So this idea keeps getting in the way of getting on with the next chapter of my other story so have had to write it down in an attempt to exorcise it... No idea whether or not to continue with it! Guess it may depend on if it's still infesting my brain when I wake up in the morning! Let me know what you think of it :) x
As ever I don't own anything to do with Emmerdale and associated characters... If I did Aaron and Jackson's world would be a much nicer place. Possibly with rainbows and unicorns.
Life Rewritten
With a sigh of relief, Jackson Walsh pulled up outside the last in the little row of cottages, switched off the car's engine and pulled the key out of the ignition with a flourish. He didn't think he'd ever been happier to arrive somewhere as he was right now, it would be a long time before he trusted that sat nav again. You wouldn't have thought it would be so difficult to get from Leeds to this sleepy little village, but he could've driven to the moon and back in the time it had taken to get here. Of course it was probably perfectly simple if a poxy electronic gizmo didn't insist on making you visit an abandoned sheep farm in the middle of nowhere before taking you up the service road of a minor reservoir for no apparent reason. Still, he was here now and that was the main thing.
Peering out of the windows he was certainly pleased with what he could see of Emmerdale. The warm July sunlight made the pale ochre stone of the buildings glow invitingly, small gardens burst with colourful flowers and foliage, and a soft breeze rustled calmingly through the leaves of the trees dotted around. Yes, this was exactly what he wanted, about as far removed from the bustling crowds of the city as it was possible to get. So far he liked the look of his new home very much, hopefully the people would be friendly and he wouldn't end up stuck in a wicker man on the village green.
Unclipping the locks that kept his wheelchair firmly attached to the floor of the vehicle, he manoeuvred backwards to slide open the side door with practised ease, pressed the button to extend the ramp and whizzed down it to the footpath outside. A quick press of the key fob automatically retracted the ramp, closed the sliding door and locked up the car safe and sound. He had officially arrived.
Looking up at the building in front of him he smiled. Dale Head. The pictures his business partner had shown him didn't really do it justice, it was lovely. Admittedly, after the grotty little bungalow in Beeston he'd been stuck in for the past few years, almost anything would seem lovely, but this really was nice. He probably should've come to see it before buying the place, but the firm had been so busy at the time and he trusted David's judgement implicitly. And of course he also trusted the builders who'd spent the last month or so gutting the place and making it wheelchair friendly… Doing up your boss's house always encouraged people to do their best work after all!
Tingling with excitement he rolled up to the front door and unlocked it with the keys he'd been given, before pushing it open. Wheeling himself inside, he came face to face with a pile boxes in the living room doorway and groaned. Apparently whilst he could trust his own people, the same couldn't be said of the movers he'd employed to shift his stuff. They were supposed to make sure that there was enough space for him to move his chair around the room, but instead they'd just dumped everything in the first spot they'd come to, and in doing so had effectively walled him out of the house. Great! Now he was going to have to move half of it outside before he could even get in to start unpacking.
In the end it took the best part of an hour to shift enough of the boxes out onto the grass so that he could get into the house properly, arrange the remaining cartons so that he could move around enough to unpack, and to bring everything back in from outside. Now he remembered why he hated moving house so much! He was just thankful that the furniture had been put in the correct places, moving the heavy sofa on his own would've been difficult even if his legs worked properly.
Another few hours saw the kitchen and the living room sorted and Jackson was thoroughly sick of cardboard and packing pellets and bubble wrap. The thought of heading upstairs to tackle the bedroom and bathroom was totally unappealing; all he wanted now was something to eat and to stretch out in front of the telly. Of course there was no food in the house and he was too tired to go anywhere to get some so that left ordering takeaway… He hoped to god that he could get something or other delivered out here.
In the end it hadn't been too difficult to get hold of a decent pizza, the town of Hotten was only three or four miles away and a quick flick through the yellow pages had provided a surprising choice of restaurants that would deliver to Emmerdale. Lying on the couch, stuffed full of cheese and pepperoni, the long day he'd had caught up with him and he drifted contentedly off to sleep.
-x-x-
To say that Jackson wasn't in the best of moods would be an understatement. The morning had started off just before quarter past six when he'd woken up with a major crick in his neck from falling asleep on the sofa, still feeling worn out for the exertions of the previous evening. Getting back to sleep had been impossible due to the bright golden sunlight flooding in through the windows. He had desperately wanted a shower but then remembered that he hadn't unpacked his clothes or bathroom stuff yet and cursed himself for not doing that first. He'd also been starving but had had to make do with the couple of slices of cold pizza that were left over from last night's tea.
