CHAPTER TWELVE

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Emmerdale or it's characters, they belong to ITV

A/N: Thanks for all the kind reviews...I'm getting there, bringing the boys back together...but someone else likes Aaron as well...xxx

Aaron must of dropped off to sleep on the doorstep, because the next thing he heard was voices coming from inside the masonette.

"...I said to myself...I said Hazel..." and the voice faded as she got further away from the front door, Aaron stood, and his knees cracked, and he went to knock, but then he pulled his hand away.

Aaron turned away and began to walk back down the path...but turned as Hazel suddenly pulled open the door.

Hazel stood on the doorstep, Aaron stood open mouthed staring at her in her pink dressing gown.

"My gawd...you nearly gave me heart attack!" she cried.

Aaron leapt forward " I'm sorry...I'm sorry...your heart..." he stuttered.

Hazel rattled her dressing gown pocket, "I've got me meds remember...I was only kidding!"

Aaron nodded, and looked down to the cracked path.

Hazel came forward, " now, love, tell me if this is a silly question, but why are you on my pathway..."

Aaron shrugged, I...I came to see Jackson..."

"At 7 in the morning!" she exclaimed in disbelief, but Hazel could see the teen was troubled by the look on his face, " look, love come inside..."

"JACKSON...you have a visitor!" Hazel called up the stairs..." and your breakfasts getting cold..."

Aaron could smell the bacon, and it made his stomach rumble.

Jackson hurried down the stairs, " crikey Dave you're early, I haven't even loaded up me van...",, Jackson stood dead still on the bottom step, in his jeans and tee shirt, his facial expression was agape, " Aaron...what..."

Aaron tried to smile at him, " expecting somebody else..."

Hazel turned pulling him inside the lounge further, " look darling why don't I make you a nice cuppa...you look all washed out...doesn't he look washed out Jackson..."

Jackson came forward, " Aaron...not that I'm complaining or owt...but it's 7 in the morning, and you're in me front room!"

Aaron couldn't mask it any longer...it all just came flooding out...the tears...and he broke down on to the sofa...almost immediately, Jackson sat next to him and pulled him into a cuddle, and Aaron just cried into Jackson's chest...until his tears were spent.

Aaron had told Jackson and Hazel about the devastating events that night, Hazel kept sitting forward and rubbed his shoulder sympathetically, Jackson in the meantime had taken possession of Aaron's mobile, and imformed Paddy where Aaron was.

Once done, Jackson sat at the kitchen table and handed Aaron back his mobile, " no change mate...and Paddy was going out of his mind...Aaron why...why didn't you call me"

Aaron wiped his eyes with his sleeve, " I...I...didn't..."

" I said to yah, if you ever need me...and you did...the thought of me laying safe in me bed...and you going through all through this..." Jackson told waving his hand at him slightly annoyed.

" I sorry..." Aaron muttered,

" don't be..." sighed Jackson, he then looked at Aaron, " are you hungry..." Aaron was...and the smell of the bacon.

Jackson picked up his untouched cooked breakfast, and turned to his mother, "Mum, stick that in microwave for Aaron..."

Hazel took the plate, " but that's your breakfast...you've got a long old trek to north Derbyshire for that contract..."

Jackson nodded, " no...I'm not going anywhere now...not now..."

After scoffing down Jackson's breakfast, which Jackson enjoyed watching, Jackson told Aaron to have a quick shower and clean up, and find something clean to wear...although Jackson firmly told him, " do not touch me best shirts..."

Then, when Aaron was ready and calmer, Jackson grabbed his van keys," Right let's get you back to that hospital..."

Aaron backed away, " Jackson I..."

Jackson took his hand gently coaxing him, " you can...your Mum needs ya...everything is going to be okay..."

The very words Aaron was waiting for came out Jackson's mouth...and from him they sounded real...promising..."okay...let's be off then..." Aaron was first out the door, Jackson turned to Hazel in the lounge, " if Dave does turn up...just say...jobs cancelled..."

