Jackson wasn't joking when he mentioned they went out for a drink. Having completed making up for his lost hours at work, Jackson was now back to returning home from work as his usual time and less exhausted to not do anything. So on his second day back to normal time the builder returned home from work set on venturing to The Woolpack for a well deserved pint, with Aaron.
"Get your jacket on." Jackson said when entered their bedroom, toeing off his boots and pulling his shirt off.
"What? What?" Aaron questioned as he watched Aaron change into a fresh pair of Jeans and a clean shirt.
"We're going for a drink." Jackson answered picking out a jacket.
"We've got some downstairs in the fridge." Aaron told him.
Jackson ignored Aaron's statement, tugging on a jacket and pulling out Aaron's boring black coat. He was buying Aaron new clothes for Christmas . . . and his birthday. He threw his jacket at the teen and waited for him to put it on.
"It's cold outside." Aaron tried as he reluctantly pulled on his coat.
"Well then. . ." Jackson grinned rooting through a draw and pulling out a wooly item.
Aaron glared at Jackson as the builder pulled on one his own beanie hats.
"N'awh." Jackson cooed. "You look cute. That will keep your shaven head toasty."
"Not funny." Aaron growled.
Twenty minutes later and they were seated in The Woolpack, pinks ordered and Adam saved from the company of his mother and sisters. Luckily for Aaron Chas wasn't working behind the bar when they got there, if she had been no doubt he would have had to bare her constant fussing and questions, although if they stuck around for another hour they would see her. He hadn't seen her all week, so they wouldn't be surprised if she would be full of questions on how he was getting on.
"I've missed yah mate" Adam said as they drank a second pint. "Haven't seen you in weeks!"
"Don't be daft." Aaron laughed rolling his eyes.
"Nah I'm serious mate. It's been two whole weeks since I've seen your ugly mug." Aaron chuckled, slapping his best mate on the back playfully.
"I wouldn't complain about that." Jackson teased before hiding behind his pint.
"Oi!" Aaron exclaimed forging hurt.
"Nah, I'm just glad to see you getting back to normal." Adam said. "Well normal as you can get with that." He added pointing to the young mechanics leg stretched out in front of him.
"Was he ever normal Jackson mumbled, earning himself a smack.
"When you getting that thing off any way? It's been weeks now!" Adam asked when they recovered from their laughter.
"Uh. . . I don't know." Aaron answered. He couldn't actually remember, it felt like forever ago since it had happened.
"Five weeks more or less." Jackson answered for him.
"Sweet." Adam grinned. "Can get you back on the quad bike before Christmas then!"
"What, so I can put your skills to shame!" Aaron teased.
"Funny." Adam mocked.
"I hope you're careful on that." Jackson said before thinking.
"Yes mum!" Both Adam and Aaron chorused before laughing.
On their fourth round Cain appeared in the pub with Zac at his side. They took up a stool each at the bar and ordered their drinks, chatting to Marlon for quite some time before they noticed Aaron sitting behind them with his best mate and boyfriend. Adam had just split his pint all over the table.
"Alright kid?" Zac greeted as they headed his way.
Aaron nodded his head in response. He'd not spoken to any of his family apart from Cain and his mum, since the trial.
"Sorry we couldn't be there, in court for you." Zac apologized. "Lisa and I were up to our necks in work."
"Thanks Zac." Jackson said for Aaron, wishing he hadn't come over. He'd just managed to get Aaron's spirits up and he'd gotten them back down in a matter of seconds. The cheeky smirk plastered across Aaron's face a minute ago was replaced with serious troubled eyes.
"Don't worry kid, I've got contacts tracking his every move." Cain informed the teen, not helping matters either.
"Cain-." Zac started. It seemed he didn't approve of his son's intentions either.
"No dad." Cain cut him off. "He needs to be taught a lesson." He told him. "Doesn't he Aaron-."
"Don't you go leading him astray!" Zac warned the older mechanic. "We don't want him turning out like you!"
" 'astray'?" Aaron exclaimed annoyed. "I'm not ten years old! I've got a mind of my own."
"We're not saying that, we're just looking after you that's all." Zac tried to correct. "He's a mindless thug!"
Cain snorted. "Thanks dad." Cain mocked. "But I can't see how you're looking out for him. A fat lot of good sitting at home and cursing that Darrel is going! Well sorry, but we're actually going to do something about it old man. Adam agrees with us. Don't ya?"
Stunned about being brought in the family's disagreement, Adam was unsure of what to say as he opened his mouth to answer. "I- . . . uh, I d-." He began.
"You don't have to humor him Adam." Jackson saved. "Cain, Zac, we just came here for a drink and a laugh. Not to talk about . . ."
"Of course!" Zac said understanding entirely. He already began backing away. "We'll leave you in piece. Take care kid!"
"Like I said Darrel better be watching his back." Cain said before he left them alone.
"The two older men took a table at the side of the bar. It seemed both were not done with arguing with the other about what was best for Aaron and the leads Cain had on Darrel. The two of them bickered throughout the night, even when they were joined by Debbie and Cameron, half an hour later.
"Right last round." Jackson announced slapping his hand down on his thigh.
"I'll get these." Aaron told them, already grabbing his crutches.
"How are you gonna get them back here?" Adam teased, wondering exactly how his best mate was going to bring a pint back, let alone three from the bar with his hands using the crutches.
"I'll shout for one of you in a minute." Aaron told him before heading towards the bar.
"Alright love? I was gonna come over but I thought I'd leave you to have a laugh with those two." Chas smiled when Aaron approached the bar.
