Fic: When The Leaves Fall (9/?)
Title: When The Leaves Fall (9/?)
Author: Bradygirl_12
Characters/Pairings (this chapter): Frank/Adam
Fandom: Naked City
Genres: Angst, Drama, Historical, Holiday, Romance
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings: Major Character Death
Spoilers: For Today Is The Day 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: What's at the top of the Attic stairs?
Date Of Completion: October 16, 2024
Date Of Posting: November 2, 2024
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em, Screen Gems does, more's the pity.
Word Count (this chapter): 1486
All chapters can be found here.
IX
THE ATTIC
An attic is filled
With memories,
Tucked away in boxes
Or high up
Out of reach
On a shelf.
Light bursts in
To illuminate
Some boxes
While others remain
In the cobwebbed dark.
Boxes, bags and trunks,
Some filled with treasures,
Some filled with junk.
Alas, beware!
Of some of them
Bursting out
And raining down
To tumble down
The stairs
Into the light...
Or the abyss?
Aaron Melville
"The Attic"
1906 C.E.
February 24, 1968
Two months ago when Adam awoke on Christmas Eve, the events of the night before seemed like a dream. Had it really happened at all?
Frank came to visit as promised and on the next day as well. He was delighted with the poem and he gave Adam an antique ornament in the shape of an angel. Adam laughed. He loved it!
The days passed routinely, Adam taking long walks once pathways were plowed. Despite the cold he sat on his favorite bench and watched the ocean. He went to his therapy sessions and socialized when he was not too tired, also keeping up his exercise routine. He was relatively happy.
When he awoke on the morning of February 24th, he felt an overwhelming sense of dread. He did not know why. Did this date mean something? His nerves were terribly jangled.
Maybe it was the stories about the Tet Offensive going on in Vietnam right now. He usually avoided the news, but it was almost impossible this time around.
He hated the Vietnam War. It reminded him too much of Korea: a Southeast Asian land war in a country evenly divided geographically between the Communists in the North and the United States and its allies in the South. The war was unpopular at home. No clear-cut victory in sight. Just a little very hot war in the bigger Cold War. Yes, Korea and Vietnam were distressingly alike.
He shuddered as he took a shower after his morning exercise routine. He would eat some breakfast and go for a walk. Then it would be time for his weekly session with Dr. Eldredge. He had been away on Tuesday so had come in today to catch up.
After breakfast Adam bundled up and went outside. The windows of Ocean View glittered with frost. Adam wound his scarf around his face. He wore mittens instead of gloves for better warmth. His boots crunched on the packed snow path.
He walked through the garden, pausing at his flower bed. It was covered in snow. He left it untouched and went to his bench and rested one knee on it. It was too cold to sit.
The view was always spectacular here: wide-open ocean and plenty of boats and ships passing by in the course of a day. Whitecaps sparkled on the restless sea.
Adam gazed out at the sea for awhile, a heavy feeling in the pit of his stomach. His nerves were eating away at him. He wiped away sudden tears with his mitten. On such a beautiful day, why was he so sad and jittery?
He glanced behind him at the house, noticing the Widow's Walk. Did the people of the Attic yearn to walk up there and breathe fresh air instead of the latex smell of a rubber room?
Adam left the bench and returned inside. As he walked toward the stairs, he looked over at the locked door to the Attic. He felt drawn to it. Giving himself a shake, he hurried up the stairs to the second floor.
& & &
"Adam, you seem extremely jittery today," observed Dr. Eldredge.
"My nerves are very jangled today."
"Would you like some medication?"
Ordinarily Adam refused. This particular medication made him feel like his head was stuffed with cotton. He took a deep breath.
"Yes, sir."
Eldredge called the nurses' station. "Send some Xanothene right away." He hung up. He filled his pipe with tobacco.
Five minutes later Head Nurse Edna 'Iron Heart' Merkel came in. A big, broad woman, she had gray hair, gray eyes and a gray personality. Adam was a little afraid of her. She always seemed to look at him with disapproval, though Julie assured him that it was her default expression.
