They swayed in time to the music, Amy Winehouse's lyrics drifting softly across the dance floor as couples became lost in each other. For the first time since that had met, became a couple, Aaron was dancing with Jackson. The builder was a little shocked when he managed to convince the young mechanic into dance with him, after a little while. There had been many times when Jackson had tried to get Aaron to dance with him at Bar West or even when it was just them at home with the radio playing on in the background, but the teen had always point blank refused and stuck with it. So there was no wonder why the builder was a little shocked as he had lead Aaron to the dance floor, however he quickly disguised it and began savoring the moment. After all it could be first and last time he ever was to dance with the teen. After a few minutes the song came to an end as a more up beat song took over the sound system, couples began to part and look for somebody else to dance with while others took their seats at the side to watch on. Jackson's aunt, Jill, was one of those looking for somebody else to dance with. She managed to drag her nephew away to the centre of the floor when he couldn't think of a good enough excuse to turn her down. Aaron watched on from the sidelines, laughing as Jackson placed an arm around his older aunt and awkwardly shifted round the room.
"Fancy a dance with a little one like me?" Pam, Jackson's other aunt asked Aaron as she sidled up beside him. She was right, she was little, a stick like thing, nothing like her sister Hazel or Jill.
Aaron shook his head politely. "Sorry, I'd love to just . . ." He lied trying to think of something. "My leg- I could do with sitting down for a bit." He smiled sweetly at her, hoping she would take it.
"Oh gosh! Yes, I forgot!" Pam quickly understood. "I should have realized. I keep forgetting about that, It doesn't seem that it bothers you that makes us forget you've got a broken leg."
Aaron smiled falsely at her. "It's okay. I'm just gonna . . ." He trailed off, gesturing towards their empty table for a seat, hoping she would leave him alone then.
"Yes, of course, go on." Pam said patting him on the back as he turned round to walk off to the table.
By the time Jackson had managed to get himself away from any more of his family getting him to dance with him, he'd been on the dance floor for at least just under an hour. As soon as Jill had released him, he'd been pulled into a dance with his Uncle Mike and Mitch, then his cousin Lola, followed on by Jacqui, Laura and Elle, his other cousins, dragging him to dance with them. It was all too much. He'd tried to get away right from the start, he didn't like it that he'd left Aaron alone at a wedding where he didn't know anybody but himself and Hazel. Searching the room for Aaron, he found him occupying their table they'd been assigned for the meal. His back was to him and he was slightly slumped over, his elbow resting on the table as he propped his head up on his hand.
"Tired?" Jackson stated, making Aaron jump awake as he took a seat beside him.
Aaron nodded his head.
"Want to head back?" Jackson asked as Aaron sat up straight and rubbed at his eyes, trying to shift the tiredness that had over come him.
"Do you mind?" Aaron reluctantly said after thinking about it for a while. He didn't want to tear Jackson away from his family, especially at a wedding. He hadn't seen his family for quite a while. However, he couldn't keep his eyes open, even though he had gotten a descent nights sleep the previous night, it just wasn't enough to make up for all the sleepless nights before that.
"No, come on." Jackson said, standing up. "I'll just let mum know than say a few goodbyes before we head off."
"I'll be heading outside." Aaron nodded towards the exit. "I could do with a smoke." He added and some fresh air. It was quite stuffy inside, which didn't help how tired he felt.
Aaron didn't miss the roll of Jackson's eyes at the mention of having a cigarette before he left him. He knew the builder didn't approve, he didn't like the smell of it on his clothes or breath but as long as he didn't smoke in front of him and chewed gum straight after he couldn't see the problem. The fresh air outside helped waken Aaron a little more till he was in an alert state, as he sat himself on the edge of a bench by the entrance looking for his lighter. He had only just found himself his lighter before Jackson stepped outside to join him,
"Haven't you had that yet?" Jackson groaned as Aaron took a first long drag until it was a threat to sting his lungs.
Aaron smirked and shook his head, as smoke escaped through his lips.
"I'm surprised they didn't tell you to quite at the hospital when you were treated after your attempt." Jackson commented as Aaron took another drag.
Aaron shrugged his shoulders. They had told him smoking after what he'd been through wasn't a smart idea, but since when did he listen. It was only the odd one or two every now and then, so what harm could it do.
"While you finish that, I'll call us a taxi." Jackson told him pulling out his phone.
Aaron shook his head, placing a hand over Jackson's phone in the builders grip as he used his other to take the cigarette from his mouth. "We can walk." He said through the little wisps of smoke. "It's not far."
"But Aaron-."
