DISCLAIMER: I do not own Emmerdale or it's characters, they belong to ITV
CHAPTER 23
A/N: Thank you for ALL the reviews...DON'T worry folks...Aaron being picked up by a UFO...is just as unlikely as him waking up, and finding Flynn in the shower, and finding out Jackson had died in the crash ('',) no plans to END it just yet...and, I am feeling brighter today...MARK XX
2 hours later...
Aaron Livesy went out through the sliding doors to the A&E, and began to light his ciggy, he took his first puff and relaxed, god he hated hospitals, and he had had his fair share of visits over the last year or so... was a different hospital to Hotten general, but IT WAS A HOSPITAL...to him the feel, the smell, the clinical whiteness...it all made for the same conclusion...HE HATED HOSPITALS!
"Mind lighting me up..." said a voice from behind him, Aaron turned to see Jeff with an unlit ciggy in his mouth..."I find hospital's stressful too..." he remarked, Aaron pulled a face and as he pulled out his lighter from his trakkies...he chucked it him, "light it yahself!", Jeff did just that, and after a couple of long drags...he handed the lighter back to Aaron, "cheers mate...", Aaron glared at him, "I'm NOT yah mate...", Jeff nodded, but remained at his side on the curb..." Oh well...that's it...NO HOUSE...everything we own is gone...", Aaron faced him, " and I suppose ALL THAT is little Jack's fault...", Jeff was shaking his head in protest, " I'M NOT SAYING THAT...I JUST SAID...that I caught him with matches last week...THAT'S ALL..."
Aaron moved away from him and leaned up against the wall...Jeff was watching him, wondering what the young lad was thinking...then the blues eyes were focusing on him, "well...it will all come to light in the investigation won't it...CAN'T get the insurance to pay up with out it a...", Jeff just nodded his head...this investigation was the LAST thing he needed...he just needed to get to silence Jack somehow, when he waked...IF he waked...the boy would spill the beans...for the last thing he had seen after originally exiting the house before the fire...WAS looking up to see Jack watching him leave for the shop...
Jackson and Sarah sat in the family room...both sat in silence...Jackson glanced at her a few times before asking, " Do you want owt...coffee...sandwich...", Sarah looked up to him with panda eyes, " No...I can't eat anything...", she then sobbed again, " OHHH this waiting round...WHEN IS GONNA WAKE UP...", she stoodup and shook...Jackson stood and held her, "shhussh...it's all right...the doctors ARE with him...they are just monitoring him...the're be in with news soon...", Sarah laid her head on Jackson's chest, " I know...I'm just SO worried...I...I don't want him to die Jackson...", Jackson caressed her in their embrace, " HE'S FINE...HE'S STRONG...you've said he is...I'VE said he is..." she looked up to him, "HE'S OUR SON..." he smiles at her...Sarah was suddenly pressing her lips on to Jackson's...Jackson immediately pulled away, " W..WOAW...THAT isn't a good idea..."
Sarah quickly moved away from him and sat, completely embarrassed, " I'm sorry...YOU must think I'm a right saddo...it's just...I WISH Jeff was more like you...and when you held me...I FELT LIKE WE WERE 17 AGAIN...I'm SO sorry...". Jackson laughed it off...seeing Sarah was clearly regretting that..."It's FINE...it's just all the emotion...that's ALL...NO need to be embarrassed!...", Sarah still looked uneasy, he came forward, " anyway...IT's NOT a good idea..the last time we got close 2 became 3...NOT that it would happen..me being..."
"Gay...I know...just forget it..." told Sarah...she would really like to forget about that...she looked up to him , " I don't regret having Jack, you know...", Jackson bit his lip remembering back with her...he sat beside her and held her hand, " NOR do I..." he looked at her with a grin, " Do you remember when I asked you to MARRY me...", Sarah smiled...it was the first time she had since coming into the family room, " Yeah...YOUR dad put you up to it...", Jackson laughed, raising his eyebrowes, " WAS IT THAT obvious..."
"Fraid so..." nodded Sarah...she stood up headed to the door, " I think we should see what's going on...it's been hours...", Jackson glanced at his watch, " It's BEEN one...sit down...Jack will be fine...TRUST ME..."
