CHAPTER 65/65
I DO NOT OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS, THEY ALL BELONG TO ITV1
A/N: Last chapter...but is it the end of the story...
Aaron bolted into the foyer, he gazed about the vast chamber...folk millering around, whether they be court officials or public.
He went up to the desk, glancing up at the clock, the receptionist looked up, " can I help you sir..."
"yes, can you..."
"wait one moment sir, I must take this call..."
Aaron was getting frustrated, " OH FLAMING HURRY UP will yah..!" he cried, he then turned and saw his mum, Chas, she had Jack with her, " MUM!",Aaron hurried over to them both, " wh-where..."
"UNCLE AARON! where have you BEEEEN!" wailed Jack, Chas pointed up the stairs, " they're up there kid...they've only JUST gone in..."
The receptionist woman came over, " please sir...you can't just go..."
Aaron gave her a death glare, " WATCH MAH!" he then marched up the steps to the double doors, Chas just smirked up at him from where she stood with Jack at the foot of the stairs... as Aaron coughed nervously...and tighten up his tie to the stage it was too tight...and knocked on the door...and he entered...
All faces turned toward the door, as Aaron came in...Aaron looked at them all, suddenly feeling like a fish in a bowl...already he could feel the tension in the room...and THAT Sheila had a gaze that would turn anyone into stone.
Aaron focused on Jackson, and saw the vacant seat beside him...he made his way to it and sat down, at a glance to the 3 Magistrates...he could see the looks of disapproval...of the hearing being disturbed...
"errr...sorry..." he said somewhat weakly...he then felt a hand on top of his...it was Jackson's, and at a glance round, he could see Jackson was smiling at him...his eyes showing how pleased he was at seeing him...Aaron felt choked up...he had been SO CLOSE to letting him down...
The elder Magistrate, or the one who seemed in charge but proberly not, turned to a woman who was standing there...Aaron realised it was the one that had come for Jack the day before...Janet?...Julie or something...
"please carry on..." the Magistrate instructed.
Julie nodded, " as I was saying, Jack is a lovely little boy...and he doesn't seem distressed at all of what has been going on...BUT HE IS VERY MUCH AWARE...he knows that he lives with his father and that his mother misses him...and he has said that he knows his mother is sad...HE is also aware of how sad is father was when he was living with his mother...I conclude that Jack loves his parents very much...and ANY DISTRESS put on either one of them...would proberly be picked up by him..." Julie had ended her report.
Jackson looked up to Sarah...she was looking back at him...both were abit unsettled by Julie's report, but at a glance to Shelia...he could see the glare within her...
The younger Magistrate turned, as he shuffled some papers in front of him, " now...I want to go over a few things we spoke about yesterday...if we start with what Mrs. Kelly said to us..." the Man put on his specs, " now Mrs. Kelly stated yesterday that you...Mr Walsh..." he glanced up at him, " were quite willing to sign your son over for adoption...to a Mr. Jeffrey Kelly, who is Mrs Kelly's estranged husband..."
Jackson swallowed...blimey he forgot all about that...infact he was speechless, he shifted in his seat trying to loosen his tie a tad, " errrr...yes...yes I did think about that...but I changed me mind..."
The magistrate looked at him, " ...you changed your mind...THIS all happened just at the end of last year..."
Jackson nodded, " yes...THEY were gonna take Jack away to Spain...i'd NEVER of seen him...I changed me mind...I HAD TO!"
"but to me, all this was rather sudden...YOU were adament that Mr Kelly adopt your son...and even visited your solicitor about drawing up the papers...by refusing to go ahead with that...it could be preceived as spite...you are going to Spain, so you can't adopt my child..."
Jackson shook his head, pulling is eyebrowes together, " THAT'S not true...I knew I was making a mistake...Aaron and me Mum were trying to make me see sense...and they did...I even agreed reluctantly, for him to go..."
The Magistrate just shook his head, and then glanced down to shuffle more paper work, " I also bring up the the times you seem to think it's alright to let your 6 year old son consume alcohol..."
Jackson swallowed nervously, but he had to be truthful, " yeah...I let him have a few sips of me beer...and AS A TREAT...I let him a halfa shandy at home..."
" AND YOU THINK THAT'S ALRIGHT!" snapped across Sheila, the Magistrate turned, " please CAN you not interrupt..."
Jackson was shaking his head," I DON'T thinks it's done any harm, has it...MY dad used to do the same with me...and look, I haven't turned into an alcoholic!"
