AARON & JACKSON

-1912: The Aftermath-

"The Voice Within"

So I'm away until Friday after this, and I doubt I'll get to update, so in my usual style, I thought I'd leave you all with one hell of a cliffhanger! ;)

Mark walked back into the living room after putting their dirty plates on the bench next to the sink. Aaron was now more sober than when he first arrived and a lot calmer. He smiled at Mark as he sat down next to him. "Thanks, that was nice"

Mark smiled back with a nod. "You're welcome"

"Listen, I'm sorry I stopped your after work drinks in the pub, I know how religious it is for you guys to do that"

"Ahh don't worry about it, you needed me"

Aaron smiled. "Still…I seem to be wrecking everything lately"

"You will be alright you know, you're strong Aaron"

"More like weak trying to survive in a strong world" he snorted.

Mark smiled, it lit up the room and his eyes twinkled in the light, and the way that light was, his defined cheekbones cast a shadow. "No you are strong" he moved to get back up. "I'll just get us another can" Before Mark could move any further Aaron grabbed his arm. He quickly turned to face him. "What you doing Aaron?" he asked softly.

"I-I…I don't want you to go" Aaron answered as his eyes locked on him. "You're the only one who seems to get me…" he shook his head ever so slightly and swallowed hard. "D-Don't go" he begged.

Mark sat back down next to him, facing him this time with his arm over the back of the sofa. "I was only going to get cans…"

"Yeah…yeah I know but…"

"But what Aaron?"

Aaron looked away shyly, he took a deep breath. "But I didn't want you too, me and you it's still there…"

"You're right but I'm not going to influence anything that could jeopardise what you and Jackson do have Aaron"

"He doesn't want me"

"Now, after everything you've said you've never said that and to be honest I don't think that's true"

"It is, he's infatuated with that little sprog"

Mark frowned. "You English are weird…I can just about understand you at the best of times but when you start adding words like 'sprog' into the mix well then I'm just baffled" he told him with a smirk.

Aaron looked offended and playfully whacked him on the arm. "My English is fine thanks"

"Hmm, okay" Mark chuckled. "Anyway…you're just jealous Aaron; if you actually included yourself in this new mix then you might understand and accept what is happening"

"Right now I don't want to accept anything, there's no place for me there, I just don't fit…right now I'd rather have yo-…you taking me up-…" he sighed, embarrassment over coming him.

"Take you where?" he eyed him suspiciously.

"U…upstairs…" Aaron said in almost a whisper.

"Are you absolutely sure about this?" Mark spoke firmly making sure there were no uncertainties as to whether Aaron heard him or not.

Aaron nodded. "Yeah, I am"

"First room on the right, I'll clear up down here…"

Aaron smiled, he wanted him, and he really did. There was a connection since Mark told him he was gay and then it deepened since the incident in the mine, and more once again after their sexual encounter and Aaron in that moment felt like Mark cared and was importantly was bothered about him. Aaron got up and left the living room and headed up the stairs.

Mark thought long and hard about what was going to happen once he went up there, they would make love in his bed, sharing each other. Mark's feelings for that lad upstairs were so strong, he cared; he really did, seeing him hurt the way he had once he got to his house was so upsetting for Mark to listen too. Aaron didn't feel worthy, and he certainly felt lost. He wanted to change that and he couldn't think about Jackson now, Aaron was his only concern and he'd go with whatever Aaron wanted too as long as he himself knew he hadn't influenced anything, and so far he hadn't.

Suddenly and unexpectedly his door crashed open and he watched as Jackson stormed in, in a complete rage. Jackson grabbed him by the collar and shoved him up against the wall. "Woah!" Mark yelled. "What the hell are you doing!"

"I saw you and Aaron looking very cosy, I watched through that window!" he screamed. "You said this was over!"

"I did! But if I remember rightly!" Mark yelled back as he pushed Jackson off him. "I asked you to look after him?! You failed! Now look at him! He's a mess Jackson!"

"Do you think I don't know that?" Jackson's chest rose and fell quickly.

"What the hell's going on dow…" Aaron's words trailed off as he ran into the living room, stood with his top off, he just started getting undressed when he heard the crashing noise. He locked eyes with Jackson and swallowed hard as he slowly walked into the living room.

"W-What's this then?" Jackson asked tearfully.

"I-I said he could stay, he just went up to bed in the spare room"

Aaron frowned. "Why are you lying?"

Jackson looked between the two of them. "What?"

