Arise, Sir Jackson – Chapter 1
-O-
DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV
-O-
"How's Aaron?" Brett had a concerned look on his face as he spoke to Jackson while they sat waiting in the green room at the TV studios. They were both due to appear on 'The Harvey Haynes Hour', a big Saturday night celebrity chat show.
"He's over the worst of it now, I think," Jackson smiled at his friend, "I kept taking the piss about it being 'man-flu', but he really does have the flu, bless him. I left him tucked up in bed."
"You should have cancelled tonight's TV appearance and stopped at home to give him some comfort."
"Nah, he'll be OK. In any case, he's got Polly and Richard fussing over him," Jackson paused for a moment and then continued with a smirk playing around his lips, "He's a bigger baby than Jaron when he's ill!"
"Aww!" Brett pouted, "So you've got two eight-year-olds in the house then."
Jackson chuckled, "I think Jaron's a bit older, at least in mental age!"
"Just as well we've been friends for all these years: otherwise I'd think you were being serious."
Jackson looked pensive, "Talking of which, in all the years we have known each other, I don't think we've ever appeared on the same chat show before."
"You're right! Mind you, we've never had a reason to appear at the same time, have we?" it was Brett's turn to look pensive, "It just so happens that your new TV show and my new cookbook have coincided this time."
"Yeah, true, I'm glad you're more relaxed about these TV chats now. When I think back to how you were when I first knew you, you've changed out of all recognition."
Brett knew what Jackson was referring to, "Yeah, I know what you mean, although the stammer still surfaces in times of crisis. They say it never goes away completely."
"Well, I wouldn't know you used to have one now, anyway," Jackson smiled encouragingly at Brett.
"Thanks mate. I still have my angels watching over me," Brett returned his friend's smile.
Just then, a member of the production team put his head round the door, "Sir Jackson Livesy-Walsh, Mr Frost, five minutes to go, gentlemen. If you follow me I'll show you to your positions so that you can walk on when Harvey Haynes announces you.
Both Jackson and Brett rose to their feet.
"It still catches me by surprise sometimes, when someone calls me 'Sir Jackson'."
Brett chuckled, "I'll have to call you 'my lord' to get you acclimatised!"
Jackson groaned, "You're as bad as Aaron!"
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When Jackson arrived back home, he immediately went to check on his husband, "How's the invalid?" he asked as he entered the bedroom.
Aaron looked pale, although he had perked up a bit since Jackson last saw him, "I'm feeling a bit better now. I saw you on TV with Brett, he made me laugh, calling you 'my lord'."
"I knew he would...though I think he only did it for your benefit," Jackson moved to kiss Aaron but his husband jerked his head back.
"Don't come near me!" Aaron warned him, "I don't want you catching what I've got."
"I'll be OK," Jackson reassured him, "I've had a flu jab, remember."
"I hate needles, me," Aaron grimaced, "Didn't you feel a prick?"
"There wasn't time for any funny business and anyway, it was a female nurse!" Jackson had a cheeky smirk on his face.
Aaron was still grimacing, "Have you borrowed that joke book from the library again?"
"Just part of my natural charm and humour!" Jackson chuckled.
"Save that for your adoring public," Aaron rolled his eyes skyward, "Anyway, when does this 'Builders – The Rivals' show start? What was it about again?"
"It starts next week...that's why I was plugging it on the air tonight. Teams of construction workers renovate identical houses and the public will vote for the one they like best. You obviously weren't paying much attention."
"I'm not well!" Aaron pouted.
"Awww!" Jackson pursed his lips, "Why don't you get some sleep, baby, you'll feel better in the morning."
Aaron knew that, underneath all the banter, his husband had his best interests at heart. Their love for each other never diminished over time. If anything, it grew stronger with each passing day. "I am pretty tired as it happens...I think I'll get my head down."
"Can I get you anything?" Jackson looked fondly at his life partner.
"No thanks, babe. Richard has been looking after me: I think Tim is getting jealous with all the time he's been spending with me!"
"I'm sure Tim must think he's got real competition," Jackson's smirk returned, "A guy with a big red nose, puffy eyes and hacking cough...what a catch!"
Aaron sneered, "Just watch it, Livesy-Walsh!"
Jackson adopted a haughty look, "SIR Livesy-Walsh, if you don't mind!"
"You may be a Sir, but you're still a total div!" Aaron could not resist a wind up, even in his sorrowful state.
"See, you're feeling better already!" Jackson had to have the last word.
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"Hi gorgeous!" Mason greeted his husband with a kiss as Brett arrived back from the TV studio.
"Hi, my little cup-cake, did you miss me?" Brett smiled at his other half.
"Well, I did miss you in person, though I did catch you on TV earlier. How's Jackson? He looked well."
"Yeah, he's fine, though Aaron's got a dose of the flu."
"Oh, poor Aaron," Mason and Aaron were old sparring partners, but their constant attempts to wind each other up were all part of a deeply held affection: a friendship that had stood the test of time, "I'll have to pop round and see him in a couple of days."
"You really care about him, don't you?"
"Of course I do!" Mason had an earnest look on his face, "I know we lark about and take digs at each other, but he once saved your life and I'll always be grateful to him for that, otherwise we never would have met."
