Face to Face

Part 8

They had walked silently back to the car, brooding over what had just occurred, each of them trying to temper their emotions. But once settled in their seats, they looked at each other with concern, Aaron the first to speak, "You ok?"

"It should be me asking you that!" Jackson replied apologetically.

"I'm fine."

"No you're not! But you will be." Jackson assured the younger man, 'I'll make damn sure of that,' he silently promised himself. His anger had all but ebbed away now and he was beginning to regret his actions. He could easily have made a bad situation worse by reacting the way he did. But he'd been incensed by Gordon Livesey treatment of his own son. He'd been quick to preach to Aaron the day before and knew he had to apologise. "Sorry. There's me lecturing you about controlling your temper and then I go and lose mine!"

Jackson's actions had meant only one thing to Aaron and that was that he cared, "Thanks," he began a little self consciously, "you know... for standing up to him."

"Easy enough with him standing one side of the door and me on the other." Jackson joked, hoping to lighten the mood a bit.

"Maybe it was a good thing he was here tonight."

"What do you mean?" Jackson was stumped by the comment.

"Well it was going to happen sometime wasn't it? Him and me crossing paths! He's done his worst and I'm still standing. It's over. I can move on."

Jackson smiled, pleased Aaron was seeing the confrontation as a positive step and also that he was comfortable enough to share that with him. Up until now he'd had to drag his every thought and feeling out of him.

The smile was returned, and Jacksons gaze gravitated to Aaron's lips. He leaned in closer, wanting to feel them against his own. Just a breath apart now he let his hand rest against Aaron's inner thigh, the contact initiating a tremulous sigh from the younger man. The feather soft wisp of air caressed Jackson's cheek igniting a fire that hadn't burned in so long a time. As it raged inside he claimed his prise, finding them soft warm and as hungry as his own.

eeeeeeeeeeee

Bar West was fairly busy, it always attracted a crowd no matter what night of the week it was. The loud music and endless buzz of energy always gave the place a welcoming feel but tonight was the first night Aaron had actually felt comfortable there. He wasn't nervously looking around him, or keeping an eye on the door. He was relaxed and enjoying himself and that was all because of the man sitting next to him.

The night could so easily have been a disaster, he'd reacted badly to seeing his father, and his father had reacted badly to seeing him! But Jackson had got him through it and then they'd kissed. A long heat filled melding of want and need. This was only the second time he'd been left wanting more, and was for the first time unbelievably curious of where it could lead.

Jackson had been the first to pull away but only because he had remembered where they were and the need to put some miles between them and the area.

Since then Jackson had looked at him differently. He liked the way the brown eyes hungered for him even if it did scare him almost as much as it excited him.

"Come on then, One's your lot remember?" Jackson said as he got to his feet.

Aaron wanted to protest to suggest they stay another half hour but decided not to, he knew Jackson had an early start and he had another day of community payback ahead of him. He'd thought a day at the garage was tiring but it had nothing on the tasks he'd been set as he worked off his 150 hours.

As they made their way to the exit, Jackson acknowledged several of the other men present, he exchanged a few words with a couple of them, even introducing him to a few he seemed to know well. 'How well?' the young man wondered, were they just friends or had they been more than that? He wasn't jealous he was just interested, he knew very little about Jackson and simply wanted to know more.

Twenty minutes later the car was pulling up outside of Paddy's,

"Coffee?" Jackson asked hopefully as he turned the ignition off.

"C'mon then," Aaron grinned as he pushed the car door open. Paddy would still be up and he knew that was exactly what Jackson was hoping for. He wasn't looking forward to the upcoming conversation but had reluctantly accepted it had to take place.

Clyde met him at the door, letting him know he'd been missed. As the dogs attention moved on to Jackson Aaron stepped into the kitchen. He could see a light and hear the tv in the next room and knew he'd find his friend there.

Sure enough the older man was slouched across the sofa, a mug in one hand and a silly grin plastered across his face.

"Good night?"

"Mostly!" Aaron replied turning around as Jackson stepped into the room.

"Jackson!" Paddy sat upright, rearranging himself into a more presentably manner. he'd not really expected to see him tonight, knowing Aaron as well as he did he'd not thought 'the back to his place for a coffee' move would happen just yet. But he was pleased it had, only the 'mostly' line from Aaron and the serious look on Jackson's face was beginning to worry him a little.

"I'll just make us that drink." Aaron said before leaving the room.

"Has something happened?" Paddy asked as he gestured for the younger man to sit beside him.

Settling himself onto the sofa Jackson nodded, "Aaron's dad happened!"

There was something foreboding about the icy tone in which Jackson delivered the statement, now he really was worried.

"You met him?"

"You could say that!"

"And?" Paddy was almost afraid to ask what had happened

Jackson looked towards the door and seeing Aaron hovering there, not making any attempt to join in the conversation, boldly took it upon himself to explain. He turned around to face the older man, "He was drunk and things got very ugly..."

"He hates what I am!" Aaron interrupted, the need to vent some hurt appearing out of nowhere. "He hates me! End of story." With that he went back to making the coffee.

"It's a lot more complicated than that." Jackson told Paddy quietly. "Aaron's always known his father is homophobic..."

"Right!" Exclaimed Paddy as a light bulb went on in his head, "That explains a lot!"

Jackson nodded his understanding.

"Uh... just how ugly?" It had suddenly occurred to Paddy that Aaron might have lashed out, "Aaron didn't..."

"No he didn't but I..." Jackson began.

"You hit him?" Paddy interrupted.

"No, but not for the want of trying ." Jackson admitted sheepishly, "There shouldn't be any come back, he was the one out of line. It's just that I thought you should know."

"What happened exactly?" Paddy had the gist of the matter but not the details and he believed he needed them before he could be of any support to Aaron.

Jackson glanced up at the doorway again and hearing the clinking of cups decided he could expand a little.

Paddy listend intently, quietly seething, He didn't consider himself a violent man, but he'd been known to vent his feelings with his fist on a couple of occasions. Gordon Livesy was lucky he wasn't in the same room as him now, because if he was, he'd have punched him so hard he'd never get up again...and to hell with the consequences!

TBC