AARON & JACKSON

-1912: The Aftermath-

"Run"

A grandson. Hazel was shocked by the news initially but then quickly excitement overcame her and she told Jackson she'd be right there and put down the phone. Hazel had also been told of Aaron's reaction the previous night. It didn't really come as a shock but she was worried about him, they all were. Hazel left her home and started the walk to Jackson's house, a trip she'd made many times. It was a bright warm day, it was lovely and she enjoyed the walk more especially in good weather. The wetness on the ground from the previous night's rain was quickly drying.

Hazel strolled through the park, there were a lot of other people around and they knew her and said good morning, she replied happily and with a smile. Then as she saw him, she rolled her eyes and rushed to the bench where Aaron was lying on it asleep. She shook her head as she stopped and looked down at him. "Get up this instant young man!" she raised her voice.

Aaron groaned and covered his eyes from the sunlight.

"Aaron, what the hell are you thinking?"

He groaned again. "Go away Hazel"

"No. I most certainly will not" she told him harshly and quickly moved his legs out of the way which made him get up as she sat beside him.

Aaron begrudgingly had sat up but he was half asleep and with his elbows resting on his legs he put his head in his hands. "Why can't people just leave me alone eh?"

"Oh charming!"

"Well it's true Hazel"

"We only care about you, Jackson told me you hadn't come back but I certainly wasn't expecting to find you in the park"

Aaron shrugged. "Nowhere else to go"

"Well home would have been a good place"

Aaron shook his head. "I don't belong there anymore"

Hazel scoffed. "Don't be so silly"

"No, I won't…"

"And this is because of Jak?"

Aaron nodded. "And my mums got Adam now, I-I'm just there…a spare part for whenever Jackson will have time"

Hazel sighed.

"And the fact that I can't cope Hazel, it's too much"

Hazel nodded. "This may or may not come as a surprise Aaron but I understand where you're coming from"

"You do? Thought you'd be on Jackson's side"

"This isn't about sides Aaron, you're still recovering then this shock comes into our lives I wasn't surprised when Jackson told me what happened, I'm worried about you, and so is he…he loves you so much you know that don't you?"

"Yeah but…he's all I've known for a long time, I know it's selfish Hazel I do but I, I didn't think I'd have to share him"

Hazel understood perfectly. "Jackson is a loving, caring boy…he would never neglect you Aaron…it may be hard for a while with Jak…whether or not she doesn't come back or not, yes he told me about that too…"

Aaron rolled his eyes. "And what do you think to that?"

"If she has then she's just let go of the best thing to have come into her a life, a child" she smiled. "But he is Jackson's gain, he can be a good father, and you well in a way you're his step father"

Aaron pulled his nose up at her statement. "In no way shape or form am I father material"

Hazel began to laugh. "Oh but you might just surprise yourself"

"No I doubt it"

Hazel chuckled once again. "Aaron regardless of your condition, you can be, anyone would be frightened"

"But actually adding in the fact of my condition are you not slightly a bit worried of me being around your grandson?"

Hazel sighed. "No"

Aaron scoffed and shook his head. "Yeah! Okay" he said with a roll of his eyes.

"It's the truth, you're a wonderful young man Aaron and you can overcome anything if you put your mind to it…the Tita-"

"No. Don't mention it alright…I-I don't want to talk about it"

"You never have been able to really have you?"

Aaron shook his head.

"Why?"

Aaron clasped his hands together and looked around the park. "It's still too raw…remembering it all hurts, I can't talk about it and if I ever do, it'll be a long time"

Hazel nodded. "I understand" she smiled at him and reached out and turned his head to face her. "Did you do anything stupid last night?"

"Apart from drinking vodka after I'd taken my medication, no…and don't Hazel" he continued after she sighed and shook her head. "I know alright, I'm one massive screw up"

"You're not your just young, and ill, what we going to do with you eh? In fact I won't let you answer that; god knows the replies I'll get"

Aaron stared down at the ground. "You're going to make me go back aren't you?"

"I'd like it if you did but I can't make you no"

"I don't see what good it would do" he told her quietly.

"Well it would give them all peace of mind that you're alright and secondly a talk with Jackson wouldn't go a miss Aaron"

"I don't want to talk to him"

"Alright but at least come back and you can get a bath, your clothes are damp from the rain…"

"And then I'm going out again" He told her as he stood up.

