CHAPTER 63 of 65
I DO NOT OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS, THEY ALL BELONG TO ITV1
A/N:THANKS for all your kind reviews and thoughts of the last chapter, not long now before we say goodbye to this 'universe', but still...there are two more chapters to enjoy first :) xx...
oh, by the way, wishing you all a happy bank holiday!
Jackson burst out of the gents to see Jane coming forward, " Jackson, this is Julie and Chris, they work for the family panel...they will be talking to Jack...", Jack was looking up at his dad...he looked frightened, jackson knelt down on one knee, and hugged his son, " it's gonna be okay son...JUST be honest..."
"I don't want to go daddy..." he whined.
"you're me brave boy...course you do...I'll be waiting right here for yah"
Julie took Jack's little hand and led him off, Chris followed them, Jackson stood up, and turned to Hazel, Aaron and Chas...there sympathetic gazes making him feel worse...he looked back to Jack...and saw him disappear through the door to the interview room...
Inside the interview room, Jack looked up to Julie, she smiled warmly at him, and pointed toward the comfy sofa...Jack's little eyes lit up when he saw all the toys and games around, he lept towards a transformers playset, and aleady was engrossed in his own story, Julie knelt down beside him and watched the lad play for a few minutes, then began, " so...you like transformers do you Jack..."
"Yessss!..." Jack shrilled, " Me daddy and me Uncle Aaron took me to see the film...IT were TOP!"
Julie smiled, "reaallly...so your dad and Uncle Aaron take you out alot do they...", Jack nodded at her, " yeah...I WENT to the Zoo yesterday and saw the big lions...", Chris had a dictorphone and was recording everything being said, "Then me DAD and uncle Aaron had a row in Burger express..." he said sadly, then started to shoot the other transformer figure with the other, Julie glanced toward Chris, " do they ARGUE alot Jack...your dad and Uncle Aaron..."
Jack nodded, " sometimes...but they always are mates again after...like me and Dhillon at school...HE stopped for his tea the other week, he only eats dirt AND Jaffa cakes..."
Julie raised her eyebrowes, " mates...Jack do you know the nature of your dad and Uncle Aaron's relationship...", Jack looked at her with a blank expression, so Julie rephrased it, "Jack...do you know they...well sleep in the same bed..."
Jack looked at Julie as if she was stupid, " COURSE they sleep together...they are married arn't they...don't be a div all your life"
Julie coughed, and cleared her throat,"Well!... I can see you'll a cheeky little monkey aren't you... okay...lets move on..."
Outside in the corridor, Jackson was pacing up and down, Hazel who was sitting, looked up at him, " look love...SIT DOWN will yah, you'll making the place look untidy...", Jackson flared at her, and glanced at his watch, "they've had Jack in there for nearly half an hour...WHAT is he saying to them..."
"MAKING him say more like..." breathed Aaron from where he sat next to Chas, Jackson turned his head to him, " THANKS for that...", Chas stood up, " look...can I get anyone a coffee...", no one answered her, " maybe something stronger" she jested...but again it went on deaf ears.
Jane was then approaching them from the interview room, Jackson was instantly in her face, "SO...what's going on...THEY better not of UPSET him or there'd be hell to pay..."
Jane smiled at him, " Jack is FINE...he is doing his bit in there...he'll be out shortly...", Hazel was in a nosey frame of mind, she tried to fish for tipbits of informaton, " but he's done his dad proud them...SAYING how much he's loved to death by him...him and Aaron..."
Jane shook her head, " I don't know...I'm not allowed to attend...EVERYTHING that Jack brings up...will be said to both of you tomorrow..."
Chas came forward, "is he okay though...I mean...maybe someone should have gone in there with him..."
"not allowed in this case...YOU are ALL to involved with him...if he knew any of you were present, he might feel restricted on what to say...without feeling he might get into trouble...", Jane could see Jackson's eyes keep flashing toward the interview room, sheer concern in his gazes, " the likes of Julie and Chris deal with kids everyday..they get to know him first, and make sure he is completely happy and relaxed in their company, before starting..."
At last the door opened, and Jack came tearing out and headed straight for his dad, Jackson grabbed him, and lifted him up...making sure he was okay...but Jack seemed happy and chatty...Transformers and Smurfs being the main topic...
Aaron came up and offered to take Jack, but Jackson wouldn't let go of him...not until Jane turned, " they are ready for you Jackson...", Jackson swallowed, and finally gave Jack to Aaron...but he soon wanted NOT to be carried...that was for babies not big boys, Jackson turned his head to Jane, " so...where do you want mah..." he said, as cheerful as he could muster up.
