A/N: This chapter was co-written by ThePennyTealeaf.

...

"You've got a visitor," Graham informed Joe. His boss was slumped on the sofa, an empty glass in his hand. His attempts to get through to Joe over the last few days had proved futile; the young man would rather wallow in whisky and self-pity.

"Who is it?" slurred Joe. Graham stepped aside to reveal Robert Sugden, who looked contemptuously at Joe as he entered the living room. Graham stepped outside and closed the door.

"What do you want?" said Joe, through his alcoholic haze.

"To talk about Rebecca."

"She's dead." Joe's voice broke.

"You don't know that."

"Lachlan killed her, and he buried her somewhere in these grounds. It's only a matter of time before they find her." Joe got to his feet with difficulty and went to pour himself another glass.

"Lachlan says he didn't kill her."

"And you believe him, do you?"

"Why would he lie? He's admitted to everything else. We should be out there looking for her."

"He's just playing games." Joe settled down on the sofa again. "She's dead."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because it happens to everyone I love." A tear spilled down Joe's cheek and he wiped it away angrily. "My mum, my dad, Rebecca. I'm cursed. Or maybe it's this place that's cursed." He gestured around him.

Robert knelt so that he was eye to eye with Joe. "Listen, you little rich twerp," he said. "You're not the only person to lose your parents. I've lost three, if we're counting."

"And my mum was just a 'slapper', right?" slurred Joe. "Sorry, did you want a drink?"

"No. I want you to help me find Seb's mum."

"Why me? Can't your boyfriend help you?"

"You know Home Farm better than most people. You grew up here."

"So?"

"So, help me search the grounds."

"The police are searching."

"So you're just gonna sit here and get drunk, like your grandad, are you?" Robert taunted him. "Look at you. You're pathetic."

He was hoping to rile Joe into action, but Joe merely nodded. "Probably."

"Listen..." Robert tried another tactic. "I don't like you, and the last thing I wanted was you involved with my son. But I believe that you're the one person who cares as much about Rebecca as I do. Maybe even more so." Joe finally looked at him properly.

"So prove that you weren't just using Bex to get at me. Have some coffee, sober up and come and help me look for her. If we fail, at least we'll have tried."

Joe looked around the room where his father had died. He thought of everything that he had already lost, and then allowed himself to believe, just for a moment, that there was a chance Rebecca was still out there. He looked at Robert's earnest expression, and finally nodded.

...

"She's here! Oh my God, Rebecca!" Robert exclaimed. Joe's eyes widened and he immediately dashed toward her, dodging the gravestones and catching her in his arms.

She was sobbing, freezing cold, wearing nothing but a draped nightgown.

"Hey, hey, ssh, ssh." He wrapped his arms around her as her trembling hands fought to cling tight to him. "It's okay," he soothed, "you're okay now."

She choked out sobs of desperation, her voice strained, cracking.

"Rebecca." Robert caught up with them. "What happened?"

"I... I..." Rebecca attempted to say.

"Just let me, please." Joe intervened. "Let me."

"What do you know about this? You were drowning yourself in whisky not a few nights ago."

"Shut up, Sugden," Joe hissed, "we need to get her home."

"You mean Home Farm? We should get the police really," Robert suggested.

"And cause her more trauma? Have them prodding and poking her about?"

"No, you're right. Look, I'll take her back to The Mill."

"No, you won't. Your boyfriend never wanted her there in the first place."

"Thanks, but I can manage, you know."

"I know you can, Sugden. I'm just thinking about what's best for Rebecca."

"And I'm not?" Robert was affronted.

"Come off it, you'd prefer she didn't exist!" He looked at Rebecca. "Don't worry, I'm going to take you home."

She looked at his face.

"I hit you! I hit you!" she gasped, terrified.

"Hey, hey, Becca, easy, it's alright." He took her frozen hands in his. "Come on, let's go home."

Panic crossed her face.

"No, no, can't go home! Lachlan—"

"I'll protect you," Joe assured her, gathering her against him, "leave this to me, Sugden."

Robert relented reluctantly, pulling back.

"You look after her, I'm warning you, Tate."

Joe flipped his fingers at Robert, who scoffed and walked away, leaving Joe to care for Rebecca.

"It's okay, you're safe now," he whispered, leading her to his car, ensuring that she was strapped in before driving her back to Home Farm.

As usual, Graham was there to meet him. His concern heightened when he saw Rebecca, looking drained and traumatised.

"Graham, I need some help," Joe admitted, helping Rebecca into the hall. She was rigid, like a doll.

"Take her upstairs," Graham instructed, "she's in shock."

Joe nodded, assisting Rebecca upstairs to the bathroom. She seemed to know what to do and shut the door behind her. Joe heard the water running and contented himself in the knowledge that she had managed to help herself to some extent.

"I'll just be downstairs," he explained, "just make yourself at home, yeah?"

There was no response but Joe sensed that she understood.

He ran back downstairs into the kitchen where Graham was preparing tea.

"I've called the police," Graham informed him. "She really needs medical attention."

"OK." Joe nodded, looking around. "I just didn't want to freak her out even more."

Graham handed him two cups of tea. "Stay with her," he instructed.

Joe returned to the bathroom with the two cups. He had to set them down on the floor before knocking gently on the bathroom door. When there was no answer, he entered slowly and found Rebecca sitting on the edge of the bath while the water ran. He went and checked the bath temperature. Rebecca had got it just right.

"I don't live here anymore," she said softly.

"No." He nodded, then remembered the teas. He stepped outside the door and picked them up, handing one cup to Rebecca. Graham had added cold water so it wasn't too hot to drink.

"You gave me your socks."

"Sorry?"

"The first time I... broke in." Rebecca looked like it was just coming back to her. "You gave me a pair of your socks."

"You remember that?" He smiled as she nodded.

"Listen, Rebecca, the police are coming. They just want to ask you some questions. Lachlan is locked up, you're perfectly safe. Graham and I will be there the whole time."

"Will I have to go to hospital?"

Joe sighed. "They may want to check you over."

"I hate hospitals."

"Me too." Joe stood up, holding his cup. "You can have your bath first. Everything's going to be fine. You can stay here as long as you want. Stay forever."

"Seb!" She looked up suddenly. "Where is he?"

"He's safe," Joe assured her. "He's with Robert and Aaron."

"I need to see him—"

"As soon as you've finished with the police," Joe promised. "I'll take you straight to him."

"Promise?"

"I promise."