DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS. THEY REMAIN AND WILL ALWAYS REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF ITV1

STILL SOME DISTRESSING SCENES TO BE HAD...

PART11of15

Aaron jumped up and looked about him. The toilets were just ahead of him. He bolted in and locked the door behind him.

Jackson stepped into the cafe and shot a grin at his mother, " That brew on is it Mum?"

"Hold your horses love, I've only got one pair of hands!" cried Hazel juggling with the 3 frying pans spitting fat on the stove.

Jackson sniffed back and turned his head towards the toilet, "Somebody in there, is there?"

Hazel shook her head but didn't look at him, "yeah...that young lad with the brew"

Jackson rolled his tongue along the inside of his bottom lip, removed his hard hat and approached the toilet door.

Aaron was inside the small cubicle stood on top of the toilet pan, he was trying to reach the window latch, but it was just out of his reach.

There was a harsh knock on the door, " Come on you in there! Hurry up! There's other folk who want to use the bog too, you know!"

It was Jackson's voice. Aaron swallowed down, eyes flickering towards the door and back to the window.

What the fuck was he gonna do now?!

Desperately, he tried to reach for the window latch again, but it was rusted and was too stiff to even budge.

He had no choice, but to face him.

"COME ON!"

Jackson was banging on the door again. Aaron dropped to the floor and swallowed. He then unlocked the door and opened it on ajar.

Jackson was looking the other way, " about flaming time!" he hissed and then turned and their eyes met.

Aaron's look was all worried of what was going to happen. Jackson narrowed his and looked pretty much annoyed at the sight of him. Then Rob was entering the cafe. The one who had battered Steve the injuries that eventually resulted to his death.

Rob was loud and vocal, and with Steve in mind, Aaron's stomach was doing somersaults, but surprizing him, Jackson grabbed hold of the toilet door and stepped inside closing the door. Once it was locked Jackson turned and bored his eyes angrily into Aaron's, his voice low and had a nasty edge, " What the fuck are you doing here? Do you know what HE out there will do to YOU if he saw yah, DO yah?"

Aaron just swallowed staring back at him.

"Just THINK STEVE and think no more..."

With his elbow, Jackson pushed him aside, and stepped up onto the toilet bowl in his muddy boots, to unlatch the window.

Aaron watched him, " It's no good, what do you think I was doing in here?"

Jackson shot a glare down at him, " It's stiff, but there's a knack to it..."

Whatever Jackson did, he did it quickly, the window was wide open. He stepped down and thumbed the gape, " Well come on...don't just stand there looking like a fart in a trance, GET OUT OF ME SIGHT!"

Aaron didn't need telling twice, he stepped up to the toilet bowl and heaved himself over the window ledge and, head first, pulled himself out into the allyway outside. The window slammed shut behind him.

Landing on his hands he shook one painfully and looked up and down the ally. It was icy underfoot as he marched down the narrow ally towards the high street. But Jackson was standing in his way. Arms folded and he wasn't smiling.

Aaron looked behind him. But decided not to run.

The builder came forward, " So...I'm STILL waiting...WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" he snapped.

Aaron shook his head, " I dunno...I was just passing and wanted a brew" he said trying to sound convincing, but KNEW he had failed because of his shakey voice.

Jackson pushed him up against the wall and stared into his eyes, " No you didn't...you followed me...don't think I never saw you the other night when I brought Lee back here...BECAUSE I DID!"

Aaron swallowed down.

Jackson grinned through gritted teeth, " Haven't you taken in any word I've said? Do you REALLY want me to pay a little visit to that village of yours...DO YAH?"

Aaron shook his head.

"Then STOP stalking me! Because I MENT what I said to yah..." he trailed off. He backed off and nodded towards the gape to the high street, " go on...get outta me sight while I let yah"

Aaron was about to go, but turned back, " Why did you do that? Why did you help me get out?"

Jackson laughed. A laugh that made him look abit manic, " YOU THINK I did THAT because I care about yah? I DID IT to stop any blood splattering on my mums nice clean floor...because you know what Rob can be like...don't yah?"

"and what's that?"

Aaron jumped and turned around to see Rob blocking the ally entrance, " So...who do we have here? There's a face I recognise"

Aaron backed away, " I don't know what you mean mate", he kept looking back at Jackson for help.

