The Rain - Chapter 11
Title: The Rain
Pairing: Kris/Adam
Rating: NC-17 occasionally
Warnings: some violence and horror elements
Summary: AI8 tour. Adam is involved in a serious car accident that leaves him struggling to recover emotionally. Kris tries to help but is soon dealing with his own internal crisis.
Chapter 11
Kris didn’t know what strings had been pulled or what it had cost, but a Dr. Chien had come to Adam’s room. Dr. Chien was a psychiatrist with a national reputation, and Geoff said that he’d been told they were incredibly lucky to get him. They happened to be in a city where he ran one of his two practices, and whether it was kindness or the lure of a celebrity client, he had made time in his schedule and actually left his office to see Adam.
Adam, on the other hand, was disinclined to see Dr. Chien. He sat on his bed with his arms around his knees and refused to look at him. This didn’t seem to bother Chien in the least. He took a chair and introduced himself.
“I’m going to ask you a few questions. I want to help you. Do you think you can answer?”
“Sure.” Adam’s voice was low and flat. His eyes fixed on nothing.
“I’ll just wait outside.” Kris started for the door.
“No!” Adam was off the bed, on his feet. He froze, and sat down. “Sorry,” he murmured.
Kris was to him in two strides. “Hey. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere if you don’t want me to.” He saw Chien writing something in the notebook he held on his lap. Kris took a seat again. Adam seemed dismayed by his outburst and sat staring at his hands.
Chien asked a series of questions in a friendly, even voice, and Adam answered quietly. When the questions produced stress, Adam’s eyes went to Kris, where they would hold for a minute before he could answer. Kris saw Chien’s sharp gaze take it in and add it to the notes he was taking. Bit by bit Adam’s conversation became more natural.
A couple of times he refused to respond to questions, and a couple other times Kris was pretty sure he was lying, as in when he told Chien he didn’t remember anything from the car crash, or that it was nothing specific that had brought about those horrible screams. Another time they argued when Chien tried to tell Adam he wouldn’t be performing that night.
“I’m going on. And you know what? If you get the show canceled, you and I are done. I’ll have nothing to say to you. And I know that’ll hurt me and not you, but at least it’ll get rid of you as an obstacle.”
Chien regarded Adam through half-lowered lids. “I would recommend pulling you out of the entire tour if I thought that’s what you need. However, I think to a certain extent it’s actually therapeutic for you to perform. The problem is that exhaustion compounds the stress and trauma your mind is dealing with. The lack of sleep, the lack of rest, is a significant part of what’s gotten you to the point where you are now. But all right. You perform. But it’s on a day-by-day basis, and you and I are going to talk by phone every three days.”
When Chien was done with the questions, he handed Kris a small bottle of pills. “Can you make sure he takes one of these twice a day?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
He turned back to Adam. “I want you to take one as soon as I leave. You’re going to stay in bed until you have to leave for the concert. And you’re going to take one after the concert. This is going to help you sleep. It’s going to reduce the anxiety. This is just a temporary measure to give your mind a chance to heal.”
Adam nodded.
Chien stood up. “I need to talk to Kris. He’s going to step outside with me, but he’ll be right back.”
Adam started to say something, then stopped.
“I’ll be right back,” Kris said.
“No. You don’t have to. I’m fine. I can take the pills myself too. You don’t need to help me.”
Chien said, “You need a partner in recovery, Adam. Kris is just going to be-“
“He isn’t gonna be anything. He doesn’t want to be. It’s not gonna work. Just tell me what to do. I’ll take the pills. I can handle it.”
Chien looked at Adam narrowly. “Why do you think Kris doesn’t want to help you?”
“He wants to help me. He just doesn’t want to be around me. Don’t fucking ask me about it.”
“That isn’t true,” Kris said, feeling guilt burn through his gut.
“Course it’s true. I understand. Subject closed.”
“Well, you won’t mind if I take him away for a few minutes then,” Chien said.
Adam’s eyes sparked at the verbal jab, but he said nothing. Kris followed Chien out of the room.
Chien didn’t speak until they were alone in Kris’ room. Once there he was direct. “I need to know, and I need to know the truth. Is what Adam said correct? Would you rather not be around him? Don’t tell me what you think I want to hear.”
“I…I want to help him.”
“But?”
“There’s no ‘but.’ I’ll do anything to help him.”
“You can help him by telling me what it is you’re trying not to say. I will not repeat it to anyone, ever. That’s what I do, Kris.”
