Aftermath

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the ideas

I need to start with a huge apology, I have had huge computer problems (as in now have new laptop!). I will reply to reviews as soon as I can.

So finally to the main man himself, though this is not the final chapter; I have two more characters I wish to explore.

Seeing Aaron portrayed as he was in the show for these episodes was pure genius and so moving. I hope I have done justice to him.

. . .

Stood in the doorway Aaron did everything he could to hold himself together. Today had physical and mentally drained the last of his reserve. Aaron knew that going through the arrangements for the funeral was just the beginning of the end of the chapter.

Looking at his slumbering son he resisted the urge to crawl into bed with the young boy and hold him as he had every night since . . .

Swallowing hard Aaron realised that he couldn't even think the words let alone say them. Tears welled in his eyes as his brain tried to make him accept the fact. Haley was dead! Yet each time he tried to deal with the truth it was like his lost her all over again. His body once more flooded with the same emotions that he had experienced that very day – the exhaustion, the adrenaline and the pain.

Feeling the nausea rise from the pit of his stomach, Aaron focused hard on his peaceful son, willing his body to regain its control, but failing.

Closing the door softly Aaron swiftly made his way to the bathroom, losing the little his stomach contained when he got there. Steadying himself against the cool tiled wall, as he tried to rid the light headed feeling the sickness and lack of food had cause, Aaron slid down into an undignified heap on the floor. His head in his hands as his elbows rested on his knees, here he slumped and weep.

Aaron had no idea how long he had been there, as time seemed to be a concept he had lost a grip off since the moment his phone had rung and he'd heard Haley's voice for the last time. Seconds, minutes, hours and days all blurred. Some moments whizzing by in a flash, others long out staying their welcome. This was one of those moments.

Aaron willed himself to get up and get a grip. He knew he had to be strong and carry on. Yet his body failed to react to any of the messages his mind was sending out. So here he sat, tears rolling down his cheeks, the cold sensation of the tiles seeping through the light fabric of his dress shirt. Images flooding his mind as he tried to hold on to something other than the hollow echo of a gun-shot ringing through his ears.

Closing his eyes he rested his head back, knowing that this pain could not last forever, even if now it seemed never ending.

Dragging himself up, Aaron stumbled through to his bedroom collapsing onto the bed. Screwing the bed clothes up in his arm and snuggling into the heap he tried hard to imagine he was not alone. That maybe, just maybe if he slept, he would wake in the morning to realise that this was all some sick nightmare dreamed up by and overactive imagination coupled with the knowledge of the inner workings of psychopaths. However deep in his heart he knew there would be no happy ending.

This altered reality was worse than anything he could have imagined.

Opening his eyes Aarons blurred vision settled on a photo by the bedside. The black and white image of Hayley and Jack had been taken on a rare family weekend away. The fall leaves were fresh on the ground and Jack's smile as he jumped in a large pile of them with his Mom was as broad as the proverbial Cheshire Cat.

Instantly Aaron scolded himself for working the hours he did and punishing his family the way he had. He allowed the blame to tumble down on top of him, crushing him under its weight.

All of this was his fault. He had caused all of this. He had made his son spend half his life so far without a father and the rest of it without a mother.

If he had only taken more time off, then they would have been a family. Hayley and Jack had needed him and instead he had been busy trying to change the world. He should have been a father first and FBI second. Hayley had tried to warn him, to reason with him, but he had accused her of being selfish.

If he had of left The Reaper alone then none of this would have happened. Haley would still be here. His son would not be crying himself to sleep each night having spent the days crashed out on the couch watching home videos of his time with his Mom.

The burden was too much and Aaron could feel himself cracking.

Rising from his bed there was only one place he wanted to be and one thing he wanted to do. Sneaking back along the corridor, he slightly opened Jack's door once more. Without a sound he crossed the small room. In one carefully perfected technique, one honed over the last few days, Aaron was curled in the same bed as his son. Tonight Aaron went to Jack instead of Jack coming to him.

Feeling the steady breathing of Jack, Aaron's own breaths soon evened out to match his son's; helping him feel a sense of peace that had been missing all day. Pulling Jack as close as was physically possible, Aaron held on as if his life depended on it. Right now it was plausible that it did.

Concentrating on the sensation of his son's warm body tight against him, Aaron felt his eyes fluttered shut as sleep finally found him. His muscles slackened but did not release as the darkness cocooned them both.

He needed Jack as much as Jack needed him.

Together they were a team.

Together they could face anything.

Together they stood a chance.