DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN EMMERDALE OR ANY OF IT'S CHARACTERS. THEY ARE THE PROPERTY OF ITV.
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LATE-SEPTEMBER
"I was pretty mean to him, but I had to let him down"
Aaron sat in Nick's car where it was parked in the cruising carpark. Nick turned, their faces shadowery in the moonlight, "But you had too...you couldn't just go along with...I feel bad about it...It were me who pushed you and him together"
Aaron smiled, "You meant well...but next time I'll just knock your block off...so try that again if you dare, mister!"
Nick laughed. Then nodded to the dark coloured car who was pulling in and turning it's lights off, "There comes fat Ted. He's old as anything and still comes here for a shag"
Aaron didn't like the sound of that, he screwed his face up, "don't you get any fit lads in here! That layby down the top roads better than here, WHY did you want to come here for"
Nick turned, "because HE might be here...Footballer Fred I call him...and .fit.", he teased.
Aaron raised his eyebrowes, and looked about, "Is he here then?"
"Not yet...and there isn't any garantees he'll be here tonight...he might be out with his bird"
Aaron blew out a laugh, "what? He's straight!"
Nick laughed, "aren't they all...you'd be surprized"
For a slight minute, Aaron imagined Paddy driving in with his pants down around his ankles, then sniggered to himself.
Nick frowned, "What's so funny?"
"You WOULDN'T want to know" Aaron chuckled.
Nick shook his head, then his eyes brightened up, "there he is..."
Aaron turned to see some flash car pull in and park a little away from them where the bushes were more prominent. Nick's hand was on the door release, "come on lad, forget about all that with Ed tonight...come and have some fun..."
XXX
Jackson sat on the plastic seat. His head was in his hands. Stu had got them a polycarton coffee each from the machine, and sat down beside him.
Jackson straightened up and took the coffee, "cheers...are you alright?"
Stu was shaken up,but he was feeling better now, "yeah...now I know HE'S gonna be alright"
Jackson, kind hearted as always, put an arm around him and rubbed his shoulder, "he's a fighter is Nate...look what he's put US through over the years...he never took any shit from anyone of us"
Stu looked up, "he's not as strong as he pretends...he's weak inside"
Jackson nodded his head slightly, "not that he'd ever admit it or show it"
Stu sat back and blew out a sigh, "at least he's in here now...the doctors have stopped the bleeding and that...but I was thinking about what you said earlier"
Jackson met his glance, and frowned, "about?
"about when you said that Nate'll never thank us...he won't ...NOT even for saving his life"
Jackson shook his head and looked at the floor, "that's the cowards way out...and I make him see that...just because you are HIV it doesn't mean your lifes fucking over", Stu could tell by the builders sharp edge to his voice, that he was furious at Nate.
Stu shrugged, "he looked depressed the other day when i went to see him, he told me he had told his parents about his HIV...I wanted to stay with him because he looked upset... but you know what he's like...he hates to be mithered"
Jackson was about to reply, when he looked up to see Nathan's Mum and Dad walk through the door. Already there was a scowl from Nates's dad.
"That bloody boy will be the death of me" he moaned as he scratched his balding head.
Nate's Mum turned and clapped eyes on Jackson...before the builder could even stand up to greet them, she was on her way over...
XXX
"So...you're quiet? Fit though, I give you that"
'Footballer Fred' was looking at Aaron. Aaron shied away the glance. He wasn't sure about this...'Footballer Fred' WAS fit...but he seemed right smarmy with it, and Nick was really taken in by him.
Nick laughed, "Aaron is a guy with very few words"
'Footballer Fred' licked his lips as he gave Aaron a lustful look, "Ohhh the strong silent type is he?"
"feisty too" added Nick.
Aaron shot a glare at him, talk about making him look stupid, "I am still here you know"
"So...what do you think Aaron...what do you like? Sucking? Wanking? Fucking? A nice spit roast comes to mind"
Aaron didn't know what that was, but he had heard Jackson mention something about that once...something that he and Nathan did from time to time.
"Errrrr...", he was lost for words.
Nick smirked at him, "it COULD be fun"
Aaron was about to decline, if he was gonna get a shag tonight, then he'd find it himself, but all of them were suddenly looking at the blue flashing lights as a coppers car was patrolling.
Smarmy 'Footballer Fred' wasn't as cocky as he was when he arrived, talk about hot footing it back to the car and cruising off.
There was a mumble about 'he can't get caught because the papers would have a field day'
Nick and Aaron jumped back into their car and Nick sighed, "Ohhh well...just a DIY job in bed then" he concluded.
Aaron nodded and they drove off and headed out the park's exit and sped off up the road.
XXX
"You pathetic little runt! I told you this will be you one day! It's always the queer runts who get it!"
Nathan's Dad was furious.
Even though his wife was trying to calm matters down. Nathan watched from his bed blanked faced. Great big bandaids were wrapped around his wrists where he had slashed them twice with a kitchen knife.
And he meant it...Nathan had done it the proper way.
Jackson stood in the door way and came over, "That's enough, you can't speak to him like that" he cried, eyebrowes knotted because he didn't like the senior man's attitude.
Reverend Carter turned and scowled at him, "Oh there you are...if it wasn't for you MY son wouldn't be like he is...YOU turned him"
"You can't blame me for him being WHO he is Reverend Carter. Your son IS gay...deal with it"
Reverend Carter turned around, "I don't have to deal with anything...Yes was my is Homosexual...it's shameful. And now THIS...This DISGUSTING FILTHY disease he has"
Jackson couldn't believe the nerve of it, "you really are unbelieveable...a nasty horrible man...Nathan used to tell me about how you were with him when he was a kid...until now I thought, Hmmmm Nathan's exaggerating this a tad...making stuff up because he was good at that..."
Reverend Carter blew out a laugh, "He always was a wicked child and make up tales"
"like you used to beat him and lock in the cellar for days on end..."
Reverend Carter waved a dismissive hand and looked at his wife, "Come on Penelope...lets get out of here...I don't need to listen to all this"
"Oh that's right...JUST WALK AWAY!" said Jackson raising his voice.
They were out into the corridor in a flash.
Nathan looked at Jackson from where he lay, "Thanks for that"
Jackson stepped nearer and thumbed into the direction of the corridor, "is HE for real...is that what he's like?"
Nathan looked down, "Dads dad...he's ALWAYS been like it...I told you I wasn't making stuff up..."
Jackson shook his head and threw his arms in the air, " Why have you done this! Why did you try and end it all?"
Nathan looked uncomfortable, "Why do you think When you've got a dad like mine"
"Don't use HIM as an excuse...Nathan I'm NOT coming back to you...not...not as it was"
Nathan turned, "I just want all the bad feelings to go..."
Jackson smiled at him, "I thought it was all sorted...YOU just need to get better and take your meds...get your life back on track"
Nathan was skepitcal, "and how am I gonna do that on my own!"
Jackson sighed, "I'm just gonna have to keep an eye on you that's all...but THAT'S IT...there's gonna be nothing coming from it"
Nathan smiled back, "Yeah...I know"
Jackson turned, "right...I'll see what's going on...Stu's outside...I'll tell him to come in shall I?"
Nathan nodded.
Jackson smiled at him and walked off. Nathan turned the other way...and smiled.
XXXX
At this point of the story I will say there is a murder in the air...