A/N – Thank you for all the kind reviews. Chicky babes thank you for your very kind review. I must admit I was nervous considering writing a fanfic on this subject as it is a very sensitive area to cover. I hope I'm able to take a sensitive approach on this and portray what people may feel like in a situation like Aaron is going through in this fanfic, as well as other characters. And Shawnyola you're a great help, always giving me hints and ideas on where this fanfic could go. I appreciate every single review.
Did it break anyone else's heart when Aaron slept at Jackson's graveside last night on Emmerdale? It did mine :/
Any way! Hope you enjoy!
Soon enough Aaron came to the decision that he did need to call the police, they needed to know what Darrel was capable of. He needed to be punished for what he did and Jackson, Paddy and his mum were talking sense when they told him the exact thing. He stayed upstairs a little while longer after his mother went downstairs before following. When he told them he was going to the police, they were overjoyed. Paddy said they would all have Dinner first before anything else, Inviting Sammi to stay for Dinner as well. She'd obliged at first not wanting to intrude but then Hazel and Chas had twisted her arm.
They all sat round the kitchen table, squashed as they eat the meal prepared by Jackson and Hazel, avoiding any topic about the attack and talking about the whether, a woman in Hazel's new art class who would only paint cats and Jackson's next job he had lined up after Dale head. Aaron didn't engage himself much, he grunted a response when spoke to directly to him but apart from that he succumbed to pushing his vegetables around his plate as he thought about what the police might ask in his head. It was had enough telling Paddy and Jackson what had happened, they'd told Hazel and Chas so he hadn't needed to do that. He didn't think he could re-tell it to a couple of strangers. It made him feel sick just thinking about it.
"Finished with that?" Jackson asked him, snapping him from his thoughts. "You've just been staring at it for a while now." He laughed.
"Sorry." Aaron mumbled, reasligin he'd barely touched a thing. "Not hungry."
"It's okay. Sure you don't want any thing? You haven't eaten much all day." Jackson commented, surveying the younger man. The young mechanic was usually a bottomless pit when it came to food.
Aaron shook his head. He could sense the other's watching him as if he was going to fall apart at any second.
While Hazel and Jackson cleared the plates away, everyone else went through to the living room. Paddy couldn't stop himself from pacing the floor space between the surgery and kitchen doors. He looked more nervous than Aaron who had been calmly sitting on the sofa, his feet up on the coffee table as he watched a Football match.
"Are you sure you don't want me to go?" Sammi spoke up.
"No, No stay love." Chas smiled, she liked Sammi. She seemed nice.
"Yeah, stay." Paddy said. "Aaron doesn't mind, do you?" And anyway the police might want to talk to you as well."
Aaron shrugged when Sammi looked his way for approval. He didn't care. He was trying not to think about it too much but with Paddy pacing the floor it was starting to do his head in.
"So . . . You're a nurse." Chas commented nodding her head towards Sammi's uniform. She didn't like the sudden silence.
"What gave it away?" Sammi laughed.
"Oh, I don't know. You could be a strip tease." Chas joked meaning no harm. "I think I had a nurse's uniform once-."
"-MUM!" Aaron warned embarrassed. He didn't want her to start talking about her stripper days again!
"What, Aaron?" Chas exclaimed with a huge smile. She was trying to keep things light and she knew teasing her son would work. "It's never bothered you before."
"Because you never talked about it before." Aaron shot back.
"Well, I'm starting to wonder whether I should consider it again as a side job." Chas sighed. "It was a right laugh sometimes and it paid well. Still got the body for it!"
"What are we talking about in here?" Jackson announced as he waltz into the room.
"My stripper days!" Chas told him proudly, winking at Aaron.
"Shut her up!" Aaron pleaded his cheeks already tinged red.
"I don't know." Jackson performed, enjoying his boyfriends awkward discomfort at his mother's wild side. "I think I might want to know about she got up to, sounds quite interesting."
Aaron glared at Jackson.
"I hate to stop what I think is an amusing conversation." Paddy interrupted. "But I really think we should call the police now."
Aaron continued to glare at the TV. He wasn't ready yet, but then when would he ever be?
"Aaron?" Paddy questioned, waiting for his permission to dial the number.
"Do whatever." Aaron sighed while inside he was shaking.
The call was made in matter of minutes. The Police asked them if they wouldn't mind coming down to the station to give their statements and to record a full allegation towards Darrel. What Aaron hated the most was the waiting around. He wanted to be in and out, get it over with in a matter of minutes. He didn't expect to be waiting around for the police to see him. Hazel stayed at home as she wanted to give them all space, she thought it wouldn't be good if they all crowded in the police station. So in the end Jackson, Chas and Paddy took Aaron to the police station while Sammi drove herself there. The police had wanted to speak to her as well.
"How long does it take?" Aaron snapped breaking the silence that filled the waiting area.
"God knows." Jackson sighed. "Fancy a cup of tea? There's a drink machine just down the corridor."