Hazel nodded, that could be dealt with at the time.

…

A screaming Jak could be heard as soon as Hazel opened the front door; she smiled and turned to make sure Aaron was still with her. She gave him a nod. "Come on, it's alright"

Aaron stepped inside and instantly Chas stormed along the hall from the kitchen. "YOU!" she screamed as she pointed at him.

Aaron sighed and rolled his eyes as he tirade continued. "YOU HAD US ALL WORRIED SICK, we were all out of our minds!" She looked at Hazel. "Where was he?"

"Asleep in the park"

"Oh well isn't that just great!"

Aaron scowled. "Shut up, I'm going for a bath" he told her and marched up the stairs.

Jackson appeared in the hallway. "Aaron?!" he called up to him. Hazel just shook her head at Jackson.

"I don't want to talk to you Jackson" Aaron told him before he slammed the bathroom door.

"He does that a lot doesn't he? Slamming doors" Hazel said with a sigh.

"Yes, too often" Chas replied angrily.

"Don't be mad Chas he's just in a bad way that's all" Hazel advised.

"And you think I don't know that?"

"Alright ladies let's not start fighting now eh, there's too much going on at the minute without you too starting, mum…" he motioned his head to the living room and started to walk in with Hazel following.

Chas just stood in the hallway and listened as Hazel became emotional over meeting her grandson. Chas shook her head and walked back into the kitchen. "I better get to work babe, are you sure you're alright?" Chas asked Adam but it was clear he wasn't he was looking extremely ill and he was losing weight.

Adam nodded and managed a smile. "Yeah I'll be fine, you get yourself to work"

Chas smiled, hiding her worry. "See you later"

Adam nodded and watched her leave.

In the living room Hazel was holding Jak and insisted that Jackson go and speak to Aaron, he nodded and left her to it. When he walked into the hallway he caught sight of Adam in the hallway, he blew out a breath of frustration and walked to the kitchen. "Alright…mate enough is enough, I'm calling a doctor for you"

"No! Jackson, I don't want one"

"Tough" Jackson told him and turned to walk to the phone.

"No!" Adam told him.

Jackson stopped and walked back. "Why are you so adamant about this?"

Adam swallowed hard and averted Jackson's eyes. "Because…" he sighed. "I-I…I can't afford it alright"

Jackson sighed, the penny had dropped. "Ahh…you and Aaron are like two peas in a pod, you're so full of pride and stubbornness, I'm calling a doctor, we all love you mate this can't go on, it could be anything"

"Jackson I…I don't want charity"

Jackson smiled. "It's not…pay me back if you have too but if you don't well that's fine too"

"I'm paying you back" Adam spoke definitely.

Jackson nodded. "I'll call him now"

"Alright"

Jackson went off and made the call and a few minutes later he told Adam he'd be there within the hour. Adam thanked him and sat waiting in the kitchen, he'd never felt so bad in his life.

…

Jackson pushed open the bathroom door and stepped inside. Aaron turned to see who it was, when he realised it was Jackson he turned his face. "Well…we've been here before" Jackson said quietly as he walked over and knelt down on the floor at the side of the bath. "Talk to me babe" he asked as he just stared at him as he lay in the steaming water.

"You already know how I feel Jackson"

Jackson nodded; it was true he did know. "Listen, I trust you completely around Jak, you will be fine, I trust you Aaron, I-I know it's another adjustment and I'm so sorry for that but there's nothing I can do, he's my son and he's an amazing little thing and I want you to be a part of it with me"

"I-I don't know Jackson"

Jackson sighed. "Please Aaron"

"Can you just leave me in peace please? I need to think and it's difficult when you're trying to sell all this to me"

Jackson frowned. "I love you Aaron but your words can be so nasty at times" he told him as he got up off the floor and stormed out.

…

Over an hour later Aaron sat at the bottom of the stairs waiting to see what the doctor had to say about Adam, they were in the kitchen alone. Minutes later the doctor emerged with Adam. Adam looked devastated. "W-What's wrong?" he asked as he jumped to his feet.

"Adam has active TB…tuberculosis…there doesn't seem to be anyone else suffering with it but I have to take him to a sanatorium until the time is right for him to return"

"A-A…a sanatorium, well what's that?"

