"Adjustment"

WRITTEN BY DAYNE DINNING

~This fanfic follows on from Home Visit.

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

Aaron and Jackson had been back in the village only a few minutes before being bombarded by Lisa and Charity; it was nice to see them but now Aaron was wondering if this was too soon. But he was going to see how the day went first before bailing out and going back to hospital.

"You alright mate?" he heard Jackson ask as they made their way further into the village.

Aaron nodded as he looked up to him. "Yeah" he simply replied.

Jackson smiled. "What do you wanna do?" he asked.

Aaron shrugged. "A pint would go down nicely...but I thought you might have made plans"

Jackson nodded. "I have for later"

"Oh, right then...yeah the pub"

When they got to the pub Jackson took over the chair and lifted it up the step to the pub and then into the doorway, and Aaron took control again, Jackson knew how Aaron was determined to do it alone. The pub seemed quite busy and Aaron took in a deep breath and when he moved himself into the main area of the pub he stopped abruptly and started turning the chair around again to go back out. "What's wrong?" Jackson asked.

"Too many people..." Aaron said quietly but he'd been seen by Adam and he called to them.

"Aaron it's alright, nobody's gunna be looking at you any differently"

Aaron let out a single laugh. "Yeah okay then...if you say so..."

Jackson sighed and looked up and Adam was walking over. "Come on mate I'll get you a pint" he said to Aaron but looked to Jackson to try and get a sense of the awkward situation.

Aaron sighed and turned his chair back around and moved over to a free table and he stopped himself facing the seats against the wall; that suited him fine. "Go get the drinks with Adam, I'm not going anywhere"

Jackson was behind him. "Alright, I'll be two minutes" he replied and left him at the table alone. He sighed as he stopped at the bar.

"Things aren't going well are they?" Adam asked.

"Nope it's terrible"

"Well it's to be expected – I mean he's being through that horrible accident, it'll take time"

"I know it'll take time Adam, that's all I hear, it'll take time" Jackson snapped and shook his head. "Look I'm sorry mate that wasn't fair"

"Nah you're alright" Adam placed his hand on Jackson's shoulder. "It's bound to be stressful"

Jackson nodded.

"What can I get ya lads?" Alicia asked.

"Uhh...three pints please..." Adam replied. "I'll get these"

Jackson smiled. "Cheers, oh and a straw"

Alicia nodded. "No problem"

The lads walked back to the table carrying the pints and Jackson sat next to Aaron and Adam sat opposite. "Hows things going mate, physio good?"

"Well I still can't move anything so I guess not." Aaron was well aware he was making things difficult for everyone around him but he couldn't help it.

Adam nodded slowly. "What about the chair then? You looked like you've got to grips with it already"

Aaron nodded as Jackson held up the straw to his mouth and he took a drink of the lager. "Yeah it's not bad actually, quite easy" he flashed a little smile.

A while later Aaron was ready to leave despite having half a pint left. "You sure? You're not finished your pint"

"Yeah I know I'm ready Jackson" he repeated in a frustrated tone.

Jackson got up and put on his jacket. "Thanks for the drinks mate"

"No problem" Adam smiled. "See ya mate"

Aaron turned to him as he reversed his chair and turned to face the door. "See ya".

Adam noticed the subtle sad look on Aarons face as he said bye. Adam sat in his 0wn thoughts as he watched them both leave.

"What you boys been doing then?" Hazel asked.

"We've just been to the pub" Aaron smiled. "Thanks for getting a ramp put in; it makes it so much easier"

"You're welcome darling...Jackson love go and make us some drinks" she suggested with a look which he took immediately and got up and walked into the kitchen. "It's so good to see you out and about love" she smiled warmly at him.

He smiled back. "Thanks for what you said in the hospital if it wasn't for you I might have lost him..." he sighed and stopped but he seemed to want to continue.

"What is it Aaron?" she asked curiously.

"It's just me, I'm more hard work than I was before and when I'm down which is quite a lot..."

"I can imagine" she listened carefully.

"I know I'm making it hard for everyone and I can't help it but I'm scared I'm going to push him too far and he'll leave...truth is Hazel I need Jackson and I can't bare it without him"

Hazel smiled and leaned forward and placed her hand on his cheek. "Listen to me darling...He's too lost in you to be going anywhere, my boy is strong, I won't lie he'll get stressed and a bit testy at times but like I said he's not going anywhere...love's a funny thing" she smiled and got up and kissed him on the cheek and gave him a hug.

"Thankyou" he whispered.

"Now I was told not to say anything but he's booked a table for the both of you in town...do you think you'll be okay for that?"

Something about Hazel gave Aaron confidence and he nodded with a smile.

"Good..." she smirked as Jackson walked back in.

"What's good?" Jackson asked as he placed the drinks down on the table.

"None of your business sunshine...and anyway, don't you have to get ready?" she asked as she reached over and picked both hers and Aaron's drinks up from the table and held it for him to take a drink.

"Yeah I will actually" Jackson nodded. "I won't be long" he smiled and as he walked by Aaron he leaned down and kissed his forehead and then ran up the stairs.

Hazel almost grinned. "See..."

Aaron smirked too. "You don't have to hold the glass all the time Hazel...I'll ask if I want a drink"

"Oh...right...sorry love" she apologised and quickly put it back down.

Aaron laughed. "So anything good on telly these days? He'll be getting ready for hours the amount he titivates himself"

Hazel laughed as she reached for the remote. "You sounded like me then..."

To Be Continued...