January the sicth couldn't have arrived any quicker. Aaron and Jackson were at the hospital waiting to be called in to see a doctor. He was finally getting his cast off! He was glad when he could finally see the back of hospital appointments, casts and crutches. He couldn't cope with much more.
"Aaron livesy?" A petite nurse called out from a set of double doors.
"That's is." Jackson mumbled getting to his feet as Aaron adjusted his crutches on his arms.
They had followed the nurse down a short corridor and were told to wait in a curtained off area for a doctor to come see them, with the x-ray results. Aaron sat on the bed while Jackson wondered around him, looking at medical supplies in trays sat on sheleves and smiling at passing nurses and porters.
"Mr livesy!" A chirpy young doctor greeted as he breezed into the cubicle. "good news, the break had healed completely."
"Fantastic." Jackson grinned.
"So we can get that cast off." The doctor continued, sticking the x-rays up on the light board. "However. . . you've still got quite a few months of recovery ahead of you still. For the first two weeks you may feel as though you've bone backwards rather than forwards."
"What do you mean?" Aaron questioned. His leg was healed wasn't it? He thought as soon as his cast was removed he would be back to normal, walking Clyde, work, kick about with Ryan and Adam and Andy on the odd occasion.
"Due to the severity of the break and the length of time it has taken to heal, it's gonna be a while till you are completely on your feet." The doctor explained. "You'll need physical therapy to gain full use of your leg back and you may well have to use crutches for a few weeks till you gain your strength back. I wouldn't expect to be running any marathons any time soon..Bare in mind your legs has been immobilsed for the past several months, the muscles will take a while to gain some basic strength back. I'm sorry it's not what you wanted to hear."
"It all takes time, right?" Jackson said, he could tell Aaron wasn't happy.
"Of course, like anything. You're a young lad, you'll be back on your feet in no time if you put your mind to it." The doctor sympathized. "Right, someone will be with you in a bit to take the cast off. I'll be back in a few minutes to take a look and talk about your recovery plan and appointments."
No sooner had the young doctor left, another man entered the cubicle to take the young mechanics cast off. He'd closed the curtain securely behind him and instructed Aaron to take his trackies off so it was easier to removed the unwanted cast. He did as he was told and sat back as the porter began to cut away at the fiber glass. It felt good to finally have no cast plastered round his leg, knowing there wasn't about to be another one shoved onto his leg soon after. That was it. No more fiber glass encasement.
"Keep your leg still. Don't try to move it until the doctor comes back." The porter said before disappearing to dispose of another patients cast.
"How does it feel to be cast free?" Jackson asked as he looked at Aaron's bare, healed leg, a pink scar from his surgery running down the length of his shin.
"Good." Aaron nodded, not developing on his one word answer.
An hour later they were walking out of the hospital towards Jackson's van. The doctor had examined Aaron's leg, asking him to perform a few exercises such as bending and straitening his knee, seeing how much weight he could bare -with the aid of Jackson at his side- on his leg, and asking him to push against his hand with his leg to check the strength. As well as all that he had explained to him that despite no cast, he wasn't to drive until his physical therapist said so or for at least three weeks. He then told Aaron to expect physical therapy appointments through the post.
"Come on then hop-along." Jackson teased Aaron as they reached his van.
"Not funny."
"Oh I think it is." Jackson smiled.
Jackson had to go back to work that afternoon, only booking enough time off to take Aaron to the hospital. When he returned home that evening he caught Aaron in the lounge, lying on the sofa wearing a pair of sweat pants as he bent and straightened his leg.
"Livesy." Jackson said making the teen jump.
"Oh it's you." Aaron said when he looked over the back of the sofa.
"Nice to see you too." Jackson huffed, walking round the back of the sofa to sit by Aaron's legs. He lifted the teen's legs up carefully, scared he could hurt Aaron if he was anything less than gentle, and placed them on his lap.
"Whatever." Aaron said turning his attention to the TV screen as his program began to start, the titles rolling on the screen.
Aaron's sweatpants had slid up his legs a little, when Jackson had placed them on his lap, showing a little of the teen's skin. The older man noticed the pink line running up Aaron's shin bone, starting a couple of inches from above his ankle and continuing up his leg, hidden by his sweatpants. Curiously, Jackson began to trace his finger over the fresh scar. It was the first time he had seen the surgery scar. The young mechanic had hidden it so well.
"What are you doing?" Aaron's voice snapping him from his thoughts.
