Fic: When The Leaves Fall (4/?)
Title: When The Leaves Fall (4/?)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Frank/Adam, William Eldredge, Delia Roselli, Ruth Orlovsky
Fandom: Naked City
Genres: Angst, Drama, Historical, Holiday, Romance
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings: Major Character Death
Spoilers: For Today The Man Who Kills The Ants Is Coming (3x21)
General Summary: After the fallout from a violent confrontation with a fleeing killer, Adam is broken.
Chapter Summary: A session with Dr. Eldredge leaves Adam extremely unsettled.
Date Of Completion: September 8, 2024
Date Of Posting: October 31, 2024
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Screen Gems does, more’s the pity.
Word Count (this chapter): 897
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
All chapters can be found here.
IV
LEMON DROPS
The frost sparkles
Like winter sunlight,
Beautiful and cold,
Silver and gold,
Sunflower lemon.
Marissa Merrimack
"Ode To Nature"
1961 C E.
October 3, 1967
"So, Adam, has Frank come to see you today?"
Dr. Eldredge tamped tobacco down into his pipe. He waited patiently as a nervous Adam fluttered his hands.
"Frank's coming by later today."
"That's good. He seems pretty faithful."
"Always. Frank's always there when I need him."
"Sounds like a true friend."
"He is." Adam leaned forward in the chair, eager to talk about his partner. "He's the best. He always has my back."
"And what about you?" Eldredge lit his pipe.
"What about me?" Adam asked warily.
"Do you always have Frank's back?"
Suddenly Adam looked panicked. His eyes darted around the room, settling on the Paul Revere teapot as it sparkled in autumn sunlight filtering through one of the windows.
"I always have Frank's back." Adam's voice shook and he kept his gaze on the teapot.
"Do you remember...?"
"I don't remember anything except Frank." He stood up abruptly.
"You remember Mike."
Adam was standing by the credenza. His hand hovered over the tea set. The sunlight danced on the silver pieces.
"I remember fragments. I remember lemon drops."
& & &
March 19, 1962
They sat in the car, watching the old brownstone in a rundown section of the city.
The quiet inside the car was comfortable, words not necessary with these two. Frank ate sunflower seeds, offering some to Adam. Adam took some seeds, sighing as he looked at them in his gloved hand.
"What's the matter? Sunflower seeds too healthy for you?"
"Maybe. It's also a little chilly." Frost was sparkling on the windows.
"Want me to warm you up?"
Adam glanced around. "If the frost covered these windows, I'd take you up on it."
Frank laughed. "Here, have a consolation prize." He took out a bag of lemon drops. "Your favorite flavor."
Adam took a wrapped candy with a smile.
"Hey, I've seen you eat enough lemon-filled doughnuts to know."
"You take good care of me, Frank."
"Always."
& & &
The frost on the car windows melted into warm, sparkling sunlight. Adam could taste lemon.
"So Frank always comes through."
"Yes."
Panic squeezed his chest. What exactly had he said? Had he revealed too much?
"Maybe Frank will bring you lemon drops today."
Adam's mind raced. Did Dr. Eldredge suspect the true nature of his relationship with Frank? Was that why he was in this place? But wouldn't that mean Frank would be here, too?
His head began to hurt. Dr. Eldredge was talking but he couldn't focus. "I'm sorry, what?"
"I said did you eat a lot of doughnuts? I know it's a stereotype, but..."
"I...I suppose so. Frank never lies to me."
"That's good."
"It's very good."
Eldredge exhaled a puff of pipe smoke. "Someone who tells it like it is is rare, even in the 'let-it-all-hang-out' generation."
I've got to be careful. What did I say?
"Well, our time's up, Adam. See you next week."
"Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel." Adam smiled weakly.
Eldredge laughed. "Pop culture at its best."
Adam hurried out of the doctor's office, nodding quickly to Delia. The secretary smiled.
Once out in the hall Adam took deep breaths, trying to calm his pounding heart. If only he could remember what he'd said! But it was like waking from a dream. You could feel the dream slipping away, lost forever. If only his head didn't feel like it was stuffed with cotton!
Maybe I should take a nap before Frank gets here. But I'm so tired!
Adam stumbled into the TV room. Maybe he could get strength if he sat down for a minute. He sank to the couch while nurses in crisp white caps and uniforms moved on the TV screen. He recognized it as the soap opera General Hospital.
"You look worn out, honey." Adam jumped. He had been unaware of anyone else sitting on the couch. "Jittery, too."
He felt foolish. "Sorry."
Ruth Orlovsky waved her hand. "No need to apologize." She resumed her knitting. "Poor Jessie Brewer. She ought to dump her good-for-nothing husband Phil and get it on with Dr. Hardy."
Adam stared at the screen. His anxiety was off the charts.
"Why so spooked, honey?" Clack! Clack!
Adam looked at Ruth. Her gray hair was braided around the crown of her head. She wore a red-and-white flowered dress and red flats.
"I...had a session."
"Ah." Clack! Clack! "Always stressful."
"I .. I'm probably going to take a nap before Frank visits."
"Lovely to meet him yesterday."
"He liked you." Onscreen, Head Nurse Jessie Brewer was consulting with Dr. Steve Hardy about a patient.
"Aww, that's sweet. Did you talk to the doc about him?"
"Some."
"Let it slip about your true feelings?"
"Wh...what?"
She winked. "C'mon, I've got eyes." She jabbed her elbow into his side. "Any man who puts that much ketchup on his friend's meatloaf is smitten," she chuckled. "Aww, honey, don't look so terrified."
"Does... does everyone else know?"
"Nah. Everyone's too wrapped up in their own heads."
"Are you sure?" Adam felt sick with fear.
"Positive." Ruth patted his arm. "No one knows. You're safe here at Ocean View."
Outside in the hall, William Eldredge paused on his way to a patient's room. Adam had practically bolted out of his office. Talking about having Frank's back had upset him.
Mike Parker was right. Guilt, thy name is Adam.
The good doctor shook his head sadly and moved on down the hall.
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