Paddy crept up behind Rhona, she was sat at the table with her back to him, opposite Laurel was steadily trying not to give the game away.

"Aha!" he said loudly next to her ear, she'd jump and then turned around hitting him with aggressive affection.

"You shouldn't do that to a Mother with a three week old baby –who has to get up a do night feeds!"

Paddy giggled as he stroked her hair, he kissed the top of her head and then plonked himself in the chair next to her. "So what's this then, Marlon takes the baby for the afternoon and you head straight to the pub!" This had been Marlon's first real 'alone time' with the baby since her birth.

Rhona laughed "Yeah, she's driven me to drink already." The baby was still so new but already she wouldn't change her for the world.

Laurel leant forward in her sat "I wanted a girly catch up session."

"I see."

"hmmmm anyway what are you doing here, it's only three in the afternoon – you've got rounds until five."

Paddy grinned "Both my last two appointments rearranged on me, so I thought I would spend the afternoon with my women."

Both Rhona and Laurel creased up laughing, Paddy acting all caveman didn't work. "Fine but your only staying if you get a drink in, wine for laurel -" Rhona made a sad face "- and orange juice for me."

Begrudgingly Paddy retrieved the drinks, ordering a pint for himself and moved back to the two ladies, they were discussing breast feeding and out of obligation Paddy thought he should protest although in truth he didn't mind.

"It's better now, at first it was so painful I was going to go on to bottle, I'm glad I didn't."

Paddy hit the top of their table with the flat of his hands "Look the only time I want to talk about breasts is when I'm discussing size -."

Rhona and Laurel looked at him "Paddy it doesn't work, you don't wear sexist well,"

Laurel scrunched up her nose and shook her head, "Me man, you woman!"

Paddy sighed "yeah yeah."

They continued to tease and prod Paddy, doing gorilla noises and pretending to eat fleas until Rhona suddenly remembered earlier, she immediately sobered up "Did Aaron call you?"

Paddy sipped at his beer "No, was he going to?"

"I'm not sure he wanted to talk to you,"

His brow creased in concern "Do you know what it was about?"

"No."

"Was he ok?"

"I don't know, he was how he usually is."

Paddy's concern deepened "I'll call him on his mobile." he got up and headed outside.

The mood had turned serious and Rhona started chewing on her bottom lip "How is Jackson?" Laurel asked.

She sighed heavily "Not Good, I haven't seen him for days, neither I nor Paddy has been welcome – he just shouts at us."

"Do you think things will get better?"

Rhona shook her head sadly, "I hope so. He's still all new to this; I don't believe that he can keep this anger going forever. The doctors said it would take time."

"Not knowing how long, that's the problem -."

"- Exactly. And Aaron's a mess; he doesn't know whether he's coming or going half the time. It's completely changed him and whilst Aaron needed too, it shouldn't have been because of this – he's just a shell."

Whilst the two women were talking Ashley had walked into the pub, he headed straight over to them and caught the last of Rhona's sentence, "That Aaron you're talking about?"

Rhona looked up warmly "Hi Ashley, yeah it is."

Troubled, Ashley took the seat that Paddy had occupied "I saw him earlier, on the swings."

Rhona raised an eyebrow.

"He was –" Ashley's words were interrupted by Paddy re-entering, he didn't notice Ashley had taken his seat, instead sitting on the other one.

"No answer – Do you think he was ok?"

Rhona shook her head "I don't know, Ashley was saying he saw him on the swings earlier."

"He was there for well over an hour, he just sat barely moving. He looked very down; I would have gone over except I knew it wouldn't have gone well."

Paddy nodded and rubbed his head, stressed. Everything at Dale Head was getting out of hand, no one saw Jackson except Hazel and Aaron and this wasn't right – Paddy didn't know the solution.

"I think backing off and giving Jackson his wishes is the wrong thing to do. Everyone's been staying away and that's not good for Jackson nor Aaron and Hazel."

Everyone at the table nodded, Ashley leant forward "Hazel moved Jackson to the village for support and she's not been getting it-."

"- But it's not for the lack of trying."

Paddy grabbed Rhona's hand "I know," he sighed heavily "But I think we have to start ignoring Jackson when he gets upset and not relent." Paddy hesitated not wanting to betray Aaron's trust "Aaron told me the other day that Jackson has been asking both of them to end his life."