Hazel handed him over his soft leather folder, with all his details in, " good luck in there son...are you sure you want to DO this on your own..."
Jackson nodded at her, " quite sure...IT'S like I said to you and Aaron the other day...I can speak freer...say what I want...it'll relax me more...KNOWING you'll both out here waiting for mah...", she pinched his cheeks with a smile.
Aaron came forward...and with one long gaze at eachother, they hugged eachother...both patting the others back firmly, Jackson pulled out the embrace, and started to follow Jane up to some grand looking steps, Aaron looked out after him...that didn't seem enough somehow...so, then called, " Jackson!", he then ran up to his partner, and kissed him on the lips," I love you..." instantly feeling like a pratt.
Jackson was smiling, not only with his mouth, but with his eyes as well...Aaron knew Jackson didn't need to say it back...no verbal was needed...for THAT expression, Aaron knew how much Jackson loved him back.
Jackson was lead into a formal chamber, where sat three magistrates...2 male, 1 female...the middle one, an older man of say 50 odd, waved his hand at him, " please...Mr walsh...take a seat...", Jane sat beside him, and Jackson swallowed, as all 3 Magistrates glared at him with 3 pairs of beady eyes...
Aaron paced around the hall...he dug his hands into his pockets, then pulled them out again...Hazel had taken Jack outside, so the lad could see the buses...Aaron could see them on the steps outside.
Chas came up to him...she had two carton's of coffee in her grasp, " ere we go...get this down yah neck..."
Aaron took the carton, and pulled a face as he took a sip, Chas agreed with him, " RANK in it...maybe once they've finished grilling Jackson...we could all go across the road to starbucks...get a decent cup of" she suggested to him with a smile.
Aaron looked up to the huge clock on the wall, " he's been in there for 45 minutes mum...WHAT are they making him say..."
Chas shrugged her shoulders, as she binned her carton, "I wish I could tell you love...but I can't...this is all beyond me...all the legal jargon..."
Hazel then stepped into the foyer with Jack, " ohhhh that was a big bus wasn't it..." she looked up to Aaron and Chas, " starting to drizzle out there..." she looked around the hall, " my boy not back yet then..."
Aaron looked at her, waving out his arm, "DOES it look like he's back..!"
Chas turned to him, " HEY...less of your lip, she only asked you a question...", Aaron shrugged her hand away, then turned his head, as Jack called out, "MUMMY!"
"THAT'S all we need..." Hazel said, face like she was chewing a wasp.
Sarah came into the foyer, shaking her wet brollie, her mother, Sheila pointed out her hand and Sarah instantly hurried up to him, " hello my little baby..." Jack put his arms around his mother as she knelt down to him, although both Hazel and Chas knew WHAT side to be on...but could help but to smile... it was MOTHER and SON in that embrace...
But Aaron came forward, " come on Jack...yah DAD will be out in a bit..." he said this with a grimace toward Sarah.
Sheila turned, " MY daughter has a right to hug her own son you know...", Aaron looked up at her, " she gave up that right when she let that bastard husband of hers hurt him..."
Sarah stood up, and came between her mother and Aaron, " look...NOT here...save that till tomorrow...", she stopped when she saw Jackson approaching with his solicitor Jane in tow.
Hazel was already in his face, " Jackson...are you alright son...what did they say to you...", Jackson waved her out the way, and snatched up Jack...Sarah watched and smiled politely, "hello Jackson...so they've given you a grilling then...", Jackson just glared at her and turned to his son in his arms, " Jack SAY goodbye to yah mum...we're heading home..."
Chas tried to ease the tension that was building up, " WE were saying JUST now...maybe we all could have a decent coffee in starbucks...it's ONLY across road"
Jackson turned to the 3 of them, " well DON'T let me stop yahs...I'M taking Jack home...he getting clingy...MEANING he's stressed..."
Sheila stuck her nose up, " well I wonder why THAT is...", she also gave Chas the once over...disapproving of her attire...
Chas glared at her, " excuse me love...has anyone told yah NOT to wear that oldfit...it's doing NOWT to hide yah muffin tops..."
Aaron came to Jackson's side, " she's just turned up..." he informed, then pulled another glare at Sarah, " TIMED it on perpose...so she could see Jack..." he accused.
Jackson raised his eyebrowes, " she just wants to see him...I WOULD have done the same..." he thinly smiled at Sarah, then when Jack had said goodbye, they all left through the glass foyer to the steps outside.
"WE all have to be in the same room tomorrow...THAT'LL be interesting..." commented Jackson to Jane, his solicitor smiled, " look...TRY and have a nice evening...I know it's easier said then done...Jack MAY tell you what he talked about in his interview...IF he volenteers what he spoke about, let him...BUT please don't force it out if him..."