“I-“ Kris closed his eyes. “I’m attracted to him.” I said it.
“And that’s a problem because?” Chien was fixed on him intently.
“Because I’m not gay!”
“So it bothers you that you’re attracted to Adam, and you’d rather keep a distance.”
“That’s what I was trying to do, but not anymore. I want to do whatever I can to help him. It doesn’t matter, my-my problem.”
“You know, sexual response is highly flexible. There is no wrong about it. People can be individually attracted to people outside their usual orientation. It’s not that infrequent, and it’s perfectly normal. What you choose to do about it is your choice, but don’t let it upset you. Sexuality is complicated. We’re not machines. At various times in your life you may find yourself attracted to people you wouldn’t have expected. There’s nothing to judge. It simply is.” He regarded Kris. “Would you think there was something wrong with Adam if he was attracted to a woman, a particular woman?”
“Well…no.”
‘Then why would you think there’s something wrong with you for being attracted to him?”
“Because I’ve never been attracted to a man before!”
Chien considered. “Ideally, I’d like to be able to say we’ll just get someone else to work with Adam on this and to be my contact with him. But I think you’d be especially helpful to him. He seems to have an unusual level of trust in you. But if you’re not comfortable with it, we should take a different direction from the start. Do you have any idea who else might be appropriate?”
“I’ll do it. If I hadn’t…” Turned him away when he needed me most… “He might not’ve gotten as bad as he did. I don’t care…about the other thing.”
“Caregiving out of guilt is a bad idea. You end up resentful, and person you’re helping generally ends up knowing.”
“It’s not guilt. I want to do it. I want to help him.”
When he was done talking to Kris, Chien called Geoff into the room. He brought along Samantha and Raj, who favored Chien with an “I could have told you so” look. “So our wannabe-star boy is a crazy little fuck, isn’t he? But what we really want to know is, is he dangerous? Because we do not need a lawsuit when he decides to take out one of his tantrums on the paying public.”
Kris was too furious to speak, so Samantha had the first response. “That is really not necessary, Raj.”
Kris found his voice. “He’s got no business in this room anyway, and I’m not going to talk about Adam with him here.”
Raj looked at him in surprise. “This is not about what you want, or what your egomaniac boyfriend wants. It’s about the best thing for the tour.”
“That’s enough.” Geoff glared at both Raj and Kris, and being categorized with Raj made Kris even madder. Raj snuck him a smug little smile and watched Chien with exaggerated attentiveness.
“I have Adam’s permission to tell you that he’s suffering from post-traumatic stress-“
“And drama queen syndrome,” Raj said clearly, then covered his mouth in feigned embarrassment. “Oops.”
“Recovery will take time, and it isn’t linear. He may get better, then get worse. The most important things are that he doesn’t have to deal with major new stresses, and that he communicate. The more he communicates, the better, the more likely it is he’ll be able to recover. Communication can be conversation, it can be writing, it can be singing, it can be touching, hugging, it can be drawing: anything that expresses thought or emotion. Any of that, all of that, should be encouraged. I’m afraid I have to go. I’ve left medication with Kris. He knows what to do. Please have Adam call me in three days and follow up.”
Chien smiled cordially and was gone. Kris was left with the feeling that despite all his assurances and confidence, he hadn’t really done or changed anything. But maybe that’s because the change had to come from within Adam, and there wasn’t much the rest of them could do except support him. Still, Kris felt an uneasy disappointment.
“So you know what to do,” Raj said, looking at him.
“I don’t know anything.”
Samantha looked alarmed. “Then what did he mean?”
“I’m supposed to kind of keep Adam company and make sure he takes some pills twice a day. And stay in touch with Dr. Chien.”
Raj hooted. “Keep him company? Oh, he must love that. I’m sure he’ll insist on lots of hugging therapy. Now he’s got doctor’s orders to be on top of you. I don’t know if we completely keep this out of the press, or play it up for the fans.”
Geoff gave him an icy eye. “We damn well protect their privacy.” He looked at Kris. “Thank you for doing this. It doesn’t sound like Dr. Chien gave you much guidance. I don’t like you being put in this position. I don’t like Adam being expected to keep acting like he’s okay. But I’m not sure pulling him out of the tour would help him either. So if you have any thoughts, any observations, any suggestions…please let us know.”
A discussion with the hotel management gave Kris a key to Adam’s room, and he entered after a soft knock. He was surprised to find Adam standing by the window. He faced Kris with a lifted chin and distant eyes and said nothing.
“Hey,” Kris said.
