Crossing the Line/O.T.T. Part 15/15
Title: Crossing the Line/O.T.T. (Part 15/15)
Author: cunningdeb
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: adam/kris
Summary: Set between the Idol finale and the start of the summer tour. Adam gets too much attention from a few of his “adoring” fans
Disclaimer: I do not own the people involved. This story does not depict the majority of Adam’s fans - idea brought on by stalker incident in Tampa.
Warnings: language, angst, violence, anxiety issues. DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE TRIGGERS. I don’t know if it’s classified as non-con but Adam didn’t want the kind of attention he was given - recalled in conversation, remembrances.
PART FIFTEEN - THE LAST HURRAH
Adam started therapy the next morning. Kris sat in the waiting room, thumbing through medical magazines and children’s storybooks. He stretched his legs, had a Dixie cup or two or three of water, checked his emails, sent text messages, anything and everything he could find to keep his mind occupied. The doctor’s office was quiet - that was good, no freaking out, just talk. Kris felt a tad jealous that Adam had someone else to confide in but as Martha Stewart said so many times, it was a good thing.
Dr. Keeling was right about Dr. Evans; he was discreet. Kris and Adam had entered through a private entrance and in the two hours they had been there, no other patients had come in, not even the receptionist.
Kris started playing a solitaire version of tic-tac-toe - he lost three times to himself - when Adam and Dr. Evans emerged. Adam looked tired but he also looked good. He smiled and gave Kris a big hug.
“How did it go?”
“Good, good I think.” Adam turned to Dr. Evans for validation.
“Yes, quite good. But we still have a ways to go.” He checked his watch. “I have another appointment in West Hollywood. Can you two see yourselves out? The door will lock behind you.”
“Of course, thank you.”
“Yeah, thanks. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
Dr. Evans left and Adam hugged Kris again, holding on longer this time.
“Hope you weren’t too bored.”
“Nah, gives me time to think. Maybe if the music thing and shampoo boy thing don’t work out, I can become a therapist,” he laughed.
“You’d be awfully good at it,” Adam replied quite seriously.
Kris let go and looked at Adam, not quite sure how to respond.
“Do you, ah, want something to drink?” Kris pointed to the water cooler.
“I wouldn’t mind a double martini.”
“Adam…”
“I know, I know, he already covered that in the first half hour. Let’s get out of here and back to rehearsals. I want to wail.”
--*--
The weeks leading up to the first show in Portland were a roller coaster. Adam was booked for two sessions a week with Dr. Evans but sometimes, triggers popped up that required additional talks. Dr. Evans always saw Adam as soon as he could or at least talked to him over the phone. To boot, Adam was starting preliminary work on his first album. He was going to be busy and he couldn’t wait.
Kris attended a few sessions on how to help his friend cope and the other Idols, security, crew and even management, asked for a group meeting so they too could learn how to identify triggers and help Adam.
While Adam practiced with controlled fan encounters arranged by PR, the tour was going to be the real test. Fans were going to be everywhere and they would be screaming and touching and some would make unreasonable requests. Dr. Evans spent a great deal of time helping Adam prepare. He couldn’t be on the tour with them - his patient load wouldn’t allow it - but he arranged for a few visits, especially when the show returned to Los Angeles, the scene of the crime.
The first concert was nerve-racking for everyone. Adam had well over an hour to wait before he went on. He got dressed, put on his makeup, ran over his songs in his head, checked his makeup again. Thank God Kris was with him the entire time. He stared lovingly at his jacket. This was the jacket he was having a fitting for when he was attacked. He brought it to one of his sessions and now instead of associating it with that encounter, he saw it as a labor of love by his dear friends at SkinGraft and he wore it as armor. It was fun and sexy and gave him confidence.
As his countdown started, the arena exploded with screaming fans. Kris gave Adam’s shoulder a squeeze - hard to do with the spikes and all - and sent him off. Kris wondered if this was what it felt like to see you six year old off to kindergarten.
Once the music started, Adam easily fell into rock star mode and wowed the crowd with hit after hit - ‘Whole Lotta Love’, “Starlight’, ‘Mad World’, ‘Slow Ride’ with Allison and his Bowie medley. As the stage elevator went down and Adam thanked Portland, everyone beneath the stage broke into applause. Kris wasn’t there but he had his chance to congratulate Adam as they waited to make their grand entrance during ‘Don’t Stop Believing.”
