AARON & JACKSON

-1912-

"Open The Gate"

The cabin door burst open and Aaron and Jackson turned quickly to see Adam in a clear panic, they looked at him curiously. "Guys!" Adam began, his breathing harsh he'd obviously been running. "Y-You won't believe this"

Aaron closed the gap between them and placed his hands on Adam's shoulders. "Hang on a sec mate get your breath back" he told him and Adam nodded and sat on the edge of the bottom bunk. Aaron and Jackson couldn't help but smirk at each other.

Adam's breathing calmed significantly after a minute and he continued. "I was up on deck and the ship started to shudder then all of a sudden this massive iceberg passed us, I barely missed falling chunks of ice, never been so scared in my life – I jumped to miss the falling pieces and I lay there just staring up at it as it passed, it was amazing but terrifying at the same time"

"So do we know what happened then?" Jackson asked.

Adam shrugged as he looked up at them both. "I heard some of the crew talking about flooding below; I-it didn't sound good"

"It didn't feel good either, there was a loud crashing sound and everything was shaking" Jackson told him.

Adam nodded as he ran his finger along his jaw line. "Probably felt it more down here"

Aaron frowned; he was barely taking much of this in as it was. "Right, hang on what are we saying then? The ship hit an iceberg, ok, they can sort this can't they?" he asked as he looked between the two of them. "Jackson" he spoke louder to get an answer, if anyone would have a better idea out of the three of them he would, he helped build it and probably knew the statistics and probabilities in an accident such as the one that had obviously occurred moments previously.

Jackson's mind was in overload, he was trying to comprehend, to think but it was all a jumble. "I-I..." he sighed. "Give me a sec"

Aaron nodded and looked back at Adam. "You okay?"

"Yeah, fine just scary you know"

Aaron smiled sympathetically and nodded as Jackson spoke. "A-Alright listen, if there's already flooding below then there's a possibility they can stop it, but again it depends on the extent of the damage"

"And what if the damage is really bad?" Aaron asked. "The ship can't sink I mean, false advertising then innit?"

Adam smirked at Aaron's messing around but Jackson's seriousness never wavered. "If it's bad this ship will sink, it's just steel"

Both Aaron and Adam grumbled as Adam stood and reached on top of the wardrobe and pulled down two lifebelts and quickly pushed them into Aaron and Jackson's chests. Jackson frowned. "No. No I'm not taking it"

"Jackson" Aaron scowled.

"It's yours mate...take it"

Jackson adamantly shook his head. "I can't" he said as Adam then forced it into Jackson's chest some more. Jackson sighed and gave in and began to put it over his head, just as Aaron was.

"There's no time to argue anyway, I'll find another" Adam reassured them with a smile. But his smile faded when he saw the horrified look on Aaron's face, he turned quickly to see what Aaron was looking at, not only could he now see it he could hear the quiet trickling of the ice cold north Atlantic water seeping in beneath their door. "Like I said" Adam swallowed hard, fear now building within. "There's no time"

"We have to get out of here now" Jackson told them as he pushed in front, the coldness of the water seeped through his shoes immediately. He let out a slow deep breath; he'd adjust to it eventually. As soon as he opened the door, chaos was unleashed upon them, countless passengers were running past them in their pyjamas, wearing only slippers, fear driving them to the upper levels, the water was running along the corridor quickly.

As they walked the corridor led by Jackson, Adam and Aaron followed a few steps behind. "So...mate" Adam began. "Was that what I think it might have been?"

Aaron smiled shyly. "Uh yeah, yeah it was"

Adam smiled. He was so pleased for him, for them both. "And you're okay?"

Aaron nodded and his smile widened. "I' am"

"Good" Adam said as he patted him on the back. "Come on let's catch up, it's getting crazy down here we can't afford to lose each other" he told him and both lads began to push past and through the other third class passengers.

