CHAPTER 54 of 65
I DO NOT OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS, THEY ALL BELONG TO ITV1
A/N:THANKS for all your kind reviews...here's chapter 54, ...the story is all but complete now in my head, barr the last paragraph, my only duty left is to type it all out...I was debating whether 'THAT' UFO should come down and take Aaron away...but then with all these sad endings I've been reading at the moment in other fics, maybe I should have A&J go and renew their vows...till a militant rebel group comes storming into the joint and everyone goes down in a bloodbath! in true Dynasty style...mmmmm..i'll have to mull over this. Faggy, I have read Your fics over this weekend...i'm all hot under the collar!
Jackson Walsh sat and waited in the solicitor's waiting room...an hour or so ago, he had just seen off his mother and Aunt Polly on the train to London, he was going to miss his mum...even though she was only away for three weeks.
The meeting with his solicitor worried him, he had been dreading it all over the weekend, since getting the letter from the custody court...as he mullered on his thoughts, the door opened and Jane Roberts, his solicitor popped her head round to him, " Jackson you can come through now..." she warmly smiled.
Jackson followed Jane to her office, and he soon was plonking himself down onto the chair, as she sat at her desk, "So...I gathered you've heard from the court..." she asked.
Jackson loosened his tie, he always dressed up for these accasions, it was his mum whom had drummed that into him from when he was a little lad, he pulled out the court letter fom his Jackets inside pocket, he handed it over to his solicitor.
Jane scanned through it, then looked up to him, " so 7th of July is D day...it gives us time to build up your case..."
"and SHE hers..." quibbed Jackson, Jane smiled, placing the letter down in front of her, "yes...but I am confident that we will have the upper hand here...", Jackson didn't share her confidence, " wish I were...i mean...LETS face it...a couple of months ago you said I had a cat in hells chance..."
Jane shook her head, " things were different back then, Sarah was married, her husband had a great job that brought in a substantial income, a large house, and a network of family to help them...THAT'S all changed"
Jackson nodded, raising his eyebrowes, " yeah but...sorry it's just been a bad morning that's all...", Jane looked up, " oh...everything okay with you..."
Jackson waved his hand at her, his confidence returning...even though it was put on, "Nah...JUST work, nowt I can't sort out meself...", Jane smiled at him, " good...now I see on this letter they are sending someone round to have a look at Jack's living arrangements...DON'T be alarmed by that...it is ALL routine...and it will be a benefit to you...you can show that Jack is happy where he is, and that he has a strong network of family and support around him...and you..."
Jackson smiled at her, " yeah...he has...and WE are getting him a pup...he LOVES living with us...I just HOPE you are right and this person see's it...", Jane put her hands together, "I'm sure Jack's love and contentment of where he is living will show through...especially comparing it to living with his mother and Mr. kelly...", she shuffled some paperwork, "I have all what you said about that night here...the fire...and Jack in hospital...medical notes would be helpful here too...and of course the report about the fire being started by 's cigarette..."
Jackson was starting to feel more better about things, if THEY could show that Jack was so unhappy living with Sarah and Jeff...and was SO HAPPY living with them...that should do it...but things were never that straightforward was it...as Jane now stressed to him.
"Jackson, I have to point out to you that THIS ALL could get messy...there could be alot of stuff flying about...things dug up...old arguements...anything that would jeprodise the other getting full custody..." she paused, and looked at her client, " I am talking about your partners criminal record..."
Jackson's eyes widened, " WHAT!...what's THAT got to DO with this case!"
Jane sympathised with him, " I know it ALL sounds irrelivant to the case Jackson, but Sarah's legal team will find ANYTHING they can to stop you getting full custody...Aaron livesy assaulted you in a public place, there are many witness's to this...can I remind YOU it was yourself who pressed charges against him..."
Jackson shook his head, waving out his hand angrily, " THAT happened 2 years ago!...Aaron's NEVER struck me since then...and NEVER would...things were complicated at that time!"