“Adam, can you believe this? I knew it would be a rush but…”
“…it’s an energy that fills your soul and electrifies your spirit.”
Kris laughed. “You’re so eloquent Lambert; it was just going to say it was so cool!”
“WAY cool!”
Adam smiled at the goofy grin on Kris’ face.
“What?” Adam giggled.
“I’m so proud of you, so proud.”
They had a quick hug as the platform shifted and started going up. They got their mics in position and faced the crowd, faced their futures, side by side.
--*--
The sixth show was in San Jose. Word had gotten out a group of religious fanatics were going to protest the show, protest Adam. Kris made a call to Dr. Evans, asking if he could come. He asked Kris if he’d talked to Adam about it. Kris admitted he hadn’t and Dr. Evans told him to talk to Adam first. If Adam felt he’d need the doctor than he would be there.
Kris was nervous to bring it up. To his relief, Allison actually broached the subject first. Adam’s response let Kris know he didn’t need to worry.
“Allie, I’ve dealt with haters many times. I know how to handle them.”
And he did handle them, beautifully. Michael tweeted about the protest, notifying the world that if they if you mess with one of them, you mess with all of them. They rallied around and the show, and Adam, were just fine.
--*--
The Los Angeles show was special to all of them. This was where their Idol journey had kicked into high gear. This was the place were they meshed into a family. This was the place Adam called home.
This was also the place were Adam tasted the darker side of fame. This was also the place where Adam tasted the wonder of Kris Allen. He had worked long and hard to make this dream come true and while LA now took on a different feeling, Adam admitted it wasn’t all bad.
Drs. Evans and Keeling came to the show. They couldn’t say enough about everyone’s performances. They also couldn’t stop telling Adam how happy they were of him - and Kris too. Dr. Evans and Adam had an impromptu therapy session before the sound check, getting Adam’s mind to focus on his true fans as well as on his many lifelong friends who were coming to support him.
Once more, Adam blew everyone away. The roof of the Staples Center nearly went into orbit as Adam gyrated and stroked and bellowed and crooned and danced his way through the set. The meet and greet and the barricades were incident-free. Kris looked for Trish in the crowd and didn’t see her. Granted, there were thousands of fans there and she very well might have been out there somewhere, no doubt with his accomplices, but they made themselves scarce.
Adam talked the entire way to San Diego and Kris listened. They finished their amateur session with a carton of ice cream and a discreet goodnight kiss.
--*--
It was terrific to have a few days off between Glendale and the Dallas show. Adam was concluding an interview with the Dallas Voice and Kris waited for him. They asked Adam to describe his performance in five words.
Adam thought about it then stated - for the record - “High. Fierce. Beat. Horny.” - he smirked in Kris’ direction - “Fun.”
When the reporter left, Adam and Kris laughed. Kris caressed Adam’s back as they enjoyed a deep kiss.
“Horny is it.”
“Horny as hell.”
They went up to their room and stretched out on the bed, touching and kissing and feeling. Whenever they could, they simply enjoyed being together but it never went beyond the petting stage. Adam still wasn’t ready and Kris respected that. However, it didn’t mean they couldn’t rehearse for the main event, date still to be confirmed.
The morning of the Dallas concert, everyone gathered for breakfast, passing around the pile of national newspapers.
“Adam, Adam, look at this!” Danny passed the Los Angeles Times down to him.
“What? What am I looking for?”
“Front page, bottom right hand side.”
Adam dropped his bagel, licked the cream cheese off his fingers, and snapped the paper, scanning for the report.
He read it to himself. His eyes grew bigger and bigger and his lips twitched, somewhere between a grimace and an all out grin.
“What’s it say?” Kris got up and stood behind Adam, hands on his shoulders. He found the article and almost immediately, his and Adam’s expressions were a matching pair, like Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
“Spit it out!” Annop yelled from the other end of the room.
Adam kept reading the report over and over to himself, not believing it. Kris filled everyone in.
“They got them. They finally got them.”
The room erupted in cheers. Without explanation, everyone knew who Kris was talking about. For over a month, they had all sent complaints to the police department and when that didn’t work, they got the public on their side. It was Adam’s decision to be open about what happened - everything that happened. He talked about his recovery, encouraging those who also felt they were suffering PTSD to seek help immediately. This worked up public opinion and more letters flooded the police and papers nationwide.
