A/N – Another update, sorry for a days wait! I've again received such good news.
I don't want to take credit for something I haven't written, which is 'summer' and 'winter' by Ginnynotonic who is an amazing author of fanfic.
I am really hoping to get some more updates on other fanfic projects of mine this week, but I've hit writers block with them. I'm stuck on where to go with them So irritating.
Don't be afraid to say if I am taking things too far, or being insensitive. I want to hopefully gain some realism on this fanfic.
But anyway, read, review, enjoy.
Jackson rolled onto his side. His eyes still half closed from being pulled out of his sleep. He opened one eye and surveyed the room. It was still a little dark outside, a little early morning light dripped through the half drawn curtains. It was far to early for anybody to be awake, so why had he woken up? He'd thought he heard a noise. He must have been mistaken. A minute after closing his eyes again and shifting round in bed to find a comfortable position, the noise that had awoken him before sounded again.
It was Aaron beside him. But he never made a sound when he slept. Daring to go back to sleep again and brush off Aaron's groan as a fluke, Jackson tried to drift off to sleep again. Then a painful elbow landed in the centre of his back.
"Ow, Aaron!" Jackson scolded, turning over under the duvet to face his boyfriend. It was very unusual for Aaron to kick out in his sleep. It was another thing Jackson loved about him, Aaron would fall asleep instantly, not make a sound and not move through out the night. He always slept peacefully.
Aaron was asleep, a thin sheen of cold sweat visible on his skin as he kicked his legs out, catching Jackson's knee.
"Aaron, watch it." Jackson hissed, not wanting to wake Paddy across the hall, or his mother next door. It was no use, he was asleep he couldn't hear. Aaron didn't half have a kick behind him, although Jackson shouldn't have been surprised. Aaron did have very toned muscular legs.
"No! GET OFF!" Aaron shouted out. He flung his left fist out and hit his side table. An empty carton of orange juice crashed to the floor along with his mobile and alarm clock. Broken plastic scattered across the carpet. Jackson never did like Aaron's alarm clock, anyway.
"Aaron!" Jackson called out to him. It was as though Aaron was having some sort of nightmare. He wasn't sure if he should wake him or not. Hadn't he heard something before about it being bad for the sleeper if you woke them up or something. He couldn't remember. But what he did know, if he didn't wake Aaron he was going to break something, himself, him or something. Besides he didn't want Aaron locked in whatever was going on in his head. "Aaron. . . you need to wake up." Jackson soothed, running a hand down Aaron's chest.
He lashed out again, pushing Jackson away from him with his arms. The older man fought to not be pushed away. He pulled the wriggling teen close to him, whispering reassurance into his ear, hoping to calm him. He could see the pain etched across Aaron's face. He looked so young and helpless. It broke his heart to think Aaron still wasn't able to cope with it all. It had nearly been a week now, since the night Aaron had been attacked. He'd brought him to the party and while his back had been turned Darrel had taken his chance. If he hadn't taken Aaron to Max's birthday he would never have met Darrel in the first place, then maybe Aaron would never have been attacked.
"Jackson!" Aaron called out ripping himself from Jackson's grip and nearly launching himself out of the bed. It swelled the builder's heart to think Aaron was calling out for him in need.
"I'm here." Jackson assured him, placing an arm on Aaron's arm. He looked around the room with scrunched up eyes. The older man pulled Aaron back down to the bed and covered him back over with the duvet. "Shh. . .Just go to sleep."
When Jackson woke again a few hours later, Aaron was no were to be seen. He stretched his hand out across the bed to feel if the sheets were still warm. They were cold. He'd been gone a while. Feeling as though there was no reason for him to stay in bed on his own, Jackson quietly got dressed and went downstairs. Aaron was busy in the kitchen, making his toast. He stood facing the microwave, staring off in the corner, completely oblivious to the smoke snaking out of the toaster and the smell of burnt toast. He didn't even flinch when the alarm went off.