Jackson kissed his son...the boys head was resting on Jackson's shoulder falling asleep, " I never FORCE anything out of him..."
Back in the village, Hazel and Chas decided to give their boys some space, and heading off to the woolpack to get a stiff drink, slagging off 'that Sheila' being the favourite topic.
Aaron led the way into Dale head, and Jackson went up to put Jack to bed for a while...Aaron made a brew, and stood in the kitchen waiting...Jackson came back down the stairs, removing his loosened tie and jacket.
He looked up at Aaron with a frown, " what..."
Aaron shook his head at him, handing him his brew, " nothing...I made you this...", Jackson took the mug...then chucked it down the sink, " you shouldn't HAVE bothered...I don't want it..."
Aaron felt the lump in his throat, " then WHAT do you want...", Jackson was leaning over the counter, his back to Aaron, " I want us to go to bed..." he turned to him...eyes all sad, " I just want you to hold me Aaron...PLEASE..."
Aaron held out his hand and gently led Jackson up the stairs...then reaching their bedroom, they went in and slammed the door.
It was past 7 in the evening when Aaron awoke, he and Jackson laid on top of their bed...both fully clothed in their shirts and suit trousers...Aaron's head had been resting on Jackson's chest, " you're awake then..." smiled Jackson.
Aaron lifted his head, " WHAT times it..."
Jackson rolled his head to the clock on the bedside table, " about 7 I think..." Aaron bolted up, "BLIMEY!...we've been lying here for about 5 hours then..."
Jackson shrugged, " hasn't done anyone any harm...I managed to grab a few zeds...MORE than I did LAST night..."
Aaron sat up, " I better go check on Jack...bet he's wide awake now...", Jackson stopped him with his hand, " he's playing in his room...I've heard him...WE'LL order ourselves in a pizza for us teas..."
Aaron swallowed...the thought of food always excited him...he looked into Jackson's eyes, "so...what did they say to yah...YOU never said owt..."
Jackson blinked his eyes and gazed up at the ceiling, " SAME OLD CRAP AS BEFORE...I can't believe HOW intrusive ALL this is..."
Aaron waited patiently as Jackson continued, " they ASKED me about US...how I felt about you...WHERE we see us in 10...20 years...DO we argue...and IF we do how does Jack feel about that...do we let him STAY up late...do we let him run around unsupervised..."
Aaron shook his head in disbelief, " WELL...if Sarah got THEM same question's I'm sure her answers would have made interesting reading..."
Jackson tried to laugh...but he continued to gaze up at the ceiling..." I had REEEALLY bad butterflies going IN there...wondering WHAT they were gonna ASK me...it were worse going in there, then going in on THAT damned game show..."
Aaron smirked at him, trying to lift the mood, "...and LOOK what happened there..."
Jackson half smiled...just for reaction, " THEY asked me about HOW much I earn...how much YOU earn..."
Aaron pulled a face, " BET they weren't impressed when you told them Cain pays me peanuts..."
Jackson half smiled again...and finally turned his gaze away from the ceiling to face him, " I love you Aaron...I TOLD THEM that...the old one was abit upperty...THE magistrate I mean...I think he would rather see Jack with Sarah and her mum...just to have some normality..."
Aaron hesitated at first, but then brushed Jackson's cheek with his fingers, " HE has normality with US Jackson...JUST be remembering that..."
Aaron then gently stooped and put his lips onto his partners, before the doorknob rattled, "DADDY...I'm hungry..." a little voice wailed...
Aaron stood and unlocked the door...on opening it Jack came in to the bedroom and jumped onto the bed for a cuddle, Jackson placed his arm around him from where he laid, " it's ALRIGHT son...don't worry...YOUR uncle Aaron's gonna be ordering us in a pizza..." he said with a massive grin.
"yeaaahhhh!" squealed Jack, Aaron stood up and snatched out his mobile from his suit pocket, "We better go remembering to get...the dog...from Paddy's later as well"
Jack was snug beside his dad, "daddy..." he asked.
"what..." asked Jackson...again staring up at the ceiling.
"can I sleep with you and uncle Aaron tonight..." Jack asked.
Aaron looked up at Jackson...was that really a good idea...what would folk say...
Jackson turned his head, " course you can...we'll ALL be snug as bugs in rugs...", Aaron smiled at him...who CARES what folk thought...they loved Jack...and who knows...this might be the last time they would ever get to do this...because, when tomorrow came...
...things may never be the same again...
TBC
PLEASE review...THEY ARE ALL WELCOME!... ..let me know, whether you love it or just loathe it!