Later that day Aaron was sat at the dining room table with Robert. Aaron's phone was in the middle of the table as they both starred at it. Aaron was twiddling his thumbs as he contemplated whether or not he should dial the number. Chas, Cain, Moira, Adam and Zak then walked in.
"No sign of him around the village" Chas said.
"Has he called them yet?" Adam asked.
Robert looked over his shoulder and shook his head he then turned back to Aaron "Babe?" Robert rubbed Aaron's forearm.
"I don't think I can do it. What if he gets angry and comes back?" Aaron looked up at Robert.
"Do you want to do this tomorrow? I can call them if you want" Robert said in a soft voice.
Aaron gathered up his strength and he grabbed the phone. He stood up as he dialled the number and held the phone to his ear. "Hello? I'd like to report a crime... Child abuse." Aaron spoke into the phone. Robert stood up and walked over to Aaron. He put one arm around Aaron's chest to offer support "Me. Aaron Livesy... my dad." Aaron spoke into the phone for another two minutes before he hung up and put his phone in his pocket.
"Well?" Zak asked.
Aaron turned around "I need to go down to the station to make a full statement".
"Aright let's go" Cain said.
"No. Just Robert" Chas said.
Everyone looked at Chas "Is that alright with you?" Robert asked.
"He needs you more than he needs us. The police will probably want to speak to you as well, we only know what you and Aaron have told us. You should go" Chas nodded.
Robert nodded and held out his hand to Aaron "Okay, let's do this". Aaron took Robert's hand and they walked out of the door, they walked to Robert's car and they drove to the police station. They sat in the car for a moment in silence "I'm very proud of you. D'you know that?" Robert said.
Aaron looked at Robert "There's nothing for you to be proud of" Aaron replied.
"That's not true. You told me something that you've kept secret for sixteen years, you didn't hurt yourself even though you wanted to, you called the police about what happened and now you're here. You are the bravest person I know. You make me the proudest man alive because I have you as my boyfriend" Robert said in a soft voice.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this. I'm sorry that I made you stand there in front of my family and tell them what happened to me" Aaron said.
"Don't be. You didn't make me do anything, I understand that it was hard for you to say something like that to Zak. I told them because I knew that you couldn't. I can't imagine how you must be feeling right now, I burst into tears when I told everyone about what happened to you. That's why I told them. I know that it must be killing you inside every time you think about it. It breaks my heart when you cry. So I know that for you it must be ten times worse" Robert wiped away his tears.
"I'm ready" Aaron breathed.
"Are you sure? Nobody's forcing you to do this" Robert said.
"Yeah, I'm sure" Aaron nodded.
Robert smiled at Aaron "Okay" Robert said before they got out of the car and walked into the police station. They walked up to the front desk and an officer showed them to the wait room. Aaron and Robert waited for thirty minutes.
"It'll be alright Aaron" Robert said.
"They should've called me in by now. What if they don't believe me?" Aaron said as his knee started to nervously bounce.
"They'll believe you. You're doing the right thing Aaron" Robert held Aaron's hand as they waited.
The inspector then came out of the room that they used for questioning "Aaron Livesy?" he asked. Aaron and Robert looked up at the man, "We're read for now. If you'd like to follow me?" The man smiled kindly at Aaron.
Aaron slowly exhaled as he nodded. He stood up and so did Robert, his boyfriend pulled him into a hug and held him for a few seconds "It'll be alright. Just tell them what happened. I'll be waiting out here for you." Robert whispered and then he kissed Aaron's forehead. He released Aaron from his embrace and sat down as his boyfriend walked into the room with the inspector . An policewoman then walked up to Robert.
"Do you want to come with me? You can watch what we are recording if you want" She said. Robert stood up and followed the woman to another room. He sat down in the chair that was in front of the small screen and watched Aaron make a statement.
"Can you state your name and why you're here?" the inspector asked.
Aaron slowly inhaled and exhaled for a moment "You'll just think that I'm lying, because I left it so long".
"No we won't. I just want to get to the bottom of this. So that I can help get you justice. Take your time, there's no rush." The inspector said.
"How will I prove it? He's a very good liar. He'll just say that it's a lie and that I'm messed up in the head" Aaron said as his leg nervously bounced.
"That will be our job. We can always conduct a polygraph test. We will get to the truth." The inspector reassured.
"He's so proud of me for doing this. He thinks that I'm brave for tell people about it" Aaron said.
"He? Is that who came here with you?" The inspector asked.