The meagre breakfast had been enough to get him going though, and he'd got to try out the stair lift which thankfully worked fine. Unfortunately upon reaching the landing he'd discovered that his spare wheelchair was nowhere in sight, despite the specific instructions he'd given the blasted movers to leave it within reach at the top of the stairs. He ended up having to drag himself around before finding the chair in a corner of the bedroom. It hadn't taken long to pull himself up onto the bed and then across into the chair, but by then he didn't just want a shower, he needed one as well.
He'd briefly admired the quality of the bathroom and made a note to compliment the team that had worked on it. Then he'd found that there was no hot water and had had to go back downstairs to sort the boiler out. That task accomplished he'd realised he'd have to wait for the water to heat up so had made use of the time to do the unpacking in the bedroom before having his shower.
It was now nearly half nine and he should be on his way into town to get a proper breakfast before heading to the supermarket to stock up, but instead he was sat in his car feeling like he might cry. Turning the key again he listened forlornly to the engine turning over and completely failing to start. He'd checked that the fuel gauge showed he still had petrol, and that the battery light wasn't blinking a warning or anything, but that was about the extent of his skills when it came to fixing cars. It was really beginning to feel like he should never have moved here!
A knock at the window pulled him from his misery and he looked out to see an elderly woman smiling in at him flapping a hand to indicate he should roll the window down. He'd no sooner pressed the button to lower the glass when she was off.
"Good morning! You must be the young man who's moved into Dale Head? I'm Pearl, Pearl Ladderbanks. We're practically neighbours... I live just across the way in Jacob's Fold. If you need someone to show you round the village I'd be more than happy... You've got the vets at the top of the road here, I'm the receptionist there you know? Do you have any pets? Paddy and Rhona are the vets, lovely, lovely people. Then you've got the café and the shop on the corner, and The Woolpack just there... That's the local, you should stop in this evening, I'll introduce you to everyone! Oh and of course there's the church just there, and there's a little playground around the back – I don't know if you have any young ones?"
"Err..." Jackson replied, slightly stunned "Er yeah, I've just moved in. Jackson, Jackson Walsh... Nice to meet you Ms Ladderbanks." he said offering a hand through the window.
"Ooo it warms my heart to meet a young man with such good manners!" the elderly lady enthused shaking the offered hand warmly "But you must call me Pearl, Ms Ladderbanks makes me sound positively old!"
"Oh... Right you are then Pearl." there really wasn't much else he thought he could say to that.
"That's better!" she smiled "Having problems with your car are you?"
"Yeah. Just doesn't seem to want to start. Not what I need this morning!" Jackson sighed.
"Well you're lucky you live where you do now then really aren't you?" Pearl laughed.
"Come again?" he asked in confusion.
"It's lucky you live next door to the garage! Don't tell me you didn't realise?"
"I've not had a chance to look round... There's really a garage next door?" he double checked thinking that maybe he wasn't completely out of luck after all.
"Oh yes! Well known for being the best mechanics for miles... Even if they're also the only mechanics for miles come to think of it. You get yourself up there and they'll soon see you right! Ask for Aaron, he's the owner, tell him I sent you and I'm sure he'll jump to it! And don't let him put you off, he can be a bit...grumpy shall we say, but he's got a heart of gold under all that grease, no matter what some folk may tell you!"
"PEARL!" a loud voice echoed down the road "Aren't you supposed to be in work?"
Looking up the hill Jackson saw a large man in glasses standing outside the shop that Pearl had waved at earlier.
"Oh! Yes Paddy! I'm just on my way!" the older woman shouted back nearly deafening the man in the vehicle next to her "Best be off love! Good luck getting your car fixed! And don't forget I'll be expecting to see you in the pub later on!" she threw through the window before hurrying off up the street.
Well at least the natives seem friendly Jackson thought as he watched her scurrying after the person who he assumed was her boss, unless there was more than one Paddy in the village. The woman certainly was a character! Very... Chatty. It was nice of her to stop and introduce herself though, and lucky too or he could've ended up paying through the nose for someone to come out and look at his car when all he needed to do was pop round the corner!
Unfastening his seatbelt and the floor clamps he got himself out of the car and locked it carefully behind him, not that it was going anywhere. As he made his way to the corner of his house he couldn't believe that he hadn't spotted the bright white and black sign that read 'Emmerdale Garage - A. Livesy – Mechanic' attached to the wall of the building on the other side of the gravel driveway.
