AARON & JACKSON

-1912: The Aftermath-

"This Is How You Remind Me Of What I Really Am"

SEVEN DAYS LATER

Visiting time was approaching quickly, Aaron sighed as he rested his head back against the pillow and stared up at the clock above the door to his room. He dreaded visiting hours, he and Jackson were talking but it was awkward, both of them skirted around the issue that needed to be discussed, Aaron was skirting around the issue in fear of saying something Jackson wouldn't want to hear. He found himself missing Mark and since he woke up in the hospital that longing increased.

He was recovering well, he had stitches in his side to seal the wound that he'd received in the accident and his legs were bruised, cut but importantly working, well barely he'd been out of his room a few times to attend a physiotherapy session with the doctor to help him get the use of his legs back. He failed each time, as he got out of the wheelchair and stood properly his legs couldn't support him and he fell, over the last week and a session a day that had occurred every time until three days ago when he finally managed to stay standing and take a few steps. The doctor was pleased with his progress and simply kept reminding Aaron that it could have been much worse. Aaron knew that and was happy to be getting better, the doctor issued him with crutches, he'd used them and walked around his room unaided, he was impressed with himself.

Aaron leaned over and lifted his gown and looked at the stitches in his side. He pulled a face as he examined it, it was a nasty four inch vertical cut that was sure to scar. As he was preoccupied with examining his cut the door opened and Jackson walked in. Aaron looked up as he covered his cut and watched as Jackson sat in the chair by the bed. There was silence for a few seconds before either of them actually spoke. "That giving you any problems?" Jackson wondered.

"No" Aaron told him as he shook his head.

"Good" Jackson smiled. "How you feeling today?"

"I'm fine, ready to go"

"I know, I saw the doctor on the way in, he'll be round soon"

Aaron nodded.

"Mum sends her love" Jackson told him with an awkward smile.

Aaron smiled and acknowledged his words by a nod.

"Oh and Adam too, he said he'd come round the house tomorrow"

Aaron smiled. "I can't wait to see him"

It was time now, they'd dipped and dived around the impending conversation, it was happening whether Aaron liked it or not. "As opposed to me"

Aaron frowned. "Don't start"

"We need to talk"

Aaron rolled his eyes. "I suppose we do"

"Do you even want to come back to the house?"

"What sort of question is that?"

"Well you know, I'm just curious because I don't know where I stand with you right now, you have a man that apparently likes you more than a lot…you were trapped together for well over twenty four hours, you refuse to talk about it…so something tells me that there's something going on between you two"

Aaron pouted and shook his head. "I've told him nothing is going to happen"

Jackson frowned. "See, but it already did though didn't it?"

Aaron swallowed hard. "You overheard certain things you know the answer"

"But I want to know your side Aaron"

"I was drunk" he began with a sigh. "He was walking me so far but he moved me into a dark alley down the side of the pub, he got close, I couldn't see a thing but I felt him kiss me, I pushed him away and walked off, he followed me…grabbed me by the arm and got way close again…" Aaron sighed heavily and swallowed hard. "He touched me, he put his hand on me and starting squeezing and rubbing"

Jackson bit his lip as his anger spiked, he looked away from Aaron for a second.

"I told him nothing is going to happen"

Jackson nodded. "Did you like it?"

"Jackson I was dr-"

"Answer the question!"

"No!" Aaron told him loudly with a scowl.

Jackson scoffed. "Tell me something, how many men have you had? Been with? Whatever you wanna call it"

"Just you"

"Right so, isn't it safe to assume that you wanna go play the field, experience other men? Enjoy the attention given to you by them, by him"

"Nope" Aaron replied quickly and while his words were true Aaron knew the other answer, to him both answers were honest. "A-Alright listen, I did like the attention but I didn't want it, it just happened, he's attracted to me, yes he wants me but that's not going to happen Jackson"

Jackson nodded. "Right this is the plan; once you're out of here we're going home, to start again"

Aaron nodded.

"But before that just answer me one question…" Jackson stared into Aaron's eyes before he delivered it. "Do you have feelings for him?"

Aaron was careful not to react in anyway. He ran his tongue along his bottom lip. "I thought I did…down there when we were trapped, he was kind, genuinely concerned for me…so yes I thought I did but I don't Jackson, I really don't. You're the one that I have feelings for"

"Not him?"

