Chapter 6

Aaron helped Daniel off the chair in the café, they waved goodbye to Adam and began to walk back over to Smithy. Aaron let go of Daniel's hand to open the door.
"Come on mate. We'll go on the computer or something for a while eh?" Aaron turned around to find Daniel gone. He smiled, knowing that hide and seek was Daniel's favourite game. He looked around the side of the house, and the back, and began to panic when he couldn't find his little brother.

"DANIEL!" Aaron quickly ran to the surgery door and it swung open "Paddy! Did Dan come through here?" he asked, his voice quivering.

Paddy looked up from a clipboard and shook his head. "He was with you."

"Yeah I know and now he's not, I thought he was playing but I cant find him! Fuck Paddy he's been with me for a day and I've lost him already! I told you I'd mess up!" Aaron sobbed, rushing out of the door to continue his search for Daniel.
Aaron ran down the street, checking every single corner and under every single table outside the Woolpack. Adam left Café Hope and approached Aaron, noticing the state his best friend was in. "Mate what's happened?"

"Daniel's gone. I turned my back for a split second Adam and he's gone! What kind of brother am I? Anyone could of taken him!"

"Aaron, look at me. Calm down, I'll help you find him, Ill go back towards Smithy and have a look through the woodland there, You keep searching here."

Aaron ran off down the road towards the garage and looked around there. He banged on the door of Declan's house, It was opened by Jackson, who was just finishing the last few bits that needed to be done to complete the renovation of the house.

"Aaron? What's wrong."

"Daniel's gone missing Jackson! You haven't seen him have you?"

"I don't know what he looks like babe. Tell me what he's wearing and I'll have a scout round for you too."

"He's blonde and wearing a green Ben 10 t-shirt with jeans and white trainers."

Jackson nodded and hugged Aaron, he walked in the opposite direction to his hysterical boyfriend.

Aaron slumped against the wall crying, banging the back of his head off of the concrete repeatedly, cursing under his breath. "What kind of brother am I?" he whispered.

eeeeee

Jackson was now looking around in the church, he didn't know why, but he had to be certain he checked everywhere he could think of.
He walked out from the church and began walking through the graveyard. He noticed a small figure sitting against a tree, crying. He walked over, being careful not to scare the little boy.

"Daniel?"

Daniel looked up, his sapphire blue eyes; identical to Aaron's; shimmering with tears.

"Can I sit down mate? I'm not going to hurt you. I'm a…friend of your brother's." Jackson cringed as he said "friend" instead of "boyfriend" but knew Daniel was far too young to understand what it meant.

"Is Aaron mad with me?" Daniel asked

"No. He's just worried about you mate. Come on I'll take you back. We'll ring Aaron and let him know that you're safe ok?"

"Daddy said I wasn't allowed to go anywhere with strangers."

"I'm not a stranger mate. My name's Jackson. I know your brother. It's ok Daniel, you can trust me."

Daniel thought about it for a bit, a slight look of cute confusion on his face. He nodded and took Jackson's hand.

eeeeee

Aaron jumped as his phone vibrated in his pocket. He was relieved to see it was Jackson's number on the screen and he flipped phone open.

"Have you found him?" Aaron asked

"Yeah. He's ok. I found him in the graveyard. We're on our way back to Smithy."

Aaron hung up without saying another word and raced up to Smithy to await his brother's arrival. Jackson came into view soon after and Aaron found himself racing towards Daniel. Tears still streaming down his face. He picked Daniel up and hugged him tight.

"Daniel don't you ever do that to me again!"

"I'm sorry." Daniel sobbed "I just wanted to see my mummy."

"It's ok mate, It's ok. I'm sorry for shouting at you. You really scared me Daniel. Please don't run away like that again."

Daniel nodded and was still hugging into Aaron.

"Do you not love me anymore? Because I tried to run away?"

"Daniel I'll ALWAYS love you, no matter what happens." Aaron sniffed, holding his brother closer to him. He smiled teary-eyed at Jackson and kissed him softly on the lips. "Thanks babe. I owe you one."

"You don't owe me a thing. I'm just glad he's safe."

"Can we still play on the computer Aaron?" Daniel asked, looking at his brother through teary and tired eyes.

"Yeah why not." Aaron smiled "You going to play?" he asked Jackson.

"I can't babe. I've got to finish off Declan's house. I'll be round later though yeah?"

"Don't go Jackson." Daniel sniffed, reaching out his arms.

"God he's just like you!" Jackson laughed, nodding towards Aaron and taking Daniel into his arms

"Listen mate, I've got to finish work first, otherwise I'll get told off. I'll be round to see you and Aaron later ok?"

Daniel nodded and squirmed out of Jackson's embrace. Jackson put him down and Daniel took Aaron's hand. Daniel watched Jackson walked away back to the house he was working on. He looked at Aaron "I really like Jackson."

Aaron looked down at his brother and smiled. "Me too mate, Me too."