Turning up the slope Jackson could see the garage tucked away under some large trees at the end of the drive, another of those signs above the open doors. He'd expected something more than a little ramshackle given that it was hidden away from the road in a small village, but casting a professional eye of the smart little wooden and stone building, it gave every appearance of being a respectable operation. He guessed from the long row of neatly parked cars off to one side of the forecourt that business must be good, and wondered if maybe Pearl hadn't just been exaggerating the reputation of the place.
Wheels crunching over the white gravel, he headed towards a figure he could see bending over the open engine of a small hatchback.
"Err... Excuse me." he called out, coming to a stop a few metres away.
The mechanic stood and turned towards him and Jackson felt like someone had punched him in the stomach, all the air seeming to rush out of his lungs as he looked into sparkling blue eyes. The guy was freaking gorgeous! Probably slightly younger, shaven head, dark stubble, strong jaw, broad shoulders... And those eyes... He thought that he could quite happily drown in them... Assuming he would ever think anything that cheesy he hurriedly added to himself.
He felt his heart clench, palms start to sweat and the hair on the back of his neck stand on end and cursed his body for reacting this way now of all times. It had been so long since he'd had this feeling on meeting someone that he'd almost forgotten what it felt like, and now it was happening over the quite obviously straight guy who worked right outside his window. Fantastic. He'd never get any work done now.
The younger man was looking at him oddly which was hardly surprising given that he was probably gawping at him like a complete moron.
"Urm... Can I help ya with something?" the mechanic said breaking the suddenly awkward silence.
"Oh! Yes, I hope so." Jackson replied, making an effort to drag his mind back to why he was there "I was looking to speak to the owner if he's around?"
"What you wanting him for?" came a suspicious response.
"I just moved in next door." the older man answered with a nod towards Dale Head "My car won't start and err... Pearl told me to come up 'ere and to ask for Aaron to come take a look at it."
"Pearl sent ya and told ya specifically to ask for Aaron?" the mechanic asked with a scowl.
"Urr.. Yeah." Jackson confirmed, slightly taken aback by the the annoyed look on the other man's face.
"That woman... Well I suppose I'd best do as I'm told or I'll never hear the end of it." the younger man muttered resignedly as he started towards the road.
"You're Aaron?"
"Looks that way." Aaron replied looking over his shoulder at where Jackson sat staring after him "Something wrong with that?"
"I thought you'd be... I dunno... Older."
"Well I will be if ya don't get a move on!" the mechanic smirked.
The older man laughed at that and set himself to rolling down the slope. Reaching the car Aaron told him to get in and pop the bonnet, and soon the mechanic was fiddling away, asking him to try the engine every now and again.
"Looks like it's yer spark plugs." the younger man stated after a couple of minutes "I've got some in stock that'll do for ya."
"Okay... When do you think you might be able to fit me in?" Jackson sighed, giving up all hope of getting his shopping done today.
The mechanic frowned at him "It'll only take me a few minutes. Thought I might do it now seeing as I'm guessing you've got somewhere yer wanting to be!"
"Oh! That'd be great if ya could! I really need to run into town to do some shopping before I starve to death!"
"I'll get a move on in that case, can't 'ave corpses lying about the place... Bad for business ya know?" Aaron said with a wink.
True to his word the mechanic had the engine running smoothly again in less than quarter of an hour.
"Thank you so much!" Jackson exclaimed "What do I owe ya?"
"Call it a tenner?" the younger man answered.
"A tenner? Are you sure yer a mechanic? The last place I took it to charged me more than twice that just for putting air in the tires!"
"Well the plugs only cost a tenner..." Aaron shrugged.
"What about labour? I can't let you 'elp me out fer free!"
"If Pearl finds out I charged ya for ten minutes work there'll never be another lemon drizzle cake with my name on it! It ain't worth it mate!" the mechanic laughed "If it's that important to ya, you can get me a pint next time you see me in the pub."
"Okay... Make it a couple of pints at least and it's a deal! Pearl actually invited me to go tonight if you're gunna be there?" the older man asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.
"I might see my way clear to turning up at around eightish given that there's free drinks on offer." Aaron replied with a lopsided grin that made Jackson's mouth go dry.
