed "Kate, are you okay?" I was shaking uncontrollably, why won't this stop? "Zoe, get a nurse!" I felt like I was going to throw up and pass out all at the same time. Joe stood up beside the bed as a nurse and doctor rushed in, I saw it was Nicole. She ran to my side "Kat, stay with us darlin!" "Kat I need you to calm down" I tired taking deep breaths but nothing seemed to calm me, "Give her oxygen" the doctor shouted. The nurse placed an oxygen mask over my face "Now take some deep breaths Kat" I started pushing myself to take deep breaths "That's it! Keep doing that" Nicole reassured me. After a few minutes I was back to normal and Joe and Zoe were comforting me. "What happened Kate?" Zoe was really concerned, "I had a really bad nightmare" "Do you want to talk about it?" "No, I want to go back to the house" "I know Kate but you're not well" "I'm fine Zoe I just-" "Katie you need to calm down" Nicole took my hand in hers and I instantly calmed down "I'm sorry Zo, I'm just tired" "We're gonna run some tests now Katie but if everything's good we'll discharge you" the doctor and Nicole left, there was an eerie silence "I'm gonna go grab some coffee do you need anything Kat?" "I'm good" "Zoe?" Zoe shook her head "I'll be back in a few" Joe kissed my head and left the room.

"Zo, I'm sorry" I reached out to hug her and she lent into my arms, "Why does it feel like I've known you my whole life Kate?" "I dunno Zo, but thank you for everything"  "No, thank you Kate. If it wasn't for you Joe would still be-" "I can see you two have made up" Joe strolled in with a coffee in his hand "I also have some visitors" two figures appeared in the doorway. One made its way towards me "Katie!" My mum pulled me close to her "I'm so happy you're okay" "Good to see you Katie-Kat" I pulled away from my mum and looked to my dad. He was smiling, "I always seem to see you in hospital" everyone laughed. "Kat, there's someone else waiting for you in reception" I looked away from my parents and to Joe "Who was it?" Joe hesitated "It was some guy, he said he knew you from the coffee shop" "Justin!" Joe looked hurt, "I'll go ge-" "No, no tell him I'm okay and thank you" Joe left the room. My parents, Zoe and I talked and laughed until Joe returned with the doctor, Joe was back to his happy self. "Katie! You'll be happy to know you're free to go!" Zoe clapped "We just have to go over a few things and you're good to go."

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Zoe walked in first "We're home!" she announced as she opened the front door wide. "Kate?" Ericka ran towards Zoe, nudging Zoe as she ran to me. "You're okay!" "I guess so" "We can talk about it later?" Ericka smiled so I nodded and she walked off. "Come on, you need to go to bed!" Joe picked me up in his arms. Joe walked up the stairs and into our room. On our way to the room I saw Alfie and Dan. Both of them hugged Joe and I. When Joe got into the room he placed me on the bed gently, I curled up under the covers and closed my eyes. Joe kissed my cheek and whispered "you want Taco Bell?" my eyes shot open and smiled at Joe "Please?" he smiled back "I'll get Ericka" I groaned, I hadn't spoke to Ericka since my birthday and she didn't know that I knew about her and Caspar. "You two need to talk at some point, just tell her what the doctor said" I groaned again, Joe gave me a quick kiss "I'll be back soon with your Taco Bell" Joe left and everything was silent. I closed my eyes again, there was a knocking on the door and the door creaked open "Kate?" Ericka's voice whispered. I slowly opened my eyes and sat up, Ericka was standing at the door "We need to talk Ericka" she walked towards the bed but never made any eye contact. "Kate I-" "I know about you and Cas" there was silence, Ericka sat on the edge of the bed and placed her head in her hands "I'm sorry Kate" "Why didn't you tell me?" she didn't reply. "God dammit Ericka!" "I didn't tell you because I knew you'd be angry, okay?" "I only try to look after you Ericka!" Ericka grew quiet "I just want what's best for you Eri, you're like my sister and I don't want anything to happen to you. I just wish you'd told me" Ericka sighed "I know I should have told you but I thought I'd disappoint you" Ericka started to cry quietly. I grabbed her and wrapped her in my arms "You could never disappoint me Eri" "I'm sorry" there was silence, "Ericka, I need to tell something" she looked up into my eyes. "I have depression" I could feel tears forming in my eyes.

Ericka and I just sat in silence after that, I think Ericka fell asleep. I couldn't bear to keep something like that a secret from her. I could hear people coming into the house, they were laughing. I heard what sounded like two or three people coming up the stairs. The door handle moved on the room door and the door creaked open slowly. Joe entered the room "Cas she's in here" Caspar entered the room and both of them walked to the bed. "I'll take her now" I handed Ericka to Caspar and he picked her up then took her out of the room. "That smells amazing!" Joe was turning on some lights in the room because it was dark out now, "I bet it tastes just as good!" I giggled. Joe handed me a bag and he grabbed his laptop, I opened the bag and took out the contents. "You know me far to well!" I smiled as Joe sat on the bed next to me, Joe got me cheese & steak quesadilla and nachos. I hugged into him "You're perfect" Joe wrapped his arm around me and kissed the top of my head "So are you, now lets watch a movie."

Joe and I ate our food while we watched Beauty and the Beast after that Joe wanted to watch Hot Fuzz but I fell asleep half way through. I had a dream about Ericka and Caspar, it was their wedding. I was in a sky blue knee length dress with white roses in my hands. Ericka had on a lace off-white wedding dress, she looked beautiful. Joe was Caspar's best man and both of them looked amazing. I stood at the alter and watched as Ericka walked down the aisle. Her expression changed as she approached us. She became sad, I could see something dripping from her hands. Her arms were bleeding. I ran to her but just as I thought I was close to her she became further away. I kept trying to shout her name but no words would come out. I started trying to screaming but again nothing. That's the last thing I remember because I woke up.