"Surprising Acts Of Forgiveness"

WRITTEN BY DAYNE DINNING

~This fanfic follows directly on from His Hidden Secret

# Disclaimer – I do not own Emmerdale or any of the characters used.

Aaron was nervous as he stood over the crackling flames that burned the ledger; he always listened to Eric. He knew best. The smoke rifled up through the air. He stood cemented to the ground, staring down at it; he needed to make sure it was gone.

Jackson walked out of the back door. "What you doing Aaron?"

Aaron turned slightly. "Just burning some old documents" he replied blankly.

"Ahh I see..." Jackson bit his lower lip as he thought and walked over to him. "Hows your hand?" he asked as he looked down at it which he'd covered with cling film.

"Stings a bit" he replied.

"You need to see a doctor for that Aaron" Jackson cringed as he looked again at the red scorched stain like burn covering the most part of the back and sides of his hand and fingers.

Aaron shook his head. "I'm not going to hospital Jackson"

Jackson frowned. "Why not?"

"Because I don't want too, simple." He said and walked away, back into the pub.

Jackson sighed and shook his head and walked away from the pub and round it and walked down into the village

Luke was outside the B&B and saw Jackson instantly; he ran to him. "Hey mate" he smiled.

Jackson looked at him. "Alright?"

"Yeah fine thanks, you?"

"Hmm, so so...bit of an atmosphere in there...needed to get out...just going to the cafe for a coffee you want one?"

Luke smiled. "Yeah, sure why not"

After getting the coffees, Luke and Jackson sat down on a sofa and began talking. "How's Aaron?"

"Ahh seriously mate, I wouldn't go there..." Jackson said with a sigh. "He refuses to see a doctor, always has done, always will, just a bit annoying, he's so stubborn it's unreal" he shook his head as he lifted the mug to his lips.

"I know what you mean mate, once we were all at a beach party and Aaron decided to go in the sea, at night..."

Jackson rolled his eyes.

"Yeah..." Luke smirked at seeing the rolling of eyes. "He wanted to have fun, a laugh...so he went in and it wasn't long until he was stung by a jellyfish"

Jackson smirked; he stopped the urge to laugh.

"It was quite bad actually, had to go in, get him and drag him back out, he refused aswell, he stuck to that for a few hours...until he caved" Luke smiled as he thought back. "I miss those days"

"At least you had him" Jackson said thoughtfully.

Luke shook his head. "Nah mate...I didn't...not in the way I wanted anyway" he smiled. "I'm sorry I hope this isn't weird or anything..." he took a breath and looked at him. "Aaron is so special, I'm not gunna lie... I love him and over the years I tried and tried but he was having none of it, because you had his heart and no one else was filling that gap"

Jackson smiled. "It's alright, I know he is...Luke is there something else going on I need to know about he's gone really weird on me..."

"Not that I know of...it's probably the burn...knocked him for six you know" Luke replied.

Jackson nodded.

"You want me to talk him round? I don't mind" Luke laughed a little before he took a drink.

"No I can deal with Aaron...stubborn git" Jackson shook his head and laughed.

Aaron was sat on the sofa in the living room, nursing his film covered hand, sitting in silence with of course the exception of the noise in the bar. The door knocked a few minutes later. Aaron turned and saw Moira popping her head in. "Alright?" Aaron asked.

"Yes love, there's a man here to see you...Eric?" she asked with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Oh yeah" Aaron nodded. "Send him in" Moira disappeared and Aaron took a breath before Eric walked in.

Eric walked in and sat down next to him. "I did it" Aaron spoke quietly with his head down.

"Good" Eric smiled. "I'm sorry I was hard on you earlier"

Aaron shook his head. "No, no you had every right too, I let you down"

"Ahh...I'll get over it, it's done, no harm I guess" Eric watched him. "You're a good man Aaron, don't spoil yourself, you have this place, friends, and a man who adores you from what I've seen, don't ruin it"

Aaron looked at him. "I'll never forgive myself for what I did...you can have the money Eric..."

Eric shook his head. "No...Keep it Aaron, as a reminder of paths NOT to walk down"

Aaron nodded. "We probably won't see each other again for a while once you go back home, but..." Aaron became teary. "I wanted you to know how grateful I am to you for saving me"

Eric's eyes glazed slightly and he placed his hand on Aaron shoulder. "You saved yourself mate, by listening to me and allowing yourself to heal without the pressures of this village surrounding you" he smiled slightly. "And we will see each other again, you're a part of my family, and you always will be"

Aaron smiled before being pulled into a hug.

"Now you should tell Jackson the truth, and if you won't listen to him, listen to me...your hand looks horrible you need it seeing too so please don't worry people alright...just go to the hospital" he said as he pulled away from the hug.

Aaron rolled his eyes and smirked.

"Oh he will!" Chas said loudly as she charged to the living room from the back door. "I've just had Jackson talk my ear off in the cafe, Aaron...oh" she stopped when she walked into the room. "Hi...I'm Chas..hi-"

"Of course, his mum...he's talked a lot about you" Eric stood and held out his hand and Chas shook it with a smile.

"Good things I hope" Chas said.

Eric nodded. "Of course" he smiled as she walked around to the sofa and sat next to him and shivered at the sight of his hand.

"Jesus kid, right get up...I'm driving you to Hotten general"

Aaron nodded. "Call Jackson then, let him know"

"I will, just get your shoes on" she told him and actually went to get them for him.

"Twenty two and she's fussing after me" Aaron smirked.

"Mums always do, don't expect it to stop" he laughed.

"Yeah...too right I won't" Chas replied as she rushed back into the room.

"Mum, will you please slow down? I'm not bleeding to death you know..."

Eric laughed. "Right I'll be off, see you later Aaron"

Aaron smiled at him and nodded. "See you later"

"Yeah I know...you just worry me to death you do...oh...bye Eric" Chas said as she rummaged around her bag for her phone and keys as Aaron slipped his feet into his trainers.

Chas began dialling Jackson as they headed out the pub, Aaron stopped to double check things would be okay until he came back. Chas didn't realise and stopped at the door. "Aaron! Now!" she yelled across the bar.

"Kids eh?" Carl said from his seat.

Chas gave him a sarcastic but disgusted smile and walked out once she was certain Aaron was following. "Hi Jackson, he's finally seen the light, I'm taking him to get checked, you wanna come?"

"Yeah sure I'm on my way..." Jackson got up and said his silent apologies and goodbyes to Luke and left the cafe. "Oh hospitals are just a real treat for us aren't they? We should rent a room"

"Yeah too right, tell me about it..." Chas sighed.

"I' m walking up now...be two minutes" Jackson told her.

"Alright love, bye" Chas ended the call as she got in the car.

He watched until the car drove out of Emmerdale, no one was around and seemed to be watching, the rock at his feet completed his intended plan. With sheer sadness and fury, Dan picked it up and launched it at the living room window of the house he'd lived in with Jackson. "Not even close to what you did to me" he mumbled as he wiped his eyes and discreetly left the area.

To Be Continued...