"Jackson, we'll walk. Its not that far and besides it's a Saturday night in Manchester." Aaron argued. "We'll be waiting forever for one."
"Fine." Jackson sighed, taking his phone back in his pocket.
It didn't take them long to get back to their room at the hotel. Both men had ditched their suit Jackets and ties as soon as they could, relieved to be free from them. Aaron had disappeared in the bathroom, soon after they'd gotten back half an hour ago, desperate for a shower. Whilst the younger man showered, Jackson hung their jackets up before flinging himself back on their luxurious bed and switched the TV on. It was where he was when Aaron got out of the shower, a towel wrapped loosely round his hips, laying back amongst the throws and decoration cushions, flicking through channels. However, as soon as he noticed the younger man's presence he couldn't keep his attention focused on the TV anymore. He found his gaze following the teen round the room until he stopped in front of the wardrobe to pick out some clothes. He then ran his eyes up and down the young mechanics body, taking in every inch of his skin. Aaron hadn't bothered to towel himself dry after stepping out from underneath the steady stream of water, a single towel wrapped around his waist would do until he dried. He wasn't aware of how much Jackson wanted him as he stood looking for a simple t-shirt, his hair and body dripping with water.
"Aaron come here." Jackson commanded, shifting himself to the edge of the bed until he sat on the edge of it.
"Why?" Aaron asked as he did as he was told, ditching a couple of t-shirts in a pile on the side.
"Because. . . . . ." Jackson trailed off, slipping one hand around the teen's waist and his other round the back of his neck to pull him closer so he was able to kiss him.
"Jackson." Aaron breathed after a few seconds, as he tried to pull away, only to find himself drawn back just as willing. "I need. . . to . . . get dressed."
"Tough." Jackson mumbled against Aaron's lips as he slowly stood up, not breaking any contact with the teen as he twirled them round so that Aaron was the one with his back to the bed.
The younger man found himself being carefully guided back down onto the bed, as Jackson lowered himself on top of him, careful not to place any weight on top of him. The builder wanted him so badly. He just couldn't take it any more. They'd silently come to an agreement not to go any further than a little heated make out, due to Aaron's leg. They didn't want to cause any more damage, or rather Jackson didn't. Aaron didn't care but he hadn't wanted to cause any arguments. It was either due to the fact that Jackson couldn't wait any longer, or the overwhelming feeling of emotions that bubbled up inside of him as he watched his cousin getting married, it didn't matter which. Jackson smirked cockily into their kiss when Aaron was a little surprised as he slinked an arm underneath the teen's back and lifted him further up the bed as they carried on. He hadn't been able to do that before, seeing as they both weighed both the same, but the past few months had taken a little toll on Aaron more than they wanted to admit.
It wasn't long before they had worn each other out. Crashed out beside each other, naked underneath the covers, with arms and legs intertwined the two fell asleep, blissfully. Too far into sleep, as Aaron's phone lit up on the side, Cain's name and picture showing up on the screen while the teen's irritating ringtone rung out through the room.
Jackson wasn't entirely sure what had woken him to begin with. He thought he'd heard shouting, but as he came to, he wasn't certain that it was that. Every where were silent, apart form the sound Aaron's breaths beside him. He put it down to maybe something he had dreamt, or a somebody outside on the streets or further down the hotel corridor getting a bit loud. So he quickly settled down again, to go back to sleep, with no idea of what the time was at all, just that it was late and far too early for him to be awake. However, just as he had begun to drift of back to sleep, he heard the shouting again, only this time a lot closer than he remembered. More alert than before, he realized it was Aaron beside him. He was shouting out in his sleep. The words were a little muffled as he tried to listen.
"Aaron. . ." Jackson tried to stir as he reached out a hand to shake the young mechanic lightly. He soon found out the teen was shaking as he placed a hand upon his shoulder, a thin layer of icy sweat covered his skin. "Aaron!" Jackson said more forcefully this time.
"Ge-ff, n-do-t!" Aaron shouted louder, trying to shrug Jackson off of him, his face screwed up in pain and fear. "No! NO!"
"Aaron! Wake up!" Jackson said louder with even more force, the teen was locked in a nightmare and he needed to get him out of it. "Aaron!"
"No! no, no, no, no, no. Please." Aaron began to beg, still fighting against whatever was locked inside his head.
Jackson tried to slip an arm around his boyfriend, to try and comfort him. Hopefully if he could soothe the younger man until his nightmare went away. "Shhh. . .okay? I'm here." Jackson whispered into his ear, only it didn't have the desired affect.