"I wasn't going in the spare room"

"Y-…yes you were Aaron, I just told you, first room on the right" Mark explained as he nodded at Aaron from behind Jackson telling him to play along.

Aaron scoffed. "No it's not I've just been in there, that's your room"

"W-Why are you doing this Aaron, to hurt me?" Jackson asked and Mark sighed, now Jackson was going to go crazy, in his own way he tried to stop that. Aaron was having none of it.

Aaron shrugged. "I-I'm not coming home Jackson"

Tears ran down Jackson's face and his breathing shuddered as the tears escaped. "W-why?"

"Because I don't want to" he explained while looking away, anything not to look in Jackson's eyes.

"Y-you want him?" Jackson's pain was clear to be heard.

"You pushed me out Jackson" Aaron replied quietly. "A-and you want a family…you got it now…so in a way I'm not needed…"

"Not needed? I love you Aaron, I-I never meant to push you out, you angered me today with what you said, I-I wasn't trying to sell Jak to you…I was just explaining…I know it-he is a massive adjustment to our lives but we can do it, I trust you wholeheartedly I know you wouldn't hurt him…p-please just come back" Jackson cried out in a panic, he couldn't lose him.

Aaron shook his head. "I-I've had enough Jackson, I'm sorry"

"Please, I'll get down on my knees if I have too" he cried. "I love you so much"

"Jackson mate…" Mark began.

"I'm not your mate!" Jackson growled angrily and Mark had no further intentions to speak

Aaron shook his head. "Aaron" Jackson sobbed. "Please" he shook his head again. Jackson got down on his knees and Aaron looked down at him. "I'm begging you now, I love you Aaron, I want you so much…t-the ring…the date…don't put that last date on it…r-remember what you said? You didn't want it adding anytime soon, please" he sobbed. "Come home"

Tears broke through eventually, Aaron quickly wiped them away and he told Jackson no again before turning away. Jackson's cries were the only sound heard in the house. Mark watched as Jackson stood up again weak and broken hearted. As Jackson began walking out Aaron turned and watched him go. When he was out of sight, he looked down at his chest and lifted the necklace with the ring on it and held it in his hand. He frowned at it.

Mark could see and feel the sadness coming from Aaron. He realised once again this was not the way. "You have to go after him" he told him quietly.

Aaron's eyes locked onto Mark's. "I'm so sorry" he cried. "For doing this again"

Mark smiled bravely. "You go…"

Aaron nodded and ignoring his bare upper body he ran out of the house. He stopped trying to find Jackson in the darkness. "JACKSON! WAIT!" he yelled. Mark stood out on the street watching, he saw Jackson turn around at the sound of Aaron's voice. Seconds later Mark was distracted and he looked in the direction and bright erratic light movements blinded him and he heard a screeching sound. Aaron was about to step out onto the road. Mark gasped. "AARON NO!" he screamed.

Jackson's eyes widened, he saw it too and started to run as fast as possible to Aaron. "AARON DON'T!"

Why couldn't he see it? Jackson was all he could see. He smiled through teary eyes, then in a second once he'd reached the middle of the road he felt an almighty pain shoot up from his legs to his side. After that it all went black.

Mark watched as Aaron was flung over the top of the car and back down onto the road. Jackson stopped at the edge of the pavement and fell to his knees, crying hard and screaming out. "Oh god no… please…please no!" he sobbed so much it racked his entire body.

Mark ran back into the house to phone an ambulance. When he walked back outside Jackson was knelt down at his side. Aaron had cuts on his face and his nose and lower lip bled. "I-I called an ambulance…Is he alive?" he told Jackson.

Jackson simply nodded and pulled Aaron into his arms and held him.

"I-I'm so sorry Jackson" Mark spoke quietly, stunned by the accident.

"It's not your fault…" he told him then looked back at his unconscious Aaron. "Come on gorgeous wake up…w-when's this going to stop hmm? It's got too…please, please wake up…me and you, w-we'll be fine…I promise you, you are still a massive part of my world Aaron and you always will be…" Jackson sobbed. "I can't lose you, not now…and…and I don't blame you for tonight, I'm not mad, I'm not, wake up babe please" as the sounds of the sirens could be heard in the distance Jackson felt helpless and he desperately shook him. "WAKE UP! Aaron wake up!" Jackson got himself worked up and he began to cough and gag as the shouting and emotion was too much for him. "Please, I love you…I always have, I'll never stop…please just be alright…"

TBC….