"...and that was down to Jackson. My 'angels' will always have a special place in my heart."
"You great soft lump!" Mason smiled at his husband adoringly. Like Aaron and Jackson, they were more loved-up than ever. Their relationship mirrored Aaron and Jackson's in every way.
Mason suddenly looked pensive, "So, have you thought any more about little Joel?"
Joel was a four-year-old boy who had come to their attention via the 'Baby Bones' charity which Aaron and Jackson had originally set up. He was a lovely little lad, with unruly dark curly hair and sparkling blue eyes and he had touched their hearts when they discovered that he was an orphan and suffered from spinal problems. Both Brett and Mason had fallen for the little mite and were keen to give him a good home.
"I've thought about little else," Brett looked pensive, "The thing is, we'd probably need a nanny to look after him properly."
"I'm sure we could arrange that...Aaron and Jackson have always managed with Polly looking after Jaron."
"Yeah, but Jaron's not disabled, is he?"
Mason looked a little shocked, "What difference does that make?"
Brett feared that Mason might have taken his remark the wrong way, "Don't get the idea that I'm against it: caring for a disabled child I mean. You know that I'm all for it. I'm just concerned that it's probably more difficult and time-consuming than bringing up an able-bodied kid, that's all."
Mason took Brett's hands in his own, "I know you're all for it, I know you inside out and you're the same caring, compassionate man that I married. Aaron and Jackson coped brilliantly with little Ben, before they had Jaron. You've got so much to give a child, babe...so much love."
Brett looked at Mason adoringly, "So have you, my special man. Yeah, you're right, that little lad needs our help and if our friends can do it, then so can we."
"Let's set the ball rolling tomorrow then, shall we?" Mason asked and they sealed it with a kiss.
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Next morning, Aaron was feeling much better and, still in his dressing gown, he sat in the dining room with his husband. He decided to try a bit of breakfast and Richard did the honours as usual, serving up toast and Aaron's favourite marmalade, although Aaron's taste-buds were still refusing to co-operate and he felt like he was chewing a piece of mattress with a sticky orangey coating! As for the drink of tea, although it was of the finest quality, dishwater would have been no different to Aaron's taste.
"Brett's just texted me," Jackson announced, "Last night at the studios, he was banging on about that little boy they saw a couple of weeks ago at the clinic. Seems they've decided to adopt, I'm so pleased."
"Yes, I remember," Aaron had a misty-eyed look, "Joel wasn't it? He was as cute as a button. He may be disabled, but he ran Mason ragged! He couldn't keep up with him in that wheelchair...I bet he'll be a handful when they get him home."
"Yeah...when!" Jackson looked lost in his own thoughts, "You know how long the adoption process takes! The kid will probably be growing a beard before they can get custody."
"Brett's a multi-millionaire," Aaron stated, matter-of-factly, "He should be able to pick the lad up in no time."
Jackson chuckled, "It's not like going to pick up a new car at the showroom, babe, they have to look into your background and see if you would make suitable parents. Plus, it is still tougher for gay couples to adopt, even in these enlightened times."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right, as usual!" Aaron grimaced, "I tend to forget I married the most sensible, responsible bloke on the planet!"
"I got a knighthood, not a sainthood!"
Aaron's grimace turned to a smile, "You'll always be a saint to me...only a saint would put up with me."
"True," Jackson smirked, "I wonder if the Pope needs any assistance this week?"
Aaron laughed but started coughing: a hacking cough that racked his body.
"Poor baby!" Jackson looked at his husband with concern in his eyes: he hated to see him suffer in any way.
Aaron took a swig of tea, "Urrggh, I wish I could taste things properly."
"You will, give it a couple of days and you'll be as right as rain."
"A couple of days? I'll be lucky if I live that long."
Jackson smiled, "You'll survive!" he said, looking adoringly at his one and only.
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A week later, a phone call came out of the blue. Aaron was at his main dealership in Leeds, interviewing for an assistant manager for a new branch in Bradford, when a worried-sounding Polly came on the line.
"It's Jaron," Polly sounded upset and gabbled quickly, "They've taken him to Hotten General. He was playing in the garden with Aston. I don't know what they were doing, but Jaron's unconscious. At least the ambulance came quickly."
Aaron hurriedly arranged for Brian, his garage manager, to handle the rest of the interviews by himself while he rushed off to the hospital. He tried calling Jackson on his mobile, but it went to voicemail as expected as his husband was tied up with his TV work. Aaron was worried sick, he loved his son so much and could not bear the thought of something bad happening to him. On arrival at the hospital, he was directed to the private ward that he and Jackson subscribed to. The doctor, a young dark-haired man called Ted Ross, ushered him into a visitor's waiting room. Also waiting anxiously for news were Polly along with Jaron's best friend Aston and his mother, Tina. Aaron acknowledged them as the doctor began to speak.
"Please don't concern yourself, Mr Livesy-Walsh," Ted could see how agitated Aaron looked, "Jaron's in safe hands. He hit his head when he fell out of a tree and knocked himself out. We're just doing a brain scan to make sure everything's in order, but it's unlikely that he's done too much damage. Kids are pretty resilient to falls."
Aaron tried to take comfort from Ted's words, but he was still on tenterhooks.