AARON & JACKSON

-1912: The Aftermath-

"It Can Only Take One Day…"

It was the next morning and Aaron woke up and couldn't feel Jackson beside him, he was alone. As he listened he could hear voices downstairs; it sounded like his mum and Hazel were picking at each other. He sighed and rolled his eyes, when he heard footsteps however getting closer he closed his eyes again, pretending to be asleep.

Jackson walked in with a tray, a glass of orange juice, some tablets and a bowl of porridge. He smiled at Aaron; he looked cute when he was asleep. In that moment Aaron decided to 'wake' "Hey you, I've brought you some breakfast"

Aaron pulled up the duvet to his neck, uncomfortable with even a bit of skin on show, he had no choice in the matter last night but he did now. "How are you feeling?" Jackson asked. "You cold?"

"A bit" he shrugged. "You didn't have to do this Jackson" His guilt was increasing all the more especially when Jackson was being as loving as ever.

Jackson smiled. "I'd be no boyfriend If I wasn't looking after you. But I can't stay I've got to go into the office today, a big shipment of materials is coming in"

Aaron smiled in reply then Jackson leaned over the bed "Hey" he almost whispered and tilted Aaron's chin up then gently kissed him. Aaron deepened the kiss in hopes of any sparks as it were but nothing happened, at least in comparison to a kiss from mark. "I love you Jackson" he told him as he looked him in the eyes, as he did he realised how weird those words felt.

Before Jackson could reply there was a knock on the door and Chas entered. "How's the patient this morning?"

Jackson grinned. "He's getting there, he's going out to look for jobs today aren't ya babe?"

Aaron smiled and nodded quickly. "Yeah, yeah I am"

Chas pouted as she listened to Aaron, yeah like hell he was! "Ohh, you mind if I tag along? A woman's influence is never a bad thing"

Aaron scowled. "Erm, nah I'll be-"

"Oh go on Aaron it'll be nice"

"If you must" Aaron told her with a sigh.

"Good" she stared gravely at him. "I'll go and get my slap on" she turned and left the room.

A while later Hazel and Jackson left the house, he was driving her into town before continuing to work. "So what was with you and Chas earlier then?"

"We clash Jackson; it's just the way it is"

"Clash because of what? Why I mean she's alright"

"Not because of her, because of Aaron"

"Eh?" he frowned "You're alright with him"

"Yeah well, not lately and she doesn't like what I have to say"

"Well she did tell me you told her Aaron does nothing round the house, cheers for that"

"Well its true Jackson, he's been strange lately and don't say you haven't noticed it, you're his boyfriend for god sake if anyone's to notice stuff, it's you"

Jackson shrugged. "He's been fine; I dunno where you're getting all this from"

"Well then you're blinded aren't you" she huffed as Jackson brought the car to a stop. "Right" she undid her belt and leaned forward. "I'll see you soon" she said before giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Yeah, see ya" he told her as she got out of the car. Jackson watched her walk away with a frown on his face; he didn't understand why she would start to bath mouth Aaron now. He was perplexed and shook his head as he pulled away.

On the other side of town, closer to home Aaron and Chas walked at a steady pace side by side. Aaron kept checking his watch and looking around which didn't go unnoticed by his mother. "Am I keeping you? Need to be somewhere do we? I've never seen you so eager to find a job"

Aaron gave her one of his trademark scowls. He sighed, he had to get away from her, he had to get to Mark, and he was all that was on his mind he began to think how he could suddenly lose his mum.

Chas smiled. "Ah, in here, you didn't eat your breakfast Jackson so kindly made you and I didn't have anything so I think this café will do us for now"

"Why?"

"Because I'm hungry"

"No mum, I know what you're doing"

"We need to have a talk; I want to understand what's going on in your head son"

"I've already told you"

"No Aaron, I haven't even scratched the surface, come on, inside" she held her arm out towards the door of the café and Aaron had no choice but to do as she told.

After their orders were taken it gave Chas time to talk. She sighed and looked at her son, she frowned he didn't seem himself at all, he kept looking around, he looked on edge and he had no reason to be, any loud noise made him jump. "Aaron…"

"What!" he replied loudly.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked, genuinely worried about him.

"Nothing, I just don't feel right"

"Why?"

"Well I don't know do I, I just don't"

Chas let out a deep breath. "You have seen Mark haven't you?"

Aaron shook his head. "No" he lied.