Adam didn’t answer. He looked pale and taller than usual, standing there wrapped in the remains of his dignity.
“So, um, I guess you need to take one of these.” He started to hand Adam the pill vial, then just as Adam reached for it, thought better of it and pulled it back, shook one into his hand and held it out to Adam, who snatched it angrily and vanished into the bathroom. Oh, that was great. Is there anything else I can do stupidly?
When Adam returned, he kept his eyes away from Kris and sat stiffly on the bed.
“You know what?” Kris found his voice wasn’t working and cleared his throat. “I'm gonna get my guitar, and I’ll be back in a minute. I’m working on this song. And you can get some rest.”
Kris could see anger at the situation working on Adam’s face. Don’t kick me out.
“Fine.” Adam spoke without looking at him. Kris slipped out.
When Kris got back Adam was lying on the bed on top of the covers, facing the wall. He was fully clothed except for his boots.
Adam didn’t speak for an hour, but Kris didn’t think he was asleep. He was too still, his breathing too quiet. Kris was silently working on a lyric when Adam rolled onto his back, his arms folded across his chest.
“How many people saw me like that? The way I was when you opened the door?”
Oh hell. “Um. I heard Danny and Michael behind me, but I shut the door. Then Geoff came in. So I guess just Geoff.”
Adam looked at him finally. “Why’d you shut the door?”
“It was none of their business.”
Adam started to say something, then stopped. Went on in a soft, clipped tone. “Before that, in the hallway…there were other people there. Danny, Michael… Allison.”
“Yeah.”
Adam was trying to make his expression impassive, but the sadness was as obvious as if he’d been a child. It hurt Kris’ heart to see it.
“Nobody thinks any the less of you,” Kris told him.
Adam gave him an incredulous look and rolled back over to face the wall. He didn’t speak again until it was time to go to the venue.
* * *
In one respect, he felt slightly better. Whether it was the release of his meltdown, the effect of the sedative, or Kris’ presence, which somehow seemed to serve as an oxygen tank in a methane atmosphere, his mind no longer felt like it was being ripped apart. The grief and disorientation had been pushed back just a little, but just a little was a difference that allowed him to actually string one thought into connection with another.
On the other hand, while in some regards he had never been overly concerned with what people thought of him, to have been so undone in front of his peers was deeply painful. The fact that, in addition, Kris was having to babysit him, when he had made it so stunningly plain that he didn’t even want to be in the same room, was just plain humiliating.
But right now Adam was going to go along with it. He had to survive the next couple of days if he hoped to put himself back together, and as much as he hated the knowledge, Kris’ presence gave him a strength that nothing else seemed to provide. Why is that? I don’t know. He’s so calm. And so kind. This is for a couple days. No more.
* * *
Kris had gone to his room to change, and didn’t know if it would be better to collect Adam at his room and go with him down to the bus, or let him go down by himself. He was standing in the hallway, thinking about it, when Allison spotted him.
“Kris. Man, how is he? God, that made me sick. To see him like that.” She shook her head, unable to find words to express what she felt.
“Yeah, how’s he doing?” Lil was right behind her. “We been talking about it. Adam needs to be in a hospital. He needs help. Nobody knew he was that messed up.”
Before he could answer, most of the rest of the Idols had surrounded him. Just leaving their rooms, they gravitated instantly to the best source of information about their friend and his shocking behavior. Kris faced them and raised his hands.
“Look, Adam is-is okay. He’s-I mean, you know what happened, and he’s trying to get it back together. We just need to be patient and-“
“Looked like he was trying to put Geoff through the wall,” Michael said skeptically.
“Yeah,” Danny agreed. “He’s a big guy. If he’s kind of out of his mind, that’s not good.” He looked around for support from the others.
“Aren’t people in car accidents all the time?” Megan ventured. “Why is he acting so crazy?”
“Adam would never hurt anybody!” Allison said angrily.
Danny gave her a patronizing look. “I think Geoff might have something different to say. I think the bump on back of his head would have something to say.”
“That’s not gonna happen again,” Kris said tersely. “He’s on sedatives now and he’s-“ He stopped dead, because he’d realized the tall figure a few feet away was Adam.
Heads turned to see what Kris was looking at, and group went instantly silent. People looked away in embarrassment.
Adam smiled sweetly. “Hi. Sorry to interrupt. I’d like to apologize for my behavior earlier. But don’t worry, Danny. Like Kris said, I’m on drugs now and should be a lot better.”
He walked by, graceful as a cat. The door to the stairwell clicked shut behind him.
