AARON & JACKSON

-1912: The Aftermath-

"Fighting From Within"

Aaron walked into the house and closed the door behind him then removed his oily jacket and hung it up. "I'm homee!" he called out in song.

Jackson was sat on the edge of the sofa in the living room with Jak in his arms; his belongings were all piled, for the moment by the window. Jackson pulled a wary face as he heard Aaron was home. He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.

Aaron frowned when he got no reply so he made his way to the living room. "Hello?" he called out just as he walked into the living room.

Jackson swallowed hard and looked everywhere innocently expect at Aaron.

Aaron's frown deepened. "Hi babe want a drink?" he asked and without waiting for a reply he turned back and walked to the kitchen. As he was about to open the kitchen door he stopped himself, blinked then turned back and walked to the living room once again. "Okay, Wh…what is that?" he asked as he pointed at the baby.

Jackson slowly stood up and held Jak close to his chest as he did so. "Aaron, please listen don't be mad"

"Chas stop ear wigging!" Adam told her before coughing harshly.

"I can't help it!" she told him and remained with her ear up against the closed kitchen door.

Aaron's confusion was clear as Jackson cautiously moved toward Aaron whilst staring intently at him. "This is Jak, m-m…my son" he smiled warmly.

Aaron's eyes widened and he dropped down into the single chair with his hands covering his mouth.

"I-I never thought I'd say it…" Jackson muttered.

"I'm confused Jackson, how-"

Jackson sighed, cutting him off. "Samantha dropped into the office today and dropped this bombshell"

Aaron's eyes widened once again with a slight fear, after all his ex, had been to see him.

"I was shocked to Aaron, bu-but I can't turn my back on my son"

Aaron frown slowly took the form of a scowl, he was angry. "What makes you think it's even yours?" he bit back flippantly.

Jackson raised his eye brows "She might have been many things Aaron but she was no slapper"

Aaron sniggered "Don't you see Jackson? She still loves you, this is her way of trying to get you back, and she'll have heard how well the business is going Ja-"

"Stop Aaron! I'm not having you slag her off in front of" he motioned his head toward Jak.

Aaron stood up and began to pace around the room, and then looked properly at the amount of things Samantha had brought for her son. "So, when's she coming back for him? I wanna see her for myself"

Jackson sighed with a roll of his eyes. "That's the thing Aaron, I…I don't know when she'll be back, she's going on a business trip overseas, he's too young to go…so…"

Aaron suddenly began to laugh. "You can't be serious? So she has left her new born son with you and done a runner? This is flipping priceless this Jackson"

"Oi, she hasn't done a runner, it's a business trip, and it's ideal that I get to know my son"

Aaron smirked. "If you believe that then…"

"I thought you'd at least be happy for me Aaron, happy for us? Its good practice for one day when we can have a family"

Aaron chuckled as he ran his hands slowly over his face; frustration wouldn't even come close to how he was feeling at the moment. "Jackson."

"What?"

"That is never going to happen"

"W-Who kno-"

Aaron cut him off sharply. "Is a family what you want?"

Jackson looked down at Jak in his arms, a silence fell over them.

"Fucking hell, it is isn't it? I-I can't give you that" he told him as he slowly started walking to the doorway. "Maybe you should go with her if that's what you want!" He yelled

"Aaron you're being ridiculous!"

"No! Jackson you are to even think I'm capable of coping with this!" he growled as he stormed out of the room and ran up the stairs.

Instantly Chas burst out of the kitchen and ran along to the living room. "You ok Jackson?" she asked as she could see that his eyes were full with tears. "I'll have words, you stay with Jak" she told him then went upstairs.

Despite how terribly ill he felt, Adam sighed and got up from his chair at the dining table in the kitchen and sought out Jackson; his friends needed him more. He was sweating and pale with big dark bags under his eyes. Adam stood in the doorway, he didn't want to get too close, he was ill and with a new-born in the house it wasn't safe. "How did you expect him to react, Jackson?" Adam asked quietly.

