Secrets Lies and Retribution

21

"There, that's the one." Paddy pointed over at the house he knew to be Gordon Livesy's.

Robert could see Gordon's car parked in the drive but there was no sign of his, or of Aaron. He felt no sense of relief, and wouldn't until he knew for sure where Aaron was, and more importantly that he hadn't already paid his father a visit.

There was a light on in one of the upstairs rooms, and both men were looking up at its window. They knew someone was moving about in there, a shadow could be seen against the blinds. That offered some small measure of reassurance or did until a second silhouette suddenly appeared. "Oh my god!" Robert uttered in horror, "That's Aaron up there!"

Robert had tried first the front door and then the back, finding that open he hurtled through the house towards the source of light. Taking the stairs two at a time he was soon on the scene. But as his mind registered what was taking place he realised he was too late, Aaron was about to fire the gun.

Robert waited for the report, for the sound of the gun being fired, but the ear-splitting thunder clap never came. The only sound a barely audible click of metal striking metal. Confused now his gaze moved to Gordon, his face was etched with terror, tears streamed from his eyes, but there was no blood to be seen, there was no wound oozing life. Then before his eyes Gordon's knees buckled beneath him, and he crumpled sobbing to the floor. Robert's confusion grew and his attention once again settled on Aaron. He let the gun slip from his grasp, reached into his jacket pocket, to then pull out its contents in his clenched hand. His fingers slowly unfolded to reveal what he was holding. Bullets! Suddenly it all made sense to Robert, the gun hadn't been loaded!

Robert met Aaron's gaze, the blue eyes brimmed with tears.

"I just wanted to scare him, give him a taste of how it felt to be me."

Robert nodded his understanding before striding over to Aaron, pulling him into his arms, holding him close as his tears fell.

/

It was proving to be another sleepless night, for Robert it was anyway. Not so for Aaron, he lay nestled in Robert's arms, lost to the world around him. He'd been exhausted, physically and emotionally, the events of the last twenty-four hours had taken their toll.

Shifting into a more comfortable position Robert let his mind wander back over those hours, back to when Aaron had made a momentous decision. After regaining his composure Aaron had quietly told him and Paddy that he was going to call the police, tell them what his father had done. Aaron had insisted on doing it there and then, he said he knew that if he didn't he wouldn't be able to summon up the courage needed ever again. Aaron had then looked down at his father and said "He's not going to deny what he did, not now." Gordon had been sitting head bowed, arms wrapped tightly around his knees... a broken man, and one accepting of his fate.

It had taken the police half an hour to arrive, in that time Paddy had taken control of the situation, he'd sent the two of them downstairs, told them to wait in the kitchen, while he sat with Gordon.

As they'd sat there Aaron had admitted to wanting to kill his dad, and to having every intention of doing so. The gun had been loaded ready to use but as he'd sat there waiting for his dad to come into the room he'd realised he couldn't do it. He had too much to lose. His dad's actions had blighted his life to date but Aaron was suddenly determined to put an end to that, and to come out of it the better man. He'd had just enough time to unload the gun.

The police had spoken to each of them in turn, and as Aaron gave a statement to one of the officers, Gordon was led from the house in handcuffs.

It had all seemed so surreal, and at times Robert thought himself trapped in a bad dream. But Aaron had been the one lost in a nightmarish world and he was now clawing his way out of it. Aaron knew there were still difficult times ahead, but there was light at the end of the tunnel now and he had set his sights on that.

It was after 8am before they'd arrived back in Emmerdale. Paddy had driven his car back, he and Aaron had travelled in his. Robert hadn't seen the car earlier, it had been parked around the corner from Gordon's. Thinking his dad might just recognise it, Aaron had made sure it was well out of sight before entering his house.

They'd parked outside the Woolpack, the three of them then making their way inside. Aaron hadn't been able to tell his mother about the abuse before, but he had no option now, he knew she had to hear the truth, every last vile nauseating detail from him.

Robert had sat with Paddy in the bar, time passing excruciatingly slowly. It was an hour or more before a tearful Aaron had walked out from the back room. After asking Paddy to sit with his mum for a bit he'd turned to him, telling him he wanted to go over the road, that he wanted to distance himself from her pain for a little while at least.

Robert had wanted Aaron to get his head down for a bit, to get some much needed sleep, but he'd refused, there was something else he needed to do. He needed to get in touch with his solicitor, he was going to need his services and he wanted to get things moving on that front. Robert had suggested Aaron use his solicitor, he was the best money could buy, but Aaron had refused, had insisted that because he had right on his side he didn't need an expensive brief.

With an appointment booked with the law firm later that day Robert had again tried to get Aaron to get some rest, but no. It seemed he was hungry, and realising they hadn't had breakfast Robert had headed into the kitchen to make them something. When Aaron insisted on doing it himself, Robert started to realise that something wasn't quite right. It was as if Aaron wanted to be continually occupied, that he was scared of sitting down and having some quiet time. Robert had quickly worked out why, Aaron was scared he'd start to rethink what he'd done, question it, and was worried where that might lead.

Taking hold of Aaron's forearms he had made him look at him, holding his troubled gaze he had told him, "You've done the right thing, now let it go." That had been enough to bolster Aaron's wavering resolve.

As he'd set about making them each an omelette Aaron had gone upstairs to take a quick shower. Half an hour later, just as they were finishing off their food Paddy had walked in through the front door. He'd come to check on Aaron before making his way home and Robert knew he had to give the two of them some time alone. He'd walked down to the shop, bought himself a paper, then headed up to the cafe where he had sat reading the headlines whilst sipping on a coffee.

Thinking he'd given the two men enough time to say what needed to be said he headed back, His timing was perfect for once, Paddy was just about to leave, but not before he'd hugged Aaron, telling him he loved him and was so very proud of him. That was something else Aaron had needed to hear.

When Paddy had gone Aaron had turned to him and said "Thanks."

"For what?"

"For not letting me push you away."

Robert had smiled at that, it hadn't been easy standing his ground, he'd lost his footing a few times, but like he'd told Aaron so very recently, he wasn't going anywhere. Aaron had smiled back only to suddenly turn all serious on him, apologising for hitting him... he'd had to silence him with a kiss! That thought brought a smile to Robert's face and an end to his reverie. Nuzzling his face closer to Aaron's he closed his eyes and drifted contentedly into the waiting darkness...

END

My thanks to everyone for reading and especially to those who have so kindly left a review!

Mererid x