But public opinion and their vigilance wasn’t what caught them in the end. Trish Wagner and her gang tried it again, with another unsuspecting celebrity. Their fatal mistake was to harass a much more famous celeb with a much larger security detail and they were arrested as they set the same plan in motion. The judge - a different judge - didn’t look so kindly on them this time and they were sentenced to jail time. Because they weren’t charged with the same crime before, they could be given the max sentence.
Kris read the last paragraph of the report aloud.
“’Adam Lambert, American Idol runner up, was the first known victim of this group. His efforts and those of his colleagues and fans helped snare these individuals by making other celebrities aware of their existence. Lambert, who is performing with the American Idol Season 8 Live Tour, could not be reached for comment but we are sure that once he hears of the arrests he will feel vindicated.’”
Adam calmly folded up the paper, an unreadable expression on his face, and sent it back to Danny. He got up, walking away. Kris followed, catching his elbow. Adam turned, his eyes shining. He scooped Kris up in his arms and spun them around, hooting and hollering like he’d won the lottery. And he had.
--*--
Little Rock was in Kris Allen country. Kris was prepared for a grand hometown boy welcome and he got one. It warmed his heart, especially how Adam was greeted with the same Southern Hospitality. Feeling rejuvenated, Kris decided to do something he had held off on for quite some time.
That night, after the other boys were asleep, Kris rapped on the side of Adam’s bunk. He knew Adam was awake; he could hear him moving around above him. Adam pulled back the curtain and seeing Kris, invited him up. They crammed into the cubby, sitting cross legged and facing each other.
“What’s up? Looking for a little lovin’?
“Always, but not now. I have something for you.”
Kris handed Adam a brown paper bag. Adam opened it up and peered in. He looked at Kris and then back into the bag. He emptied the contents onto the blanket. It was his jewelry, the rings and such that were stolen from him - minus the necklace.
“Now that they’re gone for a long time, I thought you might want these back, seeing as they were some of your favorites. If you don’t…”
“No, no, I’m glad you kept them.” He picked up a ring, rolling around in his fingers.
“If they remind you too much, we can toss them - for good.”
Adam put the ring down and returned everything to the bag.
“I, ah, I’m not…ready yet to wear them yet but I will hold on to them. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
Adam tucked the bag in the corner of the bunk and smiled at Kris sheepishly.
“You always seem to know what I want before I do.”
“Yes, I do.”
Kris leaned forward and nuzzled Adam’s neck.
--*--
They had a few days off again, this time in Tampa. They fit in a day at the beach between interviews and rehearsals. Adam would remember the Tampa leg of the tour, but not fondly.
It started when he noticed a girl showing up everywhere he was. In the distant past he might not have given it a second thought - fans were notorious for following their stars around - but something about her unsettled him. He was more sensitive now.
The entire day, she was there every time he turned around. He told Kris about her, pointing her out several times. Adam was getting agitated and Kris asked Adam if he wanted, needed to talk to Dr. Evans. Adam agreed.
Across opposite coasts, Dr. Evans counseled Adam. It seemed to help until that night at the concert. Adam was waiting to start his set and looking out, he saw her in the front row. She was wearing a wig and a t-shirt with his face on it crossed out. Adam dragged Kris to the curtain and pointed her out. Kris assured Adam she wouldn’t dare try anything here. Adam centered himself and went on with the show. When it was over, though, his security ushered him into a car and got him to the safety of their hotel. Kris and the others visited with fans than joined him.
They were spending the night in Tampa before driving to the next show. Someone let slip around Adam that the stalker was seen hanging out at the buses, armed. Kris and Adam were sharing a hotel room during these layovers and when Kris arrived from the arena, he entered their room to find the mini bar wide open and the carpet littered with empties. Adam was lounging on the bed in his Speedos and nothing else. He looked at Kris with hunger in his blurry eyes.
“Took you long enough.”
Adam slinked up like a panther and crossed the room in two giant steps. Kris could smell the alcohol on him.
“You’ve been drinking. Adam, you know it’s not a good idea.”
“I know, I know it’s not a good idea - it’s a great idea.”
