DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS, THEY REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF ITV1

Xxx

Nathan looked out the window to see a cab pull up. His heart was racing...he came away from the window and paced about the room biting his nails, and looking towards the door. There was a knock. Nathan shook his head, WHY was Jackson knocking for? It was HIS flat just as much as it was his. He went over and opened it to see James standing there...flowers and chocs in his grasp.

Nate's jaw dropped. What the hell was he doing here?

"You've been avoiding my calls...so I thought I'd stop by...", the young medic told.

Nathan swallowed, " but..."

James pushed his way in and turned, "Look...maybe things shouldn't have gone THAT far last night...it WAS the wrong time to go shooting my mouth off, I KNOW THAT NOW"

Nate closed the front door and leaned on it, " It's too late now..."

James came forward, holding up the flowers, " I thought that 'Natasha' would appreciate the flowers...and YOU would like the chocs..."

Nathan was so confused. Just a moment ago, he was looking forward to seeing Jackson, but now...here was James wanting to romance him.

"look...this is really nice of you, but..." began Nathan, and took in a deep breath before releasing it with a: "...THERE IS NO US..."

James shook his head, he wasn't going to believe that for a start, " Don't be silly...YOU said it was over between you two..."

Nathan looked to the laminated floor, "He's my husband...what sort of person am I for just giving up on him?"

James was getting worried now, " But...but..." he threw the flowers to the sofa and pointed his finger at him, " BUT YOU SAID! YOU SAID HE WAS DULL AS DISHWATER...YOU SAID HE WAS CRAP IN BED...and...that i...made you feel alive..." he ended with, lowering his tone.

Nathan wanted James to go, Jackson would be here at any minute...he had to get him out, so he opened the front door and nods to the landing beyond, " Just go...please..."

And then their lips locked together...

Xxxx

Outside, Jackson got out of the cab and paid the driver.

"Are you sure you don't need any help going in..." asked the friendly cab driver reaching for one of the crutches, Jackson shook his head at him with some authortity, " NO I CAN DO IT..."

The cabbie shrugged and jumped back into the cab. Jackson turned and hobbled towards the entrance door to the flats...

Xxxx

Inside the flat, James and Nathan's lips were firmly pressed together in a burst of passion. James slammed Nate up against the wall and started kissing and biting his neck, Nathan reached his arm out as he did, to push the front door shut.

James came up for air and took the nurse's hand and led him over towards the bedroom, Nathan shook his hand out of James's grasp and hurried over to the window. The cab had gone...and there was some old lady across the road with a shed load of shopping bags in her grasp, maybe it was HER who got out of the cab.

Maybe Jackson wasn't coming. He had sounded pretty much down on the phone...but he DID say he would come home and talk.

Settling on a no show from the builder, Nate looked around to see James extending his arm, "I WANT YOU!"

Nathan wanted him. But he also wanted Jackson, but if he wasn't bothered about him anymore, then there was no way he was going to settle for nothing.

He smiled and followed James into the bedroom.

Xxxx

Jackson grabbed hold of the bannister, and took a rest...flaming 'eck it was awkward. He had managed to heave himself to the third floor...just one more flight of stairs and he would be there at the front door.

After taking a breather, he was ready to go forth.

Xxxx

On the bed, James had Nate spread across the bed and he was slipping off his boxers, the medic then started to bite at Nathan's hard nipples making gasp out in excitment.

Xxxx

Jackson had beat the stairs. At the very top, he took another breather and looked across to the front door looming across the hall. He leaned on the crutches and heaved himself over the floor to the doormat, " key key key..." he mumbled to himself as he dug his key out from his pocket...it was a struggle because he had to lean his shoulder up against the wall to stop himself from falling to a heap on the floor.

Removing his hand from his pocket...he opened his hand and saw his front door key sat his palm.

Xxxx

James and Nathan rolled around the bed in a frenzy of heated passion. Their naked body's hot and horney as they pressed eachothers hard cocks up against themselves to really get into the mood.

Xxxx

Jackson tried to line the key into the lock, but as he went to push it in, his shoulder slipped and the key fell to the floor, the builder cursed under his breath and with differculty, he leaned his back up against the door, he bent his knees and tried to reach for the key.

Xxxx

James thrusted his cock deep into Nate as he pumped him hard on the bed, Nathan was moaning in pleasure as James worked himself into a sweat, the beads of it running down his forehead, Nathan closed his eyes and became lost in the heat of it all...oblivious to anything else around him.

Xxxx

Jackson managed to turn the key and pushed the door open, he sercured his crutch underneath his arm and hobbled inside and looked about the flat, " Nate?" he called out. But the flat was empty, he looked across to the bedroom door and saw that it was closed, he wondered if the nurse had been on shift or something, and was grabbing himself a knap, he closed the front door with the bottom of his crutch, and then turned and made his way over to the bedroom door, catching sight of the flowers and chocs on the way.

