Face to Face

Part 19

Jackson had been certain that Aaron's father would need scraping off the floor. But he couldn't have been more wrong. Aaron had been the one left bruised and bloody. He'd been too late to prevent that but he had witnessed the young man calmly lay a ghost to rest. Relief then a sense of pride had flooded through him, only for it to be seconds later swamped by anger when he'd seen the young man's face.

Aaron had had to haul him outside. Calm him down! He never lost his temper. But twice now when Aaron had been the victim of his own father's hateful prejudice he'd lost control. What did that tell him? Well nothing he didn't already know. That he truly did care about Aaron.

He'd tried to rein in his emotions and told himself to focus on Aaron, that he probably wasn't as calm as he seemed. But that didn't seem to be the case. The teenager now had his car keys in his hand and was sauntering towards it like nothing had happened. Catching hold of Aaron's arm he jerked him around to face him, "No way are you driving it home!"

"But ..." Aaron started to protest.

Snatching the keys from Aaron, Jackson gestured to his van and snapped, "Get in."

Aaron reluctantly did as he'd been told, and waited for the bollocking he felt certain was coming his way. He sat silently as Jackson edged the van onto the busy main road. As they weaved their way through the rush hour traffic Aaron thought it best to keep quiet but once they were out of town and travelling down a quiet country road he said, "Alright, I shouldn't have taken the car!"

He'd expected Jackson to have plenty to say in reply to that but no. He just kept his eyes on the road ahead and his mouth tightly shut. It seemed he was getting the silent treatment now.

After a few more uncomfortable moments had passed Aaron said, "I'm sorry."

When his apology went unacknowledged too, he began to feel really uneasy. Had his actions made Jackson think again about being involved with him?

There was a lay-by just up ahead and when the vehicle started to slow down Aaron knew that's where they were headed.

As soon as he'd turned the ignition off Jackson was pressing his phone into Aaron's hand, "Phone Paddy, tell him you're ok."

Paddy had picked up instantly, obviously waiting on the call, "Is he alright, what's happened?"

"It's me. I'm fine, and nothing's happened, nothing for you to worry about anyway." There was a lengthy silence at the other end of the phone and then Aaron heard the older man thunder back at him. "You'd better be on your way here."

"Yeah, we'll be there soon." Aaron sighed as he ended the call; it seemed he had an earful coming from Paddy too. He handed Jackson's phone back to him aware that his eyes were now fixed on him.

"He was worried sick about you!" Jackson spat angrily.

Aaron squirmed, "I know, I'm sorry."

"He nearly signed himself out of hospital so he could look for you. If he hadn't managed to get hold of me he would've done!"

"I'm sorry!" He was truly sorry; once again he'd given no thought or consideration to the people he loved and who loved him. Paddy was the last person he wanted to hurt but he had, again!

"I've spent hours looking for you. I've lost work..."Jackson caught himself, he didn't give a damn about the work he'd lost, he was just angry at Aaron for taking off like that and scaring him and Paddy half to death. As Aaron looked down and away Jackson realised he'd just given him all the wrong signals. Lifting his hand he gently cupped Aaron's chin and tilted his face upwards. His gaze instantly drawn to the bruising and split and swollen lips. Aaron didn't deserve anger, not after what he'd just gone through with his father, "No. I'm the one who should be saying sorry. Are you alright?"

"Yeah!" Aaron nodded, certain that if he kept telling himself that then he soon would be. He wasn't going to give in to his emotions, he wasn't going to waste anymore tears over his father. He'd meant what he said to Jackson.

"We both know you're not," Jackson said softly as he pulled Aaron into his arms. He felt him struggle against him but as he tightened his hold, Aaron quietened. All he could now was hold him until his tears stopped falling.

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Aaron fingered the side of his face, how was he going to explain the ugly mass of bruising to Paddy? He was standing outside the older man's hospital room now, not wanting to go in.

"What you waiting for?" Jackson eyed him questioningly.

"I thought I'd give him a bit more time to calm down."

Jackson opened the door and gave Aaron a gentle push inside.

"What were you thinking?" Paddy yelled across the room at him.

"Well I wasn't was I! Thinking I mean." Aaron replied sheepishly as he slowly moved towards the bed to sit alongside the older man.

"What happened to your face?" Horrifed by what he saw Paddy pulled the younger man nearer to inspect the damage. "Did he do that?"

"I'm alright Paddy! Everything's sorted now."

"Sorted!" Paddy exclaimed, Aaron turns up looking like he'd just gone a few rounds with Joe Calzaghe and tells him everything's sorted! What kind of answer was that anyway? "That's supposed to stop me worrying is it?

"Yes!" Aaron replied earnestly. "Trust me on this Paddy please," Aaron pleaded then looked to Jackson for support.

Paddy turned to the older of the two young men. Jackson had a sensible not to mention wise head on his shoulders, could he give him that extra bit of reassurance he needed right now?

Jackson didn't know everything that had gone on between father and son but he did know that it had proved to be a much needed catharsis for Aaron. "You can stop worrying now. I have."

"Right!" Paddy conceded. He would have liked to know exactly what had happened but maybe it was best he didn't. Holding out his arms to Aaron, he said, "Come here."

It was another show of affection he didn't deserve but Aaron readily returned the hug. He was relieved Paddy hadn't pushed for any more details. He just wanted to forget about it all now.

As Paddy released his hold he held out his hand and said to Aaron, "Hand them over."

"What?"

"The keys?"

"House keys?"

"Car keys!"

"I've got those." Jackson said passing them to Paddy.

"I'm putting the car back on EBay!"

"Ok." Aaron agreed, he deserved that and more for what he'd just put Paddy through.

TBC