"no...just Gay..." muttered Shelia in spite...
Aaron glared at her, "problem with that HAVE yah!..."
The Magistrate turned, " please...the forum will be open to discussion...and we MUST get through all this first...", Aaron snatched up a glass of water and took a sip, Sheila was glaring back at him.
The Magistrate shuffled more papers, " oh...and now we come to Mr Walsh's partner...Mr Livesy...and Mrs Kelly's concerns about her son's welfare to be living in the same abode as someone with a criminal past...including violence..."
Aaron closed his eyes at that...he could just visualise the smirk on THAT Sheila's face...he knew it...he just knew THAT was the trump card to blow them out of the water...and now he had to listen to it...the time he slapped one at Jackson in the Woolpack...
Jackson was in a trance...staring to the desk...Aaron glanced at him...then saw that Hazel's expression wasn't exactly friendly...she too KNEW this was something that would put Jackson's case at risk.
There was a moments silence...then...Aaron decided to pipe up, " IT were a long time ago...I hadn't even came out as being Gay...I was confused...I didn't want people to know...and I went to court...I PAID FOR THAT...so Jackson shouldn't be paying for it now...", Sarah looked at him...her gaze showing she might have regretting mentioning that...but it was done now.
Jackson showed him no emotion...but he felt the slight squeeze of his hand over his...Jackson was proud of him...he knew it deep down...even though himself, he thought it a blow...
The lady Magistrate started shuffling her papers, " now we hear what Mr Walsh said to us yesterday..." Sarah and her mother were all ears, ready to defend any accusations...but the Magistrate shocked them...and by the look of Hazel and Aaron, they shared their surprize, "Mr Walsh has nothing but praise for Mrs Kelly...he has said that he knows how much Jack loves his mother, and that he would NEVER do anything to harm that relationship...", Sarah looked up to him...how could Jackson be so nice...after ALL what happened with Jeff...how that pig treated Jack...and the fire.
Sarah wondered even IF Jackson had mentioned the fire...it was all in the report...Jackson sat back...his face blank...Aaron looked at him, he tried to search a hint of what Jackson was thinking, but couldn't...he would have to wait...
It was only after a an hour of legal jargon, and overall review of how both of them could support Jack...they were allowed to break for lunch...
Jane followed Jackson out of the courts glass foyer doors, " when I get back...I'll find out when they're be ready to let you all back in..." she told, Sarah then was in his face with little Jack in her grasp, " is it all right if I take him for something to eat...he's hungry..." told Sarah, Jackson glared at Sheila standing behind her, but focused his gaze on Sarah and Jack, " yeah...I can't eat owt...but HE shouldn't have to go hungry...JUST be back on time yeah...", Sarah smiled at him gratefully and led Jack down the steps...Sheila said nowt...but was following on behind.
Jackson sat his backside down onto the steps...Hazel came out the doors... shellshocked about how little Jackson had done to fight for his son...
Hazel was upset...anger was boiling up from with in her now...she marched down to him, "Oi..WHAT are you PLAYING AT!...you didn't even mention Jeff...and the fire!" she shook her head as she yelled...she was going into dispair, " well YOU'VE done it now...you've lost him now...I hope you're PROUD of yahself..."
Aaron was then behind her with Chas in tow...he looked down at Jackson...he could see how glum he looked..."give it a rest Hazel..." he told...still focusing on his partner...Hazel turned to him, "HE'S just gone and thrown HIS son away...!" she told...Jackson looked up at her, "mum...you KNOW you can't get yahself all worked up...it's not good for yah..." he said gently.
Hazel shook her head down at him, " ohhh, I'm gonna go and grab meself a coffee...I really don't understand you sometimes...", she then made her way down the steps...and was up the street...Aaron plonked his backside down next to Jackson, Chas watched her go and turned to them both, " arn't any of yah gonna go after her...OKAY...I'll go shall I...", Aaron nodded at her, and watched his mother hurry in pursuit of Hazel, a job made quite differcult in her high heels!
Jackson sighed outward, and turned...watching Aaron light himself up a ciggy, " well...come on then...YOUR turn to have a go at mah" he said with a defeated tone.
Aaron exhaled, and turned, " who says I am...I know what you did in there...I mean...I know what you were thinking..."
