So here's a slightly longer chapter. This is where the story really begins.

Chapter 3.

Joey left R&R and walked down the road. The street was deserted, as it should be in the early hours of the morning. He kicked at a stone on the ground, hearing it rattle across a drain cover before skidding to a halt further down the road. He whistled slightly as he walked back towards the flat he was renting. He stopped suddenly when he saw something that made his blood run cold. He pulled out his phone and made a call. Once that was done he walked hesitantly over to what he'd spotted, dreading the moment as he got closer, "Lauren?" he whispered but she didn't respond to him and he hadn't really expected her to.

*JL*JL*

Joey stayed with Lauren, trying not to imagine what had happened to his cousin in the last few hours. It was clear she'd gone through something horrific and he was pretty sure he wouldn't want to know the details.

Lauren had been a shining light in his life ever since he came to Walford. He hadn't expected much from his Branning half of the family and then he met her. There was something about her that intrigued him. She made him question many things he'd believed his entire life. She challenged him in a way no other person ever had. She was someone who made him laugh. She was beautiful and funny and every time he saw her he learnt something new about both himself and her. To see her lying on the floor like that and knowing she'd suffered was like being tortured himself.

An ambulance and a police car arrived, flashing lights giving the whole area a blue glow. Joey took a step back, hating having to leave her but knowing it was the best thing he could do for her. A police officer came forward to speak to him, "Sir, I'd like to take some details from you if I can?"

"Sure..." Joey said distractedly. "My name is Joey Branning, I live at 43a Albert Square." He provided this information without being asked, knowing it was the next things he'd be asked anyway.

"Can you tell me when you found the victim?"

Joey glanced at his watch, "About twenty minutes ago." He replied, "And she's not just a victim, she's my cousin. Her name is Lauren Branning." The police officer's attitude was annoying him. Joey could almost see the contempt on his face as he glanced towards the injured girl.

"Do you know what happened to your cousin?"

"No. I've only just finished work. I was walking home and I found her lying there." Joey said, watching the paramedics carefully lift Lauren onto a stretcher.

"Do you have any idea where she'd been tonight?" The officer asked.

"No. Like I said, I've been at work all night. I haven't seen Lauren since a couple of days ago." He could see the paramedics were getting ready to leave, "Listen mate, can I do this later? I'd like to go with Lauren to the hospital..."

"Okay. We'll be contacting you in the next couple of days to get the rest of your statement." He glanced at his notebook, "Is there anyone we should be contacting for your cousin?"

"I'll call them. It'll be better coming from me." Joey said before walking over to the ambulance and climbing in. "How is she?" he asked the paramedic.

"Obviously she's been badly beaten. They're going to need to X-ray her to see if she has any broken bones, I suspect she may. I can't say if she has any other injuries at this stage."

"Can I use my phone in here?" Joey asked as the ambulance pulled away.

"Yes but you'll need to keep it short because we'll be at the hospital soon and you'll have to turn it off then."

Joey pulled out his mobile and dialled the number for his uncle Max.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" his uncle groaned into the handset when he answered it.

"Uncle Max, its Joey." He said.

"Joey, it's nearly four in the morning."

"It's about Lauren..." Joey said hesitantly.

"What a surprise. Well, it can wait till the morning... we told her earlier what the consequences were if she left the house this morning." Joey was stunned by his uncle's words but even more so when the call ended seconds later. He hung up on him? He turned his eyes to his cousin, wondering just what had happened at number 5 Albert Square earlier today.

TBC

A/N: So there you go. I feel guilty for putting Lauren through this trauma but at least I gave her her own knight in shining armour as well. Maybe if we're lucky they'll ride off into the sunset together. Next chapter will be up tonight and you'll be pleased to hear (I hope) that it's much longer than all of the previous ones. I struggled with this chapter because I had to make Max really OOC but it needed to be done. And I really have a bit of a soft spot for Max...

Send me a review and let me know what you think.