He clamped his hands to the side of Kris’s face and crushed a hungry, vodka laden kiss into his mouth. Kris grabbed Adam’s wrists and yanked his hands off him.
“No, not like this.” He had to remain in control, for both their sakes.
“Fine.” Adam headed for the door. “I can find someone else to make me forget.”
Though in his stupor, Adam stopped, realizing what he had said and how it sounded. He spun around and clearly saw the tears in Kris’ eyes.
“Oh shit, Krissy, I…I…didn’t mean it.” He roughly pulled Kris into his arms and hugged him, clumsy hands trying to be comforting.
Kris returned the embrace. “I know, baby, I know.”
“Then why you crying?”
“I’m crying for you.”
Adam let go and staggered backwards. “For me? Why the fuck you crying for me?”
“Because you can’t cry for yourself right now.”
He reached out to touch Adam’s cheek but Adam pulled away. He teetered into the bathroom and locked the door.
Kris pulled out his cell and called Dr. Evans. He updated him on the stalker and the drinking; Dr. Evans said he’d catch the next plane and meet them in Sunrise tomorrow.
Kris sat on the edge of the bed and waited for Adam to stop throwing up. It was going to be another long, painful night.
--*--
Dr. Evans stayed for three days, heading back to LA when the tour reached Atlanta. A lot of therapy was crammed into those three days and it helped. The routine got back on track and so did Adam.
Adam cooled things with Kris for a few days until he was ready to talk. He apologized for putting Kris in that position and once they hashed it over, they fell back to their old, comfortable ways.
After Washington DC, Adam and Kris headed to New York City to perform on Good Morning America with David Cook. There wasn’t much time to chat but David congratulated Adam on how he handled the attack the LA and told him he was an inspiration
Adam didn’t know what triggered this, but something stirred inside him, deep inside, warm and needy. He felt his heart and soul renew. Adam gazed over at Kris in his ridiculously cute pink and blue plaid shirt, tuning his guitar. He smiled at himself; it finally felt right.
--*--
After the summer concert series performance, they were whisked down to Atlantic City only to head back to New York the next day for a four day layover. After four concerts, opening the Stock Exchange and the Elle photo shoot, they had one night left in the big Apple before hitting the road again.
The others went out partying and sightseeing. Kris was tired and stayed in. Adam had left with the others. He stood at the window, overlooking Central Park and the glistening Manhattan skyline. There was something peaceful about this mass of humanity laid out before him.
Caught up in his musings, he didn’t hear the door click open or Adam enter. The image of Kris silhouetted by the city lights was stunning. Adam walked up behind him and set his hands on Kris’ shoulders, rubbing gently.
Kris spoke but didn’t turn around.
“I was hoping you’d come back.”
Adam’s hands traveled down the younger man’s arms and encircled him, pulling him against his chest. Adam mouth nuzzled Kris’ ear, trailing soft kisses down his neck.
“You are so beautiful Kris. I want…I’m ready…for more. I want all of you, tonight.”
Kris slowly turned in Adam’s arm. His eyes searched Adam’s face.
“Are you sure?”
Lips met and it was soft and sweet and tender and full of promise.
“With my whole heart.”
Kris led Adam to the bed and they slowly explored this new reality, this moment of utter bliss.
As Adam lay on Kris, loving him, Kris threw back his head and in a burst of ecstasy, cried out.
“Oh God…Adam…I love you.”
Adam stopped, those words spinning in the air over their heads.
“Kris?”
Their eyes locked and Kris caressed Adam’s hair.
“I…love…you…Adam…Lambert.”
Adam’s face disappeared into Kris’ bare chest. He shoulders quaked as Kris rubbed his back, concern in his voice.
“I’m sorry…I just had to tell you.”
Adam looked up, his eyes glowing with a happiness Kris had never seen.
“I love you too Kris Allen.”
Curling up together, body to body, face to face, heart to heart, they held on and never let go again.
THE END.
Deb’s Final Notes: Well folks, that all she wrote…for now. I just want to thank everyone who read and enjoyed my little fantasy. I call this my “Little Story that Could” because what started as a one time post grew with everyone’s encouragement and kind words into a 15 part novelette. I feel I accomplished what I wanted and while I’m sad, I look forward to crafting a new story, Adam and Kris being in the middle of it again. I’ll be posting soon once I get my head into a new mindset. Till then, cheers.
