A/N: So here is the next chapter. How will Joey react after the visit from his dad? Let's find out...

Chapter 10.

Max walked into the room and saw Joey asleep on the bed. He didn't look very comfortable though. He could see the pain written across his face. He walked over to him and shook his shoulder, "Joey?" He started awake and Max couldn't help but notice the look of abject fear on his face and he sure as hell didn't miss the tension that overtook his body. "Joey, it's just me..."

Joey rolled over onto his back and turned his head, seeing Alice still asleep in the bed. "Sorry..." he whispered. "I thought you were someone else, I guess."

"How are you feeling this morning?"

"Not too bad. I didn't sleep well though. I hate this place." He looked around the room, "Where's Lauren?"

"Let me just sort Alice out..." He woke her up and suggested she go and get something to eat. Once it was just the two of them again he turned back to his nephew. "Lauren's in the canteen. She's waiting for Alice. I convinced her to get some food before she comes here and spends the rest of the day with you."

"Okay."

"Are you going to talk to me now, Joey?"

"Umm."

"I think you're lying about what happened the other night."

"I said I didn't remember what happened..."

"And I know you're lying." Max looked at him. "Look Joey, whatever it is, I'll do what I can to help you." He could tell his nephew was thinking about what he'd just said, "Joey, I know you care about Lauren and she sure as hell sees something in you so the way I see it, if you're going to get involved with my daughter you need to clear up this mess. You can't have this hanging over your head. I won't allow you to put my daughter's life in danger."

"You'd be okay with me getting together with Lauren?" His eyes were wide with surprise.

"I don't want you to rush into something. I'd be happier if you got to know each other and see what develops naturally. But I'm not opposed to it."

"I thought you'd be against it..."

"I just want my daughter to be happy. She deserves that much. You seem to make her happy." He stared at him, "Now are you going to tell me the truth?"

"You don't want to know the truth..."

At last he was admitting he knew... "I really do, Joey." He could see Joey wasn't going to say anything else, "I know we haven't known each other very long but you're my nephew and for me, family is really important because I know what it's like to have none; to lose everything. There was a time when Tanya left me; in fact it's happened more than once. That was really hard but what was even harder was losing my children. The best and worst times in my life have always been my children. I would do anything for my kids. Absolutely anything."

"Lauren's told me about the worst time, when you lost Bradley. What were the best times?"

"Actually losing Bradley was one of the worst times but I'll leave that for another day." His impression grew pensive as he paused, "The best times are pretty easy to answer though. While there have been many highs, the one time I will never forget is the first time I held each of them. Abi and Oscar were both special but Bradley and Lauren were more than I could imagine. They both blew me away for completely different reasons. Lauren obviously told you a bit about Bradley?" Joey nodded, "Bradley was amazing because he was my first born but at the same time it was one of the most frightening experiences I'd ever had. I didn't know what I was doing; I had no comprehension of what being a father meant and I suppose I didn't handle it very well. I didn't have a great relationship with my father for most of my childhood so I had nothing to relate it to and I messed up a lot of things with Bradley; with all my children I guess. I can only hope I've learnt from my mistakes and Oscar fares a bit better. By the time Lauren was born I'd already trashed my first marriage by choosing to be with Tanya and then Lauren was born and she was my chance to have a do-over. She was perfect in every way and I thought my life was finally complete. I love all my children very much but Lauren..."

"I didn't think you were particularly close..."

"We have our moments. She's very stubborn; she gets that from the Branning side of her family. She's wilful, independent and she has a strong sense of right and wrong. She's the first person to call me out on any mistake I make and unfortunately she's had to do that far too many times. Her family and friends are very important to her and she'll put them ahead of herself most of the time. She loves with her whole heart. I'm very proud of her and I wish I could take back some of the times I've let her down."

"Why are you telling me this, Uncle Max?"

"Because if the two of you get together, she will fall in love with you and I don't want you to hurt her. I know my daughter and she'll put everything into your relationship to the detriment of her own needs and wants." He looked at the door knowing they were running out of time, "Look, Joey. I won't judge you, if you're in with the wrong crowd, I'll do anything I can to help you because that's what family do. I promise you I will make this right. You need to sort this out though, with or without my help. You can't hide this from her so you have a choice to make."

"I don't know what to say..."

"Tell me who did this to you..."

TBC

A/N2: And there we have to stop... So we know who did it... do you think Joey will tell Max? Or will he tell Lauren? Or will he suffer in silence? Did you like Max opening up to him? You'll have to wait till next time... which will only be a matter of a few hours. Let me know what you think in a review.