The first week of November and Aaron was back in hospital. It was his second appointment on the long list of others for his leg. He'd just been given his second cast the same colour as his last, blue, after going for a check up x-ray to make sure that his surgery was healing nicely. Aaron was quite pleased that the appointment had gone smoothly and so was Paddy, it mean he didn't have top up with a grumpy Aaron. The doctor had gotten Aaron to walk a short distance in the corridor outside of his office without the aid of crutches to see if his leg could sustain his weight with the new cast. He had been pleased with the improvement and was satisfied that Aaron no longer needs his crutches all the time. The doctor advised that Aaron only spent short amounts of time without his crutches each day and not to over do it. Not that Aaron would listen, he wanted to run before he could walk.
"You're going to wear yourself out." Paddy chuckled as Aaron turned down his offer to wait sitting on a bench outside the west block while he fetched the car. He'd parked it in the over spill car park on the east block after he'd dropped off Aaron outside the out-patients department.
"I'll be fine." Aaron grinned. "I'm just glad not have to need those things any more." He admitted as he pointed towards the crutches that Paddy had tucked under his arm. Aaron had tried to make Paddy leave them in the box for not needed crutches anymore back inside the hospital on their way out.
"Don't forget you're still going to have to use these from time to time." Paddy reminded him. "Remember what Doctor Scarvo said, only a short lengths of time walking around with out them. If not you'll do more harm then good and it will take you even longer to recover."
"Whatever old man." Aaron joked, just pleased to finally be getting back to his normal ability. Hopefully Cain would allow him back to work a few days a week if he could now stand without his crutches, after all he had done a couple of days since breaking his leg.
Paddy just shook his head and smiled as he watched Aaron get a move on towards the car. Even though Aaron's cast was a lot smaller than his brace he had strapped to his leg before his previous cast, it was still noticeable that it was there underneath his clothing. One leg was considerably bigger than the other under his grey sweatpants as he hobbled along. Not being able to bend his leg was proving difficult to hide as the teen tried to walk normally.
Jackson was sitting in the kitchen when Paddy and Aaron pulled up in the drive. He hadn't been able to take any more time off work for Aaron's appointment but he had made sure to work his lunch break round Aaron arriving home. A couple of minutes after hearing Paddy's car park, he saw the older vet walk past the kitchen window, holding Aaron's crutches, as the teen toddled behind him with a look of strong determination on his face.
"We're back!" Paddy announced as he walked inside, having seen Jackson's blue work van parked out front.
"How did you get on?" Jackson asked as Paddy made way for Aaron to get in, balancing the crutches by the window.
"You go on alright, didn't you?" Paddy said taking his coat off.
"Yeah." Aaron nodded, taking a seat at the table as Jackson cleared away his lunch. He ran a hand down his face as he let out a long breath, he was exhausted.
"No crutches?" Jackson asked, stepping back as Clyde padded over to the teen from the lounge.
"Nope." Aaron said shrugging out of his jacket.
"-Well, from time to time." Paddy added. "He knew what Aaron was like. The crutches would stand forgotten about as he venture off without them. He'd keep in mind to have a word with Jackson when the young mechanic wasn't around to hear.
"That's good then." Jackson said leaning back against the work top. "You're getting there."
"Yeah, he is." Paddy commented before asking. "Got time for a cup of tea before you back to work?"
Jackson shook his head. "No, sorry. I might be a bit late as it is." He answered. "I'll see you two later." Before he went he kissed Aaron briefly on the cheek and grabbed his jacket by the door.
After Aaron had finished eating his lunch, he sent a quick text to Adam to see if he was free to come over. With Jackson, Paddy and Hazel at work and Rhona out on a course he was on his own and bored. In a matter of minutes after sending the text he heard Adam's quad bike roar past the surgery and park outside smithy.
"You took your time." Aaron joked when Adam walked through the stable door in the lounge.
Adam laughed. "Funny." He said. "I can go if you want?" He bluffed as he went to walk back outside.