As they walked Aaron noticed a few foreign passengers looking at one of the signs that directed people to other places, one of the men was holding a book, Aaron frowned he guessed the man was trying to read English, his tone was panicked that didn't go a miss and the sudden realisation of what was happening, impacted Aaron hard. He was scared, and he felt sorry for the foreigners who couldn't find the information they needed quick enough. Anyone could help them but no one was because in a situation like that there was no time to think, to do anything, trapped in a deck below sea level and with water coming in a surge of panic hit everyone and like now they were all frightened and rushed to get out, to rise up to the open air. Aaron felt the panic around him and in one swift movement he reached out and grabbed Jackson's hand and squeezed tight. Jackson turned and gave him a reassuring smile and pulled him in close as he wrapped his arm around his waist. Aaron turned to Adam. "Keep up or else"

"Don't worry about me mate, just keep going" Adam advised, there was now a few people between him and the new couple. Adam looked at Aaron intensely, a message that Aaron received and gave a nod too. Aaron turned back to focus on where they were going.

Moments later, Aaron and Jackson saw a stairway ahead but both grumbled and looked at each other a sea of people covered the stairs and were stopped by a closed iron gate at the top, people behind them now stopped and they could feel their bodies being pushed up against the persons in front of them. Aaron certainly didn't like it, he wasn't claustrophobic but in a situation like that, anyone would be. "J-Jackson why are the gates closed?"

"Erm, t-they have to give the people up top time to get to the lifeboats"

"What?! No, wait that doesn't surprise me at all, the rich and powerful people go first..."

Jackson sighed and lowered his head. "Women and children only, actually"

Aaron's eyes narrowed. "Ya what? There are kids down here!" he shouted angrily, but his anger wasn't at Jackson it was for the stupid rules that were in place.

"I know, I know"

"Well then they have to open the gate!"

"I-If they do that they're risking..."

"Risking what Jackson? People are scared for god sake!"

"I know, Aaron listen to me you need to calm down" he raised his hand with difficulty but managed and caressed Aaron's cheek.

"Calm down!" Aaron exclaimed. "How can I calm down? I'm scared Jackson, I'm squashed up against people, I can barely move! And the thought of being locked down here to fucking drown isn't very appealing, they should at least give us a chance!" his tone was angry and panicked and it was clear to see.

"Listen to me" Jackson urged. "We aren't going to drown...we-..." he thought. "You need to force your way through alright, there's another staircase on the other side, push your way through and don't let go of my hand!"

Aaron's breathing was sharp, his eyes focussed on Jackson the entire time he was speaking, he understood the instructions.

"Go, go now" Jackson told him then planted a soft kiss on his forehead before Aaron lunged forward and pushed through the crowd of people accumulating at the staircase and beyond, those that had approached from the opposite direction. They had definitely lost Adam now, but they would see him again.

A while later they reached the staircase Jackson had mentioned on the other side of the deck, this one and the corridor was sparse, only several stood on the steps up to yet another locked iron gate. Aaron sighed and looked at Jackson. "Ask them to open the gate" Jackson told him.

"Oh yeah" Aaron rolled his eyes. "As if they're going to do that because I asked"

"You never know, you can be very persuasive" he smirked.

Aaron hit him in the chest gently. "Yeah but the bedroom's an entirely different situation" he told him and Jackson just began to laugh and he stood watching Aaron walk up the steps.

"You're wasting your time lad, they aren't gunna open it"

Aaron turned and looked at the large well built man who spoke to him. "Who says they are?"

The passenger frowned and just watched as Aaron set off on a run and with full force flung himself into the gate. The gate itself did move but it didn't budge. He sighed and looked down the steps. "Move out of the way" he told a woman who was stood on the steps. She nodded and walked back down them.

"What are you doing!" demanded a man on the other side of the gate.

"Getting out of here" Aaron explained as he turned to face the small man on the other side. "Why? What are you doing? Standing there looking important? You aren't god; you can't leave us locked up down here"

"I have my orders"

"Stuff the fucking orders! Just let us out, no one will know, there's only seven of us here, just open the gate!"