Jane shrugged at him, " I understand Mr. Livesy had issues at that time...but Sarah's team will roll that out as HIM being a danger to Jack..."
Jackson was horrified to even think about that, he was apalled, narrowing his eyes at her he spat, " AARON WOULD NEVER HARM JACK...NEVER INNA MILLION YEARS!" he stood up and paced about, trying to vent the stress, " it's HER husband you should be talking about...HIM who LEFT my son alone in a burning building!"
Jane sat quietly taken in all what her client was saying to her...when Jackson had calmed down she spoke up, " yes...I understand your frustrations...BUT Mr. Livesy's actions against YOU are recorded down...Mr Kelly's actions however are not...like it or not...there is NO proof of that...Mr kelly won't be admitting to that...and now that he and Sarah are not together anymore...Sarah is unlikely to admit that herself...fearing that would jeprodise her own case..."
Jackson sat down and sighed heavily, raising his arms in frustration, " I KNEW it was gonna get bad...but I didn't think it would get like THAT...it's gonna be like a slanging match!"
Jane sympathised with him again, " these cases RARELY go ahead without a slanging match...both parties WANT the same thing remember...", she stared at him for a moment, Jackson was slumped in the chair looking sorry for himself, " Jackson...WE will do ALL we can for you...the court DID grant temporal custody to you and Mr Livsey...but maybe that was due to who had the BEST circumstances at the time...and YOU did...but it's a start...and something to build on...have hope...because IT IS a fight...if you like it or not...it always is..."
Jackson jumped back into his van, and pulled off his jacket and tie, he felt quite disheartened by his solicitors comments...SHE was only trying to help...but he just couldn't help thinking THAT Sarah would win this case hands down...
He drove into town and walked around the shops for a while, not wanting to go back to the village just yet...he didn't want Aaron to see him like this...without hope.
He managed to pull himself together, and drove home, and after collecting Jack from school, and Aaron finished work, they all went to the Woolpack for a pub meal.
Aaron tucked into his burger and chips, and looked up to Jackson, " SO...you aint SAID owt much about what your solictior told yah!" he told, Jackson leaned back on his chair, and shrugged at him, "there's NOT that much to tell really...just YOU were right...we discussed the date, and that home visit we are getting..."
Chas was already upon them waving her hand out, " THEM busybodies will see HOW happy Jack is with yahs...ANYBODY in this village will be able to tell em that!", Aaron pulled a face...but couldn't speak out, due to stuffing half a burger in his gob, so Jackson smiled up at her, "THANKS Chas, WE appreciate that!", Chas looked on as Little Jack ate his chips from the bowl, "Hungry little fella in he...TAKES after my Aaron!"
Jackson shook his head in agreement, as he now started to look on too, " Yeah...THAT and some other habits...", Aaron looked up, after washing his burger down with his beer, "do you TWO mind, I'm STILL here you know!"
Chas perched her bum on a stall, and faced Jackson, " SO...your Mum get off alright did she...I'm telling you what...IT'S going to feel SO strange in that house without her...her funny annoying habits...OUR little debates...mainly about you two of course..." she said musing on it.
Aaron rolled his eyes at her, "look...haven't you got owt to do...THERE'S folk need serving you know!", Chas stood up, " alright alright, keep yah hair on!..." she turned her head toward the bar and laughed, "Ohhhhh, it's only Nicola waiting!"
Nicola glared at her, as she pulled her purse out from her handbag, "don't start Chas, I'VE had a right day of it...I'm surprized THEM two are so CALM about it!"
Jackson nearly choked on his chips, as he tried to get Nicola's attention as to say, NO DON'T SAY OWT...but just like Nicola she did!, Chas went to the bar, " calm about what!"
Nicola waved her hand out flippantly, " ABOUT Declan chucking us all out on the streets THAT'S WHAT...then again I suppose YOU be having that big house, and THIS place, they've GOT no worries have they!...and that little boy...not like me and Angelilica"
Chas turned toward Jackson, " is this true love..."
