Thanks so much for all the reviews. I've had this stuck in my head for days and had to get it out, glad you're enjoying it! –a


"Just tell me you love me, and then let me go."

"I can't, I won't. You can't do this, I need you!"

"I need you too, but we don't always get what we want eh?"

"What about Paddy? Your mum?"

"I left a note for Paddy. Just look out for him yeah? At least until...you know."

"Aaron please! I'll do anything!"

"No you won't mate, we both know that. You know what I want, well what I wanted. This is what I want now. I just need it to be over."

"If you love me at all you won't do this."

A small laugh escaped Aaron's lips; he ran one hand through his hair, the other still gripping the railing. Jackson's breathing stopped momentarily as he saw Aaron let go.

"If I love you at all I won't do this? Did you honestly just say that? Love isn't everything Jackson, you've shown me that."

"Yes it is! Please, just come here. We'll have that talk you've been wanting to have. Please." He was begging now, he didn't care; he needed Aaron more than anything.

"What's the point? Not like it will change your mind. You've made it perfectly clear that nothing will stop you from...from killing yourself." His voice broke, he tried hard to stay strong but now, at the end, he couldn't.

"Why are you doing this to me? Haven't I been through enough? Getting hit by a train wasn't enough for ya, now you want to break my heart?"

"This isn't about you...well it is, but it's my decision. I'm not trying to hurt you Jackson, really I'm not, but I can't go on like this anymore. I'm terrified of living without you, terrified of what I might do to Paddy, strangers, myself. I'm sorry, but I have to do this."

"That's the first time you've ever admitted you were scared. The first time you've ever fully dropped those walls you have built up. I never thought I would see that."

"Just try and remember the good times yeah? I know I didn't make things easy, and there aren't that many, but just remember them. Think about Lanzarotte or Whitby even, how nice it was. Tell Paddy I love him, me mum too."

Aaron looked down at the river below, he let out a shaky breath as he let go of the railing. He held his arms out to his sides, feeling the wind blow past his face. He felt free, for the first time in a long time, all his cares and worries were gone. Jackson couldn't believe what he was seeing; he was sat there in his chair about to watch the love of his life jump to his death. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think. He needed to stop this; he had never felt so useless in his life. There was only one thing Aaron wanted from him, one thing he hadn't been willing to give...he wanted him to live, but he didn't have the strength to live. Not how he had been, dependent on everyone for every little thing. Could he do it for Aaron? Could he live for the next 50 or so years in complete isolation if that meant he got to live with Aaron?

"I love you Aaron."

Aaron turned to look at him one last time, a smile of genuine happiness playing across his face. It brought tears to Jackson's eyes; the first real moment of happiness that Aaron had had in months was because he was ending his life. What did that say about him? What kind of person could drive a person to such lengths and not do anything to stop them?

"Goodbye Jackson." Aaron said before turning his attention back to the river.

"I'll do it!" Jackson spoke with a feverish determination. "I'll go to counselling, rehab, anywhere I promise, just please don't jump!"

"Please don't make promises you won't keep."

"I'm not," Jackson pleaded, his whole body shaking through his tears, tears that he had no chance of stopping. "I'm not! I'll do anything! I swear Aaron; I'll do anything for you. I can't watch you do this, I can't lose you. Now I know what you've been feeling, how I've made you feel. I'm so sorry Aaron! I never meant to cause you so much pain! You can call a therapist when we get back, just please come down."

"So what, you'll go for one session, get bored of it, and never go again? Then we'll be back in the same place, we'll both be miserable."

"No," Jackson was reeling, he couldn't think of what to say to change Aaron's mind. He needed to be strong, level-headed, but he couldn't. Aaron had this eerie calmness about him, it was scary to witness, how could he be so calm?


"Paddy," Hazel called as she trudged up the hill towards Smithy Cottage. The vet turned with a smile, it faltered as he saw her. She had lost a lot of weight, looked like she hadn't slept in days, and that zest for life she usually had was gone. "Have you seen Jackson? I thought he might be here with Aaron."

"No, I haven't. You should try the garage; he's probably with Aaron there or the Woolie."

"I've looked everywhere. Debbie said Aaron didn't show up today, Jackson and Chas had been looking for him."

The colour drained from Paddy's face, he could tell something wasn't quite right with Aaron recently and after talking with Jackson he was more worried than ever. It frustrated him how Aaron bottled everything, they'd been down this road before and the outcome was an almost successful suicide attempt.

"What? What's wrong?"

"Sorry, it's just...Aaron's not seemed himself lately, I told Jackson the last time I saw him like this was the day he tried to kill himself, and now no one knows where he is. I'm scared he might do something."

"He wouldn't, he wouldn't leave Jackson. He loves him."

"Yeah, but something has him in bits. I'm going to go look for him. Do you want to join me?"

"Paddy, Hazel," Adam called, jogging up from the Woolpack. "How's Aaron? Jackson find him?"

"You saw him?" Paddy asked urgently.

"Yeah, early this morning. He didn't look right. Jackson went after him, thought they'd be back by now."

"Where are they? Which way did they go?"

"Past the garage, towards the river. What's going on? You don't think he'd..." Adam asked worry etched on his face.

They all set off running down the hill, hoping to get to Aaron and Jackson before something bad happened.

"Where's the fire?" Chas yelled out as they rushed past, smiling as she started clearing one of the outdoor tables.

"Aaron," Paddy yelled in his haste to find the younger man.

Chas dropped the glasses she was holding, shock settling into every fibre of her body. She took off after them, running as fast as her 4 inch heels would carry her. She didn't stop when she heard Cain call out; she had to get to her son. She could hear the heavy foot falls behind her, she knew Cain was there.

They seemed to be running forever, no one knew where to go, they just headed towards the river, led by nothing but blind faith. Once closer to the river they heard Jackson talking, pleading with Aaron, they moved even faster now.

"Aaron please, I'm begging you, please don't do this." Jackson watched in horror as Aaron started to step off the bridge, his heart stopped, and he could barely see through his tears. He couldn't watch this; he shut his eyes as tightly as possible, pushing out more tears as he did so. He had just killed the most important person in his life.