Aaron shook his head. "No" he said as he reached out and took Jackson's hand in his and squeezed gently. "And things will be different when I get home"

Jackson smiled and lifted Aaron's hand and kissed it softly.

…

Once they arrived home Aaron was the last to walk into the house and as he turned to close the door, further up the street he saw Mark watching. Aaron shook his head, a message he hoped he'd received before shutting out the world. He turned to Jackson unaware that someone else was in the house. "I'm going to lie down on the couch"

Jackson nodded with a smile. "Ok, I'll be in soon"

Aaron walked away and into the living room, he dropped his crutches down again in a huff. "I will get rid of you permanently!" he glared angrily at them then lowered himself onto the sofa, his legs were shaky but he managed without falling, he propped up the cushions behind his head and simply rested.

Jackson nodded and grinned as he walked into the kitchen and it set her off grinning madly and she walked along the hallway, her heels making as much noise as they possibly could as she walked.

Aaron opened his eyes frowning, Hazel didn't wear high heels, unless she did now, he didn't even know anyone else was in. When she walked into the room and stood with her hands on her hips, Aaron's eyes widened and he jumped up. "Mum? Oh my god! What the!"

Chas giggled and walked to him to stop him from getting up. "Hello love" she said as she wrapped her arms around him with a squeeze. "Been getting into a scrape again I see"

"As always…" he told her with a smile, his eyes, his smile and his body language seemed brighter, more positive since he saw her. Jackson stood watching on with a smile, that's what he wanted out of all of the running around organising her trip.

"Well you need to be more careful" she told him as they pulled away.

"Yep" he replied as he grinned happily.

"How you doing? You ok?"

"I'm fine love" she reached out and ran her hand over his head. "Been worried sick about you though, the titanic and then arriving a few days ago to find out you're in hospital, I've been staying here out of the way so I could surprise you, Jackson's kept me company and filled me in on the goings on"

Aaron looked up at Jackson with a hint of a frown and then looked back at his mum. "How long are you here for?"

"Um, I don't know yet"

"But I've told her however long she wants to stay is fine" Jackson told him.

"I'm so glad you're here" Aaron hugged her again.

"I'll leave you both to it" Jackson told them before walking out.

Chas pulled away. "I really am pleased you're okay but" she slapped his arm hard. "This other man? Hmm?"

Aaron pulled a face and rubbed his stinging arm. "He told you that!"

"He's told me everything"

"Well he had no right!"

"He had every right Aaron! He loves you, and I like him, you know what I'm like with people, so it says a lot that I've decided on him already, don't you dare mess this up for yourself, he's a good man"

"And what if Mark is?" Aaron countered.

"Don't!" she spoke through gritted teeth.

Aaron sighed then smirked. "Just like old times eh?"

"Oh yes and don't forget that I'm here sunshine…don't forget it, I'm watching you. I know what you're really like, Jackson doesn't know the half of it, and you can be a hell of a good liar when you want and need to be, you might be able to fool him but you can't fool me"

"And you wondered why I wanted to get away!" he spat nastily.

Chas slapped him hard knocking his head to the side. "But seeing what you have I'm glad you did, don't fuck it up!" she warned.

"I'm not that guy anymore mum, let's face it you haven't exactly been around much and back when I was at home you were never in, what did they call you? Oh yeah village bike"

Chas had to restrain herself from hitting him again. "And what did they call you Aaron? They called you gay; you were hiding it, that one man kept on at you. What did you do? Hmm? What did you do?"

"Shut up! Now" he told her quickly.

"OR WHAT?" it seemed when mother and son were alone together, a dark past surfaced and fireworks were certainly set off. "A leopard can't change its spots Aaron, I won't be fooled by you, I'm trying to save you from yourself because I know you more than you know yourself, you fight those feelings you have and you bin them. Jackson's good for you. I won't stand by and let that man in there get hurt, you can't miss what you never had so forget Mark, you have Jackson, and you would however miss him"

"Get out" Aaron said as he glared at her.

Chas nodded and got up. She smiled at him. "You rest love; I'll see you at dinner" she told him and walked out.

Jackson approached her when she walked into the kitchen. "Everything alright?"

Chas' smile was wide and she nodded. "Yeah great, he's just going to rest till dinner I think"

"Good" Jackson smiled. "And speaking of dinner, I best get started"

"I'll give you a hand"

"No you're a guest"

"I insist Jackson, Aaron might wander round here without contributing but I won't"

Jackson frowned and he chuckled. "How did you know?"