Aaron's eyes darted from Nicola to Jackson...he was starting to cotton on to WHAT was going on, " is Declan chucking us out...Jackson...", Jackson sighed at him...his expression showing Nicola how mad he was with her for opening her big mouth, " IT'S not that he's chucking us out...it's well...", Aaron was glaring at him,waiting for an answer " WELL WHAT...SPIT IT OUT...", Jackson could see instantly that Aaron was mad, and with Jack sitting there, he didn't want to fire Aaron up, Aaron just waved his hand out at him dismissively, " THIS is what Declan came to see you about yesterday wasn't IT!...thanks for telling me!", he then stormed out the exit doors of the pub.
Jackson snapped his head round to the bar, and glared at Nicola, "THANKS for that...", Nicola turned to him, as she leaned on the bar, " for what...SOME of us haven't got time to go beating around the bush"
Jackson stood up, " Oh SAVE it Nicola!...YOU not exactly without options yahself...I MEAN YOU can always go sponging off yah DAD can't yah!" he told with sarcasim, he then turned to Alan turner who was sitting on the next table, "Can you just watch Jack please, " but before Alan could even mutter aword, Jackson was flying out the doors.
Aaron sat on the outside bench in the evening sun, nursing his pint...Jackson stood at the doorway trying to figure out Aaron's mood, HE had a face on him...he had to play carefully, digging his hands into his pockets, he approached him.
Aaron sat with his pint...he didn't bother looking up...so Jackson pulled a silly grin at him, "YOU gonna be giving me the silent treatment ALL night"
Aaron shook his head, and pulled a face, " WHY should I tell you owt...YOU NEVER tell ME owt...like errrrrr...US being made homeless"
Jackson sat next to him, " sorry bout that...I wanted to tell yah...I did...it's just...well I didn't wanna worry that cute little head of yours!", Aaron glanced up at him...Jackson was putting on his puppy dog eyes...Aaron WANTED to be mad at him...
"STOP IT!...THIS is serious Jackson...WHERE on earth are we gonna live...WHEN does Declan want us OUT!..." he stood up and downed his pint, " stuff it!, you know WHAT...I'm gonna go round home farm and have it out with him!"
Jackson grabbed him, stopping him from going, " NO...look...I'll sort it...I WILL, trust me...I will look after us...you and Jack", Aaron sighed and placed his hands on his hips, " I'm STILL mad at yah...YOU'VE got to TELL me stuff...not keep stuff from me!, i'm notta kid"
Jackson shook his head, " I will...I promise yah...so please...can we GO inside and finish ours teas!", Aaron bit his lip, and throw his hand over his shaven head, " i'm telling yah, I NOT happy about this...but okay...BUT WE talk about this later Jackson...I wanna know exactly WHAT you've got planned for us...and HOW you are gonna sort this mess out!, end of", he then stormed back into the pub, Jackson sighed...he wished he knew the answers...but still, he had a few hours to think of some!
On returning back into the pub, Aaron sat down to see Jack with a cheeky grin, Alan came over rather sheepish, " I'm so sorry Aaron...erm...well...", Aaron glared up at him, " WHAT!"
"well little Jack here it seems, has downed my pint...and several other peoples as well I understand...I only went to the loo...I wasn't gone for very long..."
Jackson came forward, raising his eyebrowes at the scene "what's up...AND why is Jack grinning like a loom at us!" he said pointing at his son aghast.
Aaron turned, " it's because he's hammered you Donnut!, lets GET him home before folk THINK we are a bad influence on him, yeah!"
Jackson took hold of his son, "COME ON little man, let's get yah home...YOU can sleep it off...BOY, he's head'll be banging in the morning...WE might have to keep him off school!"
When they got outside, Jackson watched as Aaron took Jack's little hand, and lead him across the road to Dale Head...HOW on earth could he tell him about what Jane had said...how on earth would Aaron react when he was told, THAT his violent past could jeprodise their case. to keep Jack...
TBC...
PLEASE review...THEY ARE ALL WELCOME!... ..let me know, whether you love it or just loathe it! xx