Jackson pulled his eyebrowes together, " Aaron I was crap...mum's right...I've just gone and LOST me son...", Aaron shook his head disagreeing with him " nah you haven't...SHE were the one giving it all that..." he made a mouth movement with his hand, " blaming you...finding fault with yah...but you were the opposite...it SHOWS you are more...", Aaron couldn't think of the right word.
Jackson was waiting for the word...he shook his head and smiled, " more what...STUPID...is that the word you're after..."
Aaron shook his head, he was pulling him a face, " NO!...course THAT'S not what I'm thinking...I was gonna say cleverer...", Aaron was also trying to convince himself...and Jackson could see his partner was ON HIS side...no matter what...
Jackson put his arm around him...Aaron took another puff of his cig, " give us a drag..."
Aaron snapped his head round, " WHAT!...but you don't smoke..."
Jackson nodded, " I KNOW that Aaron...but...YOU are the one who bangs on that it cures the stress levels..."
Aaron shrugged and handed his cig over to Jackson, he took it and as Aaron watched him closely, he took a drag...and then started to cough repeatedly!...still having his coughing fit, he handed the cig back to Aaron who in turn took a last drag himself and flicked it down the steps...Jackson was still coughing...Aaron smirked, " you LIGHTweight.." he told.
Jackson calmed down,,,but his eyes were streaming, " IT'S not the cig...it were just the smoke...it went down the wrong hole..." he told, voice strained, Aaron nodded at him knowingly, "yeah...IF yah say so..." he glanced at his watch, "look...are you sure you won't have anything to eat...I'm starved me!"
Jackson watched him stand up and turn...he held out his hand...Jackson took it and let himself be pulled up, "MAYBE just a quick pint somewhere...I won't be able to keep any thing down me..."
Aaron followed Jackson down the steps his belly rumbling...but before he could say owt, Jackson was telling him, " AND i'm sure we can find you a pie on the way..yah gannet", Aaron smiled and followed him up the street rubbing his hands.
Hazel stirred her coffee in the cafe...Chas had just got served hers and sat opposite her, "SUPPOSE it was their idea for you to come after me...", Chas looked up at her, "no love...it were mine actually...don't think about thanking me..."
Hazel stared toward the window, " I sometimes wonder what goes through that son of mines brain...I REALLY DO", Chas shrugged at her, "join the club love...I think I need a manual when it comes to my Aaron...you know...instructions to how to manage him properly depending what mood he's in..."
Hazel smiled thinly, and turned to her, " HE'S just giving up...THERE is no way in hells chance he'll be getting to keep jack now..."
Chas poured some sugar into her coffee, " YOU don't know that Hazel...never mind about instructions for Aaron...you need THEM for these legal folk..."
Hazel pulled a face at her, " what...with all the long words they use...", Chas bit her lip, "well if you are gonna be sarky then I'll just...", Hazel stopped her, " I'm sorry...it's just...I HATE seeing my Jackson giving up...he was SO determined to keep him...and when he's got the chance, he just goes and throws it all away...", she took a sip, and pulled a face, the coffee here was rank, " I...I just don't want him being like his OWN father...useless..."
Chas pulled her hair back behind her ear, " you don't SAY much about his dad...him and Jackson never got on did they..."
"they faught like cat and dog...one minute they were laying into each other...then next minute they were going off for a pint together...you see...JERRY always wanted Jackson to do better...and was disappointed when he just settled on being a builder...you know WHAT Jerry said when Jackson finished his apprenticeship...YOU'LL be just be making the tea..."
Chas raised her eyebrowes, "blimey...and I thought Gordon was bad...", Hazel was in thought for a moment, " then there was the time he really stood up for Jackson...you know...Sarah's father...when he found out Jackson had knocked his girl up...he came round and threatened to knock my boy into next week...Jerry stood up for him that day...infact,he did all the way through Sarah's pregnancy ...well until..."
Chas glanced at her watch, " shall we get back..."
Hazel finished off the dregs of her coffee, and stood up, " I JUST want my boy to have his son...THAT'S all..."
Chas nodded...as she followed Hazel out of the cafe...hearing the Walsh family life history wasn't exactly her idea of how to go spending lunch...but she told Aaron and Jackson she would go after her...and she had, job done.
Meanwhile Sarah and Sheila watched as Jack tucked into his fries at burger express, Sheila turned to her daughter, " he shouldn't be eating all that rubbish you know...all the fat in those chips...he'll be obese before you know it...THAT'S what Jackson feeds him on...him and that thug of his...well, at least when he's home with us, he'll start eating properly again..."