"Adam-" Aaron started. He was going mad inside the house on his own.
"Don't worry mate, I'll stay to kick your ass on the Xbox." Adam teased, thowing himself on the seat beside Aaron on the sofa.
Two hours later and twelve wins to Adam on fifa and Call of duty Aaron was getting fed up of Adam victoriously rubbing it in his face. When Adams avatar turned round and shot Aaron's dead with one clear shot to the head, Aaron threw his controller down beside him.
"Aw, poor little Aaron a sore loser." Adam teased as he pinched one of Aaron's cheeks.
Aaron ducked out of Adams way and sneered at him. The Xbox was boring him now.
"Don't worry, I might even try and let you win in the next game." Adam joked.
"Whatever." Aaron mumbled, he'd stick to playing against Paddy and Jackson in the future, at least wit them he stood a chance of winning. "Fancy doing something different?"
"Why because I beat you thirteen times. Thirteen times Aaron!" Adam continued smugly.
Aaron just glared at Adam.
Adam sighed, calming himself down. "Like what then?" He asked finally. There wasn't much to do around the village.
"I don't know, just something that doesn't involve you shooting me in the head!" Aaron said getting up. "Let's just get out."
Adam watched as Aaron toddled into the kitchen. The young mechanic had texted him on the way home from hospital to tell him that he didn't need to use his crutches anymore. He was happy for him, they would be able to hang out more now that he was getting better. Aaron returned with his coat in his hands and his crutches no where to be seen. There was no chance that Aaron would be taking things easy anymore, even if he did before. He noticed Clyde's lead in his hands as well, the Alsatian still didn't leave his side.
"Right where are we off to then?" Adam said jumping to his feet and following Aaron out the door with Clyde clicked on his lead.
They ended up taking Clyde for a long walk in the fields round the back of the village hall. They let the Alsation off the lead as soon as they reached the first field. Jackson and Paddy had been taking Clyde out for walks since Aaron broke his leg and neither of the two let the Alsatian to roam the fields without being tied to a lead. Clyde was excited to be off his lead at long last so he was keeping Adam and Aaron on their toes as he sprung backwards and forwards while they kept up a slow pace. They didn't keep track of time, only checking the time when Aaron needed to take a rest against a farm gate. He'd worn himself out.
"Do you wanna head back now?" Adam asked his mate. Aaron did look tired, maybe they'd pushed him too far.
Aaron nodded his head as he went to stand again. He knew he'd walked too far. The doctor did say not too far.
"Can you manage walking back or do you want me to call Paddy or Jackson to get us?" Adam asked, he wasn't sure if the young mechanic could walk any further, they'd walked miles without realizing.
Aaron shook his head. "Nah, I can get back." Aaron assured him, taking Clyde's lead out of his pocket to click back on the dogs lead. "Clyde!" He called after the dog who was currently laying in the long grass.
It took a while to get Clyde back to them but soon enough they had the dog back on his lead and heading back to the centre of the village just as it began to get darker.
"We should go out in to town soon." Adam suggested as they wondered up the road to smithy. "Now that you can get about a bit more shouldn't be so hard."
"Yeah maybe." Aaron humored. He doubted he go into town any time soon. He knew Darrel still lived around Hotten and no doubt he hadn't changed his usual hang out places. He was bond to bump into him sooner or later.
"It'll be good to be out having a laugh again.2 Adam continued. "Can't remember the last time we got absolutely wastered."
"Well now that I'm off those painkillers I can!" Aaron grinned walking up the lawn to the front door of Smithy.
"Well then! No excuses, next week we're going on a lad's night out." Adam said as he stood beside his quad bike.
"If you say so." Aaron laughed. "See you later.2 He said letting Clyde inside before going in himself.
He was exhausted! He'd walked too far, for too long. Crashing out on the sofa and not moving for an awfully long time seemed very appealing to him as he un-clicked the Alsatians lead and tugged off his coat. He could hear Rhona in the lounge on the phone to her mum as he walked through, back from her course. Him and Adam must have been a while if she were back, not long till Jackson was back home from work again. She smiled at him as he collapsed onto the sofa.
