Hello everyone new story yay :D sorry it took so long to do anyway enjoy :D

Lauren stared at the jail and sighed there was a little part of her brain telling her that Jake may be innocent but could she take the risk? What if he was a killer? Could she live with the guilt of letting her best friend's killer roam free? She began to back-up and sighed she turned on her heel, staring back at the jail before walking home slowly, she walked up the steps to her door and turned the key in the lock, she opened the door quietly and closed it behind her, she leaned on the back of the door and let out a deep breath "Where did you get to?" asked Abi walking from the kitchen, Lauren stared "Just out with Peter" Abi let out a soft grin and walked up the stairs, Lauren soon followed and climbed into bed it was a very long day after all

The next morning Lauren awoke and walked down the stairs, she got into her uniform and turned on the laptop she stared at all the un-read e-mails she had to attend to, she sighed and put her hands on her head, 2014 was the strangest year for Lauren, it was only 5 months in and she was already finished with it, a drink sounded so good right now, there were only two other people who would be there for her and sadly both have left Walford, although they fought a lot Lauren really needed her mum to confide in, Tanya would make her feel better and talking to mum is way better than talking to dad, and then there was Joey, Joey would help her through this tough time, but she hadn't heard from Joey in over 4 months and it was unlikely she would ever hear from him again

"Second time you've started work before me" replied Max walking through the door, Lauren stared at him "I don't think I can do this dad"

"Course you can Lauren"

"Dad i can't, I have 290 un read e-mails I have all this paper work"

"Get another partner then"

"Dad! how can you say that? Lucy and I set this up and i can't bail on her!"

"You're not bailing on her, she's dead!" he yelled bluntly

Lauren stared taken a back "Right well you've said it all" she stormed out and slammed the door, Max sighed and stared at her walking away

"Dad is Lauren okay?" asked Abi

"Yeah, why would you ask that?"

"Well when she came in last night she looked scared and when I asked her where she'd been she told me she was at Peter's"

"Well that's where she was then"

"I'm worried about her dad, what if she starts drinking again?"

Max stared out the window and sighed he knew deep in his soul that once he told Lauren of his secret relationship with Lucy she'd go straight to the vic with no hesitation.

Lauren sat on the swings in the park and stared at the ground, one drink could take away all this pain, just one wouldn't hurt right?, wrong there was a little possibility that she could die, well that's what she was told, what if they only said that to scare her? Her thoughts were shortlived when the swing next to her was taken

"I'm sorry about what I said last night i don't want you to die -"

"I'm not mad at you"

"Did he show up?"

"He did all right"

"And?"

Lauren stared at Peter, her mind was saying lie but her heart was telling her to tell the truth "It was Jake"

"Jake?"

"I was just as surprised as you"

"Did he- wha- why was he meeting Lucy at the common?"

"He wasn't, he wanted to see me, and then Lucy showed up"

"And then what?"

"He can't remember"

"He can't remember!" he yelled

"Peter calm down"

"No he can't remember or he doesn't want to remember!"

Lauren stood off her swing and neared him "Yelling and fighting doesn't solve anything"

"Do you believe him?"

"I-I don't know"

"Lauren! this could be my sister's killer and you're letting him roam free!"

"And what if it's not eh? what if i'm sending an innocent man to jail, I know it looks bad because he has no alibi but I can't just have him arrested straight away"

"Then i'll talk to him"

"Peter!" warned Lauren

"I promise i'll only talk to him"

Lauren smiled softly and watched him walk away, she waited a while and then left the park as she was nearing the vic some familiar voices sounded in the alleway Lauren stood back and listened in

"If Lauren finds out what you've done she won't forgive you"

"Yeah well she won't will she?"

"Max, having a barny the night she died is one thing but the other thing is a whole different story!"

"You tell Lauren and i'll make sure you never wake up!"

"Oh Max, you go on as if i'm the bad guy but you slept with your daughter's best friend you are sick"

David walked out of the alleyway Lauren leaned against the wall did she just hear that correctly her dad slept with her best friend, she couldn't process the conversation, her dad might be a prime suspect in Lucy's murder and he was sleeping with her?, She couldn't think straight and before she knew it she was walking into the vic, she fought the urge to order a drink but hearing that sent her over the edge "Can I have a vodka please?" she begged

"Are you sure?" quizzed Linda

"Yes just please can i have a vodka?"

Linda shrugged and went off to get her drink,the doors to the vic opened Linda handed Lauren her drink

"Oi!" a familiar voice sounded "Don't give her a drink!"

Lauren tried to register the voice, it sounded familiar but she didn't want to get her hopes up she turned her body slowly "Joey?" she quizzed