Author: cunningdeb
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: adam/kris
Summary: Set between the Idol finale and the start of the summer tour. Adam gets too much attention from a few of his “adoring” fans
Disclaimer: I do not own the people involved. This story does not depict the majority of Adam’s fans - idea brought on by stalker incident in Tampa.
Warnings: language, angst, violence, anxiety issues. DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE TRIGGERS. I don’t know if it’s classified as non-con but Adam didn’t want the kind of attention he was given - recalled in conversation, remembrances.
PART FIFTEEN - THE LAST HURRAH
Adam started therapy the next morning. Kris sat in the waiting room, thumbing through medical magazines and children’s storybooks. He stretched his legs, had a Dixie cup or two or three of water, checked his emails, sent text messages, anything and everything he could find to keep his mind occupied. The doctor’s office was quiet - that was good, no freaking out, just talk. Kris felt a tad jealous that Adam had someone else to confide in but as Martha Stewart said so many times, it was a good thing.
Dr. Keeling was right about Dr. Evans; he was discreet. Kris and Adam had entered through a private entrance and in the two hours they had been there, no other patients had come in, not even the receptionist.
Kris started playing a solitaire version of tic-tac-toe - he lost three times to himself - when Adam and Dr. Evans emerged. Adam looked tired but he also looked good. He smiled and gave Kris a big hug.
“How did it go?”
“Good, good I think.” Adam turned to Dr. Evans for validation.
“Yes, quite good. But we still have a ways to go.” He checked his watch. “I have another appointment in West Hollywood. Can you two see yourselves out? The door will lock behind you.”
“Of course, thank you.”
“Yeah, thanks. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
Dr. Evans left and Adam hugged Kris again, holding on longer this time.
“Hope you weren’t too bored.”
“Nah, gives me time to think. Maybe if the music thing and shampoo boy thing don’t work out, I can become a therapist,” he laughed.
“You’d be awfully good at it,” Adam replied quite seriously.
Kris let go and looked at Adam, not quite sure how to respond.
“Do you, ah, want something to drink?” Kris pointed to the water cooler.
“I wouldn’t mind a double martini.”
“Adam…”
“I know, I know, he already covered that in the first half hour. Let’s get out of here and back to rehearsals. I want to wail.”
--*--
The weeks leading up to the first show in Portland were a roller coaster. Adam was booked for two sessions a week with Dr. Evans but sometimes, triggers popped up that required additional talks. Dr. Evans always saw Adam as soon as he could or at least talked to him over the phone. To boot, Adam was starting preliminary work on his first album. He was going to be busy and he couldn’t wait.
Kris attended a few sessions on how to help his friend cope and the other Idols, security, crew and even management, asked for a group meeting so they too could learn how to identify triggers and help Adam.
While Adam practiced with controlled fan encounters arranged by PR, the tour was going to be the real test. Fans were going to be everywhere and they would be screaming and touching and some would make unreasonable requests. Dr. Evans spent a great deal of time helping Adam prepare. He couldn’t be on the tour with them - his patient load wouldn’t allow it - but he arranged for a few visits, especially when the show returned to Los Angeles, the scene of the crime.
The first concert was nerve-racking for everyone. Adam had well over an hour to wait before he went on. He got dressed, put on his makeup, ran over his songs in his head, checked his makeup again. Thank God Kris was with him the entire time. He stared lovingly at his jacket. This was the jacket he was having a fitting for when he was attacked. He brought it to one of his sessions and now instead of associating it with that encounter, he saw it as a labor of love by his dear friends at SkinGraft and he wore it as armor. It was fun and sexy and gave him confidence.
As his countdown started, the arena exploded with screaming fans. Kris gave Adam’s shoulder a squeeze - hard to do with the spikes and all - and sent him off. Kris wondered if this was what it felt like to see you six year old off to kindergarten.
Once the music started, Adam easily fell into rock star mode and wowed the crowd with hit after hit - ‘Whole Lotta Love’, “Starlight’, ‘Mad World’, ‘Slow Ride’ with Allison and his Bowie medley. As the stage elevator went down and Adam thanked Portland, everyone beneath the stage broke into applause. Kris wasn’t there but he had his chance to congratulate Adam as they waited to make their grand entrance during ‘Don’t Stop Believing.”