"Aaron!" Paddy shouted, running into the kitchen from down the stairs. He pushed past Aaron, waving a tea towel under the fire alarm while he picked out hot pieces of toast from the toaster.
Aaron slowly turned his head to the burnt toast on the side. He turned his nose up, picked the pieces up and ditched them in the bin.
"Aren't you going to eat those?" Paddy joked before he caught the sight of Aaron's left hand. "Hang on- what happened there?" He pulled Aaron's hand towards him to get a closer look.
Aaron wasn't quick enough to yank it back out of his sight. He wasn't sure how he'd done it. He swore it weren't there before. He'd woken up to find his knuckles swollen slightly and tinted purple.
"Aaron. . ." Paddy pushed.
Aaron shrugged. He didn't know.
"He hit his hand on the side table last night." Jackson said shortly, hoping Paddy would read his face and drop it.
"Oh right. As long as it was no ones face." Paddy laughed trying to lighten the mood.
Jackson could feel Aaron looking at him. He knew he wanted to know how he'd hurt his hand and how he knew and he didn't. He would tell him later, when they could talk. Talk properly about what was going on, if he was okay and tackle whatever nightmare Aaron had last night head on. He wasn't going to leave it. It needed sorted. The incident with Darrel was slowly drawing the life out of Aaron, day by day.
When Jackson didn't turn to meet Aaron's stare, the young mechanic tied his overalls in a knot round his waist. "I'm off to work, see you later."
"Wait! What about your toast?" Paddy asked, already taking two pieces of bread from the packet for him.
"I'll get something from the café." Aaron called over his shoulder before the door closed behind him.
He didn't notice the black Mazda parked just up the road, hidden by a small bend in the road and neither did Jackson when he drove his van past on his way to Hotton a few hours later.
"Joining us in the pub smile!" Cain teased as him and Ryan walked up to Aaron. He couldn't get over how his nephew was just brushing it all off, throwing himself into work. Not that he was complaining, Aaron had been working hard finishing twice as many cars of as he usually would each day. He was doing the business well. But he was concerned for his nephew's wellbeing.
Aaron shook his head. "Gonna go back and see Jackson."
"Cain's buying!" Ryan chirped earning himself a slap from Cain.
"I think that will be you that is." Cain shot at him. "Mines steak and chips. . . Go on then. What are you waiting for?"
Ryan rolled his eyes and trudged down the forecourt leaving Cain to talk to his nephew.
"Let's keep this between us, Or I will kill you." Cain said a little threateningly. "I don't do talkin' about feelings and all that crap."
Aaron straightened up and folded his arms as he leant against the side of the gravel. This was gonna be worth it, watching his uncle squirm. He cocked his head.
"How're you? And I mean really." Cain asked a bit awkwardly. "You haven't been right."
Aaron sighed and rolled his eyes. "I'm fine Cain."
"Really? Cause you're not Aaron at the moment." Cain told him. "It's weird."
Aaron laughed. "Oh really."
Cain pulled a face. "Just. . ." He sighed and dragged a hand down his face. "Just look after yourself."
"Is that it?" Aaron asked impatiently. He was sick of people asking if he was okay.
"Yeah." Cain said quickly.
A few seconds ticked by, Cain still stood near Aaron. He had to raise his eyebrows and clear his throat to get the older man to move. Finally he was alone at the garage, he'd go for lunch when Ryan and Cain got back form theirs. He'd munch on the biscuits in the office for now.
"Right Paddy, I'm off out to go help Mr. Clapton with his cows, one of them is in breech." Rhona called through to the back of the surgery, already buttoning up her coat.
"Alright." Paddy answered as he walked through. "Where's Pearl?"
"Afternoon off." Rhona told him. "Why?"
"I needed a few appointments shifted. I'll do that while you're out then." Paddy said already taking a seat at the reception desk.
"Okay, have fun." Rhona chirped.
"Same to you." Paddy laughed as the female Vet left.