"A medical facility Aaron, I'll be confined there in hopes that I recover"

"In hopes of!?" Aaron was out of his mind.

"Please I assure you this is the best course of action right now" the doctor told him.

"I-I'd hug you but you know…" Adam began, Aaron nodded. "W-Will you tell Chas what's happening and that the doctors will keep you all informed?"

Aaron nodded quickly; this was all happening so fast. "Y-yeah course I will…" he swallowed hard as the doctor and Adam walked to the front door. "T-take care of yourself mate yeah? I'll see you soon"

Adam gave Aaron a helpless smile, he was so scared and it showed. Before Aaron knew it he was gone and he sat back on the stairs, completely shocked by the turn of events.

…

Aaron watched Jackson from the top of the stairs as he left the house, no words or attempts to speak had been attempted by either of them since Aaron had his bath. He then watched as Hazel carried baby Jak through to the kitchen in his moses basket and he listened as she gave the baby a running commentary of what she was going to do, which was put the washing out on the line.

Aaron then walked downstairs quietly and walked into the kitchen, completely ignoring Jak in his moses basket. He frowned when he didn't see Hazel outside. Jak was gurgling the entire time he was stood looking out of the window and then he began to cry as he wriggled in the basket. Aaron sighed and turned to the basket and stepped closer and peaked over into it which instantly settled Jak.

With this the first time Aaron had really looked, he saw Jackson in Jak, he was adorable but he couldn't think about that, he couldn't let that draw him in he was scared to be around him. Aaron scowled down at him and Jak smiled, Aaron was sure he did. He chuckled to himself. "No you don't" he said and turned away but Jak started to cry again. Aaron sighed and turned back. "Don't do this!" but he carried on screaming. Aaron sighed and hesitantly picked him up and held him at arm's length. Jak stopped crying then and his and Aaron's eyes locked for a second before Jak's attention was taken elsewhere, to the room around him, new surroundings.

Seconds later Hazel walked in with a smile that had been her intention, to see if Aaron would do anything, she knew he'd surface when Jackson had left. "Told you it'd be alright"

Aaron sighed. "You're not funny, here take him" he quickly handed Jak over. "He needs changing by the smell, and I'm not doing it"

"Aaron what do you possibly think you could do wrong?"

"Drop him, hurt him…and there's the more extremes to do with my mental issues"

"Oh give over"

"No, I won't, you can all coo around him but I'm not alright" he told her before walking away.

When Jackson returned home an hour later with shopping bags Aaron was sat on the stairs and Jackson simply ignored him out of anger from earlier and walked into the kitchen. Aaron frowned as he watched him. Hazel was in the kitchen with Jak still as she prepared dinner. He watched as Jackson straight away went to his son and picked him up and held him, tears filled Aaron's eyes as he watched Hazel and more so Jackson's attention on his son. Was it wrong for Aaron to just want Jackson's attention? Yeah he'd not taken this well but surely they understood that and why?

With a shaky breath Aaron stood up and walked into the kitchen, blanking out their little family and he took the capsule of his medication and then walked upstairs. Fifteen minutes later he walked downstairs with his rucksack over his shoulder. He sighed and took a look around then quietly opened the front door and left.

By the time the mining lot finished their shift, Aaron was almost falling off his stool at the bar. "I'll have another please"

"Think you've had enough don't you Aaron?" the land lady asked.

"Ah come on, just one more please I'm not causing any trouble am I?"

"No, no you're not but you've had too much now, go on, go home"

"What home?" Aaron asked as he moved to get off the stool but he fell and crashed down onto the floor.

Mark sighed and moved away from the group and approached Aaron and held out his hand. Aaron began to laugh. "I'm not taking your hand!"

Mark looked at the land lady. "I'm sorry about this"

"Just get him out of here Mark, he's had enough now"

Mark nodded and quickly reached down and pulled him up and grabbed his bag at the same time. With Aaron at his side he led him out of the pub. "Going somewhere?"

"Haven't decided yet" Aaron slurred.

"What's happened Aaron?"

"That's nothing to do with you"

"No it isn't but we're here again, I could have helped you last night but you didn't let me, well I'm telling you something you're not stopping me this time, can't you see I care about you? Whatever is happening is having a serious effect on you and you don't need it Aaron…"

"SO! What…y-you're taking me back to yours are ya?" Aaron said as he began to laugh.