Pairing: Kris/Adam
Rating: NC-17 occasionally
Warnings: some violence and horror elements
Summary: AI8 tour. Adam is involved in a serious car accident that leaves him struggling to recover emotionally. Kris tries to help but is soon dealing with his own internal crisis.
Chapter 11
Kris didn’t know what strings had been pulled or what it had cost, but a Dr. Chien had come to Adam’s room. Dr. Chien was a psychiatrist with a national reputation, and Geoff said that he’d been told they were incredibly lucky to get him. They happened to be in a city where he ran one of his two practices, and whether it was kindness or the lure of a celebrity client, he had made time in his schedule and actually left his office to see Adam.
Adam, on the other hand, was disinclined to see Dr. Chien. He sat on his bed with his arms around his knees and refused to look at him. This didn’t seem to bother Chien in the least. He took a chair and introduced himself.
“I’m going to ask you a few questions. I want to help you. Do you think you can answer?”
“Sure.” Adam’s voice was low and flat. His eyes fixed on nothing.
“I’ll just wait outside.” Kris started for the door.
“No!” Adam was off the bed, on his feet. He froze, and sat down. “Sorry,” he murmured.
Kris was to him in two strides. “Hey. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere if you don’t want me to.” He saw Chien writing something in the notebook he held on his lap. Kris took a seat again. Adam seemed dismayed by his outburst and sat staring at his hands.
Chien asked a series of questions in a friendly, even voice, and Adam answered quietly. When the questions produced stress, Adam’s eyes went to Kris, where they would hold for a minute before he could answer. Kris saw Chien’s sharp gaze take it in and add it to the notes he was taking. Bit by bit Adam’s conversation became more natural.
A couple of times he refused to respond to questions, and a couple other times Kris was pretty sure he was lying, as in when he told Chien he didn’t remember anything from the car crash, or that it was nothing specific that had brought about those horrible screams. Another time they argued when Chien tried to tell Adam he wouldn’t be performing that night.
“I’m going on. And you know what? If you get the show canceled, you and I are done. I’ll have nothing to say to you. And I know that’ll hurt me and not you, but at least it’ll get rid of you as an obstacle.”
Chien regarded Adam through half-lowered lids. “I would recommend pulling you out of the entire tour if I thought that’s what you need. However, I think to a certain extent it’s actually therapeutic for you to perform. The problem is that exhaustion compounds the stress and trauma your mind is dealing with. The lack of sleep, the lack of rest, is a significant part of what’s gotten you to the point where you are now. But all right. You perform. But it’s on a day-by-day basis, and you and I are going to talk by phone every three days.”
When Chien was done with the questions, he handed Kris a small bottle of pills. “Can you make sure he takes one of these twice a day?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
He turned back to Adam. “I want you to take one as soon as I leave. You’re going to stay in bed until you have to leave for the concert. And you’re going to take one after the concert. This is going to help you sleep. It’s going to reduce the anxiety. This is just a temporary measure to give your mind a chance to heal.”
Adam nodded.
Chien stood up. “I need to talk to Kris. He’s going to step outside with me, but he’ll be right back.”
Adam started to say something, then stopped.
“I’ll be right back,” Kris said.
“No. You don’t have to. I’m fine. I can take the pills myself too. You don’t need to help me.”
Chien said, “You need a partner in recovery, Adam. Kris is just going to be-“
“He isn’t gonna be anything. He doesn’t want to be. It’s not gonna work. Just tell me what to do. I’ll take the pills. I can handle it.”
Chien looked at Adam narrowly. “Why do you think Kris doesn’t want to help you?”
“He wants to help me. He just doesn’t want to be around me. Don’t fucking ask me about it.”
“That isn’t true,” Kris said, feeling guilt burn through his gut.
“Course it’s true. I understand. Subject closed.”
“Well, you won’t mind if I take him away for a few minutes then,” Chien said.
Adam’s eyes sparked at the verbal jab, but he said nothing. Kris followed Chien out of the room.
Chien didn’t speak until they were alone in Kris’ room. Once there he was direct. “I need to know, and I need to know the truth. Is what Adam said correct? Would you rather not be around him? Don’t tell me what you think I want to hear.”
“I…I want to help him.”
“But?”
“There’s no ‘but.’ I’ll do anything to help him.”
“You can help him by telling me what it is you’re trying not to say. I will not repeat it to anyone, ever. That’s what I do, Kris.”
“I-“ Kris closed his eyes. “I’m attracted to him.” I said it.
