– AARON & JACKSON: MY WAY –

"CONSEQUENCES OF A FEW BRAVE WORDS"

~This fanfic follows on a WEEK after A Face From The Past

- I do not own the characters, or Emmerdale – ITV do.

...

It was 8pm and Aaron was standing in the opening to an alley in town, he'd contacted Gordon a few days ago to tell him he'd help but he made it clear that he was not doing this for him; he was doing it for his daughter, Aaron's step sister. This was now the third cold night in a row he'd done this and Aaron was freezing, Jackson didn't know where he was, he felt horrible for only telling him half of the truth; Jackson didn't know about the drug running.

Two heavy set bulky men were walking down the street, he was told to watch out for them, each night there had been different men, these guys stopped in front of him. "So, he's got someone else doing his dirty work for him then eh? You got it or what?"

Aaron nodded and rummaged in his pocket for the bag. But kept it firmly in his hands then held out his free hand flat. "Money first"

Both men looked at each other and chuckled. One of them nodded and went into his inside pocket and pulled out an envelope and handed it to Aaron. Aaron took the money and put it away in his pocket then handed over the drugs.

"Same time tomorrow and tell your boss we want more!" he warned.

Aaron nodded slowly. "I'll tell them"

"Make sure you do" the guy replied as they walked off.

Aaron made his way back to the warehouse where the men who his dad owed money too operated from. He slammed the money down on the desk. "They said same time tomorrow and they want more" Aaron told them, he felt physically sick; why on god's earth was he doing this? Then he realised it wasn't just for his step sister; it was for Gordon too, maybe he did care about him? Despite everything.

The bald suited man nodded. "Alright"

"Why are you doing this to him anyway?" Aaron asked.

"Your father borrowed money from us Aaron, he couldn't pay it back...he obviously has no experience in this...but you clearly have..."

"Nothing like this..." Aaron shook his head.

"Well it's tough, you decided to help him..."

"Yeah and I regret it now trust me..." Aaron spat and started to turn to leave.

"I'll contact you with the details for tomorrow"

"Yeah you do that!" Aaron shouted back clearly not happy about this.

...

Aaron walked into Smithy to be greeted by Jackson, Paddy and Hazel sitting at the kitchen table, a few suitcases and bags around. "Hi...what's going on?"

Jackson didn't reply, his mood wasn't the best.

"Jackson's landlord is selling the flat and has asked him to leave...I offered to let them both stay here..." Paddy told him.

"Oh right..."

"Yeah" Jackson looked up at him finally. "Something you'd know about if you'd turned your phone on or better still – being here!"

Aaron sighed. "I've had things to do and you know that" he glared at him.

"Someone's in trouble" Hazel teased with a smirk to which Aaron replied with a scowl.

"Whatever I'm off to bed"

"Now?" Paddy asked completely surprised.

"Yes now, or is that a problem?" Aaron snapped.

"No, no..." he held his hands up. "Just too early for you that's all"

Aaron tutted with a frown and made his way to his room. He closed the door behind him and took out his phone and rang Gordon, it took a few seconds to connect. "Yeah it's me...I did it...but I'm sorry I can't do it again, it's causing problems already at home and I'm not going to ruin my life for you...just no way, have a nice life and treat that kid better than you did me" Aaron laid it out to him and then hung up.

...

Aaron was alone at the garage the following day; he preferred it that way if he was honest. There wasn't much work to be done and he'd finished that already, now it was just a case of paperwork and seeing if any work came up. Before he decided to start the paperwork Aaron walked to the other end of the garage and sorted the tools out; he heard footsteps on the gravel and he turned. He froze and panicked inside when it was the drug dealer boss from the warehouse, he didn't even know the guys name, he didn't care too. The boss was accompanied by another worker of his who was closing the doors to the garage. "Why are you here?"

"I think you know why...your father told us you couldn't do it anymore"

Aaron shrugged as he watched the other man lock the doors from the inside. "It's not my debt..."

"But you went back on your word Aaron...that's very...inconvenient for us..."