"Nah, you're alright." Aaron declined; all he wanted was for it to be over with. He was already building his nerves up.
"Aaron livesy?" A police officer announced from a door leading off to various rooms.
"Here." Aaron answered, getting to his feet. He wiped his hands on the side of his trackies. He felt sick. He wasn't in trouble with the police like the other times he'd been at a police station. This time he was just in trouble and needed help, but some how he was even more nervous.
"This way." The police officer smiled, trying to be friendly.
"Can I come with him?" Jackson asked, he could feel how nervous and scared Aaron was. He didn't want him to have to this on his own. He was there for him.
"Sorry, afraid not." The officer answered apologetically.
Aaron breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't want Jackson to have to hear it all over again. He'd most probably have to go into more detail, step by step, with the police officers. He hadn't when he told Paddy and Jackson, he just skipped over the details, the terrifying feeling and kept to the guidelines, mainly hinting to what happened without actually saying. But the police wouldn't take that; they'd want to know what, when, why and how.
The police officer guided him into a interviewing room a few corridors down from the waiting area. He asked him to wait in there while the other two police officers made their way down to him. The room was just the same and he swore he'd been sitting in the exact room when he'd been brought down by the police after hitting Jackson in the Woolpack. But all the interview rooms were all the same, dark, bleak and lonely. He took at seat at one side of the table, screwing his hands into his fists and dragging his sleeves over the top. By the time the police officers arrived, he was chewing on a lose thread at the end of his sleeve, trying to bite back his nerves.
"Aaron livesy?" A female police officer asked for confirmation. She was a middle aged woman who looked similar to Layla in some ways, dark skin and hair with big warming eyes.
"Yeah." Aaron answered her clearing his throat.
"I'm DC Stacey and this DC Appel. I understand your here to accuse a Darrel Kendal for attempted rape." The female police officer told him as she read the notes she held in front of her.
Aaron nodded his head.
"Could you start from the beginning tell us how you met this Darrel Kendal." The other officer said beside his colleague.
"At Jackson's mate's birthday in Bar West." Aaron told them. That question was easy.
"Did he show any interest towards you then?" DC Stacey asked.
"When I went to the loos he followed me, I think. He thought he'd tried to make a move but I pushed him off." Aaron said remembering the first time Darrel tried it on with him. "I didn't think I gave him the go ahead, I never- I would never. I'm with Jackson."
"We understand." DC Stacey assured him. "Did you tell Jackson or anybody else that he tried to kiss you?"
"Yeah, I told Jackson the next day."
"And what did he say? Did he do anything?" DC Appel asked.
"He just laughed about it, thought it was funny." Aaron cringed. Maybe if Jackson had taken it seriously. . .
"Okay. When did you see Darrel next? Your father, Paddy Kirk, told us he'd tried to once before other than a few nights ago." DC Appel questioned.
Everyone assumed Paddy was his father. He wasn't but he sure wish he was. "Paddy, he's not my dad."
"Then who is he?" Appel countered, curious to know the relationship between them.
"He's my mum's ex and I live with him." Aaron explained, it was complicated to outsiders.
"Okay, back to the first time Darrel tried to rape you." DC Stacey asked bringing them back to the key subject. Aaron felt his chest tighten when he herd DC Stacey mention rape. It was all starting to become real. "Could you explain to us please, if it comes too difficult we can take a break."
"Nah, I'm fine." Aaron shrugged off, he wanted to finish things quickly. "I work at my Uncle's garage in Emmerdale. We got a call out and they picked me to go like usual."
"They?" Appel interrupted.
"Ryan and Cain." Aaron answered him. "Ryan's a mate who works there and Cain's my uncle."
DC Appel nodded his head and waited for Aaron to continue.
"It took me ages to find him, Darrel. He was on a really quiet back road somewhere near Hotton." Aaron told them. "I was fixing his car but then he began to get really close. . . making me feel uncomfortable."
"Than what?" DC Appel asked, not afraid to push Aaron.
"I told him where to go again, that I wasn't interested." Aaron breathed looking at Appel. He was starting not to like him.
"But unlike last time he kept pushing?" DC Stacey assumed.
"Yeah. He said I wanted it as much he did- but I didn't." Aaron defended.
"Go on. . ."
"He pushed me against his car and started to. . .He said it would be 'our secret'." Aaron said quietly.
"But you didn't want any of it?" DC Appel questioned.
"Of course I didn't!" Aaron snapped, how could DC Appel question that.
"Alright calm down." DC Stacey soothed, shooting her partner a warning look from the corner of her eyes. "Could you carry on. . ."
Aaron took a deep breath, calming his anger before continuing. "I pushed him off again and then he snapped. He just lost it." Aaron shuddered as he remembered the frightening look in Darrel's eyes right before he lashed out.
"Is that how you got the split lip?" DC Stacey asked. "Yeah, but not this one, this ones from last time."
Unconsciously Aaron slid his hand up to his neck and began to rub the skin where Darrel had violently strangled him.
