"Paddy I won't be home for tea. I'm gonna stay a little longer with Jackson, he's been feeling a bit down lately." Hazel told Paddy as she rushed down the stairs searching for her purse.
"Tell him I'll pop over this week." Paddy said to Hazel, as he watched her whirl round the kitchen, hunting high and low.
"It's nice to know one of you will go and see him." Hazel said coldly, aiming her dig at Aaron who was stood leaning in the corner of the counter tops staring absent mindly out of the window facing across the front lawn.
"Hazel, that was a bit harsh." Paddy said, hoping Aaron would take no notice of what Hazel had said, but he hadn't even been paying attention.
"Harsh? You try explaining that to my son who's lying paralysed in a hospital right now having been abandoned by his boyfriend." Hazel argued, Jackson was still a sensitive subject.
"If I remember correctly Jackson was the one who split up with Aaron." Paddy cornered.
"He was giving him a way out. And true to his form, he took it and ran." Hazel snapped, glaring at Aaron who was still not paying attention.
"He was doing what Jackson wanted Hazel. Aaron hasn't had it easy either you know!" Paddy said firmly, defending his surrogate son.
Hazel laughed. "He can still walk can't he?" She said before forgetting about her purse and walking out.
"Aaron she didn't mean any of that." Paddy said to Aaron.
"W-what?" Aaron said, snapping out of his day dream.
"Hazel. She didn't mean what she just said. She's just worried and stressed." Paddy told him.
"Yeah" Aaron agreed, not fully understanding because he hadn't listened to the whole of the conversation.
"So what do you want for Dinner?" Paddy chirped. "I thought we could have pizzas and then play on that new game I brought the other day for the Xbox."
"Yeah sure." Aaron answered, still in haze.
Paddy had planned to keep Aaron occupied and his mind busy all night. He knew Aaron spent most nights trapped in nightmares and even during the day sometimes when he stared off into space. His plan worked, until he found Hazel's purse tucked behind a few cushions on the sofa.
"She's gonna be lost without this." Paddy said, eyeing the brown leather purse. "I should go give it to her."
"Can't she manage borrowing money of Bob? He took her tonight didn't he?" Aaron said, he'd been enjoying tonight thrashing Paddy on the new Call of Duty game, not thinking about Jackson, the crash, hospitals and trains.
"No, she got the bus there. Still had a few bus fairs left on the ticket she had in her pocket." Paddy told Aaron, getting up from the sofa.
"Where you going?" Aaron said, annoyed that Hazel had left her purse and Paddy would most probably end up going to give it to her.
"To give Hazel her purse." Paddy said, pulling on his coat.
"No, don't." Aaron protested, he didn't want to be left alone tonight, to think.
"I've got to. Come with me if you want." Paddy said, hoping Aaron would. It would be good for Aaron to go to the hospital. It would be good for everyone.
Paddy could see Aaron debating with himself for a while, arguing whether it would be a good idea if he did go. "Fine. But I'll stay in the car." Aaron answered, getting up and collecting his Jacket. Paddy knew that if he could get Aaron to go in the car to the hospital he could get Aaron to go inside.
"I'll try not to be long. You sure you'll be alright in here?" Paddy asked, as he switched the engine off.
"I'm sure I can survive alone in a car at eighteen years old." Aaron breathed, sliding down in his seat getting comfortable.
"Okay then. Where about is Jackson?" Paddy asked, knowing his ignorance would make Aaron cave in and show him himself.
"Spinal unit." Aaron answered.
"Which floor?" Paddy continued.
"Second." Aaron snapped.
"So do I go up a floor then turn left or right?" Paddy asked, un-buckling his seat belt and opening his door.
"Argh." Aaron growled. "I'll show you."
"Thanks." Paddy said, trying to keep his smile from Aaron.
"You know it's really not that hard to find." Aaron snapped as they walked inside the warm hospital.
"You know me, terrible with directions." Paddy joked as Aaron pressed the button for the lift.
"You work in the countryside Paddy." Aaron said, "How can you not be good with directions?"
"True."
It was dimly lit on the ward Jackson was on because it was late at night. A few nurses were talking to one and other at the nurse's station, drinking cups of coffee and nibbling on cookies sent to them by a grateful patient. Paddy greeted them as he walked past, heading for Jackson's room in the middle of the ward. Aaron followed far behind, uneasy. He hadn't been to see Jackson since he'd blamed Aaron for the accident, wishing he was suicidal or in denial. Sometimes Aaron did wish he was still in denial, then maybe none of this would have happened.
"Come one Aaron. I don't think the nurse will want you waiting out here, getting in everyone's way." Paddy called to him from Jackson's closed door.
"Nah, I'm fine out here. I'll wait for you to come back." Aaron said, breathing deeply remembering every word Jackson said to him. He was scared to go any where near his room.
"Don't be silly. I might be ages as yet." Paddy told him, waving for him to come closer. "Come on, I'm sure they won't bite."
"Paddy, I'm fine out here." Aaron breathed. Paddy knew it was bothering him, but he had to help him, he needed to face it. Hopefully his nightmares would stop if he spoke to Jackson.
"Nonsense, come on." Paddy said, striding over to him and pulling him inside.
Hazel was sat beside Jackson, watching the T.V on the wall in the corner of the room she was startled when her eyes met Aaron. Paddy strode over to her held out her purse.
"You forgot this." He smiled, ignoring how uncomfortable Aaron felt standing by the door.
"Thanks." Hazel said taking the purse. "Nice to see you here, Aaron."
"Do you fancy a coffee Hazel?" Paddy hinted, hoping they would leave the boys alone to talk.
"I've jus- Oh actually yes. The ones in the cafe are quite good." Hazel triggered on. "As good as hospital coffee can get, come on then."