8th May 2013. Here we are again... Sorry to keep you waiting for this chapter. Anyway, here it is... Not sure enjoy is the right word to say here really... but there you go.

Chapter 42.

"What the fuck do you think you are doing, Derek?!" sounded throughout the room as the door to the room slammed open.

"Derek!" A second voice cried out.

Lauren was vaguely aware of her dad in the room and she saw, through a blur, her dad dragging Derek away from her. Auntie Carol was at her side once they were gone and she brushed her hair away from her face, gently asking her how she was. Lauren screwed her eyes shut, tears flowing down her face and listening as there appeared to be more people coming in and out of the room. Lauren could feel her heart racing and she was breathing deeply, trying to slow down her breaths and drag as much oxygen into her body as she could, trying to stave off the panic attack that was threatening.

"Lauren, sweetheart..." It was her mum. "How do you feel?"

"Where's Joey..." she whispered. "I need Joey." She was desperate to be in the safety of her husband's arms as the tears continued to roll down her face.

"I've called him, darling. He's on his way." She said soothingly, brushing her fingers through her daughter's hair but unable to calm her. She wasn't what Lauren needed. There was only one thing she needed now and he was on his way.

Lauren shivered and curled in on herself. "Need Joey..." she repeated over and over.

"Where is she?" It was Joey's voice a little while later and Lauren relaxed just slightly. "Let me through to her." There was barely hidden desperation in his voice and it was an emotion he shared with his wife.

"What's going on in here? Whit, why is everyone here?" That voice was Bianca and Lauren tried to listen to her friend's response.

"Derek attacked Lauren, she came round to see me and we were talking in here when he came in and started having a go at her." Whitney said, "I went to get help, I ran and got Max and Carol was with him and came back too."

"Baby girl?" his voice was like a soothing balm and Lauren opened her eyes, wincing at the swirling images around her.

"Joe..." she whimpered.

He pulled her into his arms and Lauren relaxed against him. Her haven was surrounding her and she felt safe. "It's okay, I'm here now..." he whispered to her. "Are you okay?" he asked her gently.

"I thought he was going to hurt me. He said he was going to. He said... he threatened to rape me, Joe." She whispered to him and his arms tightened around her. She thought she'd said it quietly but the room had fallen quiet so everyone heard her.

Silence fell over the room for a few seconds but then all hell broke loose and it came from her dad's direction. "You said what? To MY daughter..." he shouted.

"Max, no..." Carol said.

"MAX!" It was Uncle Jack this time and Lauren buried her head in Joey's shirt as she started to shake in his arms. The raised voices were doing little to calm her, even Joey's presence wasn't completely eradicating the tension she was still feeling.

"Come on, baby girl..." Joey whispered. "Let's get you out of here." He lifted her gently in his arms and carried her from the room, walking out of the front door and across the square.

"Where are we going?" she asked him softly.

"I'm taking you to your parent's house. Once you're calm we can go home again." He kissed her forehead. "Is everything okay? Did he hurt you at all?" he asked.

"I'm okay. He only threatened me... he threw me onto the couch though." She said softly.

"If he's done anything to hurt... I'll kill him." he growled.

"I'm fine, Joe." She whispered into his neck, her thumb stroking the other side of his throat to try and soothe him. He carried her up the stairs to number 5 and pushed open the front door. In the lounge he laid her on the couch and pulled a blanket over her.

Lauren closed her eyes, feeling Joey brushing her hair back from her face. His touch was so soothing to her. "You know I'm taking you to the doctor as soon as we can get an appointment..." he murmured to her. "To get you checked over. I'll call her tomorrow to make an appointment."

She smiled softly, "You're going to give the game away, babe." She reminded him softly. "And we've got an appointment next week anyway."

"I'm not sure I care if they know anymore. Can't we tell them yet? Its eleven weeks now."

"Not that you're counting..." she giggled. "I really want to have the next scan first." She whispered.

"Okay, baby girl." He studied her face. "I wish I could hold you in my arms now."

She looked at him then moved forward on the couch so there was room behind her. "Come here..." she whispered.

He smiled at her. "That's usually my line..." He kicked off his shoes and slid into the gap behind her. His arm slipped under the blanket and settled on her very tiny belly. No one else would know from looking at her but Joey could tell every time his hand settled on her stomach and it calmed him down to touch her like this. "When your mum called and told me I needed to be here..." He pulled her back against him, "I was so scared. I thought I was going to lose you. If he'd hurt you or..."

"Don't think about it, Joe." She interrupted shakily, not wanting him to even voice that worry.

"You would tell me if he'd hurt you, wouldn't you?"

"I would." She whispered. "I can't lie... I was petrified. I kept getting flashbacks to what he did last year but he actually only said stuff to me and grabbed me... and threw me onto the couch." She shivered slightly in his arms, "Dad and Auntie Carol got there before he could actually do anything."

They lay in silence for quite a while but eventually the front door opened and Lauren tensed slightly in Joey's arms. He pressed his lips to her head in a tender kiss. Her parents walked into the room and Lauren looked at them in concern. "What happened?" She whispered.

"Your aunt and cousin just kicked Derek out of their house. Whitney told them what's been going on..."

"What?" Joey asked her quietly.

"He kept looking at her. It made her feel awkward. She was asking me for advice when he came home." Lauren explained.

"She found me and Carol in the square and we headed over to the house." Max looked pale as he stared at his daughter. "When I think what he could've done to you..." he said softly. "What he threatened to do to you..."

"I'm fine, dad. No need to panic." Lauren said softly.

"Do you want to stay here tonight?" Tanya asked.

"We should be getting home really..." Lauren said.

"If you're sure, babe..." Max said.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Lauren said. Lauren and Joey both sat up and Joey helped Lauren to her feet.

Her parents walked them out of the house to where Joey's car was parked. Lauren hugged her parents before Joey held the car door open for her. Joey got into the driver's seat and looked at his wife. "You sure you're okay?" He reached across and squeezed her hand.

"I'm good." She told him.

They drove home and quietly made their way into the house. Lauren went straight up to their room but Joey paused and spoke to his mum and sister and told them what had happened. Both of them were concerned about Lauren and they could see Joey was upset. Once he'd disappeared up to their room Alice and Lesley stared at each other. "I can't believe he would do that..." Alice said, "I mean, I believe what Joey told us... it's just difficult for me to imagine someone doing that to a relative. What did Joey do that was so wrong? To make dad to hate him so much..."

"I don't know, Alice but something needs to change. I'm not having him hurting any of you." Lesley said, anger in her eyes as she spoke.

TBC

A/N: I really like Lesley's line at the end of this chapter. She reminds me of a mama bear protecting her cubs... Anyway, back tomorrow...