"He'll have to do it, I'm not getting in trouble with the police or risking my life over it no way, my dad is a nobody to me, we haven't spoken in years and all because I have a slight history with drugs doesn't mean he can come into my life asking me to do what I've done this week, I felt sick!" he told him.

"We want our money Aaron and if you don't wanna help him well then that's fine but..." the man stepped closer to Aaron. "...I don't mess around and I don't like being messed around...gotta leave you with whats to come I'm afraid" he told him before head-butting him.

Aaron was sent flying into the back wall of the garage wincing in pain from the impact on his forehead. The big man who had locked the garage doors stepped over to Aaron and punched him hard, several times...

...

The doors to the garage were ajar and the drug dealers were nowhere to be seen. But Aaron lay on the floor of the garage unconscious his forehead had several open cuts, aswell as his cheek bones and chin, his nose had been bust, around the beaten areas his skin had turned a deep red colour with a tinge of purple, and they had also swollen pretty quickly. Aaron's hands were bloodied and cut, he tried to fight back but it was useless, the drug dealer picked up a crowbar and whacked him with it on his back that hit sent him unconscious and he hadn't woken yet, half an hour since the attack. But when he would wake, he'd be sure to feel a deeper regret for getting involved with his father again than what he'd already did.

Cain was walking back to the garage and he spotted Jackson outside Dale Head. "Alright mate?"

Jackson stopped what he was doing. "Yeah good...how is he today?"

Cain shrugged. "I dunno I haven't seen him yet, about to find out though...see ya in a bit"

Jackson nodded and carried on what he was doing.

Cain frowned when he turned the corner and saw the garage doors closed, but as he moved closer he saw the door was ajar, he approached slowly and then quickly swung it open. It was then he saw Aaron on his knees attempting to get up, but it looked like he couldn't and he was spitting blood and he saw the droplets of blood on the ground from where he's been lying when he ran up to him. "Oh my god!" he panicked. "JACKSON! JACKSON!" Cain screamed at the top of his voice.

Jackson heard the panic of his voice and he dropped his tools on the grass and legged it round to the garage.

Aaron frowned, his sight was blurry. "No! Get away from me!" he shouted as he backed off away from the blurry image of the man in front of him.

Cain frowned. "Aaron it's me!" he reached out and shook him. "It's me Cain, you're alright kid...you're alright..." he eased his tone when he saw Aaron calming.

Jackson's eyes widened when he saw the sight before him and he ran to his boyfriend. "Oh Jesus..." he went to touch him but there was blood everywhere. "Aaron...Aaron...What happened?" he looked at Cain, total panic and confusion all rolled into one was expressed on both of their faces.

"Two men, they...found out I told him no but they came round and..."

"Two men?" Cain asked. "Who? And what did you say no to?"

"The men my dad owes money too...he asked me to help...drug runs to pay off his debt..." Aaron explained.

"You what? Gordon! I'm gunna kill him!" Cain threatened with a raised voice.

Aaron shook his head. "You're not...It's over... "

Jackson wiped away his tears. "We have to sort it" he said, nodding to Cain.

Cain looked at him, Jackson was being serious. "Yeah, course we will..."

"I need to sleep..." Aaron told them.

"Oh no...No you can't Aaron..." Cain told him loudly. "You've got to stay awake..."

Aaron nodded. "But it's sorted" he pointed at himself. "They gave me all this didn't they?"

"Oh god!" Jackson stood and stepped back and paced the floor, he couldn't take seeing Aaron like this, both eyes were bulging, they'd swollen badly, it was a surprise he could see at all.

"I'm sorry Jackson" Aaron apologised as he began to cry.

"Heyyy...no...no..." Jackson turned back to him and was at his side once again. "Your dad should have known better...you stupidly wanted to help but why didn't you tell me it was drugs"

Aaron shrugged. "You'd have went mental"

"We should get him to hospital" Cain said and Jackson nodded in agreement.

"No! No hospitals...the police will probably get involved then and that's the last thing I need"

"Aaron come on..." Jackson pleaded.

He shook his head. "No...Just get me home please..."

"I'll help you..." Cain told him. "But quickly before the nosey beggars round here see him"

Jackson nodded and he and Cain helped him to his feet and they made their way out of the garage and began the long walk, in his state especially up to Smithy.

