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The last person Robert was expecting to be knocking on his door was Aaron, after their last conversation in the hospital he was sure Aaron still wanted nothing to do with him, or at least time apart to get his head around everything.
“Wasn’t expecting to see you anytime soon,” Robert said as he led Aaron into the living room, the two of them sitting side by side on the couch.
“I just had to get out of the pub.” Aaron replied.
“Chas doing your head in already?” Joked Robert, although he knew something must have happened, he knew Aaron so could see something was wrong.
“Not just her, it’s everyone. Caleb came round; turns out he helped John escape. And everyone other than Cain seems to be fine with that, they’ve just let him get away with everything he’s done.” Aaron explained, voice cracking as he spoke, he didn’t want to cry over John- not again.
“He did what?!” Robert exclaimed, his voice unnervingly calm despite the look of pure rage on his face. “Why the Hell would he do that? And why is everyone so okay with it? Are they forgetting everything he’s done? Are they forgetting the reason you’ve only just got out of hospital?” It was taking everything in Robert not to storm there and have it out with Caleb and anyone else who supports his decision.
Aaron sighed heavily before explaining what happened with Anthony and why Caleb made that choice.
“That doesn’t make it right. And did they really think the police would believe him? He’s the one that buried the body, and he’s been buried for months- any evidence linking you lot to him is probably gone by now.” Robert was pacing at this point, unable to comprehend what he’s hearing or even understand how they could let John go. He can’t even imagine how Cain must be feeling right now.
“What if he comes back?” Aaron asked, voice so small and frightened Robert could feel his heart begin to shatter.
Robert sat down besides Aaron again, facing him and taking hold of his hand, “I won’t let him hurt you, not again. I swear to you I will protect you this time, I won't let you down again. And you’ve got Cain, and everyone else in this village. If he’s stupid enough to come back, we won’t let him anywhere near you.” Robert assured. Watching Aaron go over that gorge, not knowing if he was going to make it- having to watch him almost die again- was one of the worst moments of Robert’s life. He’d turned up to try and save him and ended up watching him almost die.
“I don’t feel safe here, knowing he could show up at any time. He tried to kill me Robert, and in the cottage he was drugging me so I couldn’t leave. He terrified me, made me feel like I was back with Gordon again. I can’t cope knowing he could show up any second to do God know what. Or what is he comes after you, or tries to hurt Mack again? None of us are safe whilst he’s still out there and no-one seems to understand that, or even care.” Robert pulled Aaron into a much need hug, holding him tightly.
“I promise you I will sort this. I still have some contacts, and I’m sure Cain will help. We’ll find him and we will deal with him, properly this time.” Robert promised as Aaron cried into his chest.
The two of them sat there for several minutes, Aaron for the first time since this whole ordeal feeling some protection by being in Robert’s arms. Aaron eventually pulled out of the hug and opened his mouth to speak but Robert cut him off straight away.
“Don’t you dare apologise,” Robert said, knowing that’s exactly what Aaron was going to do.
Aaron laughed, a genuine laugh, “fine, then thank you for being here- letting me cry on you.”
Robert shook his head, “you don’t have to thank me either, I’ll always be here for you. As long as you want me to be.”
“Can I stay here tonight? I can’t go back there.” Robert agreed straight away, telling Aaron he’d go get some of his stuff for him so he could stay longer if he wanted. He knew Vic wouldn’t mind and would understand. Aaron tried to insist he’d go, but Robert said he needs to be resting given he’s just got out of hospital. Aaron relented and let Robert go, telling him to try not to cause a row. Robert promised nothing and told Aaron he’d be back as soon as possible.
Robert tried not to kick off, he really did- but that lasted all of five seconds. As soon as he saw Caleb he saw red, punching him in the face hard enough for him to fall to the floor.
“What the hell are you playing at?” Chas yelled from behind the bar.
“That’s for letting John go after everything he’s done. That’s the least you deserve.” Robert shouted back. Gasps of shock could be heard around the pub at what Robert had just said.
“I take it you’ve been talking to Aaron,” Caleb sighed. “Look, it wasn’t as simple as that. He was blackmailing us- I did what I had to to protect my family, including Aaron.”
“Protecting Aaron? John tried to kill him. He grabbed him and pulled him off that gorge. And before that he was drugging him so Aaron couldn’t leave him, did you know that? He’s terrified that John’s going to come back and do something else. You know he said that when he was at that cottage John made him feel like he was back with Gordon, that’s how bad things were with John- and you just let him go. Let him get away with what he did to Aaron, to Mack, to Nate, Chas- everyone in this village he hurt.” Robert's hands were clenched into fists by his side as he fought off the urge not to punch Caleb again.
“He did what he needed to protect us," Chas spoke up in defense of Caleb.
“So you’re okay with this then Chas? That Caleb let the man who almost killed your son go? The man who kept him drugged up in that cottage, terrified for his life? You weren’t there at that gorge, you didn’t see the fear on Aaron’s face when he went over the edge. You weren’t the one cradling his body thinking you’d lost him again, screaming for help, begging for him to be okay, telling him over again that you loved him because that might have been the last time you ever got to say it. I spent the past six years in prison and that was nothing compared to watching Aaron almost die, and you are all happy to sit there whilst John gets away with it.” Robert’s voice seemed to get louder as he spoke, letting out all his anger on them. He doesn’t understand how they can stand there and say it was for the best, when there is nothing stopping him from coming back at any point. When they have let him get away with everything he’s done and not just to Aaron.
“Because it’s all about you isn’t it,” Chas scoffed, seemingly ignoring everything else Robert had said.
