Hi, hope you like this one, it's a chapter I've had in mind for a while now, still plenty more to come though. Remember when this was going to be a one shot (laughs a little hysterically) .
A little violence in this one just to warn you.
Aaron couldn't believe it, all his fears had come to life. His dad was here, he was really here.
"D...dad" he managed to stutter out. He was aware of how his back was up against the tool bench and he had nowhere to go.
"Long time no see" Gordon said smiling at him like an old friend. It was disconcerting to say the least.
"What are you doing here?" Aaron managed to croak out, hating how weak his voice sounded.
"I think you know" Gordon continued to smile at him. "What are you playing at Aaron?" he still didn't sound angry, just concerned.
"I'm sorry" Aaron couldn't help himself from saying, it was ingrained in him from years of trying to keep on his good side.
"It's a little late for sorries don't you think?" Gordon took a step closer and Aaron could feel the metal bench digging into his back.
"I don't...what do you want me to say?" Aaron kept his eyes down on the ground, too scared to meet his father's eye.
"I want to know why you're doing this to me, to us?" his father looked at him sadly and he felt guilt twist inside him.
"I didn't mean too" and it was true, if it was up to him none of this would have ever happened. He would have been happy to let his dad carry on living his life while he tried to do the same. No one would have to be dealing with any of this.
"That's the problem though isn't it Aaron, you never mean to. Yet somehow you always end up doing the wrong thing" there was a harder glint in his eye now.
"What?" Aaron could feel his face getting hot under his dad's gaze.
"You know what I mean. If you'd just been a good kid then none of this would have happened" Gordon said the words that had always played over and over on repeat in his head. He never knew until know that it had always been his dad's voice he was hearing.
"I don't understand" Aaron knew he sounded like a little boy with those words but he couldn't control it, because that was exactly how he felt. His dad somehow always managed to make him feel so small.
"No you never did, because you're stupid" Gordon spat the words at him. "You never did learn your lesson, nothing ever sunk in. Do you know how hard it was to love you?" he was right up in his face now and Aaron had to turn his head away to avoid the hate in his eyes.
"What? I'm your son" his voice broke on the words. Even after everything he just wanted his dad to love him. What made him so unworthy of that?
"Everybody else hated you. Even your own mum couldn't stand to be around you. She was just a stupid whore that left and yet you still think she loves you, just how stupid are you?" he could feel his breath on his cheek, he was so close.
Aaron needed to get away from him because as much as he knew the words were said to hurt him, he couldn't deny the truth in them. He pushed past him so that he could walk out of the garage and into the sunlit yard.
"She knew what you were, what you are" his father's spiteful words called after him halting him in his tracks.
Aaron knew he should run, that he shouldn't listen to this man but he couldn't, he needed to know what his dad really thought. Maybe then he could understand.
"And what's that?" he asked turning back to face him.
"Bad" Gordon grinned at him, but there was no warmth in it at all. "You're rotten to the core, why else would I do what I did huh? Did you ever think about that?".
Aaron felt sick, he could feel the panic building up inside him at his dad's words. Gordon's face changed suddenly, it was dizzying to watch. One moment his face was twisted with anger and then in the next he looked calm and composed again.
"I still love you though son, it's not too late to fix all this" he smiled at him kindly and it reminded him of the good times they'd had together when he was growing up. He didn't know which side of his dad was the real one. Was it the one who said he loved him, who took him to the footy and went on bike rides with him. Or was that all an act, was all of that just to keep him quiet, to protect his own skin. Was the monster he remembered all his dad ever really was?
"What?" Aaron was so confused. "How?" because deep down all he wanted was for this all to be okay, even after what his dad had just said he couldn't help hoping that Gordon really did love him, that someone did.
"You just need to tell the police that you lied" Gordon said his face soft and kind and everything Aaron wanted it to be. But it was all a lie, it was just a mask hiding his true nature.
"But I didn't" it was barely a whisper but he saw the way Gordon's jaw clenched.