"Alright, well do you have feelings for him? Jackson told me you thought you did when you were stuck down that mine…"

Aaron shrugged. "Maybe but I don't see him, so nothing can come of it, not that I want it too"

"But you miss him don't you?"

Aaron sighed and lowered his head. That gave Chas her answer.

"Why do you set out to ruin people's lives? Hmm"

"But I haven't done anything!"

"No but you're missing a man who isn't Jackson" she said in a hushed voice then sniggered. "You think I'm stupid"

"No…you just know me better than anyone…"

"Yeah, and it scares the hell out of me"

"Well why do you insist on coming into town with me then if I scare you so much? You hate me, after you saw what I did…it changed, didn't it? Your love for me…"

Chas swallowed hard. "What you did Aaron…" she shook her head. "It wasn't necessary"

"At the time it was, I wasn't comfortable with myself then, and this world wasn't and still isn't ready for gay people to be open, he threatened that"

Chas sighed. "You can do what the hell you want alright? I don't care anymore but if this all comes out, I won't lie to Jackson, he'll find out some things that are best kept secret and if you so much as switch to that monster I've seen before I won't hesitate in protecting Jackson because out of all this, out of all the people he will be the one to get hurt, hurt from the affair and hurt because you go crazy and I will not let that happen"

Aaron just stared at the table the entire time she was speaking. He looked up at her. "It did change then…your love for me, sod this!" he told her as he jumped up from his seat, shoving it into the back of a seat with an elderly woman occupying it and he bolted, he flung the café door open and ran as fast as he could away from her. He caused quite a scene in the café and Chas was left apologising, especially to the old lady at the table in front.

Aaron was sprinting to the mine compound; it was almost break time he would get to see him. He arrived a few minutes later and Mark saw him and he grinned as his heart beat quickened. Aaron grinned too and stopped in front of him seconds later. Breathless, he spoke "Mark, I don't think we're going to be able to see each other later, my mums on my case again! She insisted walking me round town today, anyway I had to see you, she started having a talk with me, we had a bust up and I bolted, I wanna kiss you so badly"

Mark smirked. "Alright, give me five minutes, meet me down our alley…" he said with a laugh.

"Where it all started eh?" Aaron asked with a smile.

Mark chuckled as he walked off. "Five minutes" he reminded him

Aaron made his way out of the compound and crossed the road to the pub; he walked into the alley down the side of the pub and waited. Eventually Mark arrived and stopped in front of him, a thrilling passion overwhelmed him and he pushed him against the wall, kissing him quickly, hands roamed over each other's bodies, they rubbed and squeezed also. Mark brought the kiss to a halt and rested his forehead against Aaron's. "I better get back" he said sadly and his expression matched.

"Ok" Aaron nodded, it saddened him also.

Mark tore himself away from Aaron and walked up to the main street, before leaving it he turned to him again. "Aaron! I'm falling for you…big time…I'll see you soon"

Aaron smiled, it was all he could do he didn't know what to do with that at all and when he'd gone Aaron slid down the wall and put his head in his hands briefly then looked up at the clear blue sky. Minutes later Aaron headed back to the house, once there he ran straight to the phone and dialled the farm where Aaron worked. As luck would have it Adam answered. "Adam!" Aaron called out desperate to talk to him. "Oh thank god"

"Aaron, mate what's up are you alright?" concern filled his voice.

"J-Just listen alright…if my mum or Jackson asks, I came to see you today ok?"

Adam sighed loudly. "What have you done Aaron?"

"Please Adam do this one thing for me"

"I don't like this Aaron, I think me and you need to talk don't you? Meet me in half an hour at the park" he didn't wait for Aaron to reply he simply hung up.

At the park Aaron sat propped up against the trunk of a large tree, he looked up minutes later when Adam stood in front of him. Neither lads said anything; Adam simply sat down beside him. "What you up to Aaron?" Adam asked as he picked away at the grass.

Aaron let out a deep breath. "I-I..." he sighed.

"Come on mate"

"I'm having an affair"

Adam shot a look in his direction, a look of disappointment, that Aaron couldn't keep looking at. "You what!" he demanded.

"With Mark"

"Oh you…"

"Don't alright I know!" Aaron raised his voice.

"What? You know what exactly Aaron!"

"That it's wrong but I can't help myself Adam…h-he…he's different"

"Jackson knew this might happen"

"He knows?"