"Well I knew he would be confused but mad like that…h-he could have at least understood"

"He might…"

"And he might not, that's what I'm scared of" Jackson admitted with a sign.

"What? Nahh, he won't leave you"

Jackson simply flicked up his brow quickly and shrugged. "It's like he said, he's not able to cope with this"

"That's just an initial reaction"

"No, Adam he was sectioned he's better yeah but still recovering even now, it's not just an initial reaction…w-what the hell have I done?"

"You did what was right for your son Jackson, he needs looking after…and while I've been stood here he's just lying there looking up at you"

Jackson scoffed. "Yeah cause he doesn't know who the hell I am"

"No, it's because he knows exactly who you are…A-Aaron will adjust"

"He shouldn't have too; it's not fair on him it's all he's done for months"

"Well…he'll have too again, won't he?"

"Adam, mate sorry if this is harsh but you look terrible"

"I feel it too…"

"I can call the doctor?"

Adam shook his head again which confused Jackson, why was he so persistent?

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine" he smiled slightly. "I'll be in the kitchen" Adam told him and walked off.

…

"Aaron!" Chas raised her voice. "Will you stop pacing and talk to me!"

In a rage Aaron swiped his arm across Jackson's desk which startled Chas and everything crashed to the floor. He sighed and held his hands behind his head and clenched his jaw while he stood intentionally with his back towards his mum. He closed his eyes and attempted to calm down.

Seconds later he felt Chas' hand on his shoulder, it was placed down gently so he didn't react and he didn't. "Come on son, sit down on the bed with me and we'll talk"

Aaron turned and walked the few steps to the bed and sat on it with his legs crossed. Chas sat in front of him but enough space to give him room; she waited until he wanted to speak.

A minute or so later he did. "I-I shouldn't have done that I'm sorry" he told her quietly.

Chas smiled. "It's fine love, all easily put back"

Aaron nodded and finally looked up at his mum. "I love Jackson so much mum but I can't cope with that"

Chas nodded. "Because of your illness?"

Aaron blew out a breath. "I suppose…I'm still recovering…what I did to the stuff on that desk is seen differently when it's me but if it was someone who was 'fine' like you it would just be an outburst..."

Chas looked down sadly. "I-I'll admit you speak some truth there love…I-I panicked, I thought what if I couldn't stop you…"

"That's fine" Aaron nodded. "A-And what if I do that in front of his baby? What if I don't stop-"

"Hey, you can't think like that"

"Mum. I don't want this, it's plain and simple…I can't look after myself never mind help Jackson with his son" he sighed and put his head in his hands. "I can't, I can't" he told her then burst into tears.

"Heyy son, it's alright" she soothed. "How well do you think you're coming along? I know you take your medication but how do you feel?"

Aaron just shook his head as he cried.

"I need you to talk to me…"

Aaron shot a glance at his mum. "This everything!" Chas pulled back a little as he got angry. "That downstairs a-and Sam! She's gunna get her claws back in to him or not come back at all and leave him with Jackson!"

"What makes you say that?"

"Well I dunno if you've noticed but even I'm bright enough to know that's way too much stuff down there for a baby"

"Jackson did say he didn't know how long she was going to be"

"Convenient! Oh and then I realise he wants a family and you know me and him can't, a-and then tonight, the kid will be in here with us all cosy or so Jackson will think but I don't want it!"

"Aaron, Aaron…you need to calm down!"

"A-A-And he'll expect help won't he oh yeah, like I can change a fucking nappy! I can't even eat without spilling it down me…that egg sandwich the other morning, prime example right down my front!"

"AARON!" she yelled and shook him. She had no choice, Aaron's words just spilled out and he didn't intend on stopping, but overall it wasn't good for him and Chas knew that. It wasn't good for him at all.

Aaron gasped after Chas shook him and he stared at her. "I-Is it happening again?"