"Just looking." Jakcosn answered quietly, still tracing the scar ever so slowly.
"Well don't!" Aaron snapped covering up his leg again and swatting the builders hands away before he got a chance to see the rest.
"Aaron. . . ." Jackson started.
"No. Its disgusting." Aaron shot at him. "Just leave it, alright?"
"It's not disgusting." Jackson corrected him softly. "Aaron? It's not disgusting, okay?" He repeated when Aaron looked at him.
The teen scoffed.
"It's not." Jackson confirmed. He didn't want the teen to hate that part of him, any part of him in fact. As cliché as it sounded he loved every part of the young mechanic, from his short buzz cut hair and the freckle on his hip and ankle, including his scar. So, against protests of the teen, Jackson pulled the leg of Aaron's sweatpants up to his knee to reveal the entire length of the scar. He then began to trail kisses along the pink raise of scar tissue, not stopping until he had kissed every part of it. He wanted to show Aaron that he didn't think it was ugly or disgusting but intriguing and beautiful. He'd gotten that scar due to his stupid stubborn streak and not of selfishness. It was something to be proud of. "Now do you believe me?"
It's the next morning when Jackson caught Aaron about to walk without the aide of his crutches, against doctors orders. The builder had woken up and rolled on to his side to face Aaron to find him standing beside the bed with his back to him. The young mechanic was balancing on his better leg and holding onto the night stand to keep himself up, preparing to bare the rest of his weight on his worse leg, before taking a step.
Jackson made sure to make the younger man jump. "What do you think you're doing?" He boomed, causing the mechanic to jump slightly.
"Jesus Jackson! You scared me." Aaron admitted, his head whipping around as he was caught red handed.
"You haven't answered my question. What do you think you're doing?" Jackson repeated.
"Nothing, just getting out of bed." Aaron told him. He was.
"No you're not. You do remember what the doctor said don't you?" Jackson fired at him.
"Yes!" Aaron sighed, frustrated. He was fed up. He was out of his cast now, he should be able to walk around freely.
"Well then do as you're told." Jackson said.
That afternoon it had been Chas who had taken him to his first Physical therapy appointment, while Paddy and Jackson were at work or otherwise engaged. She had borrowed Cain's car and picked him up at Smithy cottage before taking him to Robblesfield cottage hospital which specialized in physical therapy. On their arrival they had been guided into a curtained cubicle with a computer, a few chairs and a medical bed. He had been asked questions, a lot of questions, before the physical therapist had began any assessments and exercises. He had grown frustrated rather quickly, snapping at Chas every time she opened her mouth with words of encouragement. Physical therapy hadn't gone as he had hoped it would. He had thought he could have walked in, be given a few exercises and walk back out. But it wasn't like that, not at all. It was disappointing, tiring, frustrating, mentally and physically draining.
He was glad when it was all over, although the journey home was silent. His mother a little on edge to speak another word to her son in case she received the same treatment she had gotten from him at physical therapy.
Even the next day Aaron's mood hadn't lightened at all. He was still frustrated from the lack of improvement from his physical therapy session the previous day. He had hoped for some progress, but no, sadly none was made and unfortunately he allowed it to ruin his birthday. He woke up the next morning in a bad mood which was quickly recognized by Jackson who was carrying a bacon sandwich on a plate, when he pushed past him to get to the bathroom without as much as a 'good morning'. The older builder had snuck out of bed early that morning before the mechanic had woken to fix him something to eat in bed on his day to make it a little bit special. He had planned to spend the whole day with Aaron, he had even booked a day off work to be with him. It was just too bad that Aaron wasn't in a good mood that morning.
"I made you breakfast." Jackson announced when Aaron returned from the bathroom, with just a towel wrapped round his slim waist. He admired the view as the teen's muscles in his arms strain against the weight put on them as he used his crutches to get about the room, picking out clothes to chuck on the bed.
"Thanks." Aaron mumbled not even glancing the builders way as he tugged a t-shirt out of a draw.
"You're welcome." Jackson sighed. He wasn't still in a bad mood about the previous day was he? He should know it was going to take time. "So I thought we could go out today. . ." He suggested as Aaron sat back on the bed and tucked into the bacon sandwich beside him.
Aaron shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever." He said between mouthfuls. "Was gonna stay in."
"Well I thought, seeing as it's your birthday we could go out and do something, what do you think?" Jackson asked. He wasn't sure what yet, but they could do something special.