Rob was grinning, " I thought YOU said he wouldn't be any bother..." he said Jackson's way, "Seems you got him wrong..."

Aaron had his back to the wall. Rob suddenly lunged forward to grab hold of him but Jackson barred the way with his arm, " That's enough Rob...I've told him what the score is...HE won't be bothering us again...WILL YOU AARON" the builder's gaze left Rob and looked directly at Aaron wanting a direct answer off him.

Aaron shook his head, " I'm just going..."

Rob was breathing heavily, and was looking menacingly down at him, before backing off to let Aaron go. The lad ran off.

Rob turned to Jackson, " Have you lost it or sommit...what if he tells...What if HE goes to the coppers? What then...he NEEDS sorting!"

Jackson agreed with a nod, " Yeah HE does...and it'll be ME who does it...IF there is the need for it...so just get BACK in there and eat your fryup, that's a good lad!"

Rob didn't like it, but left the ally. Jackson shook his head, why was this flaming lad hanging around for? Didn't he get the message that he ment nothing to him? NO LAD DID. But there was something in him that didn't want the lad to get hurt today...and he hated that feeling of weakness. He was going to make sure that gets stamped out at the earliest opportunity.

Xxxxx

Aaron had a stitch in his side as he rounded the corner and entered the mall. He had been running like mad and hadn't dared to stop, not till he was sure he was well off at a safe distance.

His hand still hurt. He knew he had sprained it when he landed on it badly when he 'fell out' the toilet window back at the cafe.

Why did he go there today? That was going over and over in his head. Because he didn't know himself...he just went there.

Or was it because Cain had said stay away...and as usual he did the complete opposite.

The mall was full up with shoppers. It was the January sales. He suddenly looked into the direction of KT clothes LTD. The shop was open and full with customers. But as he approached it with his hood up and hands deep in his hoodie top, he could see there was a big yellow police incident sign outside it's doors asking for help with police enquires.

He thought about poor Steve. And then his grieving family.

Lola was then at his side, " Hi Aaron!"

Aaron looked at her, " Errrm...yeah"

Lola laughed, " I thought you wouldn't wanna come anywhere near this place again...I left last week...It was well boring without Vic...Phil still works there though"

Aaron just nodded at her. Why was SHE hanging around him anyway.

Lola had her arms full with shopping bags, " Well...gotta go, there's plenty of bargains still to get , see yah!"

Aaron watched her go, then was about to move on himself when Phil spotted him as he came out of the shop, " Hey Aaron! I thought it were you talking to Lola out here..."

Aaron tried to smile, " I were just...well..."

Phil nodded, " I don't blame yah...you just wanted to come here and see where it happened...because it still feels numb, like it didn't really happen at all"

Aaron shrugged, that wasn't quite the way he was feeling.

"Well...if you DO pop in, there's a collection for Steve's family...apparently they are well skint now because Steve had no life insurance...Shes had to pay out for his funeral with ALL their savings" Phil informed.

Aaron felt bad now. Not only had that poor woman lost her husband on Christmas day, they had a financial crisis now. He nodded and pulled out a fiver out of his pocket. It was all he had, but he gave it to Phil, " Stick that in will yah..."

Xxxxxx

Aaron needed air after talking to Phil. He left the mall and went out into the bitter cold air. His phone jingled as he debated about getting the bus back to the village.

He pulled out his mobile to see who had messaged him. The number was unknown, so he opened it.

meet me. The Kings Arms. Now...

Aaron frowned at the message. He pocketed it and headed into the direction of the Kings Arms pub that was in the next street. It was a gay friendly place that he had drunk in with Adam a few times.

It was getting dark as he approcahed the pub. He looked up at the swinging sign and then went inside to the semi busy bar.

Jackson was waiting up at the bar. One hand in his pocket the other grasping his mobile, and two pints on the bar top.

Aaron paused and looked across to him. Jackson pocketed the mobile and turned his head his way, " Well come on, then, I've been and bought you a pint now, best drink it, eh?"

Aaron shot over to him and shook his head, " What do you want? If you are gonna go threatening me again..."