"Yeah I am and don't try to stop me, I'll be prepared this time, you need time away and my couch is free…"

"More like you take this as you're chance to take advantage again…why not just now?" Aaron said as he looked and saw the alley as they passed it. "It's there…why not eh? Go on you know you want too"

"I fell in love with you Aaron; give me a bit more credit eh?"

Aaron didn't reply and before he knew it he was being led into Mark's house and then was helped down onto the sofa. Mark stood at the opposite end of the living room by the fireplace. "Talk to me"

Aaron sighed and then went into depth about the arrival of Jak, and how he felt and how scared he was of himself and what his own actions could do. "Bet it's funny from where you're standing eh? Well I missed the fucking joke alright!"

"Hey, I haven't said anything"

"I don't blame you, I'd be smiling too if I wasn't so desperate, I'm at the back of the line, of Jackson's priorities and I don't want to be but I will not be his clown pretending everything's alright, playing happy families when I can't"

"Don't then"

"I feel like it's all happening again, a huge crash landing" he admitted as he put his head in his hands. "Adam's gone now…for however long I've no idea…h-he might not come back…and Jackson has Jak and who have I got eh?" he began to sob. "Go on, laugh…I would if I could see myself"

Mark stepped forward and knelt down in front of him. "You've got me Aaron, I loved you, I still bloody do, I wish I didn't but I can't help it, I tried to get rid of these feelings for you but I couldn't…when I saw you again in the pub they came back…" he explained and then stopped to let it sink in. "I'm not saying you should be with me, but if you want to give up everything you have with Jackson then that's your choice but you're mind isn't processing all of it properly, relax think about it all carefully…b-because it's not so bad really and I'm sure Jackson wouldn't shove you to the back"

"You didn't see him earlier, him and his mum with Jak…"

"You said you'd argued, he was bound to ignore you if he was mad"

Aaron sighed. "Can I stay here?"

"Of course you can but if Jackson comes knocking I'm not going to lie"

"I don't think he will"

"Well he might surprise you"

"I-I'm not doing this for attention you know"

"No, I didn't say you were, I understand why Aaron, you don't feel a part of anything, so staying in the house is unbearable, I get it"

"You're the only one who does" he said as he wiped his tears away.

"I'm gunna make us some food, you just relax alright?"

Aaron nodded as he sat back into the sofa. Mark got up and walked into the kitchen. "Mark…" he stopped and looked at Aaron. "I'm uh…I'm sorry for being horrible to you"

"Don't worry about it" Mark told him with a smile.

…

Chas came down from her bedroom with news for Jackson. Her eyes were red from crying over the news about Adam, she didn't get chance to say goodbye, and now, well now she was just shocked and angry. Chas hesitantly walked into the living room to see Jackson holding Jak, Hazel had been gone a few hours. "Jackson I uh…"

"What's up Chas?"

"Have you spoken to Aaron?"

He shook his head.

"Nah course you haven't…" she began to feel quite angry toward him. "Well you won't get a chance"

Jackson looked at her with a frown.

"He's gone. His rucksack is gone, and so is he, and he wasn't here when I came home and that's been hours and you didn't notice! And you supposedly love him eh?! Nice Jackson, just nice."

Jackson closed his eyes at the news of Aaron being gone. He could have prevented that. "I-I'm sorry I had too much-"

"Yeah you had your hands full I get it…"

"He…he's been horrible Chas"

Chas stepped closer angrily. "He always says horrible stuff; we grin and bear it, Jackson! I know you have Jak now and I understand I do, but Aaron is my son and I won't stand by and watch him crumble because of his insecurities, insecurities in which you aren't helping! If he ends up in the arms of someone else Mark perhaps, I wouldn't blame him right now!"

"Well then he'll have made his choice"

"He shouldn't have had to feel pushed out in the first place, he's fragile Jackson and you damn well know it! Now I will be out for the rest of my night finding my son, and then we're both leaving…he obviously doesn't want to be here, I have to look after him"

Jackson sighed. "Chas no, j-just bring him here…"

"No, no actually, you can…you can get your backside out there and look for him, Jak will be fine with me…"

Jackson took a second to consider what she was saying but was stopped when Chas yelled. "Now!" He nodded and handed Jak over and he walked out of the room, grabbed his jacket and left, he was going to Mark's first.

TBC…