AARON & JACKSON

-1912: The Aftermath-

"The Wait"

"This won't take long" Samantha told him as they both walked through into the living room. "I-…I want you to look after Jak permanently"

Jackson pouted as he began to frown, Aaron was right, but he didn't see that coming either. He wasn't doing so good with things lately was he? "Why?"

"Because I have plans, before, a family was what I wanted, now well I don't want a family, Jak is your son and I want you to take him, I…I want no part in his life"

"Do you have any idea what kind of questions he'll have when he's older?"

Samantha sighed and nodded. "Yes I have but I need to go away, you will raise him well Jackson you'll think of something to tell him, but for now he's a baby and it's not a concern you can deal with that when the time comes"

"Oh well that's just nice…"

"It's either you or an orphanage" she told him bluntly.

Jackson's eyes widened. "I don't think so, he's my son of course I'll look after him but I need to make you aware that what you're doing is disgusting and wrong!"

"I know that but a child doesn't fit into my life anymore, I-I wouldn't have no one to look after him anyway, my father's not interested in him"

"Because he's mine?" Jackson asked.

Samantha nodded and turned away from Jackson. "I know you have your own life and career but you have people to help you, I don't…and I know this is harsh but I have to think about me, not some child I don't want, I'd resent him in time and that's not something a child should pick up on, he's best off with you"

"And what do I tell him? Because he might just ask when he's old enough"

Samantha turned to face him again and shrugged her shoulders. "That I died…or the truth, whatever you tell him is up to you"

"This is crazy" Jackson said as he rubbed his face in frustration.

"Maybe but it's the way it is, I know you'll take good care of him"

Jackson just watched her as she slowly made her way to the hallway. He followed. "I will…b-but I still don't understand"

Samantha walked to the front door and opened it and turned back to face him. "You don't need to, just know he's yours and he needs you now"

Jackson frowned, stunned by all of this.

"Goodbye Jackson" and those were her final words before she left the house and closed the door behind her.

She, however was the least of Jackson's worries at the moment, of course he'd take Jak without question but how heartless could she be, but then again she had reasons he supposed not that they excused her actions though. He sighed, baffled by her and he lowered himself onto the stairs. He put his head in his hands and remained there motionless for a few minutes before getting to his feet and walking up the stairs to bed. He would try and sleep for everyone's sake; they all needed him to be at his best, or at least near enough. If he couldn't sleep he'd shower and eat, that was the next best thing to sleep.

…

Hazel had joined Chas at the hospital and Chas took Jak for a while after all Hazel had, had him for a while it was only fair. Hazel went off to the cafeteria and Chas smiled at Jak as she walked into Aaron's room with him. She looked over at himself and immediately felt the lump in her throat but she forced it back. "Look Jak, who's this eh?" she asked as she settled into the chair with him in her lap. "This is Aaron and deep down he loves you really" she told him. "He's just a moody stubborn so and so" she smiled. "But he loves your daddy so, so much" Chas voice hitched as she began to cry. "And he loves him back, and that makes Aaron your dad to in a way because your our family now aswell" she told him as she looked down at him sitting in her lap. Jak's head flopped back into Chas' chest and he looked up at her as he gurgled and giggled as he tried to free himself from her hands. She pulled him further up and into her arms. "People don't understand about things like this, your dad and Aaron… but as you grow up you'll understand, it'll just seem natural, at least I hope it will" she spoke with a smile as she looked down at him. She then moved her gaze to Aaron who was still showing no signs of waking. She sighed.

"Come on kid, you were always a good sleeper but this takes the mick a bit don't you think?" she asked with a chuckle. "I miss my boy, you have to wake up Aaron, because we can't live without you, I assume Jackson's probably said the same but it's all true…we love you so, so much and we can't lose you. Just open those beautiful blue eyes and I promise you everything will be alright" she told him as she reached out and took his hand. "We promise" she said in a whisper then looked down at Jak. "We do don't we?" Jak simply replied with a gurgle.

In the corner of her eye Chas saw someone looking into the room from the window, she turned and instantly anger raged within and she got up whilst still holding Jak and stormed out of the room and stood face to face with Mark. "I don't know what the hell you think you're doing coming here but you're lucky I'm holding a baby" she warned him.

Mark sighed and nodded. "I know I-I need to see him"

Chas sighed and looked away for a second. "Jackson's mum is in the cafeteria, you've got five minutes to say your goodbyes"

"Goodbyes?" Mark asked with a frown.

Chas nodded. "We don't know if he'll wake up or not, and if he does you won't be seeing him again so yes" she snapped. "Say your goodbyes"

Mark looked through the window at Aaron and swallowed hard. He nodded and began to walk in.

"Five minutes" Chas reminded him harshly but actually he got more than he deserved in being allowed to see him, she only did that because she saw the concern and love he had for Aaron, but she wanted him and Jackson to work and there could be no room for another man so his goodbyes to her son were a must.

Mark sat in the seat beside the bed and took Aaron's hand in his own, he smiled his skin was always so soft. He blew out a shaky breath and looked up to the ceiling to stop his tears from falling. The lump in his throat physically began to hurt him but he ignored it and just stared at Aaron. "I should have known" he began. "But my feelings for you clouded what you were actually doing and I don't blame you, I don't Aaron but it's best now that we don't see each other at all and this time I will keep to my end of it, although it's a small town we might bump into each other, I won't smile or say hi either, you don't need that, you need Jackson and you have to focus on that life, not the life you pretended you wanted with me…even if it wasn't pretence I have absolutely nothing to offer you Aaron so this is for the best" he spoke as tears ran down his face. "Jackson loves you, I can see it you have to accept that love and live your lives because you can do it you have to stop running"

"Wise words" Jackson spoke from the doorway.