“Adam, can you believe this? I knew it would be a rush but…”
“…it’s an energy that fills your soul and electrifies your spirit.”
Kris laughed. “You’re so eloquent Lambert; it was just going to say it was so cool!”
“WAY cool!”
Adam smiled at the goofy grin on Kris’ face.
“What?” Adam giggled.
“I’m so proud of you, so proud.”
They had a quick hug as the platform shifted and started going up. They got their mics in position and faced the crowd, faced their futures, side by side.
--*--
The sixth show was in San Jose. Word had gotten out a group of religious fanatics were going to protest the show, protest Adam. Kris made a call to Dr. Evans, asking if he could come. He asked Kris if he’d talked to Adam about it. Kris admitted he hadn’t and Dr. Evans told him to talk to Adam first. If Adam felt he’d need the doctor than he would be there.
Kris was nervous to bring it up. To his relief, Allison actually broached the subject first. Adam’s response let Kris know he didn’t need to worry.
“Allie, I’ve dealt with haters many times. I know how to handle them.”
And he did handle them, beautifully. Michael tweeted about the protest, notifying the world that if they if you mess with one of them, you mess with all of them. They rallied around and the show, and Adam, were just fine.
--*--
The Los Angeles show was special to all of them. This was where their Idol journey had kicked into high gear. This was the place were they meshed into a family. This was the place Adam called home.
This was also the place were Adam tasted the darker side of fame. This was also the place where Adam tasted the wonder of Kris Allen. He had worked long and hard to make this dream come true and while LA now took on a different feeling, Adam admitted it wasn’t all bad.
Drs. Evans and Keeling came to the show. They couldn’t say enough about everyone’s performances. They also couldn’t stop telling Adam how happy they were of him - and Kris too. Dr. Evans and Adam had an impromptu therapy session before the sound check, getting Adam’s mind to focus on his true fans as well as on his many lifelong friends who were coming to support him.
Once more, Adam blew everyone away. The roof of the Staples Center nearly went into orbit as Adam gyrated and stroked and bellowed and crooned and danced his way through the set. The meet and greet and the barricades were incident-free. Kris looked for Trish in the crowd and didn’t see her. Granted, there were thousands of fans there and she very well might have been out there somewhere, no doubt with his accomplices, but they made themselves scarce.
Adam talked the entire way to San Diego and Kris listened. They finished their amateur session with a carton of ice cream and a discreet goodnight kiss.
--*--
It was terrific to have a few days off between Glendale and the Dallas show. Adam was concluding an interview with the Dallas Voice and Kris waited for him. They asked Adam to describe his performance in five words.
Adam thought about it then stated - for the record - “High. Fierce. Beat. Horny.” - he smirked in Kris’ direction - “Fun.”
When the reporter left, Adam and Kris laughed. Kris caressed Adam’s back as they enjoyed a deep kiss.
“Horny is it.”
“Horny as hell.”
They went up to their room and stretched out on the bed, touching and kissing and feeling. Whenever they could, they simply enjoyed being together but it never went beyond the petting stage. Adam still wasn’t ready and Kris respected that. However, it didn’t mean they couldn’t rehearse for the main event, date still to be confirmed.
The morning of the Dallas concert, everyone gathered for breakfast, passing around the pile of national newspapers.
“Adam, Adam, look at this!” Danny passed the Los Angeles Times down to him.
“What? What am I looking for?”
“Front page, bottom right hand side.”
Adam dropped his bagel, licked the cream cheese off his fingers, and snapped the paper, scanning for the report.
He read it to himself. His eyes grew bigger and bigger and his lips twitched, somewhere between a grimace and an all out grin.
“What’s it say?” Kris got up and stood behind Adam, hands on his shoulders. He found the article and almost immediately, his and Adam’s expressions were a matching pair, like Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
“Spit it out!” Annop yelled from the other end of the room.
Adam kept reading the report over and over to himself, not believing it. Kris filled everyone in.
“They got them. They finally got them.”
The room erupted in cheers. Without explanation, everyone knew who Kris was talking about. For over a month, they had all sent complaints to the police department and when that didn’t work, they got the public on their side. It was Adam’s decision to be open about what happened - everything that happened. He talked about his recovery, encouraging those who also felt they were suffering PTSD to seek help immediately. This worked up public opinion and more letters flooded the police and papers nationwide.