His hands shook as he took a small paper cup containing the pill and a cup of water to wash it down. He swallowed the pill and drank the water. He kept the cup to sip the cold water.
"Thank you, Nurse Merkel," said Dr. Eldredge.
She left without a word.
Adam focused on Dr. Eldredge. The pill would not take effect for awhile.
"Any idea why you're so anxious today?"
"No." A thought popped into his head. "Should I?"
"I don't know. Should you?"
Adam hated the psychiatric habit of answering a question with a question. Today he particularly hated it.
"I don't know. That's why I'm asking you!"
For a moment Dr. Eldredge seemed surprised at his usually docile patient's snappishness, but he quickly recovered and said, "Okay. You say you feel extremely nervous today. What else are you feeling?"
"Ummm...sadness."
"Anything else?"
Adam did not want to mention the strong sense of dread making his stomach knot.
"No."
The doctor puffed on his pipe. Adam wondered if he used the habit to distract his patients from his gaze. Eldredge was good about it, but Adam sometimes felt like a bug under a microscope.
"Well, then, it's good you took the Xanothene."
They talked a little more but the conversation was aimless. Adam could feel the pill kicking in. He had a hard time focusing as the cotton began stuffing his head.
At some point Dr. Eldredge must have called for a nurse, who escorted Adam back to his room. He took off his shoes and she helped him get settled into bed. He quickly fell asleep.
& & &
Adam drifted up from a heavy sleep. He always felt groggy after taking the pill and sleeping. He slowly sat up and saw the clock on his nightstand.
7:00! Oh, no, visiting hours are over! I missed Frank's visit!
He bowed his head to his drawn-up knees. How could he have been dumb enough to miss Frank's visit? He wanted to knock his head against the wall, but it would just make his headache worse. He wanted to cry.
He lifted his head. He had heard something. He got out of his bed and opened his door.
Empty hallway.
Adam went downstairs. He had missed the dinner hour but since the cafeteria was always open, he could get a hot meal. Except he wasn't heading to the cafeteria.
He was drawn to the locked Attic door. He stared at it and slowly slid a piece of metal he had found on one of his walks from his pants pocket. He inserted it into the lock, jiggled it, and it sprung open.
He took a deep breath as he stared up at the dark staircase. It was quiet. He wondered if the story about padded cells was real. Crazy people were great for taking an idea and running with it. He ought to know. He was as crazy as the rest of the people in this place. He had never seen anyone coming in or out of the Attic door. Hitching his shoulders, he started climbing the stairs. The stairs creaked.
& & &
Adam bounded up the stairs. They creaked as he could smell boiled cabbage, stale cigarette smoke, and more unsavory orders.
He had his gun drawn. Elmer Bainbridge was not a man to take lightly. He was a killer and had nothing to lose.
& & &
Don't go up these stairs, Adam.
"Frank?" Adam looked around. He wasn't here.
Don't, Adam.
Adam continued up the stairs.
& & &
"Police, Bainbridge! You can't escape!"
He continued climbing, adrenaline pumping as he stalked a killer. The hunt was on, and the hunter was primed and ready.
& & &
No further, Adam.
"I have to, Frank," Adam mumbled.
It's not your time yet.
"I have to know what's at the top of the stairs."
It was still quiet. No sound of nurses' shoes, no voices murmuring...wait, was that muffled screaming and moaning? He wasn't sure. All he knew was that he had to keep going despite Frank's pleas. Just a little more...
& & &
He burst out onto the roof. Bainbridge sneered and raised his gun and fired.
& & &
Adam's limbs trembled as his ears rang. He felt dizzy and shot out a hand to steady himself against the wall.
& & &
Shots rang out. Shouts. Fists. A struggle. A single gunshot.
& & &
Oh, Adam.
Adam was shaking, Frank's sad voice ringing in his ears. He reached the top of the stairs.
His eyes widened and he whimpered, "No, no!" The images burst out and rained over him. Horror threw his muscles into rigidity and he screamed, his headache exploding. He kept screaming, his throat raw and he fell backward, tumbling down the stairs into the light...or the abyss?
This chapter can also be found on AO3.