Three sets of eyes blinked heavily "You don't think…." Laurel asked

Paddy shook his head "Aaron loves Jackson – he couldn't be without him." The four of them sat solemnly, digesting, they were interrupted by Chastity coming over.

"What's this, a Mother's meeting?" she grinned before comprehending the seriousness of their expressions. "What's up?"

"We were just discussing Jackson."

Alarm graced Chastity's face "Something happened?"

Paddy grabbed her arm, reassuringly "No, we have just been talking about not staying away and supporting Hazel and Aaron more."

She raised her brows "How?"

Paddy cleared his throat and turned to speak decisively to everyone "We need to get Jackson's carer back for one thing and convince him to his to see his Dad," It was time they pulled together.

Ashley nodded, "only seeing each other can't be good."

"We'll," began Chastity "actually Hazel has gone to the beach today with Bob and the twins – Aaron told me earlier."

"You saw him?"

Chas smiled "Yeah," she was so pleased "He just wanted to say hello, he said that he'd come out with me tomorrow."

"Oh right," Paddy said, this was good news, maybe things were looking up. Aaron hadn't left Jackson's side for days – this could be an indication that Jackson was turning a corner; he needed to make sure "I'm going to go round to Dale Head, start putting this plan into action."

"Maybe I should come too?" Chas offered

"I think one at a time would be better, otherwise Jackson will realise what we're doing. It's better to sneak this injunction in rather than bombard him."

Everyone nodded "Wish me luck."

:

Outside the pub Paddy came across Adam and Mia, they were play fighting and Mia was squealing delightfully, they straightened themselves up when they saw Paddy – only slightly though because Adam had his arms locked around Mia's head.

Paddy laughed at them, they were such a lovely couple "You two seem happy."

"Yup." Mia muffled from beneath Adams arm, "its Mia's birthday today." And Adam relinquished her from his grip.

"Many happy returns."

"Why thank you," she gave a funny little bow "were going to get some food before going back to glam up. We're heading into town and everyone's welcome if you up for it?"

Paddy scrunched up his nose, Mia had a wicked sense of humour "Yeah just what you want, a load of oldies cramping your style," Paddy turned serious "Is Aaron going?"

The couple shared a glance "He was invited," Adam began "And I text him earlier, but he said he couldn't make it. I'm not really surprised."

"How has he seemed to you?"

Adam blew air out of his mouth "Up and down. Sometimes he's dead bubbly and other times he can't string a sentence together, it all depends on Jackson's mood."

"I'm going to Dale Head now."

"Well try and get him to come out and if you think me coming over will help, let me know."

"Ok."

:

The curtains were drawn at Dale Head, but this wasn't unusual, Jackson would often insist that they were. Paddy gently knocked on the front door, when he didn't get an answer he knocked louder when there was still no sound from inside he reached for the door handle. Paddy hesitated for a moment keeping in mind how upset Jackson gets about his privacy, Paddy ignored it – he had a mission.

Inside he rounded the corner carefully, not sure of the reception, the last time he and Rhona came round was to introduce the baby. Jackson had screamed at them, it was horrendous and had left Rhona in tears. He didn't know what to expect but it certainly wasn't the scene before him.

Jackson and Aaron occupied the bed, Jackson had been placed to one side, nearest the back door, Aaron was laid out next to him and the top end was raised so they were slightly sitting. Aaron had his head rested on Jackson's shoulder and was holding his hand, Jackson's head rested on Aaron's. They were both fast asleep.

The scene warmed Paddy and also shocked him. He'd never seen the pair so close to one another, even before the accident. Aaron would do everything possible not to give away his relationship with Jackson, even though everyone knew anyway. Paddy always suspected that even in private Aaron behaved the same; it was a revelation to see them so intimately entwined. Paddy caught himself watching and feeling bad for staring, turned to leave. He stopped though when he realised Aaron's eyes were open, just a slit.

Embarrassed to be found out, he gently placed an arm on Aaron's leg "Sorry mate, didn't mean to wake you,"

Aaron didn't answer "Aaron?" His eye's flickered but didn't open, Paddy felt alarmed and shook him "Aaron!"

Paddy urgently moved round to Jackson's side "Jackson?" he shook him roughly, there was no response. Paddy felt his breath quicken, he placed a hand to Jackson's neck, he couldn't find a pulse.

"Oh god."