– AARON & JACKSON: MY WAY –
"LOVE"
~This fanfic follows on the next day after Consequences Of A Few Brave Words
- I do not own the characters, or Emmerdale – ITV do.
...
Aaron woke up, he couldn't open one of his eyes properly due to the swelling; the other wasn't as bad and it opened fine, he was sore, his face felt dry and tight. He breathed steadily to help take his mind of the pain as he sat up. He saw Jackson lying on the other sofa, he felt grateful for Jackson, he hadn't left his side, and he was surprised Jackson managed to sleep. Aaron moved the quilt that had been put over him through the night and he stood up and wandered to the kitchen; it was time for Aaron to do something for Jackson, only a cup of tea but it was better than nothing.
He walked back into the living room carrying two mugs, and he saw Jackson look to the other sofa and he shot up in a panic. "Hey, I'm here..."
Jackson let out a sigh of relief when he heard his boyfriend's voice and he turned to him.
"Just making a brew" Aaron told him as he handed his over.
Jackson took it and looked at his face; his bruising had worsened as had the swelling. "How do you feel?" he asked.
"Sore" Aaron replied and sat beside him, slowly lowering himself down.
Jackson nodded. "I'll go and get some more painkillers after I've had this and gotten changed"
Aaron nodded. "I think Paddy's at work" he told him.
"Probably, oh and we decided that we don't want your mum seeing you like this"
"Oh okay, yeah alright" Aaron replied, he wasn't expecting that but he understood why, it would just make matters worse.
...
Aaron was home alone, Jackson had popped out to the shop, he lay on the sofa facing the back of it, curled up in the duvet.
Meanwhile Chas was charging along the stones to the garage. "Oi!" she shouted to Cain.
Cain sighed and turned around to his sister. "What now? You were here twice yesterday and now today, I told ya...I dunno where Aaron is..."
Chas sighed. "You better not be lying!"
"What's so important anyway?" Cain asked.
"Well he's my son Cain, I just wanna see him, I'll try the house, Jackson's van's outside so hopefully Aaron is there too, some help you are"
"I'm not his keeper Chas"
Chas shook her head as she turned around and walked away.
Moments later she walked into Smithy with her usual 'Hellooo'.
*Oh crap* Aaron thought remembering Jackson's words about not wanting her to see him like that and he opened his eyes and pulled the duvet over his head.
Chas stopped in the living room a frown instantly expressed on her face. "Aaron?"
"I'm asleep..." he replied but the sound was muffled because of the duvet.
Chas rolled her eyes. "Obviously"
"I'm not well mum can ya just do one"
"No I haven't see you since your announcement in the pub and that was ages ago, I miss ya"
Aaron scrunched his face, why did she miss him? He thought. "I'm not well" he repeated and pulled the duvet down off his head, he was still facing the back of the sofa and he heard Chas walk over.
"Why love? What's wrong?" she asked concerned.
"Just don't go mental alright?" he told her with a sigh and then turned to face her.
"Oh my god! Aaron!" she panicked and kneeled down on the floor by the sofa. "What the hell happened?" she demanded. "Look at you"
"I'm alright, I went out for a smoke last night in town when me and Jackson were out and I got jumped it's no big deal" he lied.
Chas sighed. "It isa big deal son..." she shook her head. "Have ya called the police?" she asked.
Aaron shook his head. "No, I didn't see who attacked me, Jackson came out eventually though and he found me, and got me home, him and Paddy helped clean me up"
"Well...you're alive at least...do you need anything?" she asked to which Aaron shook his head. "Okay, where's everyone?" she wondered.
"Jacksons gone to get me some more painkillers, Paddy's at work"
"And they just left you alone did they? Nice one"
"Mum! Stop going on, I'm fine and I don't need anything" Aaron told her.
"You're not fine!" she told him. "I'm staying right here until Jackson gets back"
"Suit yourself I'm not much company right now"
"When are ya?" she asked him with a smirk.
...
Hours later and evening was beginning to set in, Jackson had ran a bath for Aaron. He walked into the bedroom. "Right come on you...time for a bath, get cleaned up properly"
Aaron was sat on the edge of his bed looking down at the floor and he shook his head.
Jackson frowned. "Why not Aaron?"
"I just don't want too" he replied quietly.
"You don't wanna see what else they did?" Jackson asked softly as he stepped closer to him.
Aaron nodded his head.
Jackson looked at him sympathetically as he knelt down in front of him. "I know you have your stubbornness but you'll have to put it aside for what I'm gunna suggest..."
Aaron looked at him curiously. "Go on..."
"Let me help you babe, I know your sore and the clothes will hurt when you take them off...and the waters not red hot either, I've made sure of it, I'll help you in there...and you don't need to be embarrassed either, I've seen it all before, a lot of times..." he smirked and Jackson got one back. "Come on"
Aaron nodded slowly and stood up, pulling a face at the pain. "It'll go away eventually" Jackson soothed as they walked to the bathroom.
Once inside, Aaron turned to Jackson. "Make sure the doors locked"
Jackson nodded. "No one else will see except me I promise" he told him and locked the door.
Aaron let out a breath and turned away and began to pull his t-shirt up, but it hurt too much. "I-I can't"
"It's alright..." he stepped closer to him, in front of him now. "It might hurt a bit but I'll keep it away as best I can"
Aaron nodded. "I trust you"
Jackson took hold of the bottom of Aaron's t-shirt and pulled it away from his skin and lifted it slowly making sure it stayed away from the skin like he'd promised, the more he lifted the material up the more Jackson was able to see the damage that had been inflicted upon his boyfriend, several clusters of bruised skin were dotted around his torso and stomach; he held his emotions back as he moved round behind Aaron and lifted it away from him, then he saw the massive purple-yellow bruise in the centre of his back. Jackson's emotions couldn't be held back now and the tears came silently, with Aaron's help the t-shirt didn't touch his face as he took it off.
Aaron looked away, he could sense the emotion pouring out of Jackson and he pulled down his joggers and underwear, took off his socks and stepped into the bath. Jackson cleared his throat. "Is it too hot?" he asked.
Aaron shook his head. "No its fine...thanks..." he smiled a little as he took Jackson's hand as he lowered himself into the bath.
Jackson knelt down at the side of the bath, resting his chin on the edge of it with his hands in the water holding a sponge and he lifted it out and gently squeezed the water out of it over Aaron's back. "Does it hurt?" he asked.
"No, it feels nice" Aaron answered with closed eyes.
Jackson smiled as he watched him. "What do you think of the bubbles?"
Aaron smirked. "Always thought you were a child" he jibed.
Jackson chuckled. "Now...do you wanna do your face or shall I?" he asked.
Aaron sighed. "It's gotta be done hasn't it"
"Yeah" Jackson told him. "They have to stay clean"
Aaron nodded. "You do it"
Jackson put the sponge back in the water and did the same on his face as he did on his back, but there was a reaction this time, he noted he was gritting his teeth and clenching his fists, it was bound to sting. He did it a few more times to make sure all of his face had a good douse of clean water.
"I'm glad that bits done" Jackson smiled.
"Me too" Aaron agreed.
Jackson handed him the sponge. "Now you can do ya down belows and all that" he smirked.
Aaron chuckled. "Too right I' am...this is embarrassing enough...but...I appreciate you so much, I couldn't have done this without ya" Aaron told him and Jackson smiled back at him.
"I know you do" Jackson ran his hand through his short hair. As he caressed Aaron and watched him, he wondered what he'd done to deserve him; despite his flaws Aaron was perfect.
TBC...