Emmerdale and it's charactors belong to ITV, not me!

Paddy came downstairs and found Aaron sat at the table with a mug of tea in his hand. "Have you been down here all night?" he asked his son worriedly.

Aaron shook his head. "No, I came down a couple of hours ago to phone the police. I.."

"Aaron, they said they would let us know about any developments."

"I know, it wasn't for that, although I did ask them. No, I was ringing to tell them to contact Nathan, he knows Tony as much as Jackson, he might be able to help them."

"He's on holiday isn't he?" said his dad as he put the kettle on.

"Yeah, he and Carl don't get back till after the New Year." Aaron leaned back in the chair and put his head back. "Dad, what am I going to do, it's killing me just sitting here doing nothing. I need to be out there looking for Jackson."

"The best thing you…."

"I know what your saying dad, but that doesn't change anything. I feel so useless, I'm not there for Jackson when he needs me, what kind of boyfriend am I."

"Jackson knows how much you love him and that you would do anything for him," he said making his tea.

"We had such a great Christmas, now the New Year is turning into a living hell. I want Jackson back and this year to be over with," he turned and looked at his dad, "what do you thinks happened?"

Paddy looked sympathetically at his son and put his hand on his shoulder. "I really don't know Aaron, all we can do is hope that the police do their job well and find him in time."

"Me too," said Aaron softly.

"Why don't you go and see if Hazel will come down and have some breakfast?"

Aaron smiled and got up from the table. When he had made his way upstairs he stopped outside Hazel's bedroom and knocked lightly on the door. "Hazel, it's Aaron," no answer, "Hazel, can I come in?" still nothing. He was unsure what to do, he had to make sure Hazel was alright, Jackson would want Aaron to take care of her. He turned the handle and slowly opened the door. At first he was sure that Hazel wasn't inside and he started to panic, but then he noticed her sat in a chair by the window. "Hazel!" Aaron could tell that she was awake but she didn't acknowledge him.

Knowing he had to do something, he couldn't just leave her like this, he walked over to the chair and crouched down in front of her. "Hazel…have you had any sleep?" nothing, she just continued to stare out of the window. "Hazel please don't do this, don't shut down on me, I need you," he thought he saw a flicker of something in her eyes. He took her hand's in his and brushed his thumbs over the back of her them. "Mum!" he said pleadingly, "mum please!" It seemed that Aaron calling Hazel mum had touched something inside her, she turned her head and looked at Aaron. "Hey kiddo," she said softly, "you look tired, did you get any sleep?"

Aaron shook his head, trust her to still be worrying like an old mother hen. Shaking his head he stood up, "no, and it doesn't look like you have either. Have you been sat here all night?"

"Most of it, I just can't sleep when my boy is probably frightened for his life, I just can't," she turned to look out of the window again, "have the police rang with any news?

"No, but I rang them a couple of hours ago, I told them to contact Nathan see if he can help with information on Tony." Hazel looked at him. "I know it's a long shot," said Aaron, "but any snippet of information could help the police."

He held out his hand's, "come on, dad's making some breakfast, you need to eat." Hazel shook her head. "I couldn't eat anything."

"If dad's going to make me eat, then you are too," Hazel looked at him, "please mum, for me." Tears weld at Hazel's eyes as she looked at the young man whom she couldn't love anymore if he was her own. She held out her hand's and Aaron pulled her to her feet and they made their way downstairs.

A&J

"Any news?" asked Cain as he walked into the kitchen.

"Not yet," said Paddy, "do you want a drink?"

"No thanks, I've got to get back," he looked at Hazel and Aaron," how're you two holding up?"

"Okay," said Aaron. Cain looked at him knowing that his nephew was lying. "Don't worry about work, take all the time you need."

"Thanks Cain," Aaron said, grateful for the support he always seemed to get from his uncle.

"Not a problem kid," said Cain as he made his way back to work. Everyone in the village knew that Cain had a soft spot for Aaron, and also for Jackson whom Cain was forever grateful for the support he gave his nephew.

Cain hadn't been gone long when Paddy's phone rang. "Hello!" Paddy listened. "Yes this is he." Hazel and Aaron listened anxiously to Paddy's side of the conversation, hoping, praying for good news. Paddy looked at them. "Okay, so you'll let us know as soon as you know anything, anything at all," Paddy listened, "thanks, bye."

Aaron stood up. "Well?"

