Chapter 26.

The days passed quickly after Joey's incident at the playgroup. He didn't return again until the following week, once the parents of the two boys who he'd fought with had removed their sons from the group, mortified that their four and five year old sons had bullied and victimised a three year old, traumatised boy. Nothing was ever made of Joey hitting either of the other boys.

When Joey returned to playgroup he was the centre of attention because of his bright red cast – although by this time it had been decorated a little and by the end of the first day had been 'customised' even further. Uncle Grant had been the first person to sign it after mummy Tan and daddy Maxy, even Bear had signed it. Uncle Jack had mentioned to Grant the morning after the hospital visit about what Joey had done to his wrist and he'd then appeared at the door to see Joey, complete with a box of sweets and a new Fireman Sam DVD that had only just been released. Tanya had taken advantage of his presence to nip out and get some shopping and to check on the salon, Grant saying he would look after Joey until she came back. While she was gone they sat down and watched the DVD together (three times) and then played with Joey's fire truck which Joey declared Grant could now play with too.

*JL*JL*

There was only one cloud on the horizon in the life of Joey Branning... although he didn't know about it yet as Max and Tanya had held back from telling him, not sure how he was going to react. DCI Davis had called them to forewarn them that it was on the cards a few days after Joey hurt his wrist and it had sent Max into a furious rage and he'd had to go to Jack's for a few hours to calm down. It transpired that Joey was going to have to appear in Court against Derek. Despite the plethora of physical evidence of the events that evening, it was decided that the only reliable way to ensure they could get a conviction against Derek was for Joey to give evidence. Although Max had to wonder if a three year-old like Joey was really up to it.

A date had been set for the case too and that was also pretty lousy timing, as it had been scheduled for the beginning of March so there was a possibility that Tanya could go into labour and then no one would be there for Joey as Max would obviously need to be at the hospital. They were both concerned about this and it was stressing them both out which Max knew was not good for Tanya or the baby. Tanya's pregnancy had so far been relatively smooth but as the weeks progressed she was starting to struggle and was becoming quite uncomfortable now she was in the later stages.

Max and Tanya had arranged for Joey's new social worker to come around this evening to help explain to Joey what was going to happen. Gail Foster had taken a voluntary leave of absence from the profession after the incident with the Branning's and a much nicer lady (in Joey's opinion) was assigned Joey's case; although he was still hesitant around her when she visited. There had been deemed no problem with Joey staying with Max and Tanya and they were in the process of getting all the paperwork in place. His new social worker was also now helping with the new issue Joey faced, having dealt with cases like this before.

There was a lot that neither Max nor Tanya knew about this situation so she was also going to be there to explain to them as well as Joey. Max was already expecting tears and possibly a tantrum from Joey both of which were understandable. Max knew it was a hideous situation to be in and he wasn't three years old. He just wasn't sure how Joey was going to react to this.

*JL*JL*

The doorbell rang just as Max was clearing away the dinner plates and Tanya was cleaning Joey's face and hands. "I'll get it," Max said, going to the front door. "Hi," he said to the guest, ushering them into the house.

Tanya lifted Joey out of his high chair and he scampered towards the lounge, pausing slightly when he saw the visitor walk into the room. Tanya walked up behind him and Joey ran round to hide behind her legs, peeking around her to stare at the social worker who stood near the sofa.

"Hello, Joey." Miss Walsh said with a smile. "How about we all sit down and we can talk..." she said.

Joey clung to Tanya as they went to sit on the sofa, standing on the far side of Tanya, as far from the social worker as was possible. "Is she here to take me way?" he whispered as he sat beside Tanya, sitting as close to her as he could get.

"No, Joey... this isn't about that..." Tanya reassured him but it was clear Joey wasn't convinced. Max sat the other side of him but Joey stood on the sofa and climbed on his lap, cuddling against his body, not sure how the next few minutes were going to go and needing his uncle to protect him.

"Joey, I'm here to talk to you and your mummy and daddy about what's going to happen in a couple of week's time."