At the hospital, it was 9:30 before they got there, and Paddy was waiting for them in the corridor, Paddy hugged the lad arkwardly, " thought you'd done a runner..." he soothed.

Aaron felt sick, he was back here, back with all the mithering, " hows..." he stuttered.

Paddy shook his head " there no change...she's in ICU...the doctors are monitoring her progress like they said...most of the family have gone now...but Cain's with her, you should go...to see her..."

Aaron turned to Jackson, who stood behind him, he gave Aaron a reasuring smile, " go see her..."

Aaron slowly walked towards the intensive care, Paddy turned toward Jackson, " thanks for...looking after him..."

Jackson sat on the plastic seat next to him, " don't be daft...just wish...he called me..." there was an under current of disppointment in his tone.

Paddy sat next to him, " well...that Tom fellow was with him...so...he wasn't alone when...you know..." he flustering, not knowing he'd spoken right or wrong.

Jackson looked up, " good for him..." but it was clear Jackson wasn't comfortable with that.

Aaron stared at his mother, the life support apparatus was working away, keeping her alive.

There was so many tubes going into her, and her head was covered on a bandage...aaron wondered whether her hair was still there...

Aaron glanced across to Cain, who sat in the chair next to Chas's bedside, " nice of you to show yah face..." he hissed.

Aaron turned and stared at his Mum, " has...has she said owt, makes a change..." he said trting to hint a smile, to lighten the heavy mood.

But Cain remained stoney faced at him...Aaron looked away, he felt more uncomfortable than ever now...just with the life support resporater stirring the silence.

Paddy stood from his seat in the corridor, " do you want a coffee...it tastes vile..." he said to Jackson.

Jackson looked up ," Nah...look Paddy why don't you get off...you've been here all night...I'll be here for Aaron...you can come back later..." he suggested.

Paddy wasn't sure, but Jackson stood up and smiled, " he'll be fine with me...I promise I'll keep him safe..."

Paddy finally agreed, and left soon after telling Jackson to call him if there was any news, good or bad, about Chas.

Just as Jackson settled back down, Tom came strolling up the corridor toward him, Jackson looked up to him...Tom smiled, " any news...is Aaron still here...I've got off early from wortk to see him..."

Jackson stood up again, " he's with his mum..."

" yeah, but is there any news..." asked Tom worried.

Jackson narrowed his eyes, " a little bit too interested in his business arn't yah..."

Before Tom could reply, Aaron came out from the intensive care with Cain.

Cain stormed by without a word to any of them, Aaron pointed to the ICU, " nurse...is doing something with mum..."

Tom stepped forward, " you must be whacked...do you wanna coffe mate..."

Jackson pushed past, " I'll get it...3 sugars yeah..." Aaron nodded and Jackson darted off.

Aaron sat, Tom next to him, " this...is...just...just don't know what to say..." began Tom.

Aaron shrugged, " all I can do is wait...nothing else I can do...or say...if she wakes up...if ..." he choked " and Cain isn't talking to me..."

Tom put his arm around him, just as Jackson came back, instantly noticing Toms arm, " heres your coffee..." soothed Jackson, " get it down ya neck..."

Tom looked up, "where's mine!" he joked.

Jackson wasn't smiling, "in the machine..." he told.

Aaron stood up, with his coffee, " look I need a cig..." he then walked off toward the exit, Tom looked up " hey...I'm only looking out for him..."

"good at that arn't yah!" Jackson sniped.

" he needs his mates..." Tom told, " and I...like looking out for him..."

"pity you didn't do much looking out for him when he was with Ben, a..." Jackson fired with sarcasim.

Just then an alarm went off, and the doctors and nurses hurried up the corridor to intensive care...Cain was suddenly there, and a medics voice yelled out

"CRASH TEAM SHE HAS ARRESTED...!"

just in time for Aaron to hear...

TBC

all reviews welcome as per...xxx