DISCLAIMER: I do not own Emmerdale or it's characters, they belong to ITV
CHAPTER 25
A/N: Thank you for ALL the reviews...as always your reviews mean so much to me...welcome new reviewers Nathan and Nikki from a few chapters back, always nice to see new names...and opinions...and of course, as always with the regulars...they REALLY help me to write this story...hope everyone is okay...xx
Aaron, meanwhile, was talking to Jack, " you can't read yah comics now little mate...YOU got to go to sleep...", Jack was in a cheeky mood, " Uncle Aaron...can I have me SWEETS...PLEEEAAASE...", Aaron saw the jelly tots on the side...they were out of Jack's reach, "you're not supposed to...but...I think one wouldn't hurt...", Jackson was then through the door, " WHAT are yah playing at...HE'S MENT TO BE ASLEEP...", he told harshly, Aaron dropped the bag of sweets back on the side...Jack looked disappointed when he then went to his dad, "Jackson...what is it...", Jackson pulled him out into the corridor, " COME OUT HERE..." he shot at him, Aaron was puzzled, he focused his blue eyes into Jackson's brown ones, "what is it...YOU got the arse or something..."
"why didn't yah TELL ME about Jack playing with YAH lighter..." Jackson gritted.
Aaron shook his head, " he hasn't...well...NOT that I know of..."
"SO you never said owt to Jeff about it..." asked Jackson, Aaron shook his head in protest, "NO...Jackson come on...what do you take me for...IF I caught Jack with MY lighter...I would have told yah...",Jackson looked to the floor in shame...how could he even doubt him, "I'm sorry..." he said sadly, "It's just Jeff said..."
"Said what..."
Jackson threw his fingers through his curls, " that's JUST it...he's acting weird...and the WAY Jack's been acting...it's about TIME ME and JEFF had a chat..."
Jackson started to move up the corridor toward the family room, Aaron was hot on his tail, "JACKSON!...what are you gonna do...", Aaron managed to catch up and grab his shoulder, Jackson swung around, " ARE YAH DEAF...I SAID me and HIM need a chat...", he opened the door to see Jeff now sitting with Sarah, on his entry, Jeff looked up and smiled, " Sarah's tired out poor love...", Jackson stood at the doorway glaring at him...he then pointed toward Jack's room, " Jack's wants his mum...", Sarah opened her eyes...her head laid upon Jeff's lap, "Oh bless him..." she smiled tiredly, she picked herself up, and made for the door, Jackson turned to Aaron, " GO with her...", Aaron went to protest, not wanting Jackson to confront Jeff on him own, but after Jackson's DO AS I SAY glare, he put his head down and followed Sarah up the corridor...the door slammed shut after them.
Jeff stood up, " well this looks ominous...", Jackson rubbed his beard then waved his hand to him, " you know WHAT Jeff...there's just something I can't put me finger on...", Jeff raised his eyebrowes at him, " oh...and what's that...", Jackson paced the room as he spoke, "I'm TRYING to get me head round what YOU said...about Aaron...and how my son played with his lighter...", Jeff shrugged, "well...kids will be kids...and let's face it...Aaron's no more than a kid...how old is he again...12" he said in jest, hoping Jackson would find that amusing, but Jackson's face remained stoney like, " Aaron SAID he never...", Jeff sat down looking uneasy, " well...maybe he's just forgotten...you know with all the stress...and WE are all tired...a..."
Jackson leaned against the wall, and stared at Jeff, " YOU see Jeff...thing about Aaron is...he MAY act all tough...he may come across a bit slow on the uptake...abit nieve...BUT...the thing is of Aaron...HE'S HONEST...and if HE said he NEVER caught Jack with his lighter...then THAT'S good enough for me..."
Jeff swallowed, and focused his eyes to the floor, " well...I DID catch Jack with matches last week...I was just...you know..."
"NO JEFF...I don't know mate..." he approached Jeff, and paused...he was now looking down at him in the chair, " OH DIDN'T I SAY...I spoke to ME SON too...he said he never plays with fire...he's a GOOD boy...and THAT'S GOOD enough for me too...", Jeff looked up at him, " look...Jack's confused...the doctors have SAID as much..." he stood and marched to the door, "SO if you could excuse...I need to find me wife...", Jackson watched him go...THIS BLOKE WAS UNBELIEVABLE...BUT...there WAS something wrong...WHY was he blaming the fire on Jack...Jackson was certainly NOT finished with Jeff yet...
Sarah stroked her son's forehead, " I don't know...you are going to be SO tired later...", Jack was reading his comic...then had a mini choking fit, Aaron looked worried, but Sarah smiled, "That doctor said it's natural...his body is clearing his lungs...it's a good sigh...", Aaron took her word for it, as Jackson suddenly came in...Aaron stared at him trying to look for signs of a confrontation...but Jackson was calm, the first thing he did was stroke his boy's arm, "alright little man...", Jack was engrossed in his comic, Jackson turned and smiled at Aaron, "seems your choice of comics is a HIT with him...", Aaron smiled, pleased that Jackson approved of him...
