Went for a different route with the chapter, this is all from Chas' POV. Hope you like it :) x

Chapter 21

Chas' POV - Hotten General

It all happened so fast. It hit me like a ton of bricks. That phone call from Cain, that phone call to tell me that my boy; my beautiful boy back was back in here at the hands of that psycho, hooked up to yet more machines. Tears makes silent tracks down my face as I stare into his room from outside. I can already see the damage inflicted. a bright red and angry-looking gash snaking its way across my boy's throat. Him in there, desperately clinging onto life. What little life he has left. What kind of mother am I? I'm supposed to know when he's in trouble. Mother's instinct, right? I'm supposed to find out about these things somehow and do whatever I can to keep him safe. Look where it got him. I don't even see Cain joining me again, handing me a cup of steaming hot coffee. I keep my gaze onto Aaron and shake my head. Cain sighs and places the cups in the bin. Neither one of us can find the words to say to each other.

I can still remember hearing his gut-wrenching sobs over the phone. In the 34 years I have known Cain, I've never seen or even heard him cry like that, never seen him look so lost, so vulnerable. He asked me if I could promise him that Aaron wouldn't die. I couldn't. I couldn't even look him in the eye. I knew that if Cain had lost hope, there was no chance for me. Cain kept me going when Aaron was in here after his suicide attempt, even after that sicko assaulted my boy the first time, Cain promised me he would be ok. Now, he can't even look at the damage that has been inflicted onto Aaron. He can't bear to look at my boy anymore. I think there's a part of him that wants Aaron to end his suffering.

Cameron snores softly in the chair next to us, poor love cried himself to sleep. He choked out through exhausted sobs about what had happened to Jackson. He was all Aaron had. I've never been good enough for Aaron, I know I never will be. I messed that up the day that I turned my back on him when he was a child, and when he slowly learned to trust me again, I turned on him yet again, choosing a serial cheat over my own son. Aaron has never forgiven me for that. He's never really trusted me again since that and I don't blame him. I'll never forgive myself. I was blinded by Carl's charms, and it cost me the most precious thing in my life.

When Carl cheated on me again, with that dozy little trollop Eve, I was half expecting Aaron to say "I told you so" and go off on one, to hunt Carl down and kick seven shades of shit out of him, but he didn't. He made me his priority. There was no denying there was a part of Aaron that wanted to rip Carl's head off, but he didn't. He stood by me. Hugged me and told me things were going to be ok.

The doctor approaches me and tells me I can go and see Aaron. I choke back a sob as I walk into his room and up to his bed. I take his hand in mine and shudder at the contact. My boy was freezing cold but amazingly, yet again, he was clinging on. He was hanging in there. I keep telling myself that I shouldn't have let Aaron leave the house. I should have kept him indoors and kept him safe. I'll always be thankful to Cameron for saving him. Always. The grip tightens on my hand and fresh tears make their way down my face as I see Aaron slowly stirring and opening his eyes.

I placed my hand on his forehead, stroking it, like I always did when he was a baby and he wasn't well. I'd stay by his side, nursing him through whatever illness came his way, and I am determined to get him through this but nothing could prepare me for what happened next. Aaron gasped for Jackson. his eyes frantically looking around the room for his boyfriend, tears streaming down his face. I get up off the chair and sit on his bed and he stares at me. I can't say it. I just lower my head, sobbing softly. Aaron's cries become more frantic, he's fighting against me to try to get off the bed and I scream for help. The doctors rush in and usher me out of the room, Aaron's still putting up the fight, and they have no choice but to sedate him. As I watch him fall back against the pillows like a rag doll my legs give way and I fall to the floor, sobbing in Cain's arms.

TBC