I'm sorry I've been neglecting this for so long! Things are getting exciting now so hopefully I won't have anymore horrible writer's block! Thanks for reading and thanks for being patient with me. :) x

Chapter 18

Aaron sat in the back room of the pub, clutching a warm cup of coffee as Chas fussed around him.

"Do you want something to eat love?"

"No. I'm finishing this and then I'm going back out there."

Cain, who was sitting on the sofa across the room stood up and approached Aaron.

"That's not a good idea lad. It's late, It's gone midnight, Best to do it in the morning eh?"

"You can." Aaron replied, downing his coffee and standing up.

"You are not going back out there Aaron. What if he's here?"

"You think he scares me? If I find him then I've as good as found Jackson." Cain and Chas didn't even have a chance to respond, Aaron was on his feet and heading for the door. "Don't wait up" he called over his shoulder before slamming the door behind him.

Chas stared at Cain, her brown eyes filling with tears "What if he is out there Cain? What if he hurts my boy again?"

"I'll go after him sis, Get him back."

"You know he won't come back! He's going to stay out there until he finds Jackson, or until Ed finds him. I don't want to see my boy hooked up to another life support machine because of that scumbag!"

"You won't. I promise you that, you won't."

"How so you know that Cain? Can you tell me, hand on heart that our Aaron is going to be safe out there with him prowling around?"

Cain shook his head and looked at the floor, tears now flowing down his face too.

With one final look at Chas, Cain was on his feet, sprinting out of the door after Aaron.

eeeeeeee

"Come on then!" Aaron screamed into the darkness "I know you're here! I swear to god if you've done ANYTHING to hurt Jackson I'll kill you! I ain't scared of you anymore!"

"Aaron!"

"I am not coming back inside!" Aaron yelled as he saw Cain running towards him.

"Aaron, I'm not asking, I'm telling, get back inside now! You're gonna wake the whole village!"

"I don't care if I do! You might not care about Jackson but I do and I'm not going to stop searching for him! Not until he's back in my arms and he's safe. If you can't get that through your head then you can bog off cause I don't need ya!"

Cain grabbed Aaron's arm "I'm not going to tell you again Aaron!"

"Get off me.." Aaron spat through gritted teeth.

"Or what? You're going to hit me? If you do you'll be no better than him Aaron! Now get back inside!"

Aaron stepped forward, squaring up to Cain. "And I'm not going to tell you again. Get..off...me."

Aaron shook off Cain's grip and began walking down the village, towards the garage.

Cain stood where he was watching Aaron go; the tears making fresh tracks down his face. His nephew stopped at the corner of Dale head and turned, running back up the street towards Cain.

"CAIN! Get inside and get help! The garage is on fire!"

"Get inside now, lad!"

"I can't Cain! Jackson's van is outside! what if he's in there? Just get help! I'm going back!"

"Why would Jackson be in there? AARON!"

Aaron blocked out his Uncle's shouts as he raced back down towards the garage. "I'm coming Jackson.. Hold on babe." he whispered, before covering his mouth and racing to the door. He was almost there..Inches away when he felt himself being wrestled to the ground, he tried as hard as he could to get away and get to the doors but they were stronger. He looked up and gasped...

"Long time no see, Aaron..."

TBC