But public opinion and their vigilance wasn’t what caught them in the end. Trish Wagner and her gang tried it again, with another unsuspecting celebrity. Their fatal mistake was to harass a much more famous celeb with a much larger security detail and they were arrested as they set the same plan in motion. The judge - a different judge - didn’t look so kindly on them this time and they were sentenced to jail time. Because they weren’t charged with the same crime before, they could be given the max sentence.
Kris read the last paragraph of the report aloud.
“’Adam Lambert, American Idol runner up, was the first known victim of this group. His efforts and those of his colleagues and fans helped snare these individuals by making other celebrities aware of their existence. Lambert, who is performing with the American Idol Season 8 Live Tour, could not be reached for comment but we are sure that once he hears of the arrests he will feel vindicated.’”
Adam calmly folded up the paper, an unreadable expression on his face, and sent it back to Danny. He got up, walking away. Kris followed, catching his elbow. Adam turned, his eyes shining. He scooped Kris up in his arms and spun them around, hooting and hollering like he’d won the lottery. And he had.
--*--
Little Rock was in Kris Allen country. Kris was prepared for a grand hometown boy welcome and he got one. It warmed his heart, especially how Adam was greeted with the same Southern Hospitality. Feeling rejuvenated, Kris decided to do something he had held off on for quite some time.
That night, after the other boys were asleep, Kris rapped on the side of Adam’s bunk. He knew Adam was awake; he could hear him moving around above him. Adam pulled back the curtain and seeing Kris, invited him up. They crammed into the cubby, sitting cross legged and facing each other.
“What’s up? Looking for a little lovin’?
“Always, but not now. I have something for you.”
Kris handed Adam a brown paper bag. Adam opened it up and peered in. He looked at Kris and then back into the bag. He emptied the contents onto the blanket. It was his jewelry, the rings and such that were stolen from him - minus the necklace.
“Now that they’re gone for a long time, I thought you might want these back, seeing as they were some of your favorites. If you don’t…”
“No, no, I’m glad you kept them.” He picked up a ring, rolling around in his fingers.
“If they remind you too much, we can toss them - for good.”
Adam put the ring down and returned everything to the bag.
“I, ah, I’m not…ready yet to wear them yet but I will hold on to them. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
Adam tucked the bag in the corner of the bunk and smiled at Kris sheepishly.
“You always seem to know what I want before I do.”
“Yes, I do.”
Kris leaned forward and nuzzled Adam’s neck.
--*--
They had a few days off again, this time in Tampa. They fit in a day at the beach between interviews and rehearsals. Adam would remember the Tampa leg of the tour, but not fondly.
It started when he noticed a girl showing up everywhere he was. In the distant past he might not have given it a second thought - fans were notorious for following their stars around - but something about her unsettled him. He was more sensitive now.
The entire day, she was there every time he turned around. He told Kris about her, pointing her out several times. Adam was getting agitated and Kris asked Adam if he wanted, needed to talk to Dr. Evans. Adam agreed.
Across opposite coasts, Dr. Evans counseled Adam. It seemed to help until that night at the concert. Adam was waiting to start his set and looking out, he saw her in the front row. She was wearing a wig and a t-shirt with his face on it crossed out. Adam dragged Kris to the curtain and pointed her out. Kris assured Adam she wouldn’t dare try anything here. Adam centered himself and went on with the show. When it was over, though, his security ushered him into a car and got him to the safety of their hotel. Kris and the others visited with fans than joined him.
They were spending the night in Tampa before driving to the next show. Someone let slip around Adam that the stalker was seen hanging out at the buses, armed. Kris and Adam were sharing a hotel room during these layovers and when Kris arrived from the arena, he entered their room to find the mini bar wide open and the carpet littered with empties. Adam was lounging on the bed in his Speedos and nothing else. He looked at Kris with hunger in his blurry eyes.
“Took you long enough.”
Adam slinked up like a panther and crossed the room in two giant steps. Kris could smell the alcohol on him.
“You’ve been drinking. Adam, you know it’s not a good idea.”
“I know, I know it’s not a good idea - it’s a great idea.”