"Oh yeah I forgot to say, I met your mother when you were at the hospital yesterday, seems alright…looked down her nose at me a bit but yeah she told me she hasn't seen Aaron tidy up or cook, or…well anything really"

"Yeah well I don't mind" Jackson told her.

"Well you should, you're his boyfriend not his flipping butler"

"He's had a rough time"

"And you haven't? I'm sorry Jackson but he needs to realise this planet doesn't revolve all around him, he's selfish…saying that though…he's always been the same…d-does he talk much to you?"

"What about?"

"Life back in Emmerdale, or in general"

"He's said bits just about certain odd jobs at the garage in particular" he chuckled. "Dodgy stuff he said"

Chas smirked with a nod.

"But talking in general? No…I quickly learned that my stunningly gorgeous boyfriend is a man of very few words"

"He is that. Listen don't you worry about this other bloke right? I'm here now and while I don't think he wants him in anyway" she knew that was a lie but she could deal with it. "I can keep an eye…don't you worry"

Jackson smiled. "Thanks Chas…I appreciate it"

"You're welcome, so where do I start?"

"Potatoes are in the basket over there" he told her and off she went. Jackson liked her, she wasn't bothered what people said or thought, and she had a mind of her own and was ready to speak up.

…

Aaron couldn't rest, he got up with a sigh and looked out of the window and saw Mark hanging around still. Aaron frowned considering what he was about to do. He headed to the living room door and peaked out along the corridor, the kitchen door was half closed and he made his move, he quietly walked to the door and opened it carefully. After stepping out he walked along the path and out onto the main street, the front of their garden was lined with bushes, he stood in front of one out of sight, at least he hoped. He watched as Mark ran over, seconds later he stopped in front of him.

"I was going to wait to see if you actually would…"

"I-I can't keep away" Aaron admitted with a frown, a mixture of feelings fought within him.

Mark nodded. "So crutches then eh? I wanted to come and see you but considering"

Aaron nodded. "I know…and yeah crutches, bane of my life lately" he chuckled.

"Had them before I take it?"

"Yeah several months back, broken ankle"

"Ahh right…you should be back on your feet properly soon though" Mark smiled.

"Can't wait"

"Will you be coming back to work?"

"Uh I've been thinking a lot about that"

Mark sighed, disappointed. "You're not are you?"

Aaron shook his head. "I'm not going through that again"

"I understand"

"B-…But…"

"Just say it Aaron" Mark told him softly.

Aaron sighed and relaxed then looked at him. "But it doesn't mean I don't want to still see you"

Mark smiled. "I never thought I'd hear you say that"

"Well you just did…and listen…m-my mums here…long story but she's a proper tyrant…she knows about everything and has warned me…pretty much…so if we meet up then…" Aaron let out a deep breath.

"Yeah I get it, on the sly, in secret etc"

Aaron nodded. "Something like that yeah"

In the house Chas walked out of the kitchen for a minute and left Jackson too it, she'd heard movement a few minutes ago but didn't want to do anything for Jackson to start asking questions so she waited. She walked into the living room and Aaron wasn't there. She frowned and walked to the far side of the window and looked out, she saw someone by the bushes, just their side and it wasn't Aaron. Her frown was deep. "I think he's gone to get some fresh air, I'm just going to make sure he's okay"

"Yeah, yeah, no worries" Jackson called back to her as she walked to the door.

Once she opened it she walked along the path making her presence known by her heels.

Aaron's eyes widened and he began to panic. "Oh shit"

"That her?" Mark whispered.

"Yes, go…" he rushed him and off he went.

"Yeah you better go, and don't come back!" she spat angrily at him as she stood on the main street looking at them both. She looked disgusted at Aaron. "You make me sick"

"You've done worse!"

"I've never cheated!"

"You've never been in a relationship to cheat, unless a long line of regulars counts"

"Watch your mouth or I'll swipe you from those crutches and you'll be on your arse, get back in there now"

Aaron did as he was told and as he walked up to the house he spoke again. "You can't stop me feeling the way I do about him"

"People will get hurt Aaron and you know it'll happen"

He shook his head.

"So when Jackson pushes and pushes you for answers…what then?"

"I told you…I've changed"

"And I told you, a leopard can't change its spots…" she told him as she followed him in the house. "…Extreme violent episodes don't disappear…" she added quietly.

TBC…