"I-I can't" the man explained, but even in his tone they could all hear that he was beginning to question his orders.

"Fine, we'll open the gate then – Jackson!" he called down to him and turned back to the man on the step.

"You don't need to ask lad, let's open this gate"

Aaron grinned and nodded at him in appreciation.

"No wait! I-I'll let you through..." the small man interjected before any damage could be done. Aaron eyed him suspiciously. "And you'll leave it open" it wasn't much of a question, it was a demand – or else.

The man nodded after a second or two. "Y-yes of course" he replied as he fumbled with the set of keys in his hand.

"Good" Aaron told him. The man stepped forward, placed the correct key in the lock and turned it, the lock clicked and he forced the gate apart, pushing each side back into the recess of the walls allowing the passengers out.

"Well played" Jackson spoke into Aaron's ear. "Thought you'd have kicked off more than that"

Aaron smirked as they walked free. "I would have given the chance, but he saw sense"

Jackson nodded. "He did the right thing"

"But..." Aaron sighed heavily. "What do we do now?" Both men simply looked at each other, trying to find an answer, either way they couldn't get a lifeboat. Jackson pulled Aaron to the side of the corridor and they stood close, facing each other. "W-We have to stay on board as long as we can" he explained and kissed his forehead softly.

"Bu-" Aaron's voice was shaky.

"Shh...I know you're scared Aaron, so am I...but we have each other and after everything I'm not going to let this ruin what we have are you listening?" Jackson shook him slightly.

Aaron nodded. "Y-yeah...I' am, I hear ya..."

"Good" Jackson smiled wide as he stared into Aaron's fascinating blue eyes. "I love you Aaron"

"I love you too Jackson" he spoke quietly as fear filled his thoughts. Jackson knew it was as he watched him; he was scared too, all he could do was stay with him and make sure they survived, despite everything being against that possibility, for the moment anyway.

They continued to rise up through the decks but they soon came to another crowd filled corridor and a locked gate, but something was different, they both noticed the people at the top doing exactly what Aaron had done, but words obviously did not have the desired effect on the guards on the other side of the gate. These men were repeatedly running into it forcing the gate back further with each force of their combined bodies impacting the iron gate. Aaron looked around at all the people as he hoped they would get the gate open. He frowned when something caught his eye, he let go of Jackson's hand and walked towards what he had seen.

"Aaron! What are you doing?!" Jackson called to him.

Someone was lying on the floor, Aaron could barely see the person now as he approached; a lot of people were in the way and were trampling on the poor person. Anger rose within Aaron and he forced his way through and pushed them away. "What the hell are you doing?!" he shouted in complete rage as he angrily pushed people away who were trampling on the person, when he looked down he froze, blood was flowing from Adam's nose and he was unconscious. "Make room!" Jackson instructed and the people around stepped away realising there mistake.

Aaron fell to his knees and leaned over him and listened for any signs of breathing. There was thankfully and he looked up at Jackson as tears began to fill his eyes. "He, he's ok I think...how stupid..." his breathing hitched as the emotion overwhelmed him. "People" he closed his eyes tight and shook his head as tears ran from his eyes. Jackson looked up and saw that they had succeeded in smashing down the gate and people were fleeing and with each second that passed the corridor was becoming less crowded. Jackson knelt down beside Aaron. "Aaron, we have to go"

Aaron opened his eyes and sighed heavily as he looked at Jackson and he began to shake his head. "I'm not going"

"What?" Jackson frowned. "We don't have time Aaron!"

"He's my mate Jackson! I'm not leaving him here...he didn't deserve this...I know, I know this situation is bad, but crushing people in a blind panic..." he was disgusted but a part of him couldn't help but understand the circumstances and why this did happen.

"Aaron we have to go, this will flood sooner rather than later"

"Let it flood!" Aaron responded angrily. "You go...I'm staying with him"

Jackson couldn't believe this was happening. He knew the two of them were friends and he understood Aaron's loyalty but now really wasn't the time. Jackson sighed – what to do?

TBC...