CHAPTER 17 of 20

DISCLAIMER: I Do not own Emmerdale or it's Characters, they belong to ITV

A/N: Thanks for all the kind reviews...only 3 more chapters to go after this one, then I'm signing off xxx

Aaron had yet another sleepless night, his head full of worry of what he might have.

Aaron's bed sheets were soaked through with his sweat, even though it had been a freezing cold late January night.

Aaron turned his head to face Jackson's smiling face on the photoframe upon his bedside unit, he was due home today, and Jackson had been true to his promise and texted Aaron every day...Aaron hadn't responded to any of them.

Cain had tried to cheer him up the day before, his car, his beloved car, that had been trashed by Ben was starting to look like a car again, and not a wreck.

Aaron could only plaster on a fake smile, deep down he was so full of worry...worried to the point his stomach felt like he was doing somersorts.

It wasn't only the day Jackson was due home...but it was Friday, the day he had arranged to meet Tom at the hospital, and he was dreading it.

Over breakfast Paddy smiled at him over his cornflakes, " Hey...Cain's coming along champion with your car..."

Aaron plastered his fake smile on, as he drank his tea " Yeah...it'll be ready in a week..."

Paddy stood up, and cleared the breakfast things, " Just be sure not to play boy racer around those country lanes...like Ben does in that Capri of his..." Paddy then turned from the sink,

" come to think of it, I haven't seen Ben around lately...have you and him fallen out or something..."

Aaron stood up and walked off without a further word to Paddy, he didn't want to ever think about Ben, let alone talk about him.

Out side, as he walked to the garage, Pearl stopped him on her way back from the shop with a pint of milk, "Hello Aaron...when are we going to see the lovely Benjamin again...I'm missing his charming good looks to brighten up my day..." she cooed.

" He's not all that you know!" Aaron cried, and stormed off up the road, Pearl just smiled, she was well used to Aaron's little outbursts, they happened all the time.

At the garage, Cain was miffed at his nephew, when Aaron told him he needed to take a couple of hours off.

" You've haven't been here most of the week!, I know you've got alot going on in your head... what is it now you need time off for!"

Aaron threw the spanner down " Just need a couple of hours off Cain, Ryan said he'll cover for me"

Cain shook his head " Seems like I'm running a charity here...2 hours max ok...and in future don't take the p*ss...do you here me!"

Aaron had taken the bus to the hospital, and once he arrived he had texted Tom his whereabouts.

Aaron's legs felt like jelly, he really wanted to just run and go...forget it all...but he knew he had to do this, he needed to do this for himself.

At the hospital, Aaron and Tom sat in the waiting room of the sexual worried well clinic, Aaron's stomach churned in discomfort.

Tom read a magazine beside him, he could sense Aaron's gut wretched feeling, by his body language, " Hey...it's not all that bad...a blood test and some swabs...I've had it done before" he said trying to reasure him.

It didn't work, and Aaron felt even worse when the nurse came through to the waiting room

"Aaron Livesey..."

Aaron nodded and stood up, his hands were clammy, and he felt scared, Tom smiled at him

" It's okay...it won't take long...10 minutes, and you'll be out"

Aaron followed the pleasent nurse into the practice room, and the door closed quietly behind them.

On the bus journey back home, Aaron couldn't stop thinking about the clinic. The nurse had explained everything she was going to do, she had taken blood for HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B and C...then he had been swabed in the gential area for Chlamydia and Gorronnorea...

The nurse was friendly, and as well as explaining what she was doing, she told him why she was doing it.

She had also mentioned about HIV councelling before the test was done, but Aaron had refused, what is done is done...what will be will be...he hated it, but it was just the way it was.

Once off the bus, Aaron needed to get back to the garage, Cain was gonna kill him, he was late as it was, but it was a blue builders van parked outside smithy that got his attention...it was Jackson's van.

Aaron quickly stuffed all his STI info packs in his pocket, and raced toward the house, Paddy was already at the door, "Aaron...Jackson's here...he says that you and him are...you know...back together...what happened to Ben, have you two split up" he babbled on.

Aaron shoved Paddy out the way " do one now, and mind your own..." and he closed the door in him.

Jackson sat in the lounge, he stood up quickly as Aaron entered, he shoved his hands deep into his pockets and cracked a smile, " hello stranger...you miss me...or maybe not because you never returned any of me texts...what was it... no credit I bet!"

Aaron bit his lip and just stared at him, it seemed so long ago since that night...a whole week ago...

"Hey, Paddy tells me you haven't even told him about us...are you ashamed of me or something Aaron..." Jackson joked..." Aaron..."

It was too much for Aaron to bare...to much to soon...he flared up " just go will yah..." he snapped coldly.

Jackson's smile changed to a big frown of sheer puzzlement " What..."

"You heard me...just go...you and me...it's all a mistake...that's why I never told Paddy about us!" Aaron lied.

Jackson's mouth was open, agape, this was the last thing he had expected to come back to.

"But...I thought...me and you..." he looked up at Aaron, looking at him directly in his eyes,

" You said you loved me...you did"

"I lied...I lied to you, just told you what you wanted to hear!" Aaron barked, turning his back on Jackson, afraid he'll notice his eyes watering.

" Cheers for this...thanks Aaron..." Jackson headed to the door and turned, his own big brown eyes threatening to spill " You know what...I was soooo looking foward to seeing yah...I came straight here from Birmingham...I even thought about coming back early because I missed you sooo much..."

A lone tear fell down Aaron's cheek...he remained quiet...the lounge was silent.

" see you around...or not" Jackson slammed the door on the way out, Aaron darted to the window to see Jackson climb into his van.

Aaron couldn't do it...could he...he woundn't let Jackson drive away for a second time in their relationship...

Aaron screamed out "JACKSON...JACKSON WAIT..." and he ran out the cottage and ran managed to stop the van...Aaron's eyes staring straight into Jackson's, both in tears,

" I need to talk to yah..." Aaron cried..." please don't go...I'm sorry... I'm so scared Jackson... I'm scared...I need to talk to yah...

...please don't leave me...".

tbc

reviews all welcome...xxxx