“And that’s a problem because?” Chien was fixed on him intently.
“Because I’m not gay!”
“So it bothers you that you’re attracted to Adam, and you’d rather keep a distance.”
“That’s what I was trying to do, but not anymore. I want to do whatever I can to help him. It doesn’t matter, my-my problem.”
“You know, sexual response is highly flexible. There is no wrong about it. People can be individually attracted to people outside their usual orientation. It’s not that infrequent, and it’s perfectly normal. What you choose to do about it is your choice, but don’t let it upset you. Sexuality is complicated. We’re not machines. At various times in your life you may find yourself attracted to people you wouldn’t have expected. There’s nothing to judge. It simply is.” He regarded Kris. “Would you think there was something wrong with Adam if he was attracted to a woman, a particular woman?”
“Well…no.”
‘Then why would you think there’s something wrong with you for being attracted to him?”
“Because I’ve never been attracted to a man before!”
Chien considered. “Ideally, I’d like to be able to say we’ll just get someone else to work with Adam on this and to be my contact with him. But I think you’d be especially helpful to him. He seems to have an unusual level of trust in you. But if you’re not comfortable with it, we should take a different direction from the start. Do you have any idea who else might be appropriate?”
“I’ll do it. If I hadn’t…” Turned him away when he needed me most… “He might not’ve gotten as bad as he did. I don’t care…about the other thing.”
“Caregiving out of guilt is a bad idea. You end up resentful, and person you’re helping generally ends up knowing.”
“It’s not guilt. I want to do it. I want to help him.”
When he was done talking to Kris, Chien called Geoff into the room. He brought along Samantha and Raj, who favored Chien with an “I could have told you so” look. “So our wannabe-star boy is a crazy little fuck, isn’t he? But what we really want to know is, is he dangerous? Because we do not need a lawsuit when he decides to take out one of his tantrums on the paying public.”
Kris was too furious to speak, so Samantha had the first response. “That is really not necessary, Raj.”
Kris found his voice. “He’s got no business in this room anyway, and I’m not going to talk about Adam with him here.”
Raj looked at him in surprise. “This is not about what you want, or what your egomaniac boyfriend wants. It’s about the best thing for the tour.”
“That’s enough.” Geoff glared at both Raj and Kris, and being categorized with Raj made Kris even madder. Raj snuck him a smug little smile and watched Chien with exaggerated attentiveness.
“I have Adam’s permission to tell you that he’s suffering from post-traumatic stress-“
“And drama queen syndrome,” Raj said clearly, then covered his mouth in feigned embarrassment. “Oops.”
“Recovery will take time, and it isn’t linear. He may get better, then get worse. The most important things are that he doesn’t have to deal with major new stresses, and that he communicate. The more he communicates, the better, the more likely it is he’ll be able to recover. Communication can be conversation, it can be writing, it can be singing, it can be touching, hugging, it can be drawing: anything that expresses thought or emotion. Any of that, all of that, should be encouraged. I’m afraid I have to go. I’ve left medication with Kris. He knows what to do. Please have Adam call me in three days and follow up.”
Chien smiled cordially and was gone. Kris was left with the feeling that despite all his assurances and confidence, he hadn’t really done or changed anything. But maybe that’s because the change had to come from within Adam, and there wasn’t much the rest of them could do except support him. Still, Kris felt an uneasy disappointment.
“So you know what to do,” Raj said, looking at him.
“I don’t know anything.”
Samantha looked alarmed. “Then what did he mean?”
“I’m supposed to kind of keep Adam company and make sure he takes some pills twice a day. And stay in touch with Dr. Chien.”
Raj hooted. “Keep him company? Oh, he must love that. I’m sure he’ll insist on lots of hugging therapy. Now he’s got doctor’s orders to be on top of you. I don’t know if we completely keep this out of the press, or play it up for the fans.”
Geoff gave him an icy eye. “We damn well protect their privacy.” He looked at Kris. “Thank you for doing this. It doesn’t sound like Dr. Chien gave you much guidance. I don’t like you being put in this position. I don’t like Adam being expected to keep acting like he’s okay. But I’m not sure pulling him out of the tour would help him either. So if you have any thoughts, any observations, any suggestions…please let us know.”
A discussion with the hotel management gave Kris a key to Adam’s room, and he entered after a soft knock. He was surprised to find Adam standing by the window. He faced Kris with a lifted chin and distant eyes and said nothing.
“Hey,” Kris said.
