Crossing the Line/O.T.T. Part 8/?
Title: Crossing the Line/O.T.T. (Part 8/?)
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.
WARNING FOR THIS CHAPTER - hospital stuff, might make some queasy; may not be exactly medically accurate but makes for great drama
Part One - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/2135.html#cutid1
Part Two - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/2471.html#cutid1
Part Three - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/2575.html#cutid1
Part Four - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/3170.html#cutid1
Part Five - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/3170.html#cutid1
Part Six - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/3453.html#cutid1
Part Seven - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/3610.html#cutid1
PART EIGHT
The car careened into the hospital parking lot and up to the emergency entrance. Adam had become alert a couple of times than passed out. They were extremely careful with his neck and shoulders so when they couldn’t get Adam on his feet, their bodyguard scooped him up in his arms. This gentle giant was only a few inches taller than Adam but he was massive and had no problem carrying him.
Kris rushed ahead to the admittance desk, literally grabbing a passing nurse. She eyed him suspiciously until he gestured towards the twosome coming through the sliding doors.
“His neck…there’s something wrong with his neck,” Kris stammered.
The nurse pulled back Adam’s loose shirt, examining his wound. She reached up, checking his eyes and feeling his face. She gave a sharp nod.
“Follow me.”
She led them to a private examining room.
“Let’s get his shirt off and lay him down on his stomach.”
While the bodyguard supported Adam, Kris and the nurse removed his shirt. There were more scratches and bruises on his arms and back. The nurse gazed over him, turning to Kris with a puzzled, concerned look.
“The doctor will need to know what happened to…”
“Adam. His name is Adam Lambert. And I’ll tell the doc everything, whatever’s needed to help him.”
Carefully, they laid Adam down, his head turned to one side. They removed the pillow to minimize the pressure on his neck.
“Mr. Lambert, can you hear me?” the nurse asked as she slowly removed the medical tape from the bandage.
“Call him Adam,” Kris offered. He had pulled up a chair and was sitting by