"No-"

Before she could reply Aaron got up off the bed and stormed to the door and onto the landing. She rolled her eyes and ran after him. "Aaron!"

"What's up?" Adam asked from the bottom of the stairs as he watched them both rushing down.

"He's gone off it…" she warned him as she followed Aaron to the kitchen. Adam followed too.

Aaron was rummaging quickly through the cupboards in search of his medication. He found them and he quickly unscrewed the cap and tipped out more than his recommended dosage into his palm.

Adam tightly grabbed Aaron's wrist. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I-it's happening again mate…I-I have to have some now and more…"

"Babe get J-" Adam stopped and his eyes widened as he realised what he'd said. He cursed himself silently.

Aaron's eyes narrowed at him. "What did you just say?" he asked then looked over at his mum who was looking extremely guilty.

"We…we were going to tell you mate tonight but the baby and…" Adam began but Aaron held his hand out for a second to stop him, and he suddenly became aware once again. He took his tablets but not all the ones in his hands just the recommended two and placed the rest back in the bottle. He grabbed a glass from the side and turned the tap on. Chas and Adam just watched, waiting for him to speak.

Aaron swallowed down his tablets and put the glass in the sink then turned to them both. "Going to tell me what?"

"T- That me and Adam are...we're together" Chas told him nervously.

"Oh…" Aaron said slowly with a nod of his head.

"We would have told you sooner but you'd just got home mate and we didn't want to unsettle anything…we sought comfort together a-after you were sectioned…that's how it started" Adam told him, he frowned though, he was struggling, and he began to take deep breaths and as he did so he pulled out a chair at the table and sat down.

"Adam?" Chas asked as she approached him quickly

"I-I'm alright"

"What's wrong?" Aaron asked as he stared at his mum kneeling down by his side and placing her arm around him.

"He's not well, refuses to go to the doctor" Chas told him.

"Well that's a bit stupid isn't it?" Aaron asked, his words hid his concern well.

"And so are you" Adam told him. "No offense mate but you just flipped completely and n-now you're normal…"

Aaron sighed. "Because I'm still a bit unstable, how pathetic does that sound eh?" he said sadly.

"It's not" Chas answered. "You're just getting all worked up which doesn't help it Aaron"

Aaron rubbed his forehead excessively. "Alright, alright…so…y-you two?"

"Yeah" Chas replied with a smile.

"And Adam's the reason why you're really happy lately?"

"I hope so" Adam chuckled to which Chas slapped his arm. "Yes son he is the reason"

Aaron nodded. "Alright…it's weird you've got to see it from my point…he's my best mate" Chas nodded. "But as long as you're happy, both of you…then alright, no issue with me…just a bit of a shock that…"

Adam couldn't get up from the chair, he was so dizzy but he gave him a thumbs up and a nod of acknowledgement. Aaron smiled and walked over to his mum and squeezed her shoulder as he continued out of the kitchen.

"You going to talk to Jackson?"

"No…" he turned back to her. "He would have heard all that commotion that I was causing, did he come and see if you, or I were okay? No he didn't because he's got his son now, which to be honest is how it's going to be from now on and yeah I'm probably being selfish but it's how I feel"

"Oh come on love" Chas pleaded.

"All I've known for a long time till you came here and Adam is Jackson, just him and that's fine we still got our time…no…now we won't…because that kid is going to be his priority, I won't be, he won't have any time for me, so right now mum I'm going out, it's been a long day then all of this…I-I… I need to go out…I need to think, maybe get a bit drunk" he shrugged. "You've got Adam now too" Aaron smiled; he was actually pleased for them. "I don't fit; I need to find my place"

"Yeah you are being selfish" Chas told him.

"Well it's a good job I'm going out then isn't it?" he snapped at her and turned back round to see Jackson stood in the hallway, having heard everything.

"I did hear the commotion and I was worried Aaron but I couldn't leave him"

"Oh no but his mum could! Funny that Jackson!" Aaron started as he stormed down the hall but Jackson grabbed a hold of him and stopped him. Aaron rolled his eyes. "What are you doing?"