Adam didn’t answer. He looked pale and taller than usual, standing there wrapped in the remains of his dignity.
“So, um, I guess you need to take one of these.” He started to hand Adam the pill vial, then just as Adam reached for it, thought better of it and pulled it back, shook one into his hand and held it out to Adam, who snatched it angrily and vanished into the bathroom. Oh, that was great. Is there anything else I can do stupidly?
When Adam returned, he kept his eyes away from Kris and sat stiffly on the bed.
“You know what?” Kris found his voice wasn’t working and cleared his throat. “I'm gonna get my guitar, and I’ll be back in a minute. I’m working on this song. And you can get some rest.”
Kris could see anger at the situation working on Adam’s face. Don’t kick me out.
“Fine.” Adam spoke without looking at him. Kris slipped out.
When Kris got back Adam was lying on the bed on top of the covers, facing the wall. He was fully clothed except for his boots.
Adam didn’t speak for an hour, but Kris didn’t think he was asleep. He was too still, his breathing too quiet. Kris was silently working on a lyric when Adam rolled onto his back, his arms folded across his chest.
“How many people saw me like that? The way I was when you opened the door?”
Oh hell. “Um. I heard Danny and Michael behind me, but I shut the door. Then Geoff came in. So I guess just Geoff.”
Adam looked at him finally. “Why’d you shut the door?”
“It was none of their business.”
Adam started to say something, then stopped. Went on in a soft, clipped tone. “Before that, in the hallway…there were other people there. Danny, Michael… Allison.”
“Yeah.”
Adam was trying to make his expression impassive, but the sadness was as obvious as if he’d been a child. It hurt Kris’ heart to see it.
“Nobody thinks any the less of you,” Kris told him.
Adam gave him an incredulous look and rolled back over to face the wall. He didn’t speak again until it was time to go to the venue.
* * *
In one respect, he felt slightly better. Whether it was the release of his meltdown, the effect of the sedative, or Kris’ presence, which somehow seemed to serve as an oxygen tank in a methane atmosphere, his mind no longer felt like it was being ripped apart. The grief and disorientation had been pushed back just a little, but just a little was a difference that allowed him to actually string one thought into connection with another.
On the other hand, while in some regards he had never been overly concerned with what people thought of him, to have been so undone in front of his peers was deeply painful. The fact that, in addition, Kris was having to babysit him, when he had made it so stunningly plain that he didn’t even want to be in the same room, was just plain humiliating.
But right now Adam was going to go along with it. He had to survive the next couple of days if he hoped to put himself back together, and as much as he hated the knowledge, Kris’ presence gave him a strength that nothing else seemed to provide. Why is that? I don’t know. He’s so calm. And so kind. This is for a couple days. No more.
* * *
Kris had gone to his room to change, and didn’t know if it would be better to collect Adam at his room and go with him down to the bus, or let him go down by himself. He was standing in the hallway, thinking about it, when Allison spotted him.
“Kris. Man, how is he? God, that made me sick. To see him like that.” She shook her head, unable to find words to express what she felt.
“Yeah, how’s he doing?” Lil was right behind her. “We been talking about it. Adam needs to be in a hospital. He needs help. Nobody knew he was that messed up.”
Before he could answer, most of the rest of the Idols had surrounded him. Just leaving their rooms, they gravitated instantly to the best source of information about their friend and his shocking behavior. Kris faced them and raised his hands.
“Look, Adam is-is okay. He’s-I mean, you know what happened, and he’s trying to get it back together. We just need to be patient and-“
“Looked like he was trying to put Geoff through the wall,” Michael said skeptically.
“Yeah,” Danny agreed. “He’s a big guy. If he’s kind of out of his mind, that’s not good.” He looked around for support from the others.
“Aren’t people in car accidents all the time?” Megan ventured. “Why is he acting so crazy?”
“Adam would never hurt anybody!” Allison said angrily.
Danny gave her a patronizing look. “I think Geoff might have something different to say. I think the bump on back of his head would have something to say.”
“That’s not gonna happen again,” Kris said tersely. “He’s on sedatives now and he’s-“ He stopped dead, because he’d realized the tall figure a few feet away was Adam.
Heads turned to see what Kris was looking at, and group went instantly silent. People looked away in embarrassment.
Adam smiled sweetly. “Hi. Sorry to interrupt. I’d like to apologize for my behavior earlier. But don’t worry, Danny. Like Kris said, I’m on drugs now and should be a lot better.”
He walked by, graceful as a cat. The door to the stairwell clicked shut behind him.