Jackson laughed at him and took a sup of his pint, his eyes landing on Aaron, " Oh don't be such drama queen! I told the others I'll sort it, and this is me sorting it..."

"What? Buying me a drink...?"

Jackson nodded his head to a table and they went and sat. Jackson leaned back in his chair and sniffed, " Look...the way I see it is...YOU just have to DO as I tell you...then you'll be fine...you can still go live your sad little life in that sad little village of yours...with all those sad little people..."

Aaron shook his head, " they aren't the sad ones"

Jackson raised his eyebrowes, " Just shows you what YOU know...", he nodded his head to the pint, " Drink it..."

Aaron lifted the pint, " Why? Have you gone and poisoned it or sommit?" he sneered.

Jackson grinned at that. He found it amusing, " Ooooo, now wouldn't THAT be an idea?"

Aaron looked at the pint and shook his head, he wasn't gonna risk it. Jackson rolled his eyes and took hold of the pint himself, put it to his lips knocked his head back and downed it in one great guzzle.

He burbed twice, because the ale was gassy, and returned the glass to the beer mat, "See...Nowt wrong with it"

Aaron stared at him, "He died you know..." he said, voice low, "...he died on Christmas day"

Jackson shrugged it off, " Yeah he did...but what I want to know is...WHY do you care? You did nothing but slag him when I saw yah!"

Aaron leaned forward, "I didn't want to see him dead! How can YOU just sit there and NOT care? What about his family? What about them?"

Jackson held his gaze, but his face was dark, " I don't care...He was nothing to me...I didn't know him, why SHOULD I care? But you are gonna have to listen to me..." he leaned in, "don't make me carry out me threats, because I will if I have to...and THAT'S a promise...Just be a good little boy, and just live your life like none of all this ever happened...you'll get over all that in time...what's DONE is DONE...now, when you leave this pub in a minute, WE aren't gonna cross paths anymore...do you understand me...I don't EVER want to see you in my face again...I don't want to SEE you in me mums cafe...and I certainly don't want to see you in the flesh, do you get me? So be a good lad...stand up, and shut the door on the way out..."

The last bit sounded like he was being dismissed.

Aaron bolted up and was about to leave when he looked back to the builder, "Did I ever mean ANYTHING to yah?", he felt weak and pathetic for even asking that.

Jackson looked up and considered him for a few seconds, " If I'm honest...no you didn't...BUT the sex wasn't bad...", he then grinned at him, "...but Lee was better!" the grin was smarmy like he ment it.

Aaron balled his fists because he felt so used again, HOW DARE HE SAY THAT! HOW DARE HIM!

Sounding like HE ment it, he swung around, " Well YOU were no better...infact you were the crappiest fuck I ever had...YOU must think you're well hard with your gang and that gun...well you not, do'u hear me, you nothing but a big joke!"

And then he stormed out

Jackson sighed. Why oh why did he have to say that for? Why couldn't he just behave like a good little lad.

He hated the way that lad stirred up feeling inside him, feelings he didn't have time for.

Quickly, he downed his own pint and put his phone to his ear.

Xxxxxx

Aaron had a drizzle on the way to the bus stop. Jackson got to him. He hated that fact...but it was true...he had fallen for him and THIS was the reality of WHAT he had fallen for.

A complete heartless scumbag.

Well no more. He wasn't going to let him do this to him again. If he wanted him out of his life, then so be it. He can have it all his own way.

It suited him just fine. To never see that creep again.

He stepped board the bus and sat in his seat. It was dark and he stared at his own reflection in the dark window.

But what about Steve? What about HIS justice? Didn't he deserve anything at all?

He picked up what looked like the local newspaper where someone had left it folded over on a seat and opened it out. His eyes stared at the headline:

ARMED ROBBERY VICTIM LAID TO REST...AS HIS KILLERS ARE STILL AT LARGE.

There was picture of the hearse, and as he read, it continued on page one, he turned the page to come face to face with Steve's face.

Anguished, Aaron threw the newspaper aside. He looked at his watch, then taking in a deep breath, he stood up and hurried off the bus.

And in no time at all. He was at standing at the steps to Hotten Nick.

Xxxxxxx

MORE SOON...WHERE SOMEONE IS DOUSED IN PETROL...