Aaron & Jackson: Part 1
"Oh Aaron, you shouldn't have" Hazel smiles as she answers the front door of Dale Head, seeing him stood there with a large bouquet of flowers.
Aaron rolls his eyes and tries not to laugh "They're not for you actually" he smirks, pushing past her to let himself in.
"What's all this?" Jackson says, looking up from where he's sat in his wheelchair eating breakfast.
"For you" Aaron smiles, passing him the flowers and looking embarrassed.
"What for?" he asks; Aaron's never bought him flowers, although he's hinted enough times.
"Read it" Aaron says, nodding towards the tag.
Jackson smiles as he reads. 'One year ago today, I love you so much, you make me proud every single day. Love Aaron Xxx' and the date scrawled beneath, 6th October.
He looks up at Aaron again, his eyes shining with tears.
"They were supposed to cheer you up not make you sad" Aaron smiles shyly.
"They have cheered me up, Thank you" he smiles, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. He hands the flowers to Hazel for her to put in water.
Aaron sinks into the armchair beside Jackson's chair and helps him finish off his breakfast.
"I did want to get the day off so I could be with you but I'll have to see you tonight instead" he says, passing him his cup to drink out of.
Jackson takes the cup in both hands and carefully lifts it up to his mouth, trying not to spill any. He's still getting used to being able to do all these things for himself again. It had only been four months since he'd started getting better, a recovery that nobody had expected. Like everyone else he had thought he was going to be stuck paralysed from the neck down for the rest of his life.
"We could try and get your Mum to go out, have the place to ourselves?" Aaron suggests. Despite seeing eachother every day, they never really seem to get much time alone together what with Hazel always being about or Jackson's carer Joe, he'd like it if tonight it was just the two of them for once.
"Yeah, I'll see if I can convince her to go to the pub with Bob" Jackson grins, spooning his cereal into his mouth slowly.
"Alright, well I'll see you tonight then" Aaron smiles, giving him a quick peck on the cheek to say goodbye before leaving for work.
xxx
After work Aaron heads back to Smithy to shower and change before going back to Dale Head to spend the evening with Jackson.
"Don't worry I'm going in a minute" Hazel laughs, seeing his face as she answers the door. She flaps about looking for her handbag and purse for ages before realising she's left them both in the bedroom upstairs.
"Right I'll see you both later my little darlings" she smiles, leaning over to give Jackson a kiss where he's sat in his wheelchair. "There's DVD's on the side and beer in the fridge" she says to Aaron. "Have a good night."
"Finally..." Aaron jokes, once she's gone. He sits down next to Jackson and leans in closer so he can kiss him properly.
Aaron sticks a film on after and orders pizza. "Here you go" he says, handing Jackson a can of lager, making sure he has hold of it properly.
When the pizza arrives, Aaron pulls Jackson's tray over for them to use as a table. "Can you manage?" he asks, unsure of whether Jackson still needs it cutting up for him or not. Jackson nods "Yeah I'm fine" and picks up a slice of pizza, using both hands. Aaron smiles at him, he can't believe looking at him now that just four months ago he could do hardly anything for himself.
"Do you want to go to bed?" Aaron yawns, once the films ended and all the pizza and beers are finished. He can see that Jackson's tired; he keeps nearly drifting off in his chair.
"Yeah, can you stay?" he asks, not wanting to be on his own tonight. He knows it's silly but he keeps thinking about this time last year; the night-out, the argument, the crash...
"Yeah course" Aaron says looking at him anxiously as if reading his mind. He gets up to clear away the empty pizza boxes and cans before Hazel comes back.
When he's done he follows Jackson through to the wet-room to help him use the toilet and brush his teeth; then lifts him onto the bed using the hoist. Jackson pulls his t-shirt off and Aaron gives him a hand taking off his jeans and socks. Aaron undresses quickly and starts searching about for the sleeping bag that he uses when he stays over.
"Will you stay in the bed with me tonight?" Jackson asks him.