Aaron smiled briefly "Yeah. That's Robert".
"Your boyfriend? Tell me about him" the inspector said.
"He's charismatic, stubborn, protective he's been there for me since the day I told him. He's always telling me how brave I am and that he loves me. I want to say the same back but I'm not very good at being emotional. I'm not used to people caring about me" Aaron said as he wiped away a tear.
Meanwhile Robert was smiling as he watched and listened to his boyfriend describe him and say that he loved him. He loved Aaron deeply and he understood that it was hard for Aaron to open up about his feelings. It warmed his heart when Aaron said that he felt the same way.
"He sounds like a great guy" the inspector smiled.
"Yeah, he is" Aaron smiled to himself.
"Are you ready to tell me about what happened?" The inspector asked.
Aaron nodded and wiped away his tears "Yeah".
The chief inspector then pressed record on the tape recorder "This is chief inspector DC Wise it is 4:56pm. I am here with Aaron Livesy about his claim that his father Gordon Livesy committed the act of sexual abuse against him when he was a child. Go ahead Aaron".
"It started after my mum left, I had just turned eight years old. I had been home alone for a few hours, my dad came home one night he had just lost his job so he was mad. I rushed out of the front door and ran to him, he'd normally hug me when he got home but he just pushed straight passed me. I walked into the house and asked what was wrong and if I had made him angry... he didn't answer so I did my homework as he made dinner. He placed a plate of food in front of me and told me to eat it. I started to eat it but I didn't like it so I said that I wanted something else. He just started to shout at me, I started to cry and I said that I wanted my mum. He sent me to bed but he then threw a plate at me as I walked towards the door. I ran to my bedroom, got ready for bed and fell asleep under the blankets because I was crying. I woke up a few hours later when I heard the door creaking open and footsteps coming over to my bed. I looked up and saw him there... he wasn't saying anything he just starred at me. His eyes looked evil. I could see that look on his face because I still had a night light, my mum had bought me a nightlight because I used to have nightmares a lot. He pulled my blankets away from me and threw them onto the floor and then he told me to pull my pyjama bottoms down. I said no and that he was scaring me, he slapped me across the face and pulled my trousers down. I went to pull them up but he grabbed my neck and turned me over so that my face was pressed into the pillow... I asked what he was doing and I told him that I didn't understand, but then I felt him climb onto the bed and sit on me. He wasn't wearing trousers... I felt him on me. H-he had an erection. I said please get off of me I want my mum. He shouted at me shut up and that I had been naughty. I didn't know what was happening... I just kept crying and screaming that it hurt and that I wanted my mum. I just kept screaming mummy mummy please help me. I begged him to stop but he just made it hurt more by going faster and by gripping my wrists tighter, so I stopped screaming. I just starred at the picture of me and my mum until it stopped. He punched me in the back and then he took away my pyjama bottoms and my blankets. He stopped at the door and said that it was all my fault and that he had to punish me. He then shut the door and I listened to him walking down the stairs. I was cold but I couldn't move to get the blanket that was on the chair... I was scared that he'd hear me getting out of bed and that he'd be angry. I unbuttoned my top and used that as a blanket. I cried myself to sleep that night as I squeezed my teddy. It hurt inside so I curled up and I fell asleep. The second time was because I had gotten into a fight at school and my step mum threatened to leave him, he told me to go and wait in my room... he came in and told me to lie on my front. I heard him take his belt and his trousers off. We had just started sex education that day at school so I knew what had happened to me when I was little. I couldn't move... I just squeezed my old teddy bear and I did what he said but I still cried. It hurt even more when I cried because he made it hurt more. It felt like it lasted for hours until he... pulled out. He walked to the door and called me dirty and messed up. The third time was because my step mum had said that I was not aloud to go out with my mates. I yelled at her, calling her all sorts of names, I broke my sister's favourite doll. I thought that I had got away with it that night but then Sandra took my sister to stay with one of her friends. He walked into my room when I was doing homework... he walked up behind me and started to kiss my neck. I told him to stop and that I was going to tell my mum when I went to stay with her the next day. He said that she didn't care about me and that I didn't have the right to tell him what to do. He grabbed me as I shouted at him no over and over again. He threw me onto the floor and held me done with me face pressed against the carpet. I told him no but he didn't listen he just did it again. I tried to stop him by kicking back and by trying to roll onto my back but he just hit me and said that it would last longer if I fought him. I stopped and just cried through the whole thing. I gave up fighting after a few minutes. I saw my teddy bear under my bed so I reached for it and pulled it to my chest. My mum had given it when I was six. She said to hug it whenever I was scared or whenever I had a nightmare, this was my nightmare. That teddy gave me some comfort I guess. I never really had any friends so I would tell my teddy how I felt and why I hated myself. It's stupid really" Aaron sobbed as he retold his story for the third time.
