A/N – Set directly after Friday's episode, with the doctor just having revealed the bad news….. SPOILER ALERT for those who haven't yet seen it…. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

"Jackson may never walk again…"

It was one of those movie moments, the world just stopped. The words hit like a lead weight. Hazel's mouth dropped as she stared helplessly at the doctor. Jerry slumped back against a wall unable to control his emotions. Paddy sat down in one of the couches and placed his head in his hands.

A single tear fell down Aaron's cheek.

Hazel regained composure first…."P…P…Paralysed?"

The doctor merely nodded sympathetically, "I will give you a few minutes…." She added, before quietly leaving the family room.

Nobody spoke, the silence was suffocating, Aaron moved into the corner of the room and slid down the wall until he was crouched on the floor, hugging his knees. Paddy stood up and moved cautiously over to him, placing a paternal arm around his heaving shoulders.

"He'll be okay…." Paddy whispered, however a scoff from the opposite side of the room made everybody jump…..

"You heard the doctor, he's paralysed…. And its all YOUR fault…" Jerry hissed, emphasising his hated for Aaron.

"Hold on a mi…." Paddy started, but Aaron shrugged him away and stood up quickly

"He's right though….." Aaron whispered, "Tell Jackson I'm sorry…" he added as another tear escaped from his big blue eyes. Aaron headed for the door.

"Aaron…" Hazel pleaded… "He needs you"

Aaron turned back towards Hazel and looked deep into his eyes and shook his head…. "no he doesn't….." and with a parting glance at Paddy, Aaron walked out the family room…. Out of the hospital….. Out of Jackson's life….

Back home Aaron lay curled up in a ball on his bed, the bed he shared with Jackson for so long, the longing for those days to return was unbearable, as was the pain of knowing that would never happen.

A knock on the bedroom door startled Aaron out of his daydream….

"Aaron… you in here mate?" Adam queried.

"Go away…..I'm not the mood" Aaron replied.

"That is exactly why I'm here" Adam said pushing open the bedroom door.

Adam sat on the end of Aaron's bed and placed a friendly, reassuring hand on Aaron's leg, "I want you to talk to me mate…."

"What's the point? It's gonna change nowt…." Aaron scoffed.

"Jackson needs you mate, now more than ever… and I think you need him….."

Aaron sat bolt upright and hugged onto his pilled tightly….

"How can I ever look him in the eye, He's paralysed because of me, his life is over because of me….."

A single tear ran down Aaron's cheek.

"You don't know that for certain mate…..what was the first thing Jackson asked for when he came round?... You….you know he loves you, and I think you know damn well that he needs you right now…"

Aaron turned on to his other side so his back was facing Adam, keen for the conversation to be over.

Adam patted Aaron's shoulder, "I'm here for you mate…..but please think about what I said….." he added, before leaving Aaron to his own thoughts.

Aaron turned over on his bed what felt like the hundredth time that night and had a quick glance at his clock….

02.36, Shit, Aaron thought to himself, 2 o'clock and not a wink of sleep. He clambered out a bed, and pulled a pair of tracksuit bottoms on and a hoody, and headed downstairs, keen for a nicotine fix.

Being careful to remain quiet as to not wake Paddy, Aaron tiptoed outside and sat on the front step and lit up a cigarette. The effect was instantaneous as Aaron inhaled on his cigarette, but it did not stop his head from spinning with emotions, thoughts and guilt.

Placing his head in his hands, and rubbing his temples, Aaron had his first clear thought in 24 hours…..pulling out his mobile phone, he searched thought his contacts and pressed call…..

"Dave's Taxi's…. how can I help?"

"Hi, can I have a taxi to Smithy Cottage, Emmerdale please? As soon as you can…."

"Sure, where you off to?"

Aaron paused and inhaled deeply…."Hotton General Hospital…."

"Okay" The operator replied, "Be with you in about 10 mate….."

Beep. The phone went dead.

The hospital was spookily quiet at that time of the morning, a few nurses milling around checking patients, but not the same hustle and bustle as during the day.

Aaron smiled weakly at the receptionist as he passed heading for Jackson's room, he knew Jackson would be asleep, but he needed to see him.

Aaron walked into Jackson's room and sat next to his bed…

"Hiya mate… Sorry I ran out on you earlier…." Aaron whispered, not wanting to wake Jackson up…. "but your Dad was right… this is my fault and…and…and"….

Aaron's composure started to crack and tears streamed down his face, "I'm sorry…"

He yearned desperately to reach out and hold Jackson's hand, but he knew it would make no difference… Jackson couldn't feel it anyways…..

So instead, he rested his forehead on the end of the bed, and stared at the floor, sobbing quietly as the seriousness of the situation engulfed him.

"A…Aaron…" Jackson croaked…

Aaron looked up slowly, "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you….."

"Its fine," Jackson smiled softly, "…after all I've been asleep for a week….."

With that Aaron well and truly cracked, and the tears that streamed down Aaron's face showed no sign of letting up….

"Hey….." Jackson queried, "whats the matter?"

"I shouldn't be here…..this…this is my fault, I shouldn't have rang you, I shouldn't have made you stop the van…. I shouldn't have been so scared to tell you how I feel….because I do Jackson… I do love you, more than you'll probably ever know…. But its too late now, look what I've done to you… I promised that after I hit you, I wouldn't hurt you again….and then came Wayne…..and now this…..I can't keep doing this to you…..I love you Jackson, and because of this I will not hurt you anymore….I came to say goodbye….."

"w..w..whatdya mean?" Jackson croaked.

Aaron took a deep breath…"I'm leaving Emmerdale, Cain said a mate of his has got a job going in Carlisle….."

A single tear fell down Jackson's cheek….

A/N – This started as a one-shot but I'm gonna go somewhere with it I think…..

REVIEWS WELCOME AND APPRECIATED!