"Yes, I'll come over later this week . . . No don't be silly- . . . I could murder one of your meals, I've been longing for one for months!" Rhona said finishing off her conversation on the phone. "I'll see you then . . . love you . . . yes, love you bye."
She ended the call and balanced her phone on the arm of the sofa as she let out a long tired breath. "Mothers!" Rhona joked to Aaron, knowing he would understand what she meant. "Been out?"
"Yeah with Adam." Aaron answered.
"Been far? You look knackered!" Rhona commented as she looked at the teen.
"Up round the fields."
"Quite a way then . . . Paddy will be done in a minute. He's just got a few things to put away in the surgery and Hazel's upstairs if you're wondering where they are." Rhona told him. "She's been and got a few Christmas presents. Unlike me who leaves things till the last minute in a panic, she's smart enough to think ahead!"
Aaron nodded his head to show he had been listening. He was too tired to engage in any sort of conversation. He knew she meant well but he didn't have the energy.
Rhona let out a sigh before speaking again. "I'll go feed Clyde, I think. He must be starving after all the exercise he's gotten today.2 She said before heading into the kitchen to give Clyde his food. "He misses you taking him for walks."
He must have dozed off in the living room when Rhona went into the kitchen because the next thing he was aware of was breathing in the sent of Jackson's lime shower gel as he leaned against him on the sofa. He was also aware of the uncomfortable throbbing sensation up and down his right leg. He must have made a noise when he woke because Jackson was suddenly looking at him.
"How long have you been home?" Aaron asked as he stretched a little, shifting his leg to see if it would help.
"Just over an hour. You were sparked out when I got in." Jackson told him. "What did you do this afternoon when I left?"
"Adam came over, played Xbox and went for a walk with Clyde." Aaron said shifting his leg again.
"You okay?" Jackson asked as he watched Aaron fidget.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Aaron answered carefully.
"Well you look like your in pain. You haven't over done yourself have you?" Jackson questioned the teen. Knowing the younger man, no doubt he had pushed himself too far. "Did you take your crutches with you when you walked Clyde?"
"Y-." He began.
"-Tell me honestly. I'll asked Rhona or my mum to tell me if not.2 Jackson warned.
"I was fine without them." Aaron huffed changing his answer. He knew Jackson was preparing himself for a lecture.
"How far did you walk?" Jackson continued.
"Not far-."
"Far then." Jackson corrected. "I'll grab you some painkillers."
That was it. No lecture or doing about doing what the doctor had ordered or his recovery. Just a disapproving look before the builder vanished to fetch painkiller. Little did Aaron know that his boyfriend was well aware what the teen had in store for himself that night as he would try to sleep.
"Can't you just lay still?" Jackson snapped at two a clock that morning as they both laid in bed. They'd gone to bed at a reasonable time, three hours ago and they were still wide awake. Jackson had been kept awake by the younger man's constant fidgeting.
"Sorry!" Aaron snapped back irritably. He wanted to lie still and fall asleep, just like the builder wanted but he couldn't. His leg was driving him insane. It wouldn't stop aching and however he laid he couldn't get comfortable with the constant nag.
"None of us are going to get any sleep." Jackson commented as Aaron shifted again. "Did you take any more painkiller before you came to bed?"
"No." Aaron mumbled.
"Aaron!" Jackson said annoyed as he flicked on the bedside light and clambered out of bed. A minute later he returned to the bedroom with some ordinary pain killers and a glass of water. "Now take these so we can get some sleep."
Feeling like he'd been told off like a child, Aaron took the painkillers and threw them to the back of his mouth before swallowing them with a gulp of water. He knew Jackson wanted to say "I told you so." He was always right.
A/N – Thank you for the feedback I have been receiving, it's lovely to see what you think. Like I said in previous notes, it helps me an awful lot to guide this fic. This update is just a filler, loads more exciting stuff waiting to happen.