Joey managed to calm down and knelt down in front of Lauren, prying her hands away from her face and cupped her face with her hands.

'It was Uncle Jack who killed my Dad?' he asked, wanting to make sure he had heard Lauren correctly. Lauren nodded, as the tears slipped down her cheeks. Joey sighed and wiped the tears away, what were trickling down her face.

'Yes, Uncle Jack. Joey, please don't tell anyone. Not even Dad. Please promise me you won't say anything!' Lauren said frantically, her hands starting to shake. Joey grasped hold of them and looked at her, frowning.

'Lauren, please tell me what happ-'

'NO! Not yet... it's too fresh in my head. I still have nightmares about it. Just... just give me time Joey... please' said Lauren, her voice wavering. Joey nodded and hugged her.

'I'm sorry, Lauren. For trying to force out of you, I just really need to know. But if you need time, I respect that' he said. Lauren pulled away from the hug and very slightly smiled.

'Thanks' she said get to her feet. Joey winced as he saw her wrists. The cuts were slowly healing, but with scratching what Lauren had just done to them, had caused them to bleed. He swallowed looked at Lauren, who hadn't noticed him looking at her wrists. He walked towards her and brought her wrists up to his lips and gently kissed them. He let them fall gently back down to her sides. Lauren looked at him blankly; her defence walls back up to the maximum...

A few minutes later, Max arrived back and smiled at them.

'How about we go for a walk round in the grounds? I bet you could do with some fresh air' he suggested.

'Its tea time in twenty minutes' said Lauren

'Well, we won't be long. Come on, a little walk...' said Max, trying to persuade her, Lauren sighed and nodded.

'Fine, Lets go' she said, grabbing her coat and heading to find Julia. She knocked on the staffroom door and Julia opened it

'Can I go outside? We'll be ten minutes'

'Be back in ten. Tea's nearly ready' said Julia. Lauren nodded and walked off to the door, pressing the buzzer to release her, Joey hurrying after her. Max watched Lauren for a minute, before following. Julia smiled sympathically at Max before heading back into the staffroom...

Once they were outside, Lauren pulled her jacket round her tightly, to warm herself up. Joey offered her his arm and she took it hesitantly, hooking hers through his.

'So, Lauren have you made any new friends?' asked Max, a few minutes later, as they sat down on the grass hill. Lauren didn't reply for a few seconds.

'Yeah. Kate and Martin' she replied

'Nice. Are they nice to you?' asked Max

'Yes' Lauren bit out. Max sighed and he knew to drop the subject. Joey, meanwhile, was in his own world. His mind was on what Lauren had told him back in her room. He couldn't believe that Jack had had the guts to kill Derek. Regardless of whether it was argument about Sharon or a taunt what tipped him over the edge, Joey didn't think Jack would have the guts kill Derek.

'JOEY!' Max shouted. Joey was jolted out of his own world and back to reality. He looked and saw Lauren and Max standing.

'Yeah?'

'We're heading back in' said Max. Joey nodded and got to his feet, offering Lauren his arm again, but she declined and headed through the doors, holding it open for them. She typed in the key code to enter the unit and was greeted by Kate and Martin.

'Hey girl, tea's ready. Whoop' Kate said, a sarcastic edge to the word 'whoop'. Lauren smiled and giggled, slightly surprising Joey and Max.

'I'll be there in a minute' she said

'We'll save you a seat next to us' said Martin. Lauren smiled in appreciation and Kate and Martin heading for the eating room, leaving Lauren alone in the corridor.

'Does that mean we have to go?' asked Joey. Max was about to say no, when Lauren answered him.

'Yeah you do'. Max frowned behind Joey's back at Lauren, wondering what she was up to.

'Right. Okay, well, I'll be back tomorrow with some more clothes and stuff for you' said Max, drawing Lauren in for a hug, kissing the top of her head. Lauren pulled away and turned to Joey. Max left them alone in the corridor, blinking back tears as he watched.

'See you, then' Lauren said with no emotion, even though deep down, she didn't want him to leave her there. Joey nodded, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear and cautiously leant in to kiss her. She allowed him to, but only for a few seconds, before she pulled away. Seeing a little hurt in his eyes, she hugged him tightly, allowing herself a little comfort. Joey wrapped his arms round her tightly, never wanting to let her go. They stood wrapped in each others arms, when Julia came looking for Lauren.

'Lauren, come on. Its tea time' she called, walking up to them. Lauren shook her head against Joey's chest. It was then that Joey noticed his shirt felt damp.

'Babe, what's wrong?' he asked. Lauren muttered something into his chest.

'Lauren, come on, please' said Julia. Lauren lifted her head and stared at Joey, who wiped away her tears.

'Baby?'

'Don't leave me. Joey, don't leave me' she whispered to him. Joey swallowed.

'If I could baby, I'd take you home with me. You know that, but I can't' he watched as Lauren's eyes grew wild.

'Yes, you can! Just sign me out of this place! You can do it, Joey! You can, then I can come home and we can be happy together!' said Lauren, digging her nails into his biceps. Julia saw Joey slightly wince.

'Lauren, I love you... but please don't make this harder than it already is' said Joey, tears threatening to escape his eyes. Behind him, Max motioned for Julia to open the door.

'Joey, come on, mate. Lets get you home' Max said, clapping hold of Joeys shoulder and walking him out of the door. Max saw Lauren lung for Joey, out of the corner of his eye but Julia pulled her back.

'NO! JOEY!' Lauren screamed. Max stayed behind Joey, making sure he didn't turn back, the fading screams of Lauren, screaming for them, breaking their hearts...

When they arrived back at the Branning residence, Joey was emotionally drained. He had literally cried himself out, showing Max his true weakness. Joey slumped down on the sofa, pulling out his phone as he received text message.

From Lauren:

Don't visit me again. It's too hard to keep saying goodbye to you. Promise me you'll stay away. Find someone who will make you happy. I'll always love you X. Joey re read the text a few more times, his heart breaking. He threw his phone down on the sofa and rushed upstairs, locking himself in the bathroom. He breathed heavily, as tears ran down his cheeks. He gripped the side of the bath tub and his eyes spotted Max's razor. He quickly exited the bathroom, as thoughts rushed through his mind. He rushed downstairs, grabbing his wallet and headed out of the Brannings, towards R&R...

Joey didn't know how much he had, but he had managed to block out the pain. Lucy came sniffing around him at one point, almost trying it on with him, but he drunkenly told her she had 'absolutely no chance with him ever again', to which she stormed off in a strop. Joey drank the last of his pint, when Jack walked in. Joey froze and sobered up slightly. He wiped his mouth and headed straight for Jack.

'I know' said Joey. Jack looked at him, and then paid the bartender the money, accepting the change, before turning back to Joey.

'About what?' Jack, taking a sip of his drink

'About what happened on the night of Derek's death' said Joey. He watched as Jack froze.

'Don't know what you're talking about'

'Oh come off it. You know exactly what I'm talking about. Lauren told me. And rest assured, I will find out how you killed Derek and I will take you down, mark my words' said Joey darkly, before stumbling from R&R and heading towards the train station...

R&R X