Sarah had had enough, her mother had been banging on and on since they got there, " will you just shut up mum!...you are doing me head in..."
Sheila was gobsmacked by her daughters outburst, " but ..."
Sarah pointed her finger at her, " YOU have always had it in for Jackson...!", Sheila glared up at her, " yes...AND you know why...don't you blame me...you do know WHAT he did to you...you were pregnant...no girl should have seen that..."
Sarah spat on a tissue and wiped the tomato saurce off Jacks' mouth, " we have to get back to the court...", Sheila started to gather up her handbag, " well if you haven't forgotten how you cried...I HAVEN'T..."
Sarah grabbed her son's hand, " mum...just leave it...the past is the past...WE can't change it...now please CAN we go..."
At the pub, Aaron finished off his pie and pint...Jackson watched him with a big smile on his face, " so...you've had yah fill...feel like facing WHAT'S to come..."
Aaron bit his lip, staring into the empty pint glass, " yeah...I mean...are you"
Jackson downed the dregs to his pint, and stood up, " yep...NO time like the present...", Aaron looked up at him, he looked unsettled, " and if you lose...are you gonna...", Jackson swallowed the lump down into his throat, " I won't leave you Aaron...I'm so sorry...about earlier...YOU should NEVER have heard that with mum...about you hitting me...i mean..."
Aaron nodded and stood up " I know...I know you didn't mean that...I know you...love me" he said flushed with embarrassment...Jackson grinned like a loon...he just loved it when Aaron was like this...his Aaron...he took Aaron's hands into his, and kissed him on the cheek...both forgetting where they were...two skinhead thugs watching in sheer distaste at their public display of effection.
Jackson sighed, and picked his suit jacket up " I need a pee...I'll see you out side..." he said with a flash of smile...Aaron nodded and moved to the pubs exit...he turned to see Jackson pause at the gents, he turned and gave Aaron one of his trademark winks, before he disappeared inside...Aaron smiled to himself...and went outside, not noticing the two skinhead thugs disappear into the gents as he did so...
At the court, Hazel and Chas stood at the top of the frontage steps...they saw Sarah and Sheila approaching from across the road, Jack was in his mother's grasp...Hazel looked at her watch, "That Jane will be along in a minute...Jackson better get his skates on..."
Chas laughed, " they could be up to anything...THEM pair...", Hazel pulled a face, " knowing THEM proberly...I'm going to make sure..." she was cut of by her phone ringing as she took it out from her hand bag, the display read: Aaron calling...
Hazel glanced up at Chas...Sheila, Sarah and Jack were standing beside her now, she then put the phone to her ear...and after a few mere moments...she gasped...and dropped it...
Hazel bolted into the AE of Hotten general...the sheer panic making her heart beat the more faster...Chas was behind her...Aaron was sitting in one of the chairs...on sighting him both came forward, Aaron turned his face...the tears had stained his cheeks..." MUM..." he quivered...and went for an embrace, he was covered in blood...Chas wrapped her arms around him as her son was sobbing," Aaron...what's happened..."
Hazel was more forceful, " AARON! WHERE'S JACKSON!" she cried.
Aaron's teary eyes pointed to the corridor..." THEY...they took him through there...they beat him up...they beat him up...they smashed his face in..." Aaron was shaking and collapsed to a crouching position...Chas lowered herself with him...Hazel stared up the corridor...
wondering what was happening...wondering how this day was going to finish...wishing that she had not had a go at him...because if it was too late to say sorry...she'd never forgive herself...
one week later...
Jackson was sitting up in the hospital bed...Aaron was with him...he had been all week...taking turns with Hazel...spending most of their time at the hospital, in shifts.
Jackson was covered in bruises...his lip was cut and he had two black eyes...and it hurt his ribs when he tried to laugh, as he was doing now...Aaron telling him yet another crap joke...
Jackson winsed in pain and turned to his partner, " so...everything alright at home is it...Bonnie okay is she...you remembering to feed her..."
Aaron stood up " hey YOU...stop your fussing will yah...everythings under control...you just concentrate and get yahself better yeah...", Jackson glanced to the side, " I see you've eaten ALL me grapes again...THANKS for that...Mum was here earlier and brought them in especially.."
Aaron pulled him a shoulder shrugg, " that's all right then...you HATE them anyway.." Aaron said in sarcasm, both then looked up to see Sarah walk in...Jack was in her grasp, Jackson's eyes widened in delight on spotting his son, " hello little man..."