Mark instantly turned to face him with a frown. "I didn't think you were here, his mum said I could have five minutes"

Jackson nodded. "I wasn't but I couldn't sleep so I had food, showered and came back…and now I want you to leave"

Mark nodded and got up from the chair and let go of Aaron's hand and walked to the door with his head down but when Jackson took hold of his arm as he walked to pass him he looked up.

"I won't fail in looking after him this time, you have my word" Jackson told him sincerely and then let go of his arm.

Mark nodded. "I-I hope he wakes up"

"Me too"

"I'm sorry Jackson"

"You can't help who you fall in love with and because it's Aaron" Jackson smiled slightly as he looked across at him. "Well…I understand why"

Mark nodded and then left the room and walked straight past Chas and quickly down the corridor. Chas then entered and stood next to Jackson with Jak in her arms. "I'm sorry Jackson I-I just thought…"

Jackson shook his head ever so slightly. "It's alright, he's gone now for definite…it's just us and him" he smiled. "And he will wake up, he will"

Chas' smile was an unsure one, a one where she was trying to be positive for Jackson's sake. None of them knew if he would wake up, they just hoped he would.

Jackson then stepped up to the bed and smiled down at Aaron. "Well you were right…"

Chas frowned as she listened.

"Samantha was waiting when I got home and guess what?"

Chas sighed and closed her eyes briefly, she knew what was coming and she held Jak just a little more tightly.

"She doesn't want him, so it's up to us now, I-I should have seen it, I should have listened to you but I didn't, I couldn't…you were right Aaron, oh I'm so sorry" he said with a sigh as he slumped down into the chair. "I've been useless to you, and it's not fair and look where it got you"

"No, Jackson…" Chas intervened quietly.

"But it is true Chas, I may aswell have driven that car myself"

"That's not true"

"Is it not?"

Chas walked to the opposite side of the bed and looked at Jackson. She snorted. "What? You want me to blame you? Make you feel a bit better? Well tough because that's not going to happen, grow up Jackson, he needs you; look at him for god sake!"

Jackson then looked at him and he started to cry. "I know!"

"Do you?! Do you really? If he gets out of this then the whole cycle starts again, yet another recovery, his hip is broken, he'll be in a chair! His arm is broken, and to top it all he's had a major head injury…w-what if he doesn't wake up the same?"

"Do you think I haven't thought about that?"

"I don't know Jackson, have you? I haven't got a clue what's going on in your head right now!" she vented and let out a deep breath. "I am sick and tired of my son hurting and while I couldn't stop this, it's all I need on top of Adam being god knows where…h-he might not survive either, we don't know, everything is an uncertainty and I can't take it anymore, I can't so do forgive me if I can't help you drown in your own self-pity because I can't! I just won't do it, man up Jackson, two men need you right now and this one is healthy" she told him harshly then passed Jak over to him and stormed out.

Everything was getting on top of Chas and she burst into tears and she began walking along the corridor. Hazel hurried to her and took her in her arms. "W-what's happened?" she asked as she hugged her.

Chas shook her head. "I just can't take anymore Hazel, I can't, it's not fair…Adam…Aaron…" she sighed. "I can't-"

"Shhh" Hazel soothed. "They will both be alright"

"How do you know?"

Hazel shrugged. "I don't but I just have to hope and be positive"

"I'm trying" Chas told her as she pulled away and wiped her eyes.

"I know you are love, go on go home and get some rest" she suggested with a smile and Chas easily agreed which came as a shock to Hazel, she couldn't pry Chas away a few hours ago. She watched her leave then walked into Aaron's room and sat with Jackson.

"So, this holiday?" she began, Jackson needed some kind of distraction.

"Oh erm…I was thinking somewhere in the country, a cabin with maybe a lake…nice weather, just somewhere for me and him to go where we can be alone, no disruptions…"Hazel began to grin. "What?" Jackson asked with a frown.

"I might have just the place; a friend of mine owes me a favour"

"Ahh, so I'm assuming it'll be a posh cabin then" he joked.

"No" Hazel began with a smile. "Basic, cosy and just what you boys need"

Jackson nodded. "It'll take a bit more than that though won't it mum?"

Hazel shrugged. "You won't know until you both go"

"B-But what if he doesn't-"

"Hey! No" Hazel cut him off. "I'm not having that sort of talk anymore, stay positive don't think of the what ifs, they might not happen"

"Exactly! Might not…"

"Jackson, just do as I say for once in your life"

Jackson retreated with a sigh and he nodded. "Alright…um when you go home do you mind taking Jak? Chas brought his bag but there's not enough for a night stay and I-I'm not sure I want him here too long anyway"

Hazel nodded. "Of course I will, I'll tell you something he doesn't seem fazed by anything, he hasn't cried, caused a fuss…he's a good boy" she said as she grinned at the baby.

"He is" Jackson said with a nod. "And our family will be complete again soon"

"Now that's better" Hazel told him. "All you have to do is be patient, it's up to him son"

TBC…