"Well maybe not lied" he tried to reason with him. "Just blew things out of proportion a little, you know exaggerated it so it sounded worse than it really was".
"No" Aaron breathed out. He knew what his dad was doing, he'd done it before, nothing had changed, except Aaron could see it now.
"Come on Aaron I'm trying to help you here?" Gordon sounded a little less calm and a little more angry now.
"No you're not" this wasn't about him, it was about saving his own skin.
"I would never have let you go if I'd known this would happen" Gordon said sadly.
"Let me go?" Aaron couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Yes you're my son. Mine. But I knew I couldn't help you, I tried my best but it's too late for that. Look all you have to do is tell them it was a misunderstanding and this can all go away".
"A misunderstanding?" Aaron's fear was fading, rage rising in it's place "What exactly did I misunderstand?".
"I was just trying to help you, I wanted you to grow up to be a decent man, I did the best I could" Gordon was pleading with him now.
"Really?" Aaron could feel tears tracing down his cheeks and he didn't care anymore. He didn't care what this man thought of him. "You raped me, how exactly was that supposed to help" he saw the way his dad flinched at the word and he was pleased.
"Don't say that" Gordon's voice had it's edge back, Aaron knew he was getting to him. He knew it was dangerous to push him like this but there was no going back now.
"What, don't you like that word? Well tough. You raped me and you're going to pay for it" Aaron couldn't believe what he was saying, but it felt good, he'd waited so long to do this.
"How's that then. You've got no proof. It's just your word against mine and everyone knows what a lying little scumbag you are" Gordon snarled.
"Oh really" Aaron smirked at him grabbing his phone out of his pocket and holding it up in the air so his dad could see it. "I think the police might like to see this, pretty sure it's not going to help your case".
He should have seen it coming, he knew what his father was like but he was so caught up in the thrill of finally standing up to him that he let his guard down.
"Give me that" his dad snapped, lunging at him. The rage on his face was the image that haunted his nightmares. His dad flailed at him trying to grab the phone from him. Aaron scurried back but lost his footing and ended up falling backwards. He kept hold of his phone and scrambled to his feet before his dad could get to him though. Gordon continued forward and he tried to put his free hand, the injured one out to hold him back. He didn't expect his dad to grab it though, the older man squeezing it tight so that he dropped to his knees, letting out a pained scream as he did so.
"Not so brave now are you?" his dad snarled at him as he dug his thumb into the fleshy part of his palm, as if he knew on instinct how to inflict the most pain. Aaron wanted to curl in on himself from the agony but his dad held him there, trapped. He could feel the blood soaking through the bandage and running down his arm and he was as scared now as he'd ever been. His dad was going to win again, because his dad always won.
Bob was busy making Val a coffee so he didn't see Cain come in, but when he turned round he was standing at the counter waiting patiently to be served.
"Oh sorry didn't see you there" Bob smiled at him warmly. "What can I get you?"
"Bacon sarnie please Bob" Cain said, in what could only be considered a friendly tone for him. For most other people it would have sounded slightly rude, but Bob knew Cain well enough to hear it for what it was. "Oh and a tea as well".
"You eating in or taking out?" Bob asked.
"Take out, at least someone should be at the garage" he raised his voice on the last few words, obviously intending Ryan, who was sat at one of the tables with his mother to hear.
"It's my lunch break" Ryan said round a mouthful of sandwich, which his mother raised a disapproving eyebrow at. "Anyway Aaron's there, so it's not like I left it unattended".
Bob headed into the kitchen to prepare Cain's order so he didn't hear the rest of the conversation.
He came back out bag in a hand a few minutes later.
"£3.80 please?" he offered the bag and tea over and Cain handed a £5 note.
"How's he doing anyway?" he heard Cain asking Ryan and he tried to pretend he wasn't listening as he got Cain his change.
"He hurt his hand yesterday so he's about as much use as a chocolate fireguard, but for some reason Debbie let him stay" Ryan answered.
"How'd he hurt his hand?" Bob could see Cain was concerned about his nephew. It seemed a little out of character, Cain wasn't known for his caring attitude.
