Are We Out of The Woods Yet?

Part 26

Two chapters today x

Aaron was sat at the bar in the Woolpack, a beer in his hand. Robert hadn't come back meaning he had probably found nothing at Home Farm. If he'd even been allowed in for that matter, Aaron considered. It sounded like the police were still doing their search of the place so it was highly unlikely they would let him look at anything. The news they had received from DS. Wise had affected Aaron in different ways. He was relieved that he knew where Liv had been and he was feeling a little bit better knowing that she wasn't on her own. But it didn't comfort the nagging feeling that whoever had the kids...they might be hurting them. He didn't know in what form, but the more he thought about it the more his worries got to him. He was having continuous images come to him. Pictures of Liv being absolutely petrified, it was hard for Aaron because he hadn't seen her scared before. She was usually a strong character, would she be now? Wherever she was...He could almost hear her calling for help, calling for him. The brother who was supposed to have protected her. He took a big sip of his drink, trying to flush the thoughts down the drain. But he knew alcohol didn't work. It never did.

Suddenly his phone went off in his pocket. What if it was the DS? He'd received the number off his Mum who had apparently got it off the Detective as soon as he'd stepped through the door. He'd learnt that information, afterwards feeling just a little embarrassed for her. He dished his hand in to his pocket, more than eager to read the message. He was surprised when he finally looked upon the screen as he found himself looking at a text from Vic. With all concentration on the screen, he read the message: 'Come round now!' Frowning, he took another swig of the beer. Running his eyes over the text once more, he peered at the glass in his fist, he was almost done. He brought it back to his lips, letting the liquid burn the back of his throat as he finished it off. He'd just placed the base down, back on its ring stain on the bar, when a shadow cast over the bar next to him. Aaron, thinking it might be Robert, but also thinking he was taking a risk, since his Mum was just in the back, cautiously turned to the figure. It turned out to be Cain. "Alright?" Cain said in his usual murmur. Aaron's lids flickered, his eyes sighing down to the floor. He nodded. "Expecting someone else were ya?"

"Huh?"

"You weren't expecting Sugden were ya?" Cain scoffed, sitting back on his stool.

"What d'ya mean?" Aaron glowered up at him, suspicious that he was mocking him.

"I just saw 'im getting out of his car." He let out a heavy breath, eyes bright, a smirk threatening the edges of his mouth. "Looks like he pissed someone off." He nodded at Chas in greeting as she appeared in front of them on the other side of the bar, one eyebrow raised. Aaron's brows however, both raised then fell. What did he mean?

"Well...where is he now?" Aaron asked Cain who had moved on to talking to his sister.

"Where is who?" Chas asked, there was no point in hoping he hadn't meant Robert. Although on the off chance...

"Sugden." Never mind. "Just seen 'im crawling in to Adam and Vic's gaff, looked like he'd been beaten up. And I mean properly beaten up." Aaron glared at the entertained expression on Cain's face. He held a huge amount of respect for the guy but it was wrong to celebrate something like someone being attacked. He got off the stool.

"Uh, where're you going?"

"Back in a bit." Aaron nodded to them both and strode along the remainder of the bar and out of the pub door.

"He's going to see Sugden." Cain muttered, his eyes on the door. Chas sighed, fantastic.

Vic kept listening out for the sound of a knock on the door. "Come on Aaron." She mumbled, her voice cutting out halfway through 'Aaron' as Robert came down the stairs. She heard him gasp and stared down in to the pan she was cooking with, she didn't know how to help him and she felt disappointed in herself. "Smells good." Robert hummed, wandering in with a shirt similar to the one he'd worn when he'd first come back from hospital in November. He passed Vic a wonky smile. Wonky because of how bruised and swollen his lips were becoming, especially on the left side.

"Thanks." Vic tried her best to sound chirpy, although she could see what he'd changed in to out of the corner of her eye and she shuffled uncomfortably at the memory.

"I'm ok Vic." Robert was becoming concerned at his sisters' distress. He stood beside her at the kitchen top, looking at her. She chose to avoid his gaze.

"Careful, you might get splashed with boiling water. You don't need any more damage doing to you do you?"

"Alright." Robert stepped back, doing as he was told. "I'll wait in there shall I?" He backed out of the kitchen, leaving Vic to cook in private.

Not long after he'd sat down, there was a knock at the front door. "Vic there's someone at the door." Robert informed her from where he sat on the sofa. Why couldn't he have knocked a little quieter? Vic wondered, slightly irritated that Robert had heard.

"Yes I know I am right next to it Rob."

"Do you want me to..."

"I'll get it." Vic hurried out in to the hallway. With one hand on the door handle, she looked back, Robert was looking at the doorway from the sofa. Damn it. Time to improvise. She opened the door only slightly, Aaron greeted her with a confused expression. "Oh hiya Vanessa!" She said far too enthusiastically, checking if Robert had heard. He sat with a frown on his face, not too dissimilar to the one Aaron was wearing. Cute, she thought, forgetting the situation for a second..."Oh, um." She'd been staring at her brother for too long. "It's Vanessa, I'll just talk to her outside you know 'cause." She pointed a finger to her own face and then at him. Robert nodded, getting what she meant. He didn't want anyone to see his messed up face, imagine how fast that would go round the village. He didn't imagine there'd be any flowers delivered to the door. Vic nodded and opened the door a little wider, just enough for her to step out. Standing in front of Aaron, he shuffled back to create a bit of space between them and she closed the door.

"Do I look like Vanessa or something?" Were Aaron's first words. He didn't look too amused at the idea.

"Sorry. I don't know her name just came to my head first." Vic apologised, looking sheepish. Aaron relaxed a little.

"Why have you brought me here Vic? Something up with Adam?" In his head, he was actually thinking she was going to talk to him about Robert, however he didn't want to say that and be wrong. Vic would only make assumptions that he and her brother were 'back on' if he did, probably.

"No, no. He's fine...well mostly I mean he's not too happy with Rob still being here but he'll just have to put up with it until Rob finds a new place." Aaron nodded slowly, still waiting for a reason to still be standing on her garden path. "Anyway, sorry I'm rambling aren't I?" Vic said insecurely, smiling nervously. "I'm sorry Aaron, I'm just worried about Robert." Right so it was about him.

"No offence but I don't know what that's got to do with me? If 'e's gone and got 'imself beaten up..."

"What? How did you know?"

"Cain, 'e told me he saw 'im getting out of the car."

"Oh." Vic folded her arms across her chest. She heard Aaron let out an impatient sigh and her eyes rushed upwards to meet his again. "It's really bad Aaron. He can't move without something hurting I swear. He won't speak to me, of course." Considering it, he never did. Except for the other night when he'd told her about his feelings for Aaron. Remembering that now, she peered in to Aaron's eyes, squinting as she attempted to read him. Did he know Rob's feelings and how far they went? Did he feel the same? He didn't look thrilled that Robert was hurt so that was a reassuring sign. It didn't mean he still had feelings for her brother though, Aaron was generally kind hearted anyway. "I didn't know who else to contact."

"Uh, Diane, Andy..." Aaron began to list the possible names.

"I know, I know but you mean a lot to Rob."

"What?" Just as Aaron began to question what the heck she'd just meant, the front door was opened. It was Robert.