"Demons"

WRITTEN BY DAYNE DINNING

~This fanfic follows ONE MONTH on from The Visit

# Disclaimer – I do not own Emmerdale or any of the characters used. They belong to ITV

The warm wet sponge slid over Aaron's bare chest, his expression was blank, and anyone who saw him would be able to tell straight away that this young man was withdrawn, completely within himself. Even when he forced himself to perk up when he had visitors it was still there, as raw as the day he was told the news he would never walk or feel anything ever again.

The nurse smiled down at him as she placed the sponge into the dish and renewed it with more soapy water. She turned and smiled back at Aaron and touched his hand and raised his arm and began to clean his underarm. "Not long till Christmas Aaron, you looking forward to it?" she asked softly within the deathly silent room.

Aaron's right eyebrow flinched slightly in reaction before he began to speak. "Can't say I've really thought about it" he said with an exasperated sigh.

The nurse nodded in realisation to what she had asked. That was a bit stupid she thought. "My kids are looking forward to it; all they can go on about...We're hoping you can go home by then that should be nice for you"

"Really? To sit and nod my head and smile as if I'm enjoying it? I never really had much of a Christmas every year when I was a kid so what's going to make this one so special?" he scowled.

Saved by the bell; the door clicked open and the nurse turned and looked. Jackson smiled in greeting; the nurse raised her eyebrows and motioned her head ever so slightly back towards Aaron.

Jackson nodded slightly. Ahhh he thought One of 'those' days I gather he thought some more. But he understood, he knew from the outset there would be days like this. He loved Aaron enough and would stick by him no matter what. He stopped when the nurse walked up to him. "Hows things?" he asked.

"Yeah...the usual but we know it's going to take a long time" she explained.

Jackson nodded. "Hey I tell you what why don't you take a break and I can finish this" he suggested to which Aaron sighed and dropped his head back on the pillow in the background.

"Are you sure?" the nurse asked.

"Yeah totally, I remember what you told me and besides it can't be that hard can it?"

"Well I've never experienced anyone like Mr Livesy..." she smirked and patted him on the shoulder as she began to walk to the door.

Jackson walked over to Aaron and kissed him softly on his forehead. "You been giving the nurse grief again?" he asked with a smirk.

"Nope..." he sighed. "I heard what you said to the nurse, so if you're gunna finish this bed bath get on with it" his tone was sharp and brutal.

"Alright alright...I will" Jackson cupped his hand on Aaron's cheek but he pulled away almost instantly.

Jackson rinsed the sponge and began to finish the already started job – in complete silence. The silence was hard to deal with at any time. It put a strain on the people closest to Aaron, it made the situation worse but they knew trying to confront Aaron would exacerbate the situation further.

Jackson remembered his talk he had with Chas a month ago when they referred to the storm. That still hadn't come yet and for Aaron's sake they wanted it to happen so badly, so he could begin to grieve and accept this major change in his life.

Chas walked into the garage and found Cain standing putting the cash box in the safe and locking it. He reached for his jacket and turned around as he began to put it on. He jumped slightly. "Jesus sis..."

"Sorry..." she smiled. "You going to see Aaron?"

Cain nodded. "Yeah just on my way there now, why?" he asked.

"No reason" she shook her head. "Just wondered...actually, no" she took a breath and spoke. "...Cain you've been really absent lately...he needs you"

Cain sighed and looked away, his expression seemed strained. "I know...I just don't like seeing him like that, it's so difficult walking in that room"

"I know and no one does" she replied quietly. "But what's done is done, we have to accept that"

"Who says? I can't and you don't have to be strong in front of me you know..."

"I do" Chas nodded defiantly. Then as if her breath had been taken she struggled and her lips quivered. "Because if I don't then I'll just cry" she breathed.

Cain felt for her and moved closer but she backed away and held out her hand and shook her head. "No...Don't..." she smiled faintly. "Just make sure you see him yeah" she said as she wiped her tears before walking away.

Cain dropped his arms down beside him and watched her leave.

Jackson had left the room to get a drink and some fresh air outside the hospital. Aaron was sitting up in bed and was grateful for some alone time, but his thoughts never strayed from negative, they always were and the more he thought the more he became agitated, upset and angry. He turned his head and noticed the safety bar was down on the side of the bed where Jackson needed to get into to bathe Aaron. His mind was working overtime at this point and the anger raged deep within him and with one harsh movement of his head his body followed swiftly and Aaron fell hard onto the floor, his left shoulder taking the brunt of the fall. He just lay there staring into space with no reaction whatsoever.

To Be Continued...