"His hand slipped when he was fixing something, doesn't help that he's so distracted all the time" Ryan offered.
"Is everything okay?" his mum asked. Cain rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Are you talking about Aaron?" Brenda chose the worst moment to stick her nose in.
"What's it got to do with you?" Cain snapped as he took the change that Bob had been holding out for the last minute and a half.
"Oh nothing really" Brenda answered snottily. "I just wondered if that nice man had managed to catch up with him?",
"What nice man?" Cain's voice was icy now, Bob wouldn't have been surprised to turn round and find Brenda frozen solid by it.
"Oh he didn't give his name" Brenda answered pretending not to be bothered by Cain's intense gaze. "He just said he knew Aaron from way back and wondered if I knew where he could find him" she seemed oblivious at the effect her words were having, but Bob saw the was Cain's lips thinned at her words.
"You didn't tell him did you?" even Brenda couldn't fail to hear the worry and panic in the other man's voice, not things you usually associated with Cain Dingle.
"Well yes...I told him he worked at the garage...what's wrong with that?".
"You stupid cow" Cain bellowed at her.
"What's up boss?" Ryan asked standing up in concern.
"How long ago was this?" Cain asked Brenda, completely ignoring the younger man.
"I don't know, about half an hour ago I think" Brenda stammered out.
"Damn it" Cain threw his sandwich down on the counter and without another word ran out of the cafe.
Ryan didn't hesitate, he just ran out after him, leaving his mum sat there, mouth open in shock.
"What on Earth was that all about?" Val asked from her seat at the counter.
Bob shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. He had no idea but anything that could make Cain react like that couldn't be good. Bob wasn't sure he'd ever seen the other man scared in his life but that was exactly what he had seen in his eyes just before he ran out.
Marlon was just about to carefully place two plates of food down in front of a couple of customers when he saw Cain, closely followed by Ryan come running up the street.
"What's going on?" he shouted at them as they got near him. He could see the look of panic on Cain's face.
Cain didn't stop, he just shouted one word over his shoulder as he kept going.
"Gordon" the word was snarled like it pained Cain even to say it.
It was only one word but it was enough to have Marlon dump the plates he was holding and take off after him.
He knew they must look ridiculous, three grown men running at full speed through the middle of the village, but he didn't care because anything that could scare Cain this much was worth looking like an idiot for.
Doug was just helping Leyla with the delivery when they both heard a loud cry of pain coming from the garage across the road. Neither of them hesitated as they both headed over to check it out.
There was a million and one scenarios that crossed his mind as they walked briskly across the road, a thousand ways someone could get hurt working at a garage. Not one of them was close to what they found though.
Doug stopped in his tracks at the sight before him, trying to decipher what he was seeing. Aaron was on his knees on the ground. His hand, his bleeding bandaged hand Doug noticed, held in the grip of a man who stood with his back to them. Doug could see from the expression on the boy's face that he was in a great deal of pain, although the blood running down his arm was evidence enough.
"Aaron are you okay?" Leyla ran up to the pair of them and the man dropped Aaron's hand instantly. Doug recognized him as the man he had been talking to earlier but he couldn't for the life of him figure out what was going on here. The man had a look of concern on his face but Doug could have sworn that when he had first turned towards them he had spotted a flash of irritation there.
Before he could ask any questions himself the sound of running feet heralded the arrival of Cain, Ryan and Marlon. The three of them came flying into the yard, gravel kicking up under their feet. Cain didn't hesitate, he just ran straight up to the man looming over his nephew.
"Get the fuck away from him" Cain bellowed, spit flying from his mouth, a wild look to his eyes. Before anyone could even think of stepping in or stopping him he swung his fist and hit the man square in the face, he went down like a sack of potatoes.
Cain stood over him looking down and Doug thought the expression if looks could kill had never been more fitting. He hoped never to be on the receiving end of such a look and he felt a slight stirring of pity for the man, surely no one deserved that.