He clamped his hands to the side of Kris’s face and crushed a hungry, vodka laden kiss into his mouth. Kris grabbed Adam’s wrists and yanked his hands off him.
“No, not like this.” He had to remain in control, for both their sakes.
“Fine.” Adam headed for the door. “I can find someone else to make me forget.”
Though in his stupor, Adam stopped, realizing what he had said and how it sounded. He spun around and clearly saw the tears in Kris’ eyes.
“Oh shit, Krissy, I…I…didn’t mean it.” He roughly pulled Kris into his arms and hugged him, clumsy hands trying to be comforting.
Kris returned the embrace. “I know, baby, I know.”
“Then why you crying?”
“I’m crying for you.”
Adam let go and staggered backwards. “For me? Why the fuck you crying for me?”
“Because you can’t cry for yourself right now.”
He reached out to touch Adam’s cheek but Adam pulled away. He teetered into the bathroom and locked the door.
Kris pulled out his cell and called Dr. Evans. He updated him on the stalker and the drinking; Dr. Evans said he’d catch the next plane and meet them in Sunrise tomorrow.
Kris sat on the edge of the bed and waited for Adam to stop throwing up. It was going to be another long, painful night.
--*--
Dr. Evans stayed for three days, heading back to LA when the tour reached Atlanta. A lot of therapy was crammed into those three days and it helped. The routine got back on track and so did Adam.
Adam cooled things with Kris for a few days until he was ready to talk. He apologized for putting Kris in that position and once they hashed it over, they fell back to their old, comfortable ways.
After Washington DC, Adam and Kris headed to New York City to perform on Good Morning America with David Cook. There wasn’t much time to chat but David congratulated Adam on how he handled the attack the LA and told him he was an inspiration
Adam didn’t know what triggered this, but something stirred inside him, deep inside, warm and needy. He felt his heart and soul renew. Adam gazed over at Kris in his ridiculously cute pink and blue plaid shirt, tuning his guitar. He smiled at himself; it finally felt right.
--*--
After the summer concert series performance, they were whisked down to Atlantic City only to head back to New York the next day for a four day layover. After four concerts, opening the Stock Exchange and the Elle photo shoot, they had one night left in the big Apple before hitting the road again.
The others went out partying and sightseeing. Kris was tired and stayed in. Adam had left with the others. He stood at the window, overlooking Central Park and the glistening Manhattan skyline. There was something peaceful about this mass of humanity laid out before him.
Caught up in his musings, he didn’t hear the door click open or Adam enter. The image of Kris silhouetted by the city lights was stunning. Adam walked up behind him and set his hands on Kris’ shoulders, rubbing gently.
Kris spoke but didn’t turn around.
“I was hoping you’d come back.”
Adam’s hands traveled down the younger man’s arms and encircled him, pulling him against his chest. Adam mouth nuzzled Kris’ ear, trailing soft kisses down his neck.
“You are so beautiful Kris. I want…I’m ready…for more. I want all of you, tonight.”
Kris slowly turned in Adam’s arm. His eyes searched Adam’s face.
“Are you sure?”
Lips met and it was soft and sweet and tender and full of promise.
“With my whole heart.”
Kris led Adam to the bed and they slowly explored this new reality, this moment of utter bliss.
As Adam lay on Kris, loving him, Kris threw back his head and in a burst of ecstasy, cried out.
“Oh God…Adam…I love you.”
Adam stopped, those words spinning in the air over their heads.
“Kris?”
Their eyes locked and Kris caressed Adam’s hair.
“I…love…you…Adam…Lambert.”
Adam’s face disappeared into Kris’ bare chest. He shoulders quaked as Kris rubbed his back, concern in his voice.
“I’m sorry…I just had to tell you.”
Adam looked up, his eyes glowing with a happiness Kris had never seen.
“I love you too Kris Allen.”
Curling up together, body to body, face to face, heart to heart, they held on and never let go again.
THE END.
Deb’s Final Notes: Well folks, that all she wrote…for now. I just want to thank everyone who read and enjoyed my little fantasy. I call this my “Little Story that Could” because what started as a one time post grew with everyone’s encouragement and kind words into a 15 part novelette. I feel I accomplished what I wanted and while I’m sad, I look forward to crafting a new story, Adam and Kris being in the middle of it again. I’ll be posting soon once I get my head into a new mindset. Till then, cheers.