Aaron nodded his head in understanding. He was glad she hadn't. He love her but he was out with his mate and boyfriend. Cain and Zac turning up hadn't helped.
"Cain wasn't causing any trouble was he?" She asked throwing a look towards her older brother. "I told him before to not-."
"Mum, it's okay." Aaron stopped her.
"Right." Chas smiled. "Same again?"
Aaron nodded his head and waited as his mum went off in search for glasses. He sat at the bar, strumming his fingers on the wooden bar top, staring into thin air, thinking about nothing in particular when Brenda and Gennie walked in and took up the two bar stools next to him.
"Hey Aaron." Gennie sheepishly greeted him.
Aaron raised his eyebrows briefly in response. His auntie Gennie was an awkward woman.
"Sorry to hear about. . ." Gennie started awkwardly. "I have no idea how you must be feeling but I'm always here if you want to . . ."
"Sorry Aaron, I'll be with you in a minute." Chas interrupted al little flustered. "None of the glasses have been washed!" She explained before disappearing round the back with three glass collectors in her hands full of used glasses.
"Oh Aaron it's a terrible thing to have happened." Brenda chirped from beside Gennie. "I couldn't believe it when I read it in the paper – well no one could." She continued not knowing when to shut up. It was very convincing that article! Had me believing every word! What's his name?- the one who attacked you? David, Daniel? No- Darrel! He's such a-."
"Mum!" Gennie tried to hush. Her cheeks read with embarrassment. She couldn't believe what her mother was coming out with!
Realizing what she had said by the look on Aaron's face as she he sat glaring at her, his nails scratching lines on the wooden bar top as he gripped it, his knuckles going white, Brenda quickly tried to cover it up. "Oh I didn't mean- No I meant to say." She stumbled. "Believe me, everyone believes you now. They can see what a horrible man that Darrel is!"
"Believes me now?" Aaron questioned. Had people been talking about him? He knew about the article but his mum and Paddy had assured him that nobody would believe the lies. It angered him to hear that people in the village believed that he would make up being sexually attacked! He also knew sooner or later that people would find out, there was no doubt about that, after all he did live in a small village with people like Brenda and Betty to keep things gossiped about. But he didn't think he would feel so open and dirty knowing that they knew. It made him feel sick to hear other people talking about it. How was he gonna be allowed to forget if everyone kept going on about it!
"Mum! Just keep your mouth shut." Gennie hissed. Trust her mum to open her mouth.
"I was only telling him! I thought he might want to know." Brenda pouted. "Then again I would have thought Debbie would have told him about the other night in here."
"Mum will you just shut up!" Gennie scolded the older woman. "You just don't know when to keep your nose out!"
"I was-." Brenda began looking hurt.
"I don't are what you thought you were doing." Gennie snapped, feeling sorry for her nephew. "You've just made things ten times worse! Why can't you just leave things alone?"
"What's gong on here?" Chas asked, returning with clean glasses.
"Nothing." Gennie quickly said, causing her sister to raise an eyebrow.
"Aaron?" Chas prompted. Something her happened, she could tell be the way Aaron had changed. His posture was now tense and defensive, a mean glare had taken over his face and he was trying his hardest to keep calm. If her younger sister wasn't going to tell her then she'd find out from her son. "Aaron." She repeated more firmly. She was going to find out.
"Brenda was just telling me how she and everyone else believe that I'm a lying, manipulative, disturbed, head case who craves attention." Aaron explained through gritted teeth.
"No they don't Aaron!" Chas tried to assure her son. "Why would they?"
" Was the talk of the pub the other night!" Aaron shot back at her. He was angry. He was angry that people didn't believe him, that they were all gossiping about him and that now body had told him. He was a big joke.
"No Aaron. No, you weren't." Chas tried. "They're just curious. You know what Folk around here are like."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Aaron shot at her as Gennie told her mother off.
"C'mon mum, go over to that table." Gennie nudged when Aaron and Chas continued to talk.
"Why?" Aaron raised his voice when he wasn't getting an answer.
"I didn't want to upset you." Chas admitted.
"What's going on? Me and Adam are dehydrating over there." Jackson joked as he appeared at Aaron's side where Gennie and Brenda had sat.
"Aaron I'm sorry love.2 Chas continued.
"Save it." Aaron said before disappearing out the pub.
"Chas-."
"I screwed up okay? Again!" Chas quickly told the builder. "He found out people have been talking about him."
"I'm sure he'll get over it." Jackson assured her.
"He found out from Brenda of all people." Chas sighed. "He's never gonna be able to put it behind him is he?"
Jackson wanted to promise her he would but he couldn't be sure. There were so many things setting him back. "Maybe he just needs time.2 He offered.
"Time? How long though?" Chas backfired. "He never seems any better and if he so happens to make the smallest of achievements there's always something to knock him back down."
"All we can do is be there for him." Jackson said.
"What is we're not enough?" Chas asked fearing for her son. "Maybe professional help will be better?"
Jackson shook his head. He knew how Aaron felt about counselors and shrinks. "Just leave it a few months before you start booking him in for group therapy discussions and psychoanalysis." He said. "Better go after him."
When Adam caught Jackson leaving the pub as well, without a word to where he was going or how long for, he went over to the bar to find out what was going on. His mates her just left him.
"Don't ask." Chas said before he open his mouth.
A/N – I know I promised you a may put up a Christmas one shot and I will try my hardest to get it done. But if not, I shall do a news year one instead. Thank you for all the great feedback, it's great to see what you all think of the fic so far and it helps me so much to direct it as well, thank you. I look forward to hearing what you think about this update!