CHAPTER 20
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Emmerdale or it's characters, they belong to ITV
A/N: thanks for all the reviews...xxx final chapter...but will be writing a sequel xx
Chapter starts off immediatley from 19, in the gents at Bar West.
"JACKSON NO!"
Jackson turned toward the cry from the exit door of the gents...his Aaron stood there, watching him just about to slap Ben into next week.
Jackson could feel the anger inside him subside, because of Aaron's presence.
"Jackson please...don't do it...you are not like him...you are not like me...you don't hurt anyone...!" cried Aaron, desparate for his boyfriend not to do something he knew he would instantly regret.
" oh come on Jackson mate, you are not gonna let me get away with all this are yah..." Ben sneered trying to push Jackson's stress levels up again.
Jackson's fist was still clenched, he held it up, then lowered it again as he battled with his anger, Aaron stepped forward,
"Come on Jackson...come back out...he's not worth the bother is he...i'll buy you a beer..." he coaxed.
Ben grinned, knowing how conflicted Jackson was at the moment " come on Jackson...surely you are not going to show Aaron how weak you really are...come on man, are you really going to just let me get way...are you!" he jibed.
Jackson tightened his lips, he kept glancing from Ben's face and then toward Aaron's,
"Come on Jackson come with me...please!" begged Aaron " you're better than him..."
Ben laughed finding that amusing, " Really!...well come on Jackson...you know you wanna hit me...do it man...or do I have to give you a reason...like telling you in full detail, how I was gonna rape your boyfriend!"
Jackson saw red, and clenched his fist to pull the punch, but Aaron grabbed him before he could strike, " NO!...no Jackson, step away, please...for me Jackson...step away for me!"
Jackson withdrew letting go of Bens's shirt collar, Aaron pulled Jackson away, Ben rolled his eyes at the sight of a little cuddle between them, Aaron trying to calm his boyfriend down "how touching!"
Aaron withdrew from his embrace with Jackson, and moved forward toward Ben, getting up all close and personal...face to face...eyeball to eyeball...
" You see...I can look you straight in the eyes...and I feel nothing...nothing at all...because you are nothing Ben...I was scared of you...of what you did...and I hated the way you made me feel...but now...now I feel nothing...I've confronted my fear, and you know what..." Aaron cracked a smile "...it feel's great!"
Ben shook his head, tidying himself up " what ever..." he muttered, and made for the exit, he turned before leaving " hope you two are happy...because you certainly deserve eachother" Ben then flashed a smile, and disappeared back into the club.
Aaron took Jackson into his arms, and they simply hugged eachother for comfort...after a minute or so Aaron pulled away and asked " can we go home...please..."
Jackson nodded " course...let's go and tell Adam and Mia we going..."
For the next few days, Aaron and Jackson stayed at the Village, the village has it's moments, but at least it was quieter here...and that's what they needed.
Aaron also caught up with work...Cain had been really good, considering what Aaron had been through, but he knew he had to get back to normal, and pull his wait...do his job.
It was Saturday, a week after the events at Bar West, Aaron had gone out for a drink with Adam at the Woolpack, Jackson sat with Paddy watching TV at Smithy.
Paddy turned " So...how's your Mum...still on the medication is she..."
Jackson pulled a smile " you know... Mums just mum...she never changes...it fact she's been on top form..." he bit his lip, and looked up " I'm sorry Paddy..."
Paddy turned from the TV screen, to see Jackson had tears streaming down his face " I'm sooo sorry..." he sobbed.
Paddy slided closer to him on the couch " Jackson mate...what's up...what are you sorry about...hey...you are not leaving Aaron again are you..." he babbled.
Jackson shook his head " no...course not...it's just...I should have been here to protect Aaron...but I wasn't...I just buggered off to Manchester when I thought he didn't love me...I just left him to it..."
Paddy shook his own head at him " hey mate...what happened to Aaron isn't your fault..."
Jackson turned to him...face so sad..." It is...even if we were split up...I should have been there for him...he was new to the gay scene...he makes out he's so tough in the real world, this village...but on the scene he's like a child...he's to trusting...I should have been there, to look after him...he's not even been on the scene for a year yet and look what's happened!"
Jackson faced the carpet in shame " I failed him...I failed you Paddy"
Paddy pulled Jackson into a bear hug as the poor boy sobbed his heart out " Listen you...this is not your fault...and you haven't failed him or me...I'm actually glad you and him are back together " he soothed " truth be told...I couldn't really take to Ben...but don't tell Aaron!"
Jackson pulled away and faked a smile through the tears , he promised Aaron he wound never spill to anyone that it was Ben who spiked his drink that night...Aaron didn't want it known...and Jackson respected that...he'll keep his promise to him.
Jackson looked up to the clock on the wall above the fireplace " look...it's turning out time at the pub...I promised i'd meet him", he stood up and slipped his coat on, then he looked down to Paddy " thanks Paddy...there are somethings I can't say to mum..." Paddy nodded with a kind smile " I can amagine that..." and with that Jackson left the house to go meet Aaron.
Aaron stepped out the Woolpack with his Mum and Adam, " Well love..." told Chas " we must catch up tomorrow...I want to hear all the details of you and Jackson getting back together!"
Aaron pulled a frown " as if!...I see you tomorrow but I aint telling you anything!"
Chas laughed and tottered off up the road in her heels, Adam turned " well good luck with that... and I'll see you later..." it was Adam who noticed Jackson standing near the wall nearby.
When Adam had gone, Aaron turned in the dark and approached Jackson, his hands dug deep in his pockets, " Soooo...you wanna have a late night walk..." he asked.
Aaron and Jackson walked hand in hand, and made their way to the bridge and both leaned upon the stone wall, both staring down to the river,
"So, what's on your mind...spill" teased Aaron, he knew Jackson liked a walk to clear his mind.
"Ben..." admitted Jackson, he turned " I know I shouldn't but..."
Aaron shook his head " Hey...don't...we've won...it's only a small victory I know...and I wish we could break his legs or something...but I am not having nightmares anymore!...and you know what...it's because I faced him...I told him he's nothing!"
Jackson nodded cupping Aaron's face "I guess we can put it all behind us now..."
Aaron placed his arms around Jackson's neck " yeah...and remember you beat him too...you wanted to deck him...he wanted you to hit him...and you didn't!"
Jackson shrugged " I sooo wanted too...Aaron if you hadn't been there..."
" No...you wouldn't of...as I said, you're not like me...you're a better person...more of a man he'll ever be..." told Aaron,
Jackson smirked at him, as they shivered in the February cold, " you're give me a big head..."
"...better not It's bigger enough as it is " laughed Aaron.
Jackson kissed him tenderly, both pulling closer together for warmth, " So..." he started
" now Ben's in the past...we have to think about the future.."
Aaron nodded " Yeah...and...and I want it to be with you...what ever we face..."
Jackson gently kissed Aaron's forehead, " Well...you and me can face the future together...
what ever life throws at us next...!"
Hope you enjoyed this fic...it will continue in my sequel story. Look out for it, it's called 'NOW YOU'VE GOT ME...CAN I KEEP YAH!' MARKAB xxx