This entry has been cross-posted from Dreamwidth. Comment on either entry as you wish. :)
Author: Bradygirl_12
Characters/Pairings (this chapter): Frank/Adam
Fandom: Naked City
Genres: Angst, Drama, Historical, Holiday, Romance
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings: Major Character Death
Spoilers: For Today Is The Day 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: What's at the top of the Attic stairs?
Date Of Completion: October 16, 2024
Date Of Posting: November 2, 2024
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em, Screen Gems does, more's the pity.
Word Count (this chapter): 1486
All chapters can be found here.
IX
THE ATTIC
An attic is filled
With memories,
Tucked away in boxes
Or high up
Out of reach
On a shelf.
Light bursts in
To illuminate
Some boxes
While others remain
In the cobwebbed dark.
Boxes, bags and trunks,
Some filled with treasures,
Some filled with junk.
Alas, beware!
Of some of them
Bursting out
And raining down
To tumble down
The stairs
Into the light...
Or the abyss?
Aaron Melville
"The Attic"
1906 C.E.
February 24, 1968
Two months ago when Adam awoke on Christmas Eve, the events of the night before seemed like a dream. Had it really happened at all?
Frank came to visit as promised and on the next day as well. He was delighted with the poem and he gave Adam an antique ornament in the shape of an angel. Adam laughed. He loved it!
The days passed routinely, Adam taking long walks once pathways were plowed. Despite the cold he sat on his favorite bench and watched the ocean. He went to his therapy sessions and socialized when he was not too tired, also keeping up his exercise routine. He was relatively happy.
When he awoke on the morning of February 24th, he felt an overwhelming sense of dread. He did not know why. Did this date mean something? His nerves were terribly jangled.
Maybe it was the stories about the Tet Offensive going on in Vietnam right now. He usually avoided the news, but it was almost impossible this time around.
He hated the Vietnam War. It reminded him too much of Korea: a Southeast Asian land war in a country evenly divided geographically between the Communists in the North and the United States and its allies in the South. The war was unpopular at home. No clear-cut victory in sight. Just a little very hot war in the bigger Cold War. Yes, Korea and Vietnam were distressingly alike.
He shuddered as he took a shower after his morning exercise routine. He would eat some breakfast and go for a walk. Then it would be time for his weekly session with Dr. Eldredge. He had been away on Tuesday so had come in today to catch up.
After breakfast Adam bundled up and went outside. The windows of Ocean View glittered with frost. Adam wound his scarf around his face. He wore mittens instead of gloves for better warmth. His boots crunched on the packed snow path.
He walked through the garden, pausing at his flower bed. It was covered in snow. He left it untouched and went to his bench and rested one knee on it. It was too cold to sit.
The view was always spectacular here: wide-open ocean and plenty of boats and ships passing by in the course of a day. Whitecaps sparkled on the restless sea.
Adam gazed out at the sea for awhile, a heavy feeling in the pit of his stomach. His nerves were eating away at him. He wiped away sudden tears with his mitten. On such a beautiful day, why was he so sad and jittery?
He glanced behind him at the house, noticing the Widow's Walk. Did the people of the Attic yearn to walk up there and breathe fresh air instead of the latex smell of a rubber room?
Adam left the bench and returned inside. As he walked toward the stairs, he looked over at the locked door to the Attic. He felt drawn to it. Giving himself a shake, he hurried up the stairs to the second floor.
& & &
"Adam, you seem extremely jittery today," observed Dr. Eldredge.
"My nerves are very jangled today."
"Would you like some medication?"
Ordinarily Adam refused. This particular medication made him feel like his head was stuffed with cotton. He took a deep breath.
"Yes, sir."
Eldredge called the nurses' station. "Send some Xanothene right away." He hung up. He filled his pipe with tobacco.
Five minutes later Head Nurse Edna 'Iron Heart' Merkel came in. A big, broad woman, she had gray hair, gray eyes and a gray personality. Adam was a little afraid of her. She always seemed to look at him with disapproval, though Julie assured him that it was her default expression.
His hands shook as he took a small paper cup containing the pill and a cup of water to wash it down. He swallowed the pill and drank the water. He kept the cup to sip the cold water.