"Whatever." Aaron sighed, he didn't really want to go out. Staying in and watching TV all day sounded good to him and then going for a few pints in The Woolpack that evening.
"Don't sound to enthusiastic." Jackson joked.
"I wont." Aaron snapped.
"Sorry I said anything." Jackson said under his breath before getting of the bed. "Whilst you eat that, I'm going for a shower myself."
Aaron pulled a face. Whatever.
After finishing his sandwich he went downstairs for a drink, leaving the plate upstairs. Being Aaron, it was too much of an effort to carry that down with him as well. So it remained upstairs on the side in their room. He no sooner had gotten into the kitchen when Paddy burst into a round of 'Happy birthday' at the top of his voice, earning himself a scowl from the younger man.
"What's gotten into you!" Paddy commented light heartedly as Aaron ignored him and poured himself a glass of water.
"You!" Aaron grumbled back at him before downing the clear drink.
"Suit yourself." Paddy huffed before reaching behind his back for a card and brightly wrapped gift. "Happy Birthday Moody!" He said handing Aaron the items in his hands.
Aaron took them and unwrapped the card, reading the words inside briefly before moving onto the present. It was a the latest Xbox game he had been wanting for a few weeks and a street fighting movie on DVD. "Thanks." Aaron simply said before heading back upstairs.
Jackson was out of the shower by the time he got back into their room, the older man was getting dressed, pulling on his boxers as Aaron entered.
"Thought anymore about going out today?" Jackson asked, crawling onto the bed next to Aaron.
"Not really." Aaron sighed rubbing a hand down his face and closing his eyes.
"We could go into town? Go to the cinema? Grab lunch out? Whatever you feel like?" Jackson suggested, pressing a kiss on Aaron's cheek before looking back at him with a smile. He wasn't going to let Aaron's bad mood affect him, if anything he was going to make sure his good mood effected Aaron.
"Whatever I feel like?" Aaron questioned, making Jackson nod his head. "I feel like going to sleep and then going downstairs to watch tv."
Jackson rolled his eyes.
"What? You said whatever I feel like." Aaron said smugly closing his eyes to follow through with his plan.
"Yes I did." Jackson sighed. "Just thought you would want to do something special though."
"Well I don't. I'm not five. Wait until it's Sarah's birthday and you can throw her a big party." Aaron shot back at him.
"Whatever, I'll leave you to sleep and hopefully when you wake up you'll be in a better mood." Jackson told him before he finished putting his clothes on to go downstairs.
"Finally." Aaron breathed, tugging the duvet back over him and snuggling down to sleep.
Downstairs, Jackson walked in on Hazel and Paddy having a talk over a cup of tea at the kitchen table. A screwed up ball of wrapping paper laid discarded in the middle of the table along side a DVD and an Xbox game. Paddy had held of the card in his hands as he listened to Hazel.
"It will be tough on him. Just because it's his birthday he isn't going to be a ray of sunshine all of a sudden." Hazel said to Paddy.
"I know, it's just. . . it's his birthday. He should be happy." Paddy sighed placing the card propped up in the middle of the table.
"Talking about Aaron?" Jackson assumed, grabbing a cup from the side and making himself a cup of tea himself.
"Who else? How is he up there? He's not a little more. . . less moody with you is he?" Paddy asked hopefully.
"Nope. He's even like it with me, unfortunately." Jackson told him. "He's been in a bad mood since he woke up. I took the day off today to spend it with him but all he wants to do it lounge in bed all day."
"That's not healthy." Hazel commented.
"I know, but what can you do." Jackson sighed. "I haven't given him his gift yet. Hoping he'll brighten up before I do."
"He will do." Hazel assured him. "I haven't either. Rather avoid him if he's in a door slamming mood to be honest with you."
"Good idea to." Jackson said taking a seat at the table with them.
"He might want to go out later, so don't write it off just yet." Paddy said to him. "You could take him out for a meal later."
"He might do, but I won't hold my breath." Jackson answered.
The older builder waited until later that evening to go check on Aaron again. He had barely seen him all day, apart from that morning and the odd occasion he popped downstairs to grab something to eat or drink. He remained in a foul mood, slamming doors shut and thundering up and down the stairs, something he could still achieve even with his crutches. Jackson had taken the day off to spend with Aaron and so far he had barely seen him. It wasn't right.
"Aaron, get changed we're going out." Jackson ordered as he entered the bedroom, Aaron was laying on his stomach facing the TV watching the new DVD Paddy had brought him.