Jackson then looked up to Sarah, "YOU and ME are going for a coffee...", as Jackson and Sarah headed to the door, Aaron went to follow...Jackson stopped him, " NOT YOU...you can sit with Jack, keep him company until his scan...JUST call me when they're ready for him..." Aaron pulled a face...Jackson smiled, " I won't be long...just need a word with HER" he said quietly, nodding toward Sarah, now waiting in the corridor, Aaron sighed and let Jackson go...although he was wondering what THEIR chat would be about...
As they walked toward the canteen, Jackson spoke to Sarah, " You know what...IT'S only just dawned on me what a PRATT your husband REALLY IS...I mean...WE'VE never really got on...but all this has made be realise WHAT he's really like...AND I DON'T LIKE HIM MUCH..."
They joined the que at the coffee counter, Sarah turned, " Jeff's been under a lot of stress from work...since we've got back from Spain it's JUST got on top of him...coming back here...it made him very unpopular with his company directors..."
Jackson ordered the coffees, and turned to her, " WHY WOULD I BE BOTHERED WITH ALL THAT...it's Jack who I'm concerned about...and if Jeff's stressed...Jack will pick up on it...",
They took their coffees to a table facing the huge bay windows of the hospital canteen, Sarah sat...took sip, and looked up, " Jack has picked up on it...Jeff's been...how can I say...abit thrawt with him...", Jackson pulled his eyebrowes together, " HOW thrawt...does he get...NARKY with him...",Sarah had to tread carefully, she bit her lip and answered, " HE has shouted at him...and with missing you...Jack's been playing up...not wanting to settle into his new routine..."
"THAT'S because HE HAD JUST GOT used to the one he had with US!", snapped Jackson, Sarah nodded, " I know that...but...I just wanted him to be with me...I missed him...but Jeff...his temper is short with him...he's raised his voice a few times...", Jackson was getting angry...Sarah could see the tone of expression change in his face, Sarah placed her hand on top of Jackson's on the table, " Jack's been frightened a few times...I admitt that...but..." she started to well up, "...and to be honest,,,deep down...so have I...", Jackson softened, " Hey don't upset yahself Sarah..." he stood up searching his pockets and pulled out a hanky...staring at it he stuffed it back into his pocket, " You REALLY DON'T wanna know what that's been used on...I'll get you some tissues...", Sarah forced herself a smile...but how could she...when EVERYTHING was bound to come out now...
Aaron meanwhile sat with little Jack...the boy had LOVED the comics...Transformers was ALL he was into at the moment...Aaron smiled, " glad you liked the comic's little mate...and hey...I bet yah dad will buy you some new toys as well, when we get you home...", that grabbed Jack's attention, and he focused his brown eyes on him, " AM I going home with YOU and DADDY!", he chirped full of excitement...Aaron frowned...he didn't really know...surely with THEM PAIR'S house gone...Jack WOULD be coming home with them...
"yeah...we're see what yah dad says yeah..." he says abit unsurely...not wanting to give the lad false hope, Hazel was then through the doors, Aaron turned, "blimey Hazel WHERE have you been for the last hour...", Hazel puffed and blowed and raised her hands, " YOU really don't wanna know...let's just say...I've taken the sceneic route back here..." she ruffled Jack's hair, " how's he been...", Aaron sighed as he sat, " still waiting for that scan...Jackson's whisked his girlfriend off...and as for the other one...WHO CARES...", Hazel smiled at him, "Do us a favour love...buy me a coffee...I've seemed to of mislaid me purse..." she said patting her pockets...Aaron sat up, " WHAT ARE YOU LIKE!...COME ON THEN...won't be long Jack mate...", Jack waved with his bandaged hand, as his Uncle Aaron bundled his Nana out the door leaving him a lone engrossed in his comics...
Jeff watched Aaron was Hazel head up the corridor moaning about a lost purse...THIS was his chance...he went into Jack's room and saw the boy propped up in bed with his comic's, "HELLO Jack...how are we feeling..." he asked quietly with a smile.
Jack looked at him...he clung to his comic for comfort...daddy will be back soon...he thought...Jeff came over to the bed, " HOW many times have I told you about playing with matches...YOU ARE A NAUGHTY BOY FOR TELLING YAH DAD YOU DIDN'T...HE'S VERY ANGRY AT YOU..." he hissed with malice, Jack forced himself down into his covers, as Jeff leaned forward, " NOW...YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENS TO NAUGHTY BOYS..." he then snatched the comic out from his little hands, " YOU want me to tear this thing up do yah...", Jack shoke his head...his eye's like a scared deer, " Then YOU better keep THIS buttoned...DO YOU HERE ME!" he pressed his finger to Jack's lips to make his point...THERE WAS NO WAY HE WAS GOING TO GET FOUND OUT...
But the swing of the door closing got his attention...he swung around and saw NOBODY standing there...BUT someone had...someone had been standing there...but who...he was sweating now...
WHO HAD HEARD WHAT HE HAD SAID TO JACK...
TBC...ALL REVIEWS WELCOME AS ALWAYS...