Robert was crying as he listened to the whole thing. He wanted to leave the station and go back home, however he didn't want to leave Aaron. So he forced himself to listen to everything that Aaron said. The police officer handed him a tissue and he wiped his eyes. He could imagine everything that Aaron was saying and it broke his heart. The officer asked if he wanted to leave but Robert said no because he had to know what Aaron had gone through.
"The last time Sandra caught me nicking some of my dad's booze. He walked into my room and saw me holding the can of larga... Sandra told him what I had done. The anger in his face I knew that he was going to do it. I felt it all... every time he touched me every time he forced himself inside of me. I had enough of it all. He grabbed my arm and screamed in my face. I pulled away from him and tried to punch him but I ended up hitting Sandra. She spun around and hit the door. I couldn't say anything I stuttered an apology but he shouted at her to take my sister to the park or to get fish and chips. He always bought me fish and chips after he would rape me. I ran out of my room and locked myself in the bathroom. He tried to break the door down and said that I was going to be punished. I shouted that he couldn't do that to me anymore. I then climbed out of the window and I've lived at the village ever since. He kicked me out. I told Robert this when I collapsed at work" Aaron then wiped his eyes.
Jason Wise then asked Aaron a few questions and Robert walked back to the waiting room. Aaron came out of the room and Robert hugged him. Aaron choked on his tears as Robert held him. "I'm so proud of you baby. My brave Aaron" Robert said as he rubbed Aaron's back.
"He mentioned you in his statement. Could you make a statement for us please? It could really help his case if you tell us what happened when he told you" Jason said.
Robert nodded and then kissed Aaron's head before he let go of him. Aaron sat down as Robert walked into the room that Aaron had just come out of. He sat down on the sofa and looked at the inspector. "I'm sorry if I end up crying, it's just hard to think of him going through all of that" Robert said.
"That's perfectly understandable. There's no need to hold back tears." Jason reassured. Robert let his tears fall as Jason pressed recorded on the tape recorder "This is chief inspector Jason Wise, the time is 6pm. Commencing interview with Mr Robert Sugden about the crime of child abuse that was inflicted upon Aaron Livesy. The accused Gordon Livesy. When you're ready Robert" Jason said.
Whilst Robert was preparing to give his statement an officer walked up to Aaron and asked if he wants to watch from the screenroom. Aaron stood up and followed the officer to a room and sat down in a chair to watch the small screen.
Robert slowly exhaled "I first realised that something was wrong when I met Gordon for the first time. I could see that Aaron was terrified when his dad was stood where me and Aaron were sat in the Woolpack. Aaron didn't say what was wrong but when he started singing stitches on the karaoke and holding his stomach as well as him nodding his head over at Gordon a few times. I knew that Aaron Was trying to tell me that Gordon was the reason that he self harmed. He then sat back down opposite me. Gordon was about to sit next to me when Aaron stood up and ran to my side. He sat next to me. He said that he was cold so I put my arm around him, I could feel him shaking and there was something about Gordon that made me sick to the stomach. Call it a gut feeling if you want I just think of it as me being concerned about Aaron and being protective over him. I told Gordon to leave and then Aaron left a note in my hand before he ran into the backroom of the pub. A few days later I went to the scrapyard where Aaron works to collect the monthly report. He looked very pale and he was being very skittish when I walked in. He told me that he had been having nightmares and that I should stay away from Gordon because he was bad news. I asked why but Aaron said he had to go. He walked to the door but then he collapsed, I caught him before he hit the ground. He was very pale and breathing very slowly. I saw blood on his sleeve so I rolled it up and saw the deep cut on his wrist. It was red but it had this yellowy orange stuff around it. I could tell that it was infected. I carried him to my car and drove him to the hospital. As I drove he said that Gordon had done this to him and that Gordon was a bad man. Aaron said that Gordon had done something to him. I asked what Gordon did but Aaron passed out. I got him to the hospital and carried him in. They did a few tests before a nurse told me that he had septicaemia. I went into the hospital room where he was and stayed there for three hours whilst he slept. He told me everything when he woke up. He had a nightmare that night so I lied with him to comfort him. The next day I woke up and gave him a drink of water we talked for bit before his mum Chas, his mate Adam, his father figure Paddy and my step mum ran in. Chas asked what I was doing there, I explained that Aaron had collapsed at work, the fact that he had blood poisoning and that I had been there all night" Robert wiped his eyes and blew his nose.