-x-x-
Jackson buttoned up his favourite red and white chequered shirt and gave himself a quick once over in the mirror. He had no idea why he was making such an effort to look nice... Or, more precisely, he knew why he was making the effort, he just had no idea why he was going to all this trouble when there was no point to it. Yes Aaron was fit, and funny and seemed like a nice guy... But he was a fit, funny, nice straight guy for gods sake! Drooling all over him was a recipe for disaster if ever there was one. He'd had enough violence to last him a life time. In fact that was the very reason he'd moved here from Leeds, the last thing he needed to do was fall for someone that would more than likely knock his block off if he tried anything! And yet here he was tarting himself up for a few drinks in the local pub...
He sighed sadly at his reflection. He wasn't bad looking but it had been an age since anyone in a bar or club had paid him much attention, and he knew perfectly well why. Hardly anyone ever looked further than the chair. Or even worse as far as he was concerned at least, were the few people who were only interested in him because of the chair... Some sort of fetish he supposed; not something that he wanted to be involved in. So this apparently was what he was reduced to, secretly dreaming about some good looking guy he couldn't have. It was like being back at school or something.
Glancing at his watch he decided that he really should get going or he might chicken out entirely. He was finding the prospect of wandering alone into an unfamiliar country pub extremely nerve wracking. It suddenly seemed like an really bad idea moving to small village... What if everyone hated him? Groaning he made his way to the stair lift and down to the little hallway by the front door. Grabbing his keys he let himself out and locked up, then set off up the road.
It was a pleasantly warm twilit evening, birds were twittering in the trees as they settled down for the night, and somewhere out in the fields a fox barked. Jackson reached the pub and came to a halt before the front door. Steps. Three of them. Wonderful.
He sat there staring for a couple of minutes but the situation was hopeless. The steps were too high and shallow for his chair to get up even if there'd been someone around to help him. Someone would have to carry him up them which he wasn't about to let happen. It was bad enough when his mates had had to do it, there was no way he was going to allow a total stranger to pick him up like that. What an amazing waste of time this had all turned out to be.
"Problems?" a familiar voice came from behind him.
Turning he found Aaron standing a few paces away watching him with his hands stuck in his pockets.
"Yeah you could say that." Jackson answered bitterly.
"Need a hand?" the mechanic asked quietly.
"Nah, I think I'm just gunna head home... You might have to wait until they think to put in a ramp before I can get you those drinks."
Even in the dim light he could see Aaron roll his eyes at him.
"Don't be such an old woman." the younger man snorted, moving forward to place his hands on the arms of the wheelchair before pushing it backwards to the foot of the steps.
"What're ya doing?" Jackson exclaimed.
"Helping." the mechanic replied simply "Now put yer arms around my neck."
"What? No!"
Aaron sighed and looked him straight in the eyes "Look mate... You're expected. If you don't turn up and join in then everyone in there'll be outside yer house later with pitchforks and flaming torches."
Jackson's eyes widened in shock.
"That was a joke you div!" the younger man shook his head with an amused grin.
"Has anyone told you that you're really not funny?"
"Erm... Yeah, pretty much everyone. Now shut up and put yer arms round my neck like I told ya to or you'll be going in over me shoulder!"
"You wouldn't?" the older man squeaked.
Aaron just raised an eyebrow challengingly.
Swallowing hard Jackson did as he was told. The worst part was that he was really, really enjoying this little exchange when he knew that he should be annoyed by it. There was just something about the mechanic that struck a chord inside him... They'd only met that afternoon yet the verbal sparring felt so totally natural and easy... And he didn't want to think about how it felt to have his arms wrapped around Aaron's neck!
"Use yer arms to take your weight and I'll get us up the stairs okay?" the mechanic said looking down at him.
The older man nodded and took the strain, feeling Aaron lift the chair as he pulled himself up, then there were a few quick, awkward shuffling steps and then he was being lowered and, blinking in surprise, he found that he and his wheelchair were right by the door to the Woolpack.
It took Jackson a few seconds to realise that he was still clinging to the mechanic and that the younger man didn't appear to mind. In fact Aaron was staring at him intently in a way that he thought he recognised as the expression that someone got just before they were about to kiss you... But that was just wishful thinking surely? He let his arms drop away but Aaron didn't move, he stayed exactly where he was, slightly bent over, hands resting on the armrests of the chair, head so close to Jackson's that the older man could feel warm minty breath gently blowing across his face, dilated blue eyes gazing heatedly into his own brown ones...
Somewhere away in the village a door slammed, loud in the quietness of the night. Aaron straightened up at the sudden sound and ran a hand over his short spiky hair. Stepping around Jackson the mechanic pushed open the door to the pub and disappeared inside leaving the older man sat at the top of the steps staring after him.
"What the hell was that?" Jackson murmured to himself.