“I never said it was, all I care about is Aaron, which no-one else seems to. Although I will say, you were all more than happy, Victoria included, to see me sent back to prison when you thought I’d done this. The smug look on your face when I got arrested, you condemned me to rot in there for the rest of my life for something I didn’t do, then still treat me like the bad guy when you found out it was John. And now you know it was John, it’s like none of you care what he did. You treated me worse when you thought I was guilty than you did John when he had actually done this. Now what does that say about you lot?”
“That’s not fair, Robert, we-” Chas began before Robert cut her off.
“No, I’ll tell you what isn’t fair. What isn’t fair is what happened to Aaron, and Mackenzie for that matter having the man that almost killed them get away with it. What isn’t fair is that Frankie has to grow up without her dad whilst the man who took him from her is free. What isn’t fair is being abandoned by everyone and arrested for a crime you didn’t commit. Prison nearly killed me last time, if I had got sent down for it, I probably would have ended it- do you realise that? I couldn’t survive it again and no-one listened to me, no-one was there for me. I’m the only one who got punished for what John did whilst he gets away with it. That’s what’s not fair.” Robert's breathing was heavy, ragged by the time he had finished speaking. He knew he had to leave soon before he actually did do something to end up back behind bars. No-one could say anything, deep down they knew Robert was right, and they knew there was no point in arguing anymore. Nothing they could say to him would even begin to fix it, and frankly, Robert didn’t want to hear it.
“Where is Aaron? Is he okay?” Chas asked, and Robert could tell that she was being genuine.
“He’s at mine and Vic’s, and considering the man who made his life Hell is free and he just spend several minutes crying in my arms, he’s coping as best he can- no thanks to you lot. Now if you don’t mind I’d like to collect some of his things- he’s staying with me until he wants to come back.” Robert said, staring pointedly at Chas at that last part, knowing she’d likely try to guilt him into coming back. Chas simply nodded, whilst she hated the idea of Aaron getting close to Robert again, she knew in this situation it was pointless stopping him, and at least she knew he wasn’t going to be alone.
Thankfully, none of Aaron’s things were unpacked so he could easily grab everything. Before he left he turned to Caleb again, “I swear if you come near him you’ll get far worse than a punch in the face, got that?” The look on Robert’s face and the venom in his voice reminded Chas of the old Robert from years ago. Caleb nodded and agreed to keep his distance, from what he knows about Robert he knew he would do anything for Aaron.
“That goes for the rest of your lot, Aaron needs space and he needs time to deal with this, so back off.” Robert didn’t give anyone chance to respond and walked out, eager to get back to Aaron and not wanting to have left him alone for too long.
“Everything alright?” Aaron asked, which was simply his way of checking Robert hadn’t murdered any Dingles in the short time he’d been gone.
“Yeah fine, I grabbed all your bags, so you don’t have to go back if you don’t want to. You can stay as long as you want.” Robert dumped Aaron’s bags at the bottom of the stairs, he can deal with them later.
“So, did you get into a fight with any of my family or did you behave for once?” Aaron asked as Robert took a seat next to him.
“I may have punched Caleb, and had a go at him and your mum,” Robert shrugged casually, he wasn’t sorry and he’d do it again quite happily. Although he does wish he’d done more than punch Caleb.
“Well, I can’t say he didn’t deserve it,” Aaron said with a slight smile. “You weren’t too harsh on mum were you?”
“No, and if I was then I don’t care. You, Mack, everyone he hurt deserve justice for what he did, and Caleb took that from you, and Chas and the rest of them agree with what he did. John should rot in prison for the rest of his life and instead he gets a fresh start. And you’re left behind, living in fear because he could come back whenever he feels like it. It’s not fair on you! You deserve so much better!” Robert didn’t mean to raise his voice, but he couldn’t help it, he was so angry at the situation. His hands grasped at his hair tightly, something he did now when things were getting too much- helping to ground him.
“Don’t do that,” Aaron said softly as he gently removed Robert’s hands from his hair and kept hold of one of them; neither of them acknowledged it, but both of them desperately needed that contact. “Are you okay? This can’t exactly be easy for you either after everything John did to you. And I know how hard prison was for you- getting arrested, going back there can’t have been easy.” Robert let out a bitter laugh at that last part.
“I wouldn’t have survived it again Aaron. If John’s plan had worked, if I’d ended back inside for good- if I’d have lost you-“ Robert trailed off, fighting back tears.
Aaron squeezed Robert’s hand reassuringly, “I’m right here Robert, I’m going nowhere and neither are you.”
“I thought I’d watched you die. I saw you go over the edge. I held you at the bottom of the gorge, I thought I’d lost you again. Then when I got arrested they wouldn’t tell me anything and all I wanted was to see you, make sure you were okay. It was torture.” Aaron can’t imagine what that must have been like for Robert, how hard it must have been especially considering he had no-one there to support him, and no-one that believed him.
Aaron turned to face Robert, resting their foreheads together. “I swear to you Robert, you won’t lose me again. I’m here. I’m never leaving you again- we did say messed up forever, didn’t we?” He whispered, wiping away Robert’s tears.
“I thought you didn’t want me anymore.” Robert replied, in disbelief at what Aaron was saying.
“I’ve never wanted you more. I don’t know what I was thinking ever choosing John. I guess I was scared of what it meant if I chose you, scared something could happen and I could lose you all over again. But I will never stop wanting you. I love you, Mr Sugden.”
“I love you too, Mr Dingle.” Robert couldn't wait for the day he became Mr Sugden-Dingle again