Xxxx

Nathan breathed in as James's thrusting got faster and faster. He was in a whirl of heated passion...nothing around him seemed real because he was high on poppers.

Was that the bedroom door opening...?

It took him a minute or so for it to completely register, that it WAS the bedroom door opening...

And Jackson was standing there open mouthed. James had stopped thrusting and suddenly pulled out and jumped off the bed leaving Nathan completely exposed, he quickly pulled the bedsheet up to hide his nakedness.

"Jackson!" he hissed, eyes all wide with the shock at seeing him standing there.

Jackson was breathing slowly, he stared at Nate, their eyes locking together, but however how much he wanted to will that this wasn't happening...he had to except that it was.

Jackson broke their gaze and turned to James, " I think you better get yah kecks on, don't you?"

James was already reaching down for his boxers and was pulling them on.

Nathan pulled the sheet closer around himself as the medic quickly threw on his shirt and pulled on his jeans. He then just stood there.

"I think you can GO now" told Jackson nodding his head into the direction of front door, beyond the bedroom. The builder was scarily calm.

James nods and looks at Nate, " I'll call yah..." he told, then, grabbing up his shoes he left the bedroom and withwin a few moments they both heard the front door close.

Jackson raised his eyes from the carpet and glared at Nathan, " GET DRESSED...I'LL BE WAITING OUT THERE!" he snapped and was then hobbling out of the bedroom door.

Nathan swallowed down nervously and reached for his boxers.

Xxxx

Out in the lounge Jackson was fighting back the tears. Nathan would never know how much this was effecting him...WAS HURTING HIM...

How could Nathan do this? How could he have sex with someone else IN THEIR MARITAL BED!

He leaned on the crutches and looked again to the floor as he heard the bedroom door open and Nate came out. For a few moments he stood there looking across at Jackson.

"Jackson...I didn't think you were coming..."

Jackson could find that funny if it wasn't so serious, " WELL THAT WAS OBVIOUS!" he spat, still with his back to him.

Nathan came forward and went to stand right behind him, " I was waiting for you...when you called me I was SO HAPPY...I was so wanting you to be back here...where you belong...but then...but then James showed up..."

Jackson nods his head listening to him. He turned his head slightly to look at him, "...oh?...and instead of asking him to leave you decide to go drag him into bed, do yah?"

Nathan shook his head, " Yes...I DID ASK HIM TO LEAVE! But he...he...I didn't know you were gonna show up...I'm SORRY JACKSON!"

Jackson turned himself around, there was tears in his eyes, " I was gonna forgive yah...I LOVE YAH...I wanted us to work...but all of it behind us...when you said the same...when you said you wanted that too on the phone...I believed yah!" he said holding back the sobs.

Nathan shook his head vigiously, " I DO! I DO JACKSON!" he went and put his hands on Jackson's cheeks, " James means NOTHING to me! YOU KNOW THAT!"

Jackson was torn, he was a sucker for a cute face, and Nate's eyes were doing a 'bambi' on him.

Nathan was starting to choke out the sobs himself now, " I want YOU Jackson...you know that...you know it deep down how I always want you..."

Jackson swallowed as he held Nathan eyes, then Nate moved in to press his lips on to Jackson, the builder responded at first...but he did put a stop to the lingering kiss and pull his face aside so Nate's mouth was in his ear. Nathan backtracked and shook his head, "Jackson?"

Jackson looked back at him and whispered to him, " It's the end...of us"

Nathan was shaking his head and was going in for another tryst, but Jackson managed to swerve his face away, " NO Nate...It's over I said!" he told alittle louder, firmer.

Nathan swung around and put his back to the builder, " You're hurting...I KNOW YOU ARE...and I know that this is not what you want..."

The nurse turned around to see Jackson hobbling without the crutches towards the fridge and pulled out a cold beer for himself, he pulled the ring and sank a few mouthfuls. Nathan nods to him, wiping his teary eyes, " You're managing without your crutches...but..."

The builder nodded, " Yeah...I was gonna surprize yah by taking you out for a slap up meal...seems i've saved me money now, haven't I?"

Nathan swallowed down and perched his bum on the armrest of the sofa, " We can still go...we can still make it work"

Jackson shook his head and looked away towards the windows, " Nah...it won't...it's done...IT'S A PITY MIND..." he looked at him with a sad gaze, " We could of had a good thing, us..."

Jackson hobbled towards the window and looked out...he could see Nate looking at him in the reflection, Jackson spoke to this image rather than to Nate directly, "...It's MY fault mind...I've only got meself to blame for all this...I BROKE THE GOLDEN RULE FIRST, DIDN'T I? Going with Aaron like I did..."

He turned around and looked at Nathan directly, "...do you know what I wanted to do to that guy?"

Nathan shook his head, he didn't.

"I wanted to go deck him...for taking what's mine..." he was shaking his head as he told him, because he hated to have to feel like that, because he hated violence so much.