". . .What did he do next Aaron?" DC Appel asked, grabbing Aaron's attention again.
"He tried to strangle me before kicking me in the stomach. He was angry . . . really angry." Aaron remembered. The pain in his stomach had been so bad and no wonder being hit by a guy Darrel's size was no walk in the park. "So I tackled him backwards and then I hit him." Aaron took a deep breath. "He just laughed. So I ran."
"Where did you go?" Appel asked him.
"I went to the truck but he followed." Aaron cleared his throat; he could remember it all so clearly, too clearly for his liking. "He wouldn't let me close the door, so I told him to back off again but he lose it. . ."
Sensing the worst wasn't over DC Stacey asked him if he wanted to continue. ". . . We could always carry on after a break."
"Nah, I want to get it over with." Aaron told her, rubbing a hand down his face.
"Okay then, whenever you're ready."
Aaron hadn't even told Jackson what he was about to tell them. He'd told Jackson how he'd gotten the bruise on his cheekbone, that Darrel had hit him again. But he hadn't told him the details, how vulnerable he felt when Darrel pushed him on his back. No matter how hard he fought back he wasn't getting any where and he was scared. He was really scared for the first time in his life, even more so when he came to after the bang to the head. He had been confused at first when he fought through the throbbing pain that had taken over his skull. He really thought he was going to be raped when he could feel Darrel tearing at his clothes and there wasn't a thing he could do. He was so close to giving up.
But then Jackson had entered his mind and he knew it would ruin them if it happened. In some ways he did feel as though it was his fault. He'd spoken to Darrel at Bar West and without realizing he'd given him the green light. That's what Darrel had thought any way.
"I think we'll take a break now." DC Stacey said with a small smile towards Aaron. "We'll take things further in a little while, for now go grab yourself a coffee and join your family outside."
Aaron nodded. He didn't trust himself to speak. He was embarrassed with himself. He hadn't been able to hold it together, he'd promised himself he wouldn't cry in front of them. He wouldn't let Darrel turn him into a quivering wreck in front of the police. But it had happened; once the tears had started he couldn't stop them. He'd taken tissue after tissue that Stacey had offered him and even the glass of water. He never understood why they offered people who were upset a glass of water. What use does it do? Forced to relive the first attack was more frightening than he had thought. He couldn't stop the tremors that had taken over his body.
He'd walked back to the waiting area after he'd tried to get himself together. He didn't want Paddy or his mum fussing over him. He wanted them to know he was okay with things and that he could deal with it on his own. He didn't need them for all he was concerned. Besides, he still liked to portray the hard man act he'd worked so long for. Darrel wasn't going to take that away from him as well.
"Aaron! How'd it go?" Chas asked rushing over to him before he even got the chance.
"Fine." Aaron told her.
"Have they finished talking to you?" Paddy asked him.
Aaron shook his head. "Taking a break."
"Did things get hard?" Chas questioned looking at her son concerned.
"No." Aaron snapped taking a seat on the other side of the room. Shutting him self off.
"Where's Jackson?" He asked noticing his boyfriend wasn't with them.
"They took him for questioning before you got back." Paddy told him. "He won't be long."
"Right." Aaron sighed before rubbing his eyes. All the worrying was becoming very exhausting for him. He didn't know how long he could keep it up.
Ten minutes later he was back in the interviewing room again, going over the last time Darrel had attacked him. He explained to them the time when Darrel had turned up at the garage after the first attack and the text messages that followed. He told them he'd a bit to drink when he went looking for Jackson at Sophia's party.
"I thought it was Jackson at first, mucking about like usual." Aaron told them. "But it didn't feel like Jackson . . . then I heard the door being locked."
"He locked you in the room? There was no means of escape for you?" DC Stacey confirmed.
Aaron nodded. He could feel his heart beginning to race as he explained Darrel's attack.
"He pinned me to the bed. . . and- Darrel. . .he started to. . ." Aaron took a deep breath trying to even out his breathing as it was starting to become quick. "t-take my clothes of- I tried to make him stop!"
"Take your time." Appel told him.
Aaron nodded. He clasped his hands together and gripped them tightly, turning his knuckles white, as he relived the moment in the upstairs room.
"I tried pushing him away. But he put his hands round my throat." Aaron whispered. He couldn't stop himself. He was back in the room again with Darrel on top of him. He couldn't see a way out. He couldn't breath. Darrel's smug face was right in front of him, he couldn't see anything else. It was the tip of the iceberg when he remembered the moment when Darrel whipped his belt from his jeans and slid his hand down his trousers. He thought he was going to be sick. He'd managed so well since, blocking it all out. He could feel his chest tighten and couldn't find the strength to get a decent breath.
Aaron's breathing was coming short and quick, quicker by each breath. He was beginning to worry the DC's. It was like he was stuck in the attack.
"Aaron. . . Aaron?" DC Stacey called out to him, hoping to get through.
He wasn't listening.
"Aaron!" Appel shouted nearly.