Aaron looks surprised; usually when he stays over they'll lie on the bed for a bit and cuddle if Hazel's not around but Jackson's never asked him to sleep next to him before, in fact he's never liked the idea whenever Aaron's suggested it. They hadn't had a physical relationship in over a year, apart from hugging and kissing, although they could have sex now that Jackson was getting better he'd never seemed to want to and Aaron hadn't pushed him on it.
"Are you sure?" he says, not wanting Jackson to feel like he has to do anything he doesn't want to.
"Yeah" Jackson smiles, shifting over so that Aaron can fit in beside him in the single bed. Aaron grins and slips in next to him, folding his arms around him, so that they're pressed close together. Aaron can feel the warmth of Jackson's chest against his. Jackson traces his fingers along the stubble across Aaron's jaw-line and leans in closer so that their lips meet. Aaron tugs gently at Jackson's short curls as they kiss deeper and more urgently than they have in ages. Aaron can feel Jackson get hard pressing against his thighs. He gives a little moan of pleasure as Jackson slips a hand into his boxers. He wants this so much but has to pull away.
"What's wrong?" Jackson asks looking disappointed as Aaron sits up in bed, tugging his boxers back up properly.
"I don't know if I can do this" Aaron sighs, running his hands across his shaven hair.
Jackson looks hurt "It's ok, I get it" he says in a small voice.
"Get what?"
"That you don't find me attractive anymore. It's fine; I'd probably feel the same way" he sighs, looking down at his skinny, wasted looking legs. How could Aaron possibly still find him attractive after having to empty out his catheter bag, wash him, dress him, feed him his dinner, help him go to the toilet?
"Jackson, what are you on about?" Aaron asks looking bemused. "Of course I still find you attractive; you're my boyfriend, I think you're the hottest guy I've ever seen" he laughs, finding it ridiculous that Jackson would even think that.
Then what is it?" Jackson says looking confused now.
"I'm just worried about hurting you" Aaron admits.
Jackson looks relieved that that's all it is "You won't do" he says, pulling Aaron back in for another kiss.
Aaron smiles and pulls away again after "You have to promise to tell me if I'm hurting you Jay?"
Jackson nods and feeling reassured Aaron leans over again to kiss him softly, making sure he holds his weight off of him. "I'm going to be really gentle with you" he whispers, kissing along the curve of his neck and breathing in the sweet scent of him, his blue eyes darkening with lust.
"I've missed you so much" Jackson moans longingly, as Aaron slides his hand beneath the waistband of his boxers, he shakes with pleasure at the feel of him touching him like that again.
When Hazel gets back from the pub, she finds Aaron and Jackson asleep in eachothers arms. She smiles at the sight of them both looking so peaceful.
"Night night sweethearts" she whispers then tiptoes upstairs to bed as quietly as she can so as not to wake them. A year ago today all of their lives were turned upside down but seeing them there looking so content she could almost believe that nothing had changed.
xxx
Aaron can hardly stop smiling at work the next day, even offering to make everyone a cup of tea.
"Are you feeling alright?" Debbie asks, knowing it's not like Aaron to be this friendly.
"Yeah, why?" he asks, looking surprised as he brings over mugs of tea for her and Ryan.
"Because you're smiling" she says, as if it's the weirdest thing ever.
"I know" Ryan laughs "I haven't seen him this happy since..." he grins at Aaron then, the last time he'd seen Aaron like this was when he and Jackson had first got together. "...Anything happen last night that you want to tell us about?" he smirks.
Aaron's cheeks flush pink and he looks away embarrassed, pretending to be interested in inspecting the tyres of one of the cars parked on the forecourt nearby.
"Did you and Jackson...?" Debbie asks excitedly.
"Maybe" Aaron shrugs, walking away with his hands in the pockets of his overalls, trying to keep the grin off his face.
"That's a yes then" Ryan says to Debbie.
"Definitely" she agrees, smiling as she watches Aaron bent over the motor looking happier than she's ever seen him.
xxx
Aaron goes round to see Jackson again after work still in a good mood.