"Is that when you take me way?" he asked softly.

"No, Joey. You are staying here with your mummy and daddy, I promise." She told him. "This is about your real daddy..." she said, pausing once she'd said that, waiting to see how Joey reacted. They all held their breaths but Joey did nothing other than take a deep breath and blink his eyes a couple of times. "Has your mummy and daddy told you about where your daddy is now?" the social worker asked him. Joey nodded. "In a couple of weeks, your daddy is going to have to go to court. He's going to be asked what happened the night your mummy died. He has to account for his actions with you and your mummy... and he could go to prison for a very long time."

"Bad people go to pison..." Joey said softly. "People like daddy..."

"That's right, Joey. It is very likely that your daddy will go to prison." She said softly. "The people whose job it is to make sure your daddy is punished have spoken to me and they've said there is a better chance if you were to give evidence at the trial..." she told him.

"I don't have any evidunts?" he said, frowning at her. "Do I?"

"It means you have to go to the court and answer the questions from your daddy's lawyer and the lawyer whose trying to get your daddy punished. You have to tell them the truth about what your daddy was like... not leaving anything out. They have to know everything."

"But daddy will be angwy if I tells..." he whispered. He glanced up at Max, "I don't want to see daddy... he'll hurt me..." he said, his words coming fast as he began to panic, "Pease don't make me... I's scared... I'll be a weally good boy, I pomise... I can't give evidunts, daddy Maxy..."

"It's okay, Joey..." Max whispered, hugging him gently and rocking him from side to side. Tanya reached for Joey's right hand, taking it in both of hers and brushing the back of it gently.

"Joey, you won't have to see your daddy..." Miss Walsh explained.

He paused, turning to look at her, "I won't?" he breathed, the stress from his body reducing dramatically.

"No... for people who are very young like you, you can be in a separate room to where the court is to give your evidence. Everyone in the court will be able to see you and hear what you say but you won't be able to see your daddy."

"And daddy won't be able to hurt me?" he asked her.

"He won't... between where he'll be sitting and where you'll be, will be so many people whose only job is making sure he doesn't and can't get to you. You will be perfectly safe."

Joey looks at Max again, "I's scared, daddy."

"I know you are, Joey..."

"I'll be with you the whole time, Joey," Miss Walsh said.

"Can't daddy Maxy be there?" he whispered, "I want daddy Maxy to be there... he'll keep me safe... he always keeps me safe..."

"I always will, I promise, Joey... but Miss Walsh has to be with you. Much as I'd like to be, I can't be there with you. Mummy Tan and I will be in the Court watching you though." Max told him gently.

Joey looked at them both, his eyes widening in fear as he took in Max's words, "So daddy could hurt you?" he stuttered.

"He won't be able to hurt us..." Tanya told him.

"I fink mummy finked that too... and now she's dead..." he looked at his aunt, "I don't want him to hurt you or the baby, mummy. I can't lose anuva bruvva or sister..." he said, launching himself at her and hugging her tightly as he broke down in tears.

"It's okay, Joey..." Tanya said, her own tears beginning to escape as she heard him beg her over and over not to get hurt.

"Maybe I'll leave you to it, Mr Branning," Miss Walsh said softly, looking somewhat guilty at the anguish she'd caused. "I'll contact you in a couple of days to arrange the Court visit... and the lawyer will want to speak to Joey at some point before the trial." She told him as he led her back out into the hall.

*JL*JL*

Joey was still upset when they went to bed that night and he pressed himself against Tanya as soon as she was lying in the bed. Having him lying next to her like that was the last thing she needed, truth be told because Joey was like a furnace when it came to body heat but she couldn't get herself to release her hold on him either. He needed her and she swore she was going to be there for him.

A/N: So Joey has a new social worker (and she seems much nicer than that nasty Gail Foster). He's going to have to give evidence at the trial... how do you think he's going to deal with that? Let me know what you think. Back tomorrow...