"No! I said get the fuck off me!" Aaron shouted aggressively, trying to rip free from Jackson's soothing embrace. Arms and legs flailed everywhere, as he lashed out and became entangled in the covers. Unfortunately one of Aaron's curled firsts reached a target –twice-, who he thought to be somebody else in his dreams.
Jackson reeled back from the blows. His Jaw ached as he reached up a hand to asses the damage and as for his nose, the pain was unbelievable. He'd been hit before by Aaron, but not like this, not that hard. Blood began to drip from his nose and down his chest. He was torn between helping Aaron out of his nightmare and clearing up his bloody nose.
"Aaron!" Jackson shouted, the only way to get through to him at that point. "Aaron!"
Why wouldn't he wake up?
It seemed as though nothing was going to pull Aaron away form his nightmare. Wiping the back of his forearm across, his nose to get rid of some of the blood that was slowing down, Jackson got out of bed and picked up his jeans that he'd discarded on the floor earlier. He tugged them on, and then went round to Aaron's side of the bed.
"Come on Aaron, wake up." Jackson whispered more to himself.
The builder could see tears beginning to leak from the corners of Aaron's eyes as they remained screwed shut. What was he going to do, he'd never been in a situation like this. He'd never had to wake anyone up so desperately as they relived the worst part of their lives in their head.
"Think Jackson, think." He barked at himself. As he did so, he could remember watching a program before on these two police man who patrolled the streets at night, running into all sorts. In the last ten minutes of the program they'd come across a man who would not wake up as he slept on the side. They had needed to wake him for his own safety so after failed attempts at rousing the man, they'd began to rub a fist into the centre of the man's chest forcefully. It seemed to have done the trick. But Jackson couldn't do that to Aaron.
"Don't." Jackson heard Aaron say as he flung his head to the side. He had to.
Reluctantly Jackson made a fist with his hand and began rubbing his knuckles into the centre of Aaron's chest, when it didn't seem to work he rubbed harder, digging his knuckles into the teen's chest until he began to stir. "Aaron, wake up. It's okay, your safe you're with me." Jackson assured his boyfriend as he began to wake. When Aaron's eyes began to open he stopped rubbing his knuckles into his boyfriends chest.
"Wha-." Aaron began blinking his eyes in the dark, until he became accustom to his surroundings. "Jackson?"
"It's okay, you had a nightmare but you're safe now." Jackson explained, rubbing a hand along Aaron's arm as he laid confused in bed.
What time was it? What nightmare? What had happened to Jackson? "Jackson, what- why- I didn't did I?" Aaron asked mortified as he took in the blood on Jackson's face that had stopped a few moments ago.
"It's okay, you didn't mean to." Jackson explained, hoping Aaron wasn't beating himself up about it.
"But Jackson-! I can't believe I've done that to you, again." Aaron said horrified with himself. How could he have let himself lash out at his boyfriend like that.
"You didn't mean to!" Jackson argued. "You thought I was somebody else."
"Still, I done it!" Aaron argued, now sitting up in bed as he took in the blood on Jackson's arm as well from where he had wiped at his nose. "It's just as bad."
"Aaron." Jackson sighed. He didn't mean to, he knew that, so why couldn't he understand. He remained silent as Aaron reached out a hand to take a closer look at the builders bruised face, careful not to hurt him any more than he already had done.
Before he was aware of what Aaron was doing, the young mechanic swung out of bed and was grabbing his clothes as he went, quickly pulling them back on as he headed towards the hotel room door.
"Aaron, where are you going?" Jackson demanded full of worry about what state of mind he was in.
"Out . . . I need to- I need to get away." Aaron told him as he tugged a t-shirt over his head, that belonged to Jackson. "I can't- I don't want to hurt you anymore."
"But Aaron I've already told you-." Jackson began frustrated that he wasn't getting through to the teen.
"No, Jackson. Just don't. Please." Aaron said before he left the room, leaving Jackson all alone in their hotel room. He needed to get out. He needed to get as far away from anybody so he could get his head straight. He'd just lashed out at his own boyfriend whilst in his sleep, there was no controlling him. Why couldn't he just not mess up, just once?
Defeated and a little confused as to what had just gone on, Jackson stared back at the door, where he'd last seen his boyfriend before he ran out. What had just happened, to cause him to run out the door, runaway from him? He hadn't done anything. The builder sat back down on the bed, not removing his eyes from his fixed stare as he thought over in his head. It had all gone terribly wrong, yet again. He should have known. Things had been too good.
A/N- Hope you enjoyed this update, a little angsty – or rather a lot. I promise there are good things and bad things to come, an equal balance. Thank you so much for all the great reviews and feedback, they mean so much to me to know how much you guys like this fanfic, or what you think of it. Your say helps an awful lot!