Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or settings portrayed in the show (I'm merely boring for the time being!)
I'm new to the ED world, and had no plans to write this (and I haven't actually written anything in years, so bear with me…) it just kind of showed up.
Apologies for any errors, I haven't really been keeping up with the storylines, but am doing my best to catch up with regard to the fic I have in mind. No idea on length yet, we shall see.
Prologue
Third city in France and still all Debbie could think about was everything back home. Wandering through Toulouse she couldn't just seem to grasp this whole tourist thing, plus while she knew Sarah and Jack were safe and sound with Andy, there was always that thought. Stopping at a café, she took a seat with a cappuccino and croissant in an attempt to force herself to relax. Thinking on how useless this seemed to be she looked around and saw on the wall next to her a flyer for a racing track and garage. Maybe it was the distraction she needed.
Getting up some time later, she headed to the counter and got directions to the track. The twenty minute walk did her good. It was a sunny morning, with people rushing around going about their business making Debbie feel slightly out of place. Not one for having nothing to do, this feeling of no responsibility was a foreign concept.
Walking up to the entrance, she saw an open foyer with several different cars in the front, all old racing vehicles, some with the bonnet up, others just looking flashy. Heading in, she began slowly wandering through the vehicles.
"Bonjour mademoiselle," something in Debbie's look gave her away, as the young gentleman that approached changed tactics, "English?"
Smiling, Debbie nodded and responded with a quiet, "yeah."
"Excuse me a moment," he said before heading through a side door. Shrugging Debbie began to focus on the vehicles in front of her. Might as well use this as a distraction, maybe it would help to clear her head.
Meanwhile, heading through the work side of the facility Christophe was on a mission. "Aaron!"
"What," Aaron appeared from underneath a car not far from Christophe, "what's got you all in a rush? I'm busy here."
"There's an English girl out front, who wants to ask questions about cars."
"So answer them then, I've got to finish this."
Christophe took the light and ratchet out of Aaron's hands, "I'll finish this you go and talk to her. You know I get annoyed when I can't find the right language to talk."
Heaving a sigh Aaron got up and began to head out front. Walking through into the lit foyer he found a woman bent over the open bonnet of an old car and shook his head as he approached stopping a couple meters away and sounding bored asked, "Can I help you with something?"
Debbie heard the question and stopped moving; she couldn't help but think that was a familiar voice or tone rather, she knew that tone of voice, it reminded her of her cousin. But the chances of it being who she thought it sounded like were pretty slim France was after all a pretty big country.
"Not really thanks, I'm just browsing," she said as she straightened up and turned around. Not entirely expecting who she saw.
"Debbie?" Aaron's eyes went wide and his mouth opened as he stared at his cousin, "what are you doing here?"
"Shit, hi Aaron, just wandering around France trying to clear my head."
"Right, I heard about all that."
"Oh, well thanks for your concern, it was only your family." The bitingly sarcastic remark forced a smile on Aaron's face. That was definitely the Debbie he knew from home. "So what, it's been two years and you're just going the stand there and not give me a hug?"
Rolling his eyes, Aaron stepped into Debbie's embrace, "it's really good to see you Debs."
"You too, so do you want to grab some food?"
"Uh, well, I'm working so let me go see if I can take an early lunch."
Rushing back through to the work area, "Christophe, can you tell Henry, that I'm taking off, the woman out front is my cousin, haven't seen her in two years, I'll come back and finish that tomorrow."
"Don't be an idiot, I can manage, and you're off tomorrow. Don't worry Aaron, I get your back."
"Got your back," shaking his head at his friend's attempt at English slang. "Thanks Chris, see you later then."
Throwing on a light jacket over his t-shirt, he headed out to meet up with Debbie, "come on then Debs, food awaits."
"Where are we going then?"
"Just around the corner, decent food, decent price, you'll like it."
They arrived at a small deli with seating inside and out, ordering some sandwiches and drinks they went and sat outside to enjoy the sunshine. Debbie began slowly filling Aaron in on the happenings of the village since he had left, missing out a few of the more painful parts.
"I heard about Cameron, being some crazy guy, sorry to hear that."
"Yeah well, that's life isn't it, so what about you over here seeing anyone?"
"Nah, after Ed, just kind of decided to keep my head down, do me work, keeping it simple really. Something I didn't do very often back in the village, especially for Paddy and me mum."
"No you didn't, mind you it hasn't exactly been simple for them since you've been gone, Paddy especially."
Aaron suddenly focused an intense gaze on Debbie, "How do you mean?"
Realizing she may have said a bit too much, Debbie tried to back pedal a little, "well just with the whole three parent thing and."
"Debbie, be straight with me, what exactly, did you mean by that."
Sighing she looked down at her feet, "Rhona got addicted to painkillers and for a while refused to go to rehab, but in the end she went and she's back and seems better, Paddy's moved out and it's all still a bit messy though, although I may be wrong."
"No, no, no. Poor Paddy," shaking his head then blurting, "what about Leo? So help me Debbie if she has done anything to my Godson…"
"Leo's fine, been spending more time with Paddy and Marlon than her. Right, well, I hate to seem abrupt, but I've got to head back to the hotel and grab my stuff, airport later. Not sure if I'm going home or wandering around even more." Noting Aaron's apparent unease over the information she'd just shared Debbie leaned forward placed a hand on Aaron's leg. "I'm sorry I thought you knew most of this."
"Huh, oh well, haven't really spoken to anyone back home in a while, not the greatest communicator here, so. Don't worry about it, its fine. Thanks for letting me know. Are you sure you can't stay longer?"
"No, I need to keep moving right now, not much is making sense."
"It will, don't worry, it'll take longer than you want it to, but it will."
"Thanks Aaron." Standing, they both walked into a tight embrace.
"Debbie, do me a favor and don't mention that you've seen me, I'm not sure I want everyone knowing I'm still around and kicking right now."
"Not even your mum?"
"Especially not her, I'll call her when I'm ready."
"Okay, you take of yourself over here." Smiling at him one last time, Debbie then turned and walked away. Sighing Aaron watched her go, looking up at the sky, he slowly began shaking his head.
Since he and Ed had split, he couldn't help but feel like maybe it was time to go home. As much as he felt the pull of home, he couldn't go, not just yet. Two major projects on at work and a warrant for his arrest in the UK meant Aaron was going to be in France for at least a little while longer.
21 FEBRUARY 2014
Blank. Nothing, trying to get back into obnoxious stubborn teenage mindset of when he was causing hell in the village was harder than Aaron thought it was going to. Continuing to stare at the phone, he really didn't' want to make this phone call. But if Jackson was here now, he'd be pissed that instead of sorting through something, he was avoiding it. Heaving what seemed to be his millionth sigh of the day, Aaron picked up the phone and began dialing.
"Good day, you're through the Yorkshire Police. If you know the extension of the party you wish reach, dial it at any time, press zero for operator."
Hitting zero, Aaron waited, "Yorkshire police."
"Detective Chief Inspector Fletcher, please."
Click.
"DCI Fletcher," the firm commanding voice of someone Aaron had hoped to never speak to again came through the phone. "Hello? Who is this?"
"Aaron Livesy."
End prologue
Right, so that's it, let me know what you think. Should I continue to develop this into something or should I just let it be, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.