"W-" Nate was choked up again, " Why didn't yah?"

Jackson looked to the celing and laughed, " What? With these crutches..."

Nathan stood up and pulled himself together, " Okay...right...if this is what you want, then what am I to do...MOVE OUT NOW SHALL I?" he stomped into the bedroom, Jackson hobbled after him, " Nate...stop it...stop acting so childish...this is YOUR home too"

Nathan was chucking things into a case as he was pulling out all the drawers, " No! You've made your feelings entirely clear...WE'RE OVER...I get it!"

Jackson leaned his shoulder on the doorframe and sighed out in dispair, " Ohhh Nate! COME ON, you know i'm not about to throw you out onto the streets, SOME WOULD, because of what you did...and what I SAW...but no...nice guy me!"

Nathan zipped up his case and was straight in Jackson's face, " Nice guy? I would have done anything for you" he spat.

Jackson widened his brown eyes, " and I would have done anything for you..." , he stopped himself and looked away.

Nathan was intrigued now, " really? WHAT would you've have done, a? A big fat NOTHING that's what!"

Jackson watched as Nate wheeled out his case into the lounge, " you don't know what I've sacrificed to BE WITH YOU!"

Nathan reached for his phone on the side, he gave Jackson the 'hand', " speak to that...MAYBE I should ring James...he can finish me off..." he teased, trying to make Jackson all jealous.

Jackson pulled a sarcastic 'bothered' face.

"Hi James...no he's still here, look...can I come to yours...Jackson's kicking me out"

Jackson pulled another face, this time one of 'first i've heard about it!'

"...no, i've packed my stuff...i'm on me way, theres's NOTHING I want here anymore...", his tone was casual and non caring, looking across at Jackson as he spoke.

Nate pocketed his phone and took the handle of his baggage case, and wheeled it towards the front door, " I'll keep the key for one more day, i'll stop by and pick up the rest of my stuff tomorrow..." he told not even looking at the builder.

Jackson's mind was working overtime...he didn't want this...Nate leaving him...the end of their marriage...he had SAID AS MUCH , YES...but he was hurting...it was only words...he looked up and swallowed, " Come here..."

Nate shook his head, " No..."

Jackson narrowed his eyes at him, " COME HERE" he said again, this time like an order.

Nate shook his head again, " No...it's over ...I know that now..."

The angst on Jackson's face was clear to Nathan now, "don't look at me like that...i'll give in otherwise..."

Jackson hinted a smile, " maybe I want you too..."

Nathan smiled back and letting go of the case, it falling flat to the laminated flooring, the nurse fell into Jackson's arms, " We've got past bigger than this..." the builder told, trying to convince himself of it at the same time.

Nathan shook his head as he buried his face in Jackson's shoulder, " Is there still a chance for us?"

Jackson swallowed and Nate pulled away and stared into Jackson's brown eyes, " where were you last night? I was here and you never came home..."

Jackson swallowed down...he broke their gaze because he couldn't be honest with him, " I were at Gary's, didn't I say?"

Nathan smiled...it was a thin smile because he didn't believe him, " No you weren't...he phoned earlier and I asked him if you were there..."

Jackson rolled his tongue along his bottom lip, " checking up on me now, are yah?"

Nathan paused...then asked him outright, " Was you with Aaron last night..."

Jackson was caught on the hop, " errr...yeah...but it's not what you think..."

"I KNEW IT!" Nathan flipped out and was already going back to his baggage case, "It was you and him that started all this and..." he was suddenly coming to realise something, "...wait a minute...you said something just now about some sacifice you've had to make..." he slapped his forehead in a wave of enlightenment, ..."HOW STUPID AM I? IT'S AARON, ISN'T IT? YOU WANT TO BE WITH AARON...WELL HE'S WECOME TO YAH!"

He pulled open the front door and grabbed for the case handle to wheel it out into the hall beyond, but at that instant Jackson hobbled over on his crutches, " Nate wait...don't leave...NOT LIKE THIS...PLEASE!", he went to go grab him, but Nate swung around and lashed out, " GET OFF ME!" and Jackson ended up falling backwards onto the floor.

Nathan stood over him and spat into Jackson's face, " YOU ARE A FUCKING BASTARD...I WAS ALWAYS SECOND BEST TO YAH!...WELL...NOT ANYMORE!" Jackson turned his head and tried to reach for his crutch, but Nate kicked it away further so the builder couldn't reach... before storming out and slamming the door behind him.

Jackson started at the ceiling and sighed...Why did it have to come to this!

He dug into his pocket and pulled out his mobile, scrolling down he pressed call to Mum.

"Mum...it's me...I don't care if you are missing Coronation Street...I need you to come round...somethings happened..."

AUTHORS NOTE: THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS FOR LAST TIME...Last section of chapters coming up now...Jackson WILL go back to Spain in this...but will/should Aaron go with him...?