I DO NOT OWN EMMERDALE OR ANY OF IT'S CHARACTERS, LIKEABLE OR NOT. THEY ARE ALL PROPERTY OF THE ITV STUDIOS.

EARLY APRIL 2016

"I used to sit with her, when she was in the hospital. Twice it happened. The first time I remember being in some club in Leeds. I was dancing and drinking and having such a good time. It were Boxing day 2010. She had this MASSIVE heart attack...I didn't know what to do when they called me...I was out with me mate Joe and he got me to the hospital and that, and then he had to go...I felt so ALONE...and the docs and nurses kept on banging on about all this medical jargon I couldn't get me head round..."

"That's when I called Paddy. I didn't know who else to call. Me dad had taken Eileen and Josh away someplace for Christmas and even if they WERE at home I probably wouldn't have called them, because I didn't get along so well with them back then"

"You see...Paddy was good to me...that summer that had just gone...me and me Mum were staying with him like...mind, that was because I was with Aaron...AND the fact that me mother had flooded the flat...me flat mate Pete was well pissed with me, I can tell yah"

"But yeah...Paddy was there for me. He's such a good bloke, is Paddy"

XXXX

Sean remembered what Jackson had told him in the hospital. Aly was recovering and everything seemed like it was going to be alright, and Jackson was right, Paddy was good.

Letting him stay. Ruby didn't like him scrounching around so he thought it best to keep out of her way. But Paddy let him sleep on the couch.

Rhona had a face on her. Maybe that was just women for you.

He made himself some toast and a brew in the kitchen. Paddy came in and smiled at him, "Have you rang the hospital?"

Sean nodded, "Yes, just now...Rubys gonna take Amelia into see her later"

Paddy settled down at the table. Sean looked across to him, "Look...are you sure this is ok..me stopping here...Rhona still doesn't look happy about it"

"She's fine"

Sean nodded, but could detect that she's actually not fine, but it was done now. He buttered his toast and sat down. Paddy looked up, "So, you still up for this skydive thingy...Aaron was saying about it yesterday, between you and me, I don't think he'll do it..."

"Ha ha you mean he'll bottle it"

"I know Aaron...he hates heights. Jackson only said to me the other week that when Aaron was helping him get the business back on track, the poor lad didn't like getting up a ladder...imagine what it's gonna be like for him, all them thousands of feet in the air!"

Sean laughed again, "I can't wait...it's gonna be spot on"

Paddy watched as the lad crunched down his toast and slurped his tea. Yep. There was another Aaron growing up there.

XXX

"You...are gonna poo your pants"

Aaron screwed his face up as he helped Jackson with the wallpapering for the slapper next door.

"I don't think so. I said I'm well up for this jump and I am"

Jackson smiled as he mixed up the paste and wiped his hands onto his white overalls, "You say that now...but what's it gonna be like when we get up there in the air?", he sang.

"I SAID I'm fine! It's that little prick Sean that's gonna be the one bottling it"

Jackson could guess the look on Aaron's face before he even looked around. A scowl.

"Come on, have a heart...you don't know what it's like to go through what he's going through...I do...and it's not nice..."

Aaron rolled his eyes. Course he felt bad about not seeming to give a shit, but this lad seemed of sprung up out of nowhere. It was Paddy's fault. If he hadn't taken pity on the lad, just because he reminded the vet of him, then he wouldn't have got so involved with them.

Aaron looked round to see the slapper walk in. All he caught glimpse of was; short red dress up to her armpits and legs.

Oh, and don't forget the barbie like hair extentions.

"Ohhhh hello boys, hard at work I see"

Jackson coughed and cleared his throat. Tracey was tall and it seemed that her tits were in his face when she stood infront of him, "Errr...yeah...it'll be all up by tomorrow, love..."

Tracey laughed as she went through into the kitchen, " There's no rush boys...just take your time...and don't matter about the labour costs and all that because it's me dad whos paying for all of this"

Aaron pulled a face at her, "that figures"

Jackson jolted him in the ribs and grinned at Tracey who was putting on the kettle, "a brew would slip down my throat nicely, love...", Aaron nearly choked.

The comment going straight over her head, Tracey laughed as she pulled 3 mugs off the mugtree, "me too..."

Jackson looked at Aaron with a cheeky smirk, "You're bad", the younger lad hissed as he faffed about with another sheet of wallpaper.

"I know..."

XXXX

Later on, Aaron had a shower and got dressed to go out. Jackson jumped onto the bed and laid back watching him, "So...you off out are yah?"

"Yeah, said i'd go meet Simon and the new fella of his...he's into cars, I'll have you known"

Jackson pulled a face, "riviting I'm sure...so what am I going be doing now you're going out...maybe I ought to go round nextdoor and slip something down slapper Traceys throat"

"Better be tea"

Jackson laughed as he grabbed his mobile, "Nah, just joking I hate her teabags me...they taste like nats piss"

Aaron ran aload of gel through his locks, "You could give Jack a call...he might be back from his school trip and that"

Jackson shook his head, "not till tomorrow he's not...anyways, I'm picking him up on Friday and he's staying round here...now that his bedrooms sorted out and that"

As Aaron slapped on his aftershave, Jackson's mobile sang out on the bed. Jackson was in the middle of having a wee, "get that will you" he called.

Aaron rolled his eyes and snapped up the mobile. Surprize surprize, it was Sean calling..AGAIN.

He handed it to Jackson as he came out the bathroom, "It's mini me again..."

Jackson pulled a face and debated whether to put it over to voicemail. Best not, that'll be just be plain rude and what if something had happened to Aly or something. He stuck it to his ear.

"Hey..Sean...You what? Oh come on...I suppose I could meet yah...Aaron's leaving me all on me own...Woolie? I can come to you mate, Paddy be there? No...just you and me then, cool...nice...errrrr...see you at eight"

Aaron was looking at him.

Jackson shrugged, "He sounded like he wanted a chat...he's just excited about his Mum coming home, that's all..."

"Hasn't he got mates of his own he can 'chat' to"

"Well I can't help he loves my attention, can I? I've always labelled meself as a good listener and that...and it's good not to be left in here by meself like some billy no mates"

"You could come out with me"

"I can't stick Simon"

Aaron went downstairs and pulled his jacket on, "I'll see you in abit...and tell HIM that once his mothers home and that, he don't need to keep bothering you..."

Jackson shook his head.

XXX

Hmmmm, debating whether to write out Jackson for good and give Aaron a new man...