"They finally got in contact with Nathan and he's given them a good lead," said Paddy with a smile on his face," he gave them some background on him and he's also told them that his parents used to have a farm in the area, so they're going to check it out."

"So more waiting," said Hazel who was still sat at the table.

A&J

DI Mason and DS Jones were on their way to the farm that Nathan had told them about. They had done some checking and they had found that it had been up for sale for over a year and it had been empty for as long.

They were now driving down the single track road towards the house followed by two further police cars. As they exited the cars they could tell with the ground that a vehicle, maybe two, had been here recently. They tried the door but it was locked.

"Have a look around," said Jones, the officers started to walk around both sides of the building. A few moments later they heard shouting from the back of the house. The detectives ran round and saw what had got the officers shouting, under a large tarpaulin was a blue van with Jackson Walsh on the side.

"Okay, let's get inside that house," said Mason as they all ran round the front. It didn't take long for them to smash in the door and start searching the rooms.

"Over here sir," shouted Jones. Mason and the officers ran into the room that Jones was checking out and found her kneeling next to a lifeless body.

"Jones!"

"He's alive sir," she said checking his vitals, "but he's very weak.

"Call for an ambulance," said Mason to the nearest officer to him.

A&J

"They've found him," shouted Paddy as he ran into the room.

Aaron and Hazel both jumped up. "Is he alright?" asked Aaron anxiously.

"They've taken him to Hotten General, so he's alive that's the main thing." Aaron and Hazel pulled each other into a hug. "Come on, let's go," said Paddy.

A&J

When they arrived at the hospital, DS Jones was there to meet them.

"Where is he?" asked Aaron as he ran up to her.

"There seeing to him."

"But he's….he's alright?" said Hazel.

"The doctor will tell you what's happening when he has finished examining him, they've got a room for you to wait in." The three of them followed Jones to a small but comfortable room down a corridor. They sat down, "where did you find him?" asked Aaron.

"The farm that your friend Nathan told us about," said Jones. Aaron made a mental note to thank Nathan as soon as he talked to him. "Your friend probably saved Jackson's life." Aaron smiled.

"What was he like when you found him?" asked Paddy who was sat next to Hazel holding her hand.

Jones looked down. "I'm not going to lie, Jackson was in a bad way, his hand's and feet were bound and he was unconscious." Aaron felt the anger rising inside of him, if he ever got his hand's on Tony he didn't know what he would do.

"How long do you think the doctor will be?" Hazel asked wanting to see her son.

"It shouldn't be too long now."

A&J

They had been seeing to Jackson for nearly an hour, he had hypothermia and was dehydrated so they were trying to warm him up gradually and get some fluids inside of him at the same time.

"Doctor, I think he's coming round," said the nurse who was seeing to Jackson. The doctor moved closer to the bed. "Jackson….Jackson can you hear me," Jackson's eye's fluttered open, "I'm doctor Harris, your in the hospital." Jackson eye's darted around the room confused as to where he was. "Your going to be alright Jackson, no need to worry," said the doctor.

Jackson looked at him. "Aaron!" he said quietly.

"Pardon," said the doctor.

"Aaron, please," Jackson said, his throat hurting as he spoke.

The nurse turned the doctor. "He's in the waiting room with the parents."

The doctor nodded. "I'll go and speak to them."

A&J

The doctor entered the family room and looked at the three anxious faces looking at him.

"How is he? Can I see him?" asked Aaron as he stood up followed by Hazel and Paddy.

"Jackson's doing well. He's got mild hypothermia and he's dehydrated, we have him on a drip to get fluid's back into him. His ankles and wrists are cut up due to the way he was tied, but we have bandaged them and there doesn't seem to be any infection. He also has some bites on his leg."

"Bites," said Aaron.

The doctor nodded. "They look like rat bites but we've given him antibiotics, so hopefully there will be no side effects from them." They all looked relieved. The doctor turned to Aaron. "Your Aaron."

"Yes."

"Jackson's asking for you, it's the first thing he said." Aaron smiled with tears running down his face, he turned to his dad and Hazel.

"Go on love, we'll wait. Go and see our boy," said Hazel. Aaron hugged his dad then Hazel, then followed the doctor.

"He's still groggy, and try not to let him talk too much," said the doctor as they stood outside Jackson's room. Aaron nodded, thanked the doctor then opened the door.

To be continued

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