Aaron noticed Jackson must have gone out when he walked up the hill to Smithy Cottage on his lunch break. The builder's van wasn't parked on the side of the lawn like usual. So instead Aaron decided to go into the surgery and see Paddy first before going inside and making himself lunch. The vet was chatting on the phone as he walked in, holding up a hand to show him now wasn't the time to speak. Catching a toy ball sat on the window sill, Aaron picked it up and began to bounce it on the floor, seating himself on the corner of Paddy's desk. He ignored the way Paddy rolled his eyes.
"Yes. . .Yes Mr. Jenna- yes. I'll make sure of it- . . .No, no, course not- yeah bye." Paddy fought to say before hanging up the phone. He took a huge sigh before turning to his surrogate son.
"Alright." Aaron greeted, still bouncing the ball up and down.
"Do you mind playing with the items on sale?" Paddy asked sarcastically.
Aaron pulled a face. "Nah . . . not really."
Paddy caught the ball mid bounce before Aaron had the chance to throw it to the floor again. "Well I do." He said as he got up and placed it on the shelf.
"Alright Padders." Aaron cheeked standing up.
"Just gonna go next door and make some lunch want any?" Aaron asked considerately.
"No, you're alright. I had my lunch earlier." Paddy declined smiling.
"Alright, see you later." Aaron sighed going through the back of the surgery to Smithy Cottage. He expected Clyde to come bounding up to him, like he usually did. When he didn't Aaron popped his head round the surgery door. "Paddy?" He called out. "Where's Clyde?"
"He's out in the back sunning himself." Paddy giggled.
Happy with where his dog was Aaron continued to through to the kitchen to make himself a sandwich. It didn't take him long to muster up a cheese and pickle sandwich, his favorite, as he gulped that down he reached over the table for a magazine Hazel had left out, only to knock his glass of orange onto his lap.
"Shit!" Aaron mouthed, as he shot up from his seat patting hopelessly at his trackies. He was soaked through! He grabbed a tea towel from the side to try and soak up the offending orange juice. It made no difference it still looked like he had an accident. Cain would rip him to shreds if he went to back work looking like he did.
He quickly took the stairs two at a time and dashed into the bathroom to clean himself up. He dashed across the hall and into his and Jackson's bedroom to put on a new pair of trackies. As he walked out of the bathroom he swore he heard somebody moving about upstairs, but it was only him. He put it down to Paddy downstairs and carried on. He had to search through all of Jackson's clothes screw up in the drawers to find his trackies folded neatly at the bottom. When he was pulling them on he swore he saw something in the mirror in the corner of his eye. Quickly, he whirled round to find nothing, an empty room. He laughed at himself. Is that what he had come to? Jumping at shadows and hearing noises?
Aaron stuffed his phone, keys and wallet in his pockets before heading towards the stairs. Just before his foot touched the last step, he felt a hand cover his mouth and another wrap round his waist. He tried to scream. To shout out for help, but all he could do was groan into the hand clamped over his mouth. Paddy wouldn't hear him; he was next door in the surgery. He tried to kick out behind him, kick whoever was holding him. Whoever had hold of him managed to dodge his kicks and spun him around. His eyes widened as he recognized the man holding him. Darrel. He tried to shout out for help, anything but it seemed Darrel knew what he was thinking.
"Don't even think of shouting for help." Darrel hissed quietly in his face. He kicked Aaron's bedroom door back open and pulled them both inside before slamming it shut. He stood in front of the door, shoving Aaron harshly to the carpeted floor.
He looked furious. Aaron felt sick. His stomach twisted into a knot and he fought back the bile rising in his throat. His heart hammered in his ears. This couldn't be happening again. He shook his head, trying to shake some clarity to his thoughts. This was just a nightmare right?
"You stupid little boy!" He spat. "Do you realize what you've done?" Darrel took a step closer to Aaron. He looked pathetic he knew. But Aaron didn't care, he scooted back until his back hit the edge of the bed. "You're a little liar you know that! Going to the police, spreading a load of bullshit!"
