Okay so the last chapter went down better than I thought... which is a relief. I was a little worried, I have to admit. So here's the next chapter... and it's a little lighter than the last one I promise.

Chapter 5.

Joey put his arm around Lauren's waist and led her slowly out of the hospital much later that afternoon. There had been many tests to be done and drugs for Lauren to take, all of which had been overwhelming for either of them to handle. Both wished there was a way they could forget the last few hours and Joey knew Lauren wouldn't be talking about how she felt about those tests anytime soon. "Do you want to come back to my flat with me?" he asked her once they were outside. "I've got a spare bed and you can stay for as long as you like, until you're feeling better and are ready to go home. Or I can take you somewhere else – wherever you want."

"I don't want to be any trouble, Joey."

"You won't be." He told her.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"I wouldn't have offered if it was a problem." He said, "Do you need to get any painkillers or anything?"

"No, a nurse fetched them for me."

"Let's go home then," he said, walking her over to a taxi that sat near the car park. He held the door open for her and helped her climb in to the car. "43 Albert Square." He told the driver. He put an arm cautiously around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him, ready to back off if she froze up on him. She came to him willingly though and her head fell on his shoulder as her fingers fiddled nervously with the front of his jacket. He pulled his mobile out of his pocket and he called Sharon. "Hi Sharon, it's Joey."

"Hello Joey."

"I know it's a bit late to be telling you this but I'm not going to be able to come in tonight, I'm afraid. I've got a family thing I need to sort out."

"It's a bit short notice, Joey."

"I know. I'm really sorry. I hate letting you down but tonight just isn't possible."

"Okay but I need you in tomorrow, Joey. There's a private party in the evening."

"I'll be there. Thanks Sharon."

"If you don't come in tomorrow, Joey, there won't be another chance."

"I understand. Thanks again." He said before ending the call.

"You didn't have to do that..." Lauren told him.

"It's no problem, Lauren." He said, brushing his lips on top of her hair and feeling her relax further against him.

*JL*JL*

He ushered her into his flat quickly, glad that no one had seen them arrive back on the square. The last thing Lauren needed now was loads of questions from nosey parkers. "I'll go and pay the taxi and then go to the Minute Mart and get some things. Do you want anything?" Lauren shook her head. He smiled at her one last time before walking out of the front door, leaving her standing in the middle of the lounge.

*JL*JL*

Joey was looking at the shelves, trying to work out what to get when he first heard it, "Did you hear about what happened last night?" Kim said as she came into the shop and started talking to her sister.

"No. Surprise me..."

"Someone was beaten up outside the tube station." Kim said, "A woman... according to Lucy, who heard it from Marie." Kim looked around the shop and Joey tried to pretend to not be listening. "The station's been screened off all day and there are loads of policemen there." She continued, excitement in her voice.

Joey walked over to the till and placed his basket on the counter. "Just these, please." He said to Denise, pulling his wallet out of his pocket and passing her two twenties when she asked for the money.

"Lucy said the woman was found unconscious in the early hours of the morning," Kim said and Joey kept his head down, trying to school his reaction to what she was saying.

"She was probably drunk..." Zainab said from where she was standing next to Denise.

"Zee..." Denise said and Joey looked at Zainab, surprised by what she'd just said. He hadn't expected her to be so judgemental. Denise passed him back his change, "Thanks Joey."

He nodded, picking up the carrier bags of food that Zainab had sorted and silently walking out of the shop. His hands gripped the handles of the bags as he got closer to his flat, shocked by the gossip mongers in the square. How could they leap to those conclusions? It almost sounded as if they thought Lauren deserved what had happened to her. He was furious by the time he got back to his flat and he stood for a few seconds on the doorstep, trying to calm down because he knew Lauren didn't need to see him like this.

TBC

A/N: So what did you think? Let me know - send a review. Next chapter later tonight... hopefully.