Well there was no need to wait until 10pm... obviously you're keen for this chapter... I hope you don't live to regret that request. Some of this chapter could be difficult reading... because Joey is about to tell Lauren everything...

Chapter 7.

His arms were wound around her waist and his hands gripped the back of her top, almost like he thought she was going to disappear on him. After close to an hour his grip had loosened slightly and she wondered if he'd fallen asleep, although she couldn't tell because of how they were lying.

"I know you've probably worked it out… but I want to tell you…" he said softly, startling her slightly and confirming he wasn't asleep. "I didn't tell you everything earlier."

"You don't have to, Joe… not if you don't want to…" she breathed, not sure she was prepared to hear what he was going to tell her.

"I want to…" he repeated, "I need you to know…" He pulled away from her and she could see the haunted expression was back on his face.

"Okay…" she whispered, lifting her hand and cupping the side of his face. "You can tell me anything, Joe." Tears welled in his eyes, one falling and Lauren wiped it away. She hated seeing him like this, she was scared about what he was going to tell her. She knew whatever it was, she was going to have to be strong and try to hide her reaction from her face and from her eyes.

"It was the night before last… I was at work." He told her softly.

"At the club you work at?" she asked.

He nodded his head, "It was busy… the bar was crowded and we were rushed off our feet. It hadn't been like that for a long time." He paused and closed his eyes, lines appearing around them and Lauren knew he was getting to the hard part of what he was telling her. "A large party of guys had come into the bar early in the evening and as the night wore on they got more and more rowdy. It got to the point where I couldn't serve them any longer. They were too drunk. When they next came to the bar I refused to serve them." Lauren leant forward and kissed the corner of his mouth softly when he took a deep breath, wanting to remind him she was there for him. He opened his eyes, revealing dark pits of despair as he started to speak again, "They didn't like it and they started to kick off… the bouncers had to throw them out." He took a deep breath. "I forgot about them after that… it was still busy and there were plenty of customers to serve. Forty minutes later I had a break and I went outside to get some fresh air… there's an area round the side of the club where the staff can go for cigarettes during their breaks."

"I didn't know you smoked?" she said, a hint of surprise in her voice.

He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes, "I don't, babe but its quiet there so it's a good place to go… get away from the hubbub of the bar for a little while." The smile quickly disappeared as he spoke again, "They were waiting for me…" he murmured. "There was a lot of them…" he breathed. He stopped talking and after a few moments Lauren spoke.

"Is that where the cuts and bruises came from?" she asked him. He nodded. She took a deep breath, hating having to ask her next question but knowing he needed to tell her and already suspecting the answer. "Did they…?" her mouth ran dry and she couldn't finish the sentence but he didn't need her to.

He looked at her, his eyes searching hers, wondering if she would stay once she knew the truth. She stroked his cheek, silently encouraging him to talk to her, nodding her head slightly. A tear rolled down his face as he mentally prepared himself, "Yes." He said, barely voicing the answer. "Not all of them…" he paused briefly, "Just two of them…" He whispered and tears were shed by both of them at his admission.

"How many were there, Joe?" she asked.

"I'm not sure…" he admitted, "I was…" His voice cracked slightly so he paused and then started again, "I was raped by two but the others egged them on… were cheering as they did it, holding me down so I couldn't get away," his voice broke as he said the word for only the second time since it had happened.

Lauren had suspected what he'd been through after they'd been taken to a Sexual Assault Referral Centre by the police. She had hoped it hadn't been that but it was only a faint hope at best. She pulled Joey against her, unable to find the words to offer him comfort. "If you didn't tell the police, how did they find out and come to find you?" she eventually asked.

"One of the bouncers saw…" he said softly. "They saw what they did to me…" he said, his emotions getting to him again. "I didn't realise they'd seen but when he came round with another of the bouncers to break it up, they were rushed at by the gang, leaving me behind. Once they were all gone I dragged myself to my feet, sorted out my clothes and I went home." He yawned as he finished speaking, drained both by what had happened and from telling Lauren. "I didn't even finish my shift so I've probably lost my job as well…" he added absently.

"You're tired…" she commented, seeing the exhaustion on his face.

"I didn't sleep last night... or the night before… just sat in my room… going over it in my brain..."

"Why did you come here?" she asked curiously.

"I wanted to see you…" he told her quietly. "I needed to see you…" His arms tightened around her again, clinging to her tightly. "I needed you..." he whispered.

His last words affected her deeply, "Why don't you get some sleep now, Joe?" she suggested. "I'll stay here… keep you safe… I'm going nowhere, I promise…" He nodded his head slightly. Lauren rolled onto her back, pulling him with her, his head resting on her chest. Her fingers ran through his hair and she watched his face, seeing his eyes gradually drift shut and his face finally relax as he fell asleep.

Lauren lay watching Joey as he slept for quite a long time, thinking through what he had told her. She was heartbroken that this had happened to him. To see him so broken in spirit had affected her more than anything else he'd told her. He had been so strong for her, had helped her more than he could possibly know and now it was time for her to be strong for him. She just hoped she wouldn't fall back on her own demon in the meantime.

A/N: So we now know what happened to Joey… How is Joey going to handle this? And what does he want from Lauren? Is Lauren strong enough to be there for Joey when he needs her? So many questions. Please don't hate me for what I'm putting Joey and Lauren through... SEND ME A REVIEW. Back tomorrow…