...

Aaron was lying on the sofa in the living room, Jackson was sat at his side dabbing his cuts and clearing away the dried blood with some cotton wool pads and a bowl of warm water. Paddy was home when they walked in, once Aaron was settled, Cain went to tell Paddy why and how this happened.

"Just don't go mental with him Paddy...I think he knows how stupid he's been...and if Chas comes round she cannot see him like that you got me?" Cain told him.

Paddy nodded, he was stunned and shocked by how this had happened. "Y-Y-yeah of course..."

"Will I be alright to leave him with you two?" Cain asked.

"Yeah sure we'll look after him, thanks Cain"

Cain nodded. "I'll come by later"

"Yeah whenever you want" Paddy told him and Cain left the house and made his way back to the garage.

Paddy walked into the living room. "Can you give us a minute Jackson?"

Jackson looked up at Paddy, his expression and eyes seemed vacant but he clicked on to what Paddy said seconds later. "Uh yeah..." he got up from beside Aaron and walked into the kitchen.

Paddy walked over and took Jackson's place. "It looks a bit better when the bloods gone" Paddy smiled.

"Don't lie Paddy" Aaron attempted to smile but that was a mistake.

"Just relax" Paddy comforted.

"Now I know how you felt..." Aaron said sadly. "I'm so sorry Paddy"

"Hey, that's done now Aaron, it's in the past, don't dwell on things...and I'm going to be here for you like you were for me...no one will hurt you again, I promise"

Aaron nodded and closed his eyes.

"You'll be okay to sleep now" Paddy ran his hand over his hair to soothe him.

That was a father son moment – Paddy was his father, not Gordon, he was a pathetic excuse for a dad, he did not deserve to be one after what he'd put Aaron through recently all because he wasn't man enough to do it himself...this, this was all down to him. Paddy, Cain and Jackson knew it.

When Aaron was asleep, Paddy left him and walked into the kitchen where Jackson was. "Is he okay?"

"I think so, he's sleeping now..."

Jackson nodded. "What am I gunna tell my mum when she gets back?" he sighed. "Oh this day is just..."

Paddy placed his hand on Jackson's shoulder and squeezed it. "I know...Don't worry about her, I'll take her down the pub and explain, I won't tell her the full story if you don't want me too?"

Jackson shook his head.

"Okay...have you called Declan? About work?"

Jackson nodded. "I did yeah, I explained what happened to him and he said not to worry about the house and to take time off until he was well again...pretty generous for a landlord who wants it done as soon as"

"Unexpected acts of kindness" Paddy smiled. "Can happen" he told him.

Jackson smiled slightly. "Yeah, I guess"

...

Jackson sat on the edge of the sofa holding Aaron's hand as he watched him sleep; he reached down to his drink and drank the rest of the water in it "Someone's thirsty" Aaron's groggy voice sounded unexpectedly.

Jackson turned and smiled at him. "Hey how you feeling?"

"Like my face has been slashed by knives and my back's been whacked with a huge rock..." he grunted.

"Well from what I can see, looks like it burst open..." he smirked. "I'm just so glad you're okay" Jackson let out a deep breath. "When Paddy left you I talked to him for a few minutes then came right back here...I've not left your side"

"Thankyou...you didn't have to do that" Aaron told him.

"I wanted too, you mean so much to me I had to make sure you'd be okay"

"I will be" Aaron nodded.

"But until then, you're hurting...I wish I could take the pain away..." Jackson said as a tear ran down his cheek.

"But you can't, nobody can" Aaron told him softly

Jackson nodded. "I know"

"They said it was fine that I didn't wanna do it anymore I'll be okay with this beating if it means I don't do it again..."

"You won't be, they said fine, got revenge for you saying that...but it's over like you said..."

Aaron nodded."I'm so tired Jackson" he told him weakly.

Jackson frowned; he felt the lump in his throat. "Go back to sleep Aaron, I'm not going anywhere."

Aaron eyes willingly closed and he drifted off into a sleep once again, minutes later.

TBC...