"What's up?" he asks, sensing as soon as he walks in that something's wrong. He sits on the edge of the bed and looks at Jackson expectantly.
"It's just physio" he says, glancing over at Aaron from where he's sat in his wheelchair in front of the TV.
Aaron knows how hard he's having to work to get movement back in his legs. He has physiotherapy at the hospital three mornings a week with Joe and his male physio Nicky, as well as sets of exercises he needs to do every morning and evening.
"I can't do it, I can't get my legs to work properly" he sighs sounding exhausted. "It's too hard."
"You'll get there mate. You've done so well to get this far already" Aaron says kindly.
Jackson gives a hint of a smile at that. "Do you want me to come with you to physio on Monday?" Aaron asks.
"You've got work."
"I know, but I'll see if I can get the morning off" he offers.
"If you're sure you don't mind?" Jackson smiles; thinking that he might enjoy physio more if Aaron was there with him.
"Course not" he says. "Is your Mum out...?" he asks, realising he hasn't heard her crashing around upstairs.
Jackson nods "She's gone into town to do the shopping."
"Do you know what might cheer you up?" he winks, glancing over at the space next to him on the bed.
Jackson's face lights up "Again?"
"Only if you want to" Aaron says hurriedly, realising too late that Jackson probably doesn't feel up to it now when he's tired from physio.
Jackson grins cheekily at him "Yeah I do, we better be quick though I don't know how long she's going to be..."
xxx
"Right we'll do another set of ten Jackson" his physio Nicky tells him. Jackson's led on the mats in the physiotherapy gym with Nicky, Joe and Aaron knelt beside him. Nicky takes hold of his left leg this time and starts to bend and straighten it.
"Oww" Jackson whimpers. He bites down on his bottom lip hard trying to stop himself crying out in pain. Aaron feels helpless watching him in so much pain; he wants to tell Nicky to stop but knows that if Jackson stands any chance of walking again then he needs to push through it.
"Should it be hurting him this much?" he asks, looking concerned.
"It's just where he's not used to using the muscles and they need strengthening" Joe explains "And his knee and hip joints are stiff, that's why we need to get him used to doing exercises like these to try and loosen his joints and build up muscle in his legs."
Aaron nods trying to understand but wishing they could find a way of doing all that without Jackson being in agony.
"Ok now your turn mate" Nicky instructs "Try and lift your right leg then bend and straighten for me."
Jackson slowly lifts his leg a bit then tries to bend it. He scrunches his face up, the pain in his joints becoming unbearable as he bends his knee slightly. "I can't, it hurts" he cries, dropping his leg back down on to the mat.
"You can, you were nearly there then" Nicky says warmly.
Aaron frowns, he doesn't like this guy already for being good-looking, and for getting to touch Jackson but now he's forcing him to do something when he's clearly in too much pain. "Squeeze my hand" he whispers, taking hold of Jackson's hand firmly.
Jackson tries again holding tight to Aaron's hand as he bends his leg then straightens it out again with difficulty.
"That's great, four more of those" Nicky encourages. "Then we'll do the other leg."
Its heartbreaking watching Jackson struggle through the exercises, Aaron can see how much discomfort he's in but Nicky makes him work through the pain. He's tough on him but caring at the same time.
"Roll on to your side for me" Nicky says; he makes Jackson repeat the exercises again whilst laying on either side to try and loosen up his hip joints. Silent tears leak from Jackson's eyes, spilling onto the mat throughout.
"There you go you did it see? You got through them all today" Nicky says once he's finished. "Must be having you here that did it" he smiles at Aaron.
"Well done mate" Aaron says softly, stroking Jackson's short curls. "You were amazing." Jackson smiles tiredly back at him, leaning into his touch.
"Thanks for coming with me."
Aaron helps him to sit up on the mat and puts his arm around him "I'll come with you as much as you want me to" he says, kissing the side of his head. Now that he'd seen what Jackson had to go through, he was going to make sure he was here with him as much as he could be.