Bonds and Other Broken Things

Part 1

Aaron had been pleased for Paddy at first, he deserved to be happy, but he'd quickly realised that 'she' would only hurt him, just like his mother had.

He'd been on his way home from work one evening, just passing the shop when he's seen Paddy standing by the surgery door, talking to a woman. The leggy blonde had some silly looking dog in her arms so he hadn't thought anymore of it, not until that evening when he heard Paddy singing in the shower. That itself wasn't unusual, what was unusual was the length of time he was in there. He'd been wanting to get in there himself, Jackson was due over at anytime and he wanted to be ready for when he came.

With time running out he'd first banged on the door, then bellowed through it. In desperation he'd then closed his eyes and stuck his head around it, opening his mouth to demand his turn, only to find himself choking on an overpowering mix of deodorant and aftershave. He'd quickly shut the door again and breathed in some unpolluted air.

When a towel clad Paddy did finally make an appearance he was grinning from ear to ear.

"You've been in there an hour!" Aaron protested, there'd better be some hot water left; he didn't do cold showers, not never.

"That's half an hour less than you and Jackson were in there last week!" Paddy shot back, his eyes twinkling with devilment.

Aaron had had the grace to blush. He hadn't realised Paddy had had a stopwatch on them!

Paddy had punched him playfully on his arm before heading for his bedroom, singing loudly as he went. He'd followed on behind, drawn by the older man's aura of excitement.

As Paddy had rummaged through his sock drawer Aaron had sat on his bed, his gaze drawn to the shirt hanging on a wardrobe door. It was obviously new; a price tag was still attached to it. He was more than a little curious now as to what was going on.
"You going out?"

"I am." Paddy said his face mirroring the delight he felt at the prospect.

"With Marlon?"

"No. With Madeleine."

"Madeleine?" He didn't know any Madeleine.

"Yes Madeleine."

"You've got a date?" He couldn't hide his surprise; he couldn't remember the last time Paddy had been on a date.

Paddy's eyes flashed with irritation, it wasn't that hard to believe was it? Still he wasn't going to let anything dampen his spirits and he smiled good-naturedly at the younger man, "Stranger things happen at sea!"

"Who is she? Where's she from?" He couldn't hide his interest he was suddenly excited for Paddy."

Paddy was brought up short with those questions, he didn't know! "I'll let you know when I find out."

"You're going on a blind date?" He was even more surprised now.

"What? No! I met her today; she brought her dog to the surgery."

"A blonde?" was she the one he'd seen talking to Paddy.

"Yes and with legs up to her armpits!"

Aaron had watched the older man's eyes spark on giving the description, leaving him in no doubt he had the hots for this Madeleine. "You asked a customer out?" Now that was yet another surprise, Paddy wasn't one to mix with business with pleasure.

"Client!" Paddy corrected, "And she asked me out."

Aaron was wide eyed now, he had to be dreaming, he'd wake up in a minute, any second now his alarm would go off.

"Out." Paddy ordered gesturing to the door, "I want to get dressed and I don't want an audience."

He'd been eager to share his news with Jackson, who had listened indulgently as they'd sat together in the Woolpack.

"Did you get a good look at her?"

He'd seen everything but her face! She might be a right minger! Not that it mattered if she made Paddy happy. "No not really."

"Paddy obviously liked what he saw or he wouldn't have said yes to her."

"He did!" Aaron grinned remembering the wicked gleam he'd seen in Paddy's eyes earlier.

Knowing they had the place to themselves they'd gone back to Smithy Cottage, spending several passion filled hours in bed before making their way downstairs to watch a DVD. Midnight had come and gone and with an early start looming they'd gone back up to bed. Paddy still not home.

As usual he was awake before Jackson, nature calling he'd padded barefoot to the bathroom, finding Paddy's door open, just like it had been last night. Cautiously peering around the door in case he got an eyeful of something he shouldn't, he was surprised to find the bed empty, not just empty, un-slept in. Paddy hadn't come home!

He'd woken Jackson up to tell him, Jackson, never at his best on first opening his eyes, couldn't understand what all the fuss was about, "He's a big boy now Aaron," He mumbled sleepily, "He's just doing what comes naturally."

"Urgh!" Aaron hadn't been thinking along those lines, he'd been thinking Paddy had had an accident or something.

Rolling on to his side, determined to have another few extra minutes in bed Jackson said, "It's your turn to make the tea."

Aaron rolled his eyes, he did it every morning.

As he stood waiting for the kettle to boil the front door had crashed open. It had startled Aaron and he'd stepped towards it. But it wasn't the riot police making their way in it was Paddy. Flushed and obviously in one heck of a hurry.

Seeing Aaron he pointed to a mug and said, "I'll have one of those." He'd then disappeared upstairs.

That had been the start of it all. When his and Paddy's relationship had first started to disintegrate.

TBC