"Thank you, Nurse Merkel," said Dr. Eldredge.
She left without a word.
Adam focused on Dr. Eldredge. The pill would not take effect for awhile.
"Any idea why you're so anxious today?"
"No." A thought popped into his head. "Should I?"
"I don't know. Should you?"
Adam hated the psychiatric habit of answering a question with a question. Today he particularly hated it.
"I don't know. That's why I'm asking you!"
For a moment Dr. Eldredge seemed surprised at his usually docile patient's snappishness, but he quickly recovered and said, "Okay. You say you feel extremely nervous today. What else are you feeling?"
"Ummm...sadness."
"Anything else?"
Adam did not want to mention the strong sense of dread making his stomach knot.
"No."
The doctor puffed on his pipe. Adam wondered if he used the habit to distract his patients from his gaze. Eldredge was good about it, but Adam sometimes felt like a bug under a microscope.
"Well, then, it's good you took the Xanothene."
They talked a little more but the conversation was aimless. Adam could feel the pill kicking in. He had a hard time focusing as the cotton began stuffing his head.
At some point Dr. Eldredge must have called for a nurse, who escorted Adam back to his room. He took off his shoes and she helped him get settled into bed. He quickly fell asleep.
& & &
Adam drifted up from a heavy sleep. He always felt groggy after taking the pill and sleeping. He slowly sat up and saw the clock on his nightstand.
7:00! Oh, no, visiting hours are over! I missed Frank's visit!
He bowed his head to his drawn-up knees. How could he have been dumb enough to miss Frank's visit? He wanted to knock his head against the wall, but it would just make his headache worse. He wanted to cry.
He lifted his head. He had heard something. He got out of his bed and opened his door.
Empty hallway.
Adam went downstairs. He had missed the dinner hour but since the cafeteria was always open, he could get a hot meal. Except he wasn't heading to the cafeteria.
He was drawn to the locked Attic door. He stared at it and slowly slid a piece of metal he had found on one of his walks from his pants pocket. He inserted it into the lock, jiggled it, and it sprung open.
He took a deep breath as he stared up at the dark staircase. It was quiet. He wondered if the story about padded cells was real. Crazy people were great for taking an idea and running with it. He ought to know. He was as crazy as the rest of the people in this place. He had never seen anyone coming in or out of the Attic door. Hitching his shoulders, he started climbing the stairs. The stairs creaked.
& & &
Adam bounded up the stairs. They creaked as he could smell boiled cabbage, stale cigarette smoke, and more unsavory orders.
He had his gun drawn. Elmer Bainbridge was not a man to take lightly. He was a killer and had nothing to lose.
& & &
Don't go up these stairs, Adam.
"Frank?" Adam looked around. He wasn't here.
Don't, Adam.
Adam continued up the stairs.
& & &
"Police, Bainbridge! You can't escape!"
He continued climbing, adrenaline pumping as he stalked a killer. The hunt was on, and the hunter was primed and ready.
& & &
No further, Adam.
"I have to, Frank," Adam mumbled.
It's not your time yet.
"I have to know what's at the top of the stairs."
It was still quiet. No sound of nurses' shoes, no voices murmuring...wait, was that muffled screaming and moaning? He wasn't sure. All he knew was that he had to keep going despite Frank's pleas. Just a little more...
& & &
He burst out onto the roof. Bainbridge sneered and raised his gun and fired.
& & &
Adam's limbs trembled as his ears rang. He felt dizzy and shot out a hand to steady himself against the wall.
& & &
Shots rang out. Shouts. Fists. A struggle. A single gunshot.
& & &
Oh, Adam.
Adam was shaking, Frank's sad voice ringing in his ears. He reached the top of the stairs.
His eyes widened and he whimpered, "No, no!" The images burst out and rained over him. Horror threw his muscles into rigidity and he screamed, his headache exploding. He kept screaming, his throat raw and he fell backward, tumbling down the stairs into the light...or the abyss?
This chapter can also be found on AO3.
This entry has been cross-posted from Dreamwidth. Comment on either entry as you wish. :)