"Well obviously not! But when the explosion happened he was so scared that he was brainwashing you"

Aaron rolled his eyes. "He hasn't…I've done this by choice…I want them…both…and I can't, I feel so horrible and dirty, I can't help myself Adam"

"Ohh mate, I wish you never told me"

"Why?" Aaron asked him.

"Because you've dragged me into it and now I'm lying to Jackson too! I can't keep this secret"

"Well you're going too"

"He's my mate too Aaron"

"You were mine first, just remember that"

Adam scoffed. "And that should make me feel bound to keep your dirty little secret should it? I don't think so mate"

"Please Adam" Aaron begged as he pushed himself up onto his feet and began pacing back and forth in front of him.

"Don't threaten him"

Aaron's looked on in horror as his mum walked toward him, she'd been close she had to have been. He looked at Adam angrily.

Adam sighed and flung his hands in the air and dropped them helplessly. "I saw her on my way here…s-she told me her suspicions…once she knew I was meeting you, she had a plan…"

"You went behind my back?"

Adam got to his feet. "We just care about you! You're behaviour lately is way more than odd and now we know why! You're bending over for the next man that gave you some attention, and god knows why because Jackson dotes on you! He gives you all the attention you need, and frankly" Adam said as he stepped over to him. "More than you fucking deserve!"

Angrily Aaron flung his fist into Adam's face knocking him back. Chas jumped in. "Hey! No! Aaron! No!" she screamed as she tried to pull him away but he kept punching him, blow after blow to his face. With all her strength Chas eventually dragged him away and held him up against the tree.

"NOW!" she shouted in his face. "NOW DO YOU SEE WHY I'M SCARED TO DEATH?" she screamed then quietened. "Not only for the people around you but for YOU, Aaron"

Aaron's breathing hitched as he began to cry, he looked down at Adam's bloodied face. "I-I'm so sorry Adam, I-…"

Adam got to his feet and wiped the blood from his nose and eyebrow. He shook his head at him and smirked, pointing at him. "Mates don't do that" he said before walking off.

"Adam!" Aaron called after him as he cried, but there was no answer.

Chas pulled Aaron forward then back against the tree forcefully. "Do you blame him?" she asked sadness in her voice

"Get off me" Aaron pleaded.

Chas shook her head. "I'm not letting you out of my sight; you're in no state to be alone"

"Like you care" Aaron spat bitterly before forcing his mother away from him "I'm not coming home either! I've dug my grave and I will lie in it, that house isn't mine anymore, I-I love Jackson" he sobbed. "I do, but I want Mark…I'm not coming back to that house, and whatever you do next, you do it…" he told her and ran.

Chas sighed and watched him run away. "He's losing it" she muttered as she placed her hand on her forehead "Completely losing it, it's happening again…"

…

Aaron arrived at Mark's house but he was still at work. He tried the door and it was locked. He sighed and went on to pick the lock, something he'd seen his uncle Cain do many times from a young age, and it was something he'd become skilled at doing; only this time he wasn't using it to steal, he simply wanted to be inside so he could wait for Mark.

He closed the door behind him and found himself looking around Mark's home, he was so lost, he was losing himself, but he wasn't aware of it. One of the kitchen drawers caught his attention and he stepped over to it and opened it, it was full of cutlery. Aaron looked up and stared at the wall for a second before looking back into the drawer. He picked out a knife and it was no normal knife for eating. He closed the draw and held the knife in his hand; he stared at it as he moved it between his fingers and began to spin it slowly. He didn't know what he was going to do with it; all he knew was that he needed it.

Chas burst into the house and stopped when she saw Jackson. She swallowed hard, but he'd seen her, and was startled by her arrival. "Chas? You alright? Where's Aaron?" he asked as he walked to her. "Have you been crying?"

"Oh erm…yeah…this…" she pointed to her tears, she blew out a breath. "Jackson, we need to talk"

"You're worrying me now…"

"Let's go in the lounge eh?" she forced a smile, she hated the fact she was going to be the one to tell him, but things had gone too far now, he had to know.

Sitting down in the lounge Jackson wondered what was going on and more importantly he was worried about Aaron, where was he?

Chas was shaking. "There's something I need to tell you"

"Where's Aaron? Is he okay?"