"Where?"
"Just get dressed." Jackson said.
"Not until you tell me where." Aaron shot back waiting for an answer.
"Fine, we're going for a meal." Jackson told him.
"Rather not." Aaron breathed.
"Rather not? It's your birthday and so far today you've remained in a foul mood." Jackson snapped at him. He was sick of the bad mood. "I took the day off today to spend with you and all you've done is sat up watching tv or sleeping. I've barely seen you at all!"
"No one asked you to." Aaron mumbled.
"No they didn't, but I wanted to. I wanted to make today special but you haven't exactly helped. I haven't even given you your present or card yet because I've been waiting for you to be in a better mood."
"And. . ." Aaron snarled at him. He just wanted to be left alone.
"And? You are such an idiot at times Aaron!" Jackson shouted at him, losing his patients. "Why can't you just cheer up for once!"
"Cheer up? Thanks. . . nice one." Aaron gritted out through his teeth, pulling himself up to sit on the edge of the bed.
"Aaron . . . I didn't- I didn't mean it like that. It's just. . ." Jackson tried, swearing at himself for being so sensitive.
"-No. I get it. I need to go cheer up." Aaron snapped at him, forgetting about his crutches as he went to stand up. His leg was still weak so it couldn't bare any weight yet and he had no crutches to support him at all as he took a step forward to storm out.
"Aaron-." Jackson started, reaching out to grab Aaron before he fell to the floor.
"See! This is what I mean! How can I 'cheer up'?" Aaron yelled at the builder, snatching himself from his grip and throwing himself back onto the bed behind him. "It's useless, I'm useless! I can't even walk without crutches, how pathetic is that?"
"Aaron please don't." Jackson said trying to stop the young mechanic from venting his anger any further,
"Please don't what? Please don't state the truth?" Aaron continued to yell.
"No. I don't know. Just don't be like this!" Jackson flew at him. "Do you know how hard this has been for me as well? How frustrating it is to not be able to do anything to help you other than be there when you continue to push us away. Just as we make some progress, no matter how little, you always seem to be able to bring it right back to the beginning with your self loathing! You need to snap out of that Aaron." He yelled back at the teen, unable to hold any of it back again.
Aaron sat there, glaring back at the older man.
"You think it's frustrating? You can still walk around, run even, without being weak enough to need crutches. It might take weeks if not months to get basic strength back in that luck. It's useless!" Aaron fumed, thumping his leg for emphasis.
"You've only been to one physio appointment, you cant expect miracles just like that." Jackson told him.
"Well It would be nice to have one once in a while." Aaron sneered bitterly.
Jackson felt bad for his out burst. It wasn't his fault he had been through so much. It was bound to have affected him some how and it wasn't as if he could just wake up one day and forget about everything no matter how much they wanted him to. "Aaron . . .It will get better. You'll get back to normal eventually, you just have to be patient."
"I'm sick of being patient." Aaron hissed through frustration.
"Sometimes you have to be patient." Jackson tried to assure him. He didn't know what to say to help the teen.
"I don't want to be patient. I want to get back to normal!" Aaron said quietly, his anger having left him. "How many 18 year olds do you know that have to use crutches because they can't walk on their own?"
"None." Jackson answered truthfully. "I know one nineteen year old though and he's the bravest and strongest person I know."
Aaron gave him a look to say 'don't be so soft'.
"Honestly though, you are and you'll get through this with me by your side helping you every step of the way." Jackson promised him. "Starting from now, what did your physio guy say? Anything you need to do at home in between sessions?"
Aaron looked at Jackson for a while before answering, to see if he was being serious. "Well. . . there's a few things-." He said hesitantly.
"Which are?" Jackson asked. "Tell me I want to help."
Aaron showed Jackson what he had been told to do by his physical therapist in between sessions. The older man listened intently as the teen explained the exercises to him and before long Jackson was holding Aaron's leg with one hand on his ankle and the other on underneath his calf as he straightened and bent the mechanics leg.
"You don't have to do this." Aaron told him.
"Don't be silly."
"I can do it myself." Aaron mumbled.
"I want to Aaron." Jackson told him firmly, assuring him with a smile. They were going to get through this together.
A/N – It feels like such a long time since I last updated this. But I wrote this update at least three times from scratch until I was finally satisfied with it, I hope it's all okay and hasn't disappointed you at all. Thank you again, for such great feedback!