Jack was pleased to see his daddy...he wasn't allowed until today...daddy was too poorly.
"Daddy when are you coming home..." Jack wailed...trying climb onto the bed.
Sarah smiled, " HE'S been asking that all week...home..." she had a sadness in her tone, "because...your home really IS his home...isn't it..."
Jackson and Aaron glanced at eachother, Sarah turned to Aaron, " have you not told him..."
Jackson was looking at one face to the next...he frowned, " tell me what..."
Aaron turned from where he sat on the bed, "WE...me and yah mum...we were waiting till you were better... Sarah went into court that day...when you were brought in...the magistrates had come to a decision...Jane heard on your behalf...she explained about what had happened..."
Sarah turned and smiled, " they decided on joint custody...they said that they could see how BOTH of us feel about Jack...and of what Jack wants..."
Jackson looked at her...trying to process all the info...Aaron swallowed, " are you alright with that...I mean you can appeal"
Jackson smiled...as he looked down to his ribs, " yeah, I could...but so could she...I suppose if ONE of us had won out right...the other would have appealed...I know I would have..."
Sarah nodded her head, looking at Jack as he tried to touch his fathers arm, " me too...and that would have been a nightmare...it all would have just dragged on and on...AND it would have been Jack that would have suffered in the end..."
Aaron looked smug, " THERE is conditions though...", Jackson looked up at him in interest, "what conditions..."
"Jack has to have a perminant abode...and that's OUR place...it's his sorta..."
Sarah could see him struggle for the right words, " Jack has to have a primary address and that's YOURS, Jackson...you know...with school and everything...meaning YOU get to see him MORE than me..."
Jack was still trying to climb onto the bed, so Aaron helped him up...he immediately had Jackson winsing in pain, as he bounced about to grab hold of him...Jackson placed his arm around him,
"WHEN are you coming hoommee!...you said you were gonna teach me pool..." he whined...
Jackson smiled at him, " in a few days...YOU just be good for your mum till then...promise me...", Jack nodded his head.
Sarah held out her hand to Jack, " come on then...lets let your dad get some rest..." Jack jumped down, as Sarah looked up with a smile, " I'll bring him along tomorrow..."
"THAT'LL be good..." told Jackson, he looked down to Jack, "see yah tomorrow son...", Jack ran out into the corridor after Sarah, Aaron went out after them, " hey Jack...", Jack turned and ran up to him, Aaron crouched down to him, " you MISS your dad don't yah...", Jack nodded sadly his eyes looking like bambi, Aaron smiled and took off his chain...he then hooped it around Jack's head...Jack was already pawing it...his eyes sparkling at it.
"Your Dad gave me it...it were his...then HE gave it me...and now I'm giving it to you...you can look at it and think of him...keep it under yah pillow at night" told Aaron.
Jack jumped up and down...then kissed Aaron's cheek...Aaron stood up quickly, " NOW don't be going soft on me little mate...", Sarah looked down to him, " what do you say..."
Aaron glared at her, " HE doesn't NEED to say thanks...IT were his dad's..."
Sarah smiled thinly, "are WE ever gonna get on...or is that a silly question..."
Aaron chewed on it, but turned, " FOR him..." he pointed to Jack, " yeah...otherwise..." he just smirked...
He crouched down again, " be good for yah mum little mate...and to yah Nana what's her face..."
Jack whispered to Aaron, " she smells of wee...", Aaron smirked and ruffled his hair, before Jack headed up the corridor with his mum.
Aaron went back into the ward where Jackson smiled at him, " they gone..."
Aaron nodded as he sat up on to the bed, " good...because we've gotta start making us plans..." told Jackson, Aaron pulled a face " WHAT plans..."
"a holiday you dope...WE all need to get away..."
Aaron pulled a sigh, " ohhhh, not in JOE'S camper van again...anyway we're officially skint"
Jackson shook his head, " nope...I THINK we could do better than that...I were thinking...LEGOLAND...I LOVED ME LEGO when I were a kid...and I've got some money stashed away, so don't be go worrying..."
Aaron glared at him..."legoland...",but he eased it to a smile..." and is this holiday for YOU or Jack..."he was so glad that Jackson was on the mend...and that, although he wasn't COMPLETELY CHUFFED about how things had turned out, as long as they were all happy...
and that was all that mattered...being happy...and to have something to look forward in the future...
PLEASE review...THEY ARE ALL WELCOME!... ..let me know, whether you love it or just loathe it!