Aaron pulled himself up. He wanted to be on his feet if Darrel tried anything. He needed to be quick and on guard. He remained quiet. He wasn't sure what would send Darrel's temper out of control. It seemed the older man was only just holding on to it.
"Paddy's just downstairs." Aaron told him, thankful his voice didn't give him away.
Darrel laughed. "He won't be coming up here any time soon."
"And Jackson's just gone out. He'll be back soon." Aaron threatened, praying Jackson would be back soon, real soon.
"He went out hours ago." Darrel told him, stepping closer to Aaron.
He didn't like it. Aaron couldn't step back any further, the bed behind his knees was stopping him from doing so. Darrel wasn't going to get any closer to him. He'd let him touch twice already, he wasn't going to this time. But surely he wouldn't. Not again. Not when the Police were on to him. It would be stupid to. He gulped down needed air. It was like the walls were closing in on him. It was frightening.
Finding the courage from somewhere, the famous fight in Aaron reaching a climax, "If I was you I'd go, Now" He growled.
The anger he'd seen flash in Darrel's eyes so many times before done so once more. If Darrel could grow even more frightening he did. He let out a bitter laugh that hung in the air. "I wouldn't be making threats." Darrel warned. "Who knows what will happen. . ."
Aaron clenched his fists.
Darrel noticed. "The police wouldn't be to happy if you were to attack me." Darrel sighed. "Could really damage you're story. Besides why would they believe a thug like you? Not with you record."
Darrel's words hit home. He'd been thinking the exact same. To hear his fears confirmed by the man he feared the most made it all the worse. Maybe he was right, who would be believe him? He was a mindless thug. It had taken him a while to convince his mum and Paddy that he wasn't trying to nick Rodney's van when he was trying to stop it from running over Nicola. They had only believe him because John had seen. He had no witnesses for either of the attacks, just his word. What use would that be?
"You're pathetic for even thinking they might." Darrel whispered into Aaron's ear. He turned his head to the side, trying not to flinch as he felt Darrel's breath on his neck, bringing back images of the night he'd tried to rape him. "Still I suppose you're loving this-."
"NO. You're the pathetic one." Aaron said loudly turning his head to meet Darrel's eyes.
He was shocked and he showed it. Obviously Darrel wasn't used to people answering back. Just staring at the man now, the man who had attacked him angered him so much. How could he have allowed him to even think he had a chance? He should have fought harder. So now was his chance. Adrenaline was most probably the main cause of it, he grabbed Darrel roughly by his shoulders and began to march him towards the stairs, flinging open his door as he went.
It wasn't until they reached the landing did Darrel start to fight back. He pulled himself out of Aaron's hands and turned to him manically. "Like I said, you must be brain dead to ever think the police will believe you." He spat at Aaron. "You wanted me just as much as I wanted you."
Aaron leaned in closer to Darrel to emphasis what he was about to tell him. "You're sick in the head, if you think that." He sneered, all too soon.
His stomach dropped as he felt Darrel push him. Aaron's world tumbled as he fell down the stairs, he tried to reach out and grab the banister, anything, to gain some control from his fall, to stop himself from going any further. But it was worthless, he was falling anyway. He cried out as his ribs made painful contact with each step. The last thing he saw was Darrel standing at the top of the stairs, as his head cracked against the floor and his vision blurred to darkness.
Oh god, he hoped he wasn't dead. He was in enough trouble as it were. His hands shook as he pressed them to his lips, fixed in a trance as he stared down at Aaron's still form at the bottom of the stairs. He'd pushed him. He hadn't intended for Aaron to fall down the stairs. It had all gone so horribly wrong. Snapping himself out of his thoughts, Darrel ran down the stairs. He had to run! He couldn't be found anywhere near Aaron when someone did find him. He didn't bother to check if he was still breathing or if he had a pulse. He was just thinking of himself. He needed to get out. He stepped over Aaron and slid through the front door. Darrel didn't waste time jumping into his car and speeding off.