Robert then burst into tears and hide his face in his hands. Aaron was crying as he watched on a screen because he hated seeing Robert so upset.
"Do you need a break?" Jason asked.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Aaron, I'm not strong enough" Robert sobbed.
Aaron was shocked, he had never seen Robert break down and admit that he was struggling before. He cried harder as he listened and watched his boyfriend cry as he gave a statement to help him.
Jason got Robert a drink of water and passed it to him "Here Robert".
Robert wiped away his tears and took the small plastic cup "Thanks" he said before taking a sip.
"Does Aaron know that you are struggling with this?" Jason asked as he sat down.
"He can never see me like this. It would destroy him. I can't even imagine what he was going through for so many years. He was just a little boy, he was an innocent child and that monster took his childhood away from him. That man robbed my Aaron of his happiness. He tortured the man I love and Aaron blames himself. He is the most kindhearted and the most loving person I know, I cherish everything he smiles and laughs. His smile could brighten up a room. He makes my life worth living, I can't be without him". Robert smiled at the thought of his boyfriend.
"You really love him don't you?" Jason stated.
"More than anything. He is my everything. That monster needs to go down for what he did to my Aaron. He needs to face justice for what he put my beautiful Aaron through. It needs to be soon because I'm afraid of what might happen when I'm not there to protect Aaron. I can barely sleep without being constantly afraid that Aaron will be hurt again. Please you have to get Aaron justice please" Robert begged
"We will. I won't stop until I get justice for Aaron. I will put my blood, sweat and tears into this case. I will make sure that Gordon Livesy gets what he deserves" Jason promised.
"Thank you" Robert dried his eyes and continued with making his statement."Gordon then walked in and he asked if Aaron was okay. The grin on his face was pure evil and I saw the fear in Aaron's eyes. I saw red and I ran at Gordon, I punched him in the gut and held him up against the wall. I was just so angry. That pervert had attacked my boyfriend and I could've killed him for it. I shouted that Gordon had raped my Aaron and then I told everyone that Aaron self harmed because of that. Gordon punched me in the mouth causing me to get a split lip. I grabbed his arm and held it behind his back as Adam and I took him outside and threw him to the ground. He had a black eye because I punched him for calling Aaron a liar. I then walked back to where Aaron was when Cain walked in. Aaron explained to everyone what Gordon had done. I brought Aaron home yesterday, we walked in and saw Chas sat at the table with Cain, I heard someone coming down the stairs. When I saw who it was I pushed Aaron behind me and told him to stay behind me. When Gordon was leaving he grabbed Aaron's arm and pulled him away from me, he told Aaron to say that it was a lie and he squeezed his wrist. The cut wasn't healed yet so it hurt him. I pulled Aaron away from that monster and held him close to protect him. Gordon threatened Aaron and then Cain threw him out. That's everything" Robert said as he wiped his eyes, he had cried as he gave his statement so he tried to compose himself for when he took Aaron home.
Jason pressed stop and then looked at Robert "Well done, I know that must have been very hard for you. Aaron said that you have been there for him ever since he told you about the abuse".
"I'm trying to be supportive for him. But the truth is that all I want to do is cry for him. I can picture everything that he told me. I'm terrified that I won't be able to protect him. Am I going about it the right way or should I back off? I don't know what to do" Robert admitted.
"It's okay to cry, it must be devastating to learn that the person you love has gone through something like that. You are doing a great job at protecting him. Just keep doing what you're doing, he needs to have you close now. Especially because Gordon can grab him when you're there. I know it's hard but you just need to be calm and to support him. He said that you've been amazing and that he loves you. Just don't push him to do anything" Jason smiled at Robert before they both walked out of the room.
Aaron was sat in the waiting room by the time Robert came out of the room. Aaron stood up and Robert smiled at him, Robert put one arm around Aaron's shoulders and pulled him close. "Are you okay?" Aaron asked.
"Yeah I'm ok. I just want to keep you close to me and never let you go" Robert answered.
Aaron hugged Robert "I love you" Aaron whispered.
Robert smiled "I love you too".
"We've got everything we needed from both of you so you can go home now. I'll be in touch" Jason said.
Robert and Aaron then walked back to the car and drove home.