"You can't go out, you're still in a state and riled up…I can't let you leave"

Aaron snatched his arm back from Jackson's hand. "Watch me" he threatened and with that he pulled open the front door and stormed out, letting it slam behind him.

Jackson shook his head and looked helpless at Chas. "What else did he say then?"

"You want the quick version?"

Jackson nodded.

Chas took a deep breath. "He told me, he doesn't want it. To be honest love he's scared to death because he's still not right, he swiped your desk up there…he started asking what if he did it in front of the baby, completely lost it…he broke down into tears, he can barely look after himself Jackson"

Jackson nodded again. "I'm not asking him too though"

"I know that but he assumes because you're a couple that he'll have too and he can't, like he said look after himself and I think, well no I don't it was obvious right there, he's used to it being just the two of you and he's scared love…"

"What? T-this isn't going to be for long"

"Jackson" she sighed. "Aaron's right in what he told me and I've seen all Jak's things too…it's too much for even just not knowing how long, because you could buy things when they run out but all that, that's being well prepared"

"He said she's dumped him on me, something along those lines anyway…"

Chas nodded. "Think about it…how did she seem?"

"Rushed…erm…she didn't say I'll see you soon to him or nothing, she just said be good and left…nah…" he scoffed. "Nah, I refuse to believe this, she'll be back"

"Well if you're so sure" she shrugged.

"I am…what should I do about Aaron?"

"I hate to know he's out there in that state, but leave him…leave him for now…"

Jackson nodded and slowly retreated back into the living room.

…

Aaron bought a bottle of vodka from the store and simply walked the streets, swigging away occasionally. He sighed as it started to pour down with rain. "Just give me a BREAK!" he yelled and kicked an empty carton that was on the ground in front of him.

"Aaron?"

He heard the voice behind him and he closed his eyes, he shook his head ever so slightly and carried on walking.

"No, wait!"

Aaron heard him beginning to run to catch up. He ignored him and took a long swig of the drink.

Mark grabbed him by the shoulder and stopped him. Aaron stood face to face with Mark in the pouring rain.

"Are you following me or something?" Aaron spat angrily.

"No" Mark frowned. "Course I'm not but when I saw you wandering the streets in the rain and then yelling at it, as you hold that bottle, kinda gets a man worried…"

Aaron scowled. "You don't have to worry about me, trust me you're well rid mate" he began to laugh as pulled himself away from Mark's grip and started walking away. "I'm nothing but yet another disaster waiting to happen!" he held up the bottle. "Cheers by the way"

Mark again ran to catch up to him. "Something happened at home Aaron?"

"Yes…No…J-Just life happened Mark, and I don't mean that in a I'm gunna kill myself way it's just things just keep coming at me and I can't take it" he explained as Mark was now walking to the side of him matching his own pace.

"Like?"

"I'm not telling you that!" Aaron spat before taking another drink.

Mark let out a heavy sigh. "When do you take your tablets Aaron?"

"Already had them I'll be fine"

"Oh for god sake" he groaned and moved to pull the bottle from his hands. He wasn't expecting a fight. Aaron fought back to keep it in his possession but Mark pulled harder. "You can't drink that when you're on medication!"

"So!" Aaron growled.

"No Aaron!" he shouted back but was struggling to get it off him.

Aaron raged and pulled away from Mark creating a gap of a few metres and in a split second Aaron flung the half full bottle to the ground causing it to smash. "THERE! YOU HAPPY NOW?"

"No" he replied quietly as he watched Aaron, he was in a bad way and for the first time he was seeing a glimpse of what Aaron could be like.

"STAY OUT OF MY FACE MARK! I SWEAR…I- I don't need you or your help!" he told him and stormed off, this time alone and in peace.

"YES YOU DO!" Mark shouted to him but Aaron ignored him and kept walking.

TBC…