"No, Aaron is far from okay Jackson and where he's at is a mystery to me…but…I have an inkling as to where he could be…" she looked Jackson in the eye and was met by his deep frown. "Mark's house…h-he…he's been having an affair"

Jackson's eyes widened and he let out a deep breath, it hurt it really hurt. "N-No, there must be a mistake"

Chas shook her head. "There isn't Jackson, I've been looking for some sort of proof…I got it…I bumped into Adam today, he told me he was meeting Aaron…we had a bust up and he ran off"

Jackson nodded.

"I went with him; hid out of the way and listened as he confessed all to Adam…anyway…when I showed my face he felt betrayed by Adam and things well…they escalated"

"Escalated how…?"

"Aaron punched Adam, repeatedly"

"Oh god" Jackson placed his hands over his mouth. "How is he?"

"He's fine just hurt, physically and emotionally, his friend beat him up, how would you feel?"

Jackson nodded, he understood.

"Still, the fact remains he's been sleeping with Mark, behind your back…"

Jackson nodded. "Y-yeah…y-y-you said Aaron wasn't okay…why?"

"This is not my secret to tell Jackson, but what I will tell you is that he's slipping into a very dark place, a place I really don't want to go back to, I hated experiencing that last time…and now…well…I just might have too, he needs my help…"

"What's that meant to mean? Slipping into a very dark place? Is this linked with Mark, the affair?"

Chas shook her head. "No, it's completely separate…you think Aaron's fully recovered from things Jackson? And by recovered I mean mentally?"

Jackson frowned. "I-I-I think so…b-but now, I don't know…Chas please tell me"

"I can't, you have to hear it from Aaron but what you need to know is that he isn't recovered, I'm no expert but Aaron doesn't deal with things, he makes it look like he does, but he just buries it all, and when it comes back to kick him, like it's starting now…I-it won't be good"

"Chas I can't help him if you don't tell me"

Chas started to cry. "I can't" she got up and started to run out. "I'm sorry"

…

Jackson mind was filled with images of another man making love to Aaron as he marched toward Mark's house, he'd stopped by the mine compound, made a cock and bull story about being an old friend and asked for his correct address, he'd lost the note he'd written it down on. They gave him it and now he was heading right there.

Stopping at the door he banged on it repeatedly. He wasn't stopping until someone answered. Seconds later the door opened and it was Mark, he remembered his face. With anger Jackson barged in and grabbed him by the neck as he did and pinned him up against the wall. "Where is Aaron?" Jackson yelled. "I know about you two, so don't deny it! Where the hell is he?"

Mark struggled for air but Jackson let go just in time and he dropped to the floor, his breathing was rapid. "I-I love him alright, we couldn't help it"

Jackson laughed. "You love him? Yeah course you do! You manipulated him!"

Mark shook his head. "No…Aaron h-he…he did this on his own…it was his choice"

"Well I've just been told Aaron isn't doing so well right now, something I should have seen…but I'm betting whatever it is has something to do with this and when I find him…he'll be coming back to our home with me" Jackson told him and walked off into the living room, searching then moved upstairs to look.

Minutes later Jackson returned, Mark had been truthful, Aaron really wasn't there, and it scared Jackson. He probably would have preferred it if he was there. He stared at Mark.

"W-why would you want him now?"

Jackson's eyes narrowed in anger as he approached Mark. "Excuse me?"

"Why would you want him now?"

"Yeah I heard you…and do you really want to know why? I love him, it's that simple…somehow Aaron's losing it, and he's out there somewhere alone, and by all accounts from what I could figure from his mum, unstable…very unstable and he needs saving"

Mark scoffed. "By you"

Jackson got in Mark's face. "Hey…I've done it before and I can do it again…it's amazing what love can do eh? Even after hearing about his betrayal…I still love him and you…well…" Jackson chuckled. "…You're nowhere near good enough for him" Jackson spat bitterly, deep down he had inherited his mother's mind-set, it very rarely surfaced but when it did, he certainly put it to use.

"Well then answer me this…why did he fall into my arms and not yours?"

Violence from Jackson was something he had never ever let himself lower to, but in this case he did. Raging he swiped his fist across Mark's face and stormed out, slamming the door behind him. He stopped for a second, regaining his composure, the sun was setting. He had to find Aaron.

Aaron wandered aimlessly along the boardwalk, the sun was almost gone. He'd come to the lake with Jackson before, he cried, it was a perfect day, he had never forgotten that day. He held a large heavy brick in his hand and what could be seen hanging out of his jacket pocket was a rope. His breathing hitched as he reached the end of the boardwalk, he stared down into the water then sat down as he pulled the rope from his pocket.

TBC…