Aaron headed up the corridor toward the family room, he opened the door to see Sarah starting to doze in the chair, Jackson looked up, " WHERE WERE YOU...you took ages...", Aaron sat beside him smelling of smoke, " I needed a couple...didn't HELP with HIM being out there...", Jackson sighed at him, " Don't you and him start anything...we've GOT enough to worry over with Jack...", Aaron looked up to him at the lads mention, " any news...", Jackson shook his head sadly, Aaron put his hand on top of Jackson's, "don't worry..." he whispered to him, Jeff then entered...Aaron glared at him...and Jeff glared at Aaron, Jackson could sense the tension, " I mean it Aaron...NO upsets...you and him are just gonna HAVE to get on...just behave and remain calm..." he hissed quietly.
Aaron pulled a face at him, " WHAT...bit hard when HE's blaming our Jack of starting the fire...", Jackson's face suddenly changed...in a flash he jumped up...glared towatd Jeff, "OI..what's this I hear that you are blaming Jack for the fire...", Sarah woke up...the raised voices disturbing her sleep, Jeff sighed, "Look I CAUGHT HIM WITH MATCHES...what am I supposed to say...keep me mouth shut...", Sarah stood up...and stood between her husband and Jackson, who were clearly squaring each other up, Aaron pulled Jackson to his seat, "Hey...BE CALM you said...remember...", Jackson looked at him pulling a frown, " WHAT with this prize div..."
Sarah was the first to see enter the family room with a nurse, she came forward, "ANY NEWS..." she asked desparately, Jackson, Aaron and Jeff now had the medic's attention to, smiled at them, " I have good news...Jack's regained consciousness...", Sarah collapsed to her knees in relief, Jeff held his wife, Jackson looked up taking charge, "and...there's an AND isn't there..."
"just that we've had to clear his lungs out again...he IS extremely congested...please don't be alarmed with his wheezing...Jack's a VERY confused and frightened little boy, and it's important you go to him...", Jackson was waving his hand, " COME ON then let us through...", let him by closely followed by Sarah...Jeff went to follow...but Aaron stood him, "WE stay here...let THEM see him first...WE see him second...",Jeff glared at him again...but sat...wondering what the boy was gonna say to his parents...min you the doctor said something about the lad being confused...it could all work out alright for him yet...
In the respiratory unit, Jack lay coughing in his bed, the nurse smiled at him and ruffled his hair, " it's alright Jack...Mummy and Daddy will be in soon...", Jack turned his head to see, Sarah and Jackson enter the room, "MUM-mee...DAD-dee..." he coughed, Sarah went to the boys side, " Jack...you had me worried son...", Jackson went to the opposite side, "welcome back little man...", Jack was pleased to see his dad...and tried to hold out his had...Jackson the small hand in his, " you had us all worried you little monkey...", Sarah watched Jackson and Jeff carefully...you could NEVER fault Jackson's love for his son...thing will never be the same now...THINGS had to change...Jackson grinned at his son, " Your nana will be here tomorrow...she'll soon get you outta here...", Sarah looked up, " shall I get Aaron and Jeff..."
Jack gripped Jacksons hand tightly, " don't leave me daddy..." the lad whispered quietly, Jackson could see the fear in his son's eye's, " COURSE I'LL NEVER LEAVE YAH...you see that chair over there...I'll sit in that till you get better...like I do when you're afraid of the dark..."Jack seemed calmer by knowing that, Sarah went out into the corridor...and within a few minutes, Aaron came in beaming a smile, " Hello little mate...it's your Uncle Aaron..." Jack tried to look up to him, as Aaron ruffled the lads curls, he looked across to Jackson, "Have they said owt about his lungs..."
Jackson shook his head, "tomorrow...they gonna do a scan...", Aaron looked at his watch, "I should phone your mum...tell her he's woke up...", Jackson nodded at him with a grateful smile, " Yeah DO that...she won't be asleep...she'll be worrying her self to death over HIM" he nodded his son, Aaron smiled and left the room with his mobile, Jeff who had been standing up against he door...then came forward, " Hello Jack...you alright mate..." he soothed gently...Jack's little eyes focused on him...and tried to moved himself closer to his dad, Jackson could see the fright in Jacks's eyes, he looked to Jeff, " he's abit confused..." he told...but something bothered him...something CLEARLY bothered Jack..."Don't leave me daddeee" Jackson smiled at him reassuringly, "It's ok Jack...I'm right here..."
Jeff looked at Jack...the boy looked scared...but if THEY could play on the confused card abit longer...he still could come out of this smelling of roses...after all he did say he TRIED to save Jack...
but Jackson was already having his doubts...his son was scared...and he had trembled when Jeff approached the bed...he had felt it...
WHY would Jeff be quick to BLAME Jack for the fire...even though he couldn't put his finger on it...something was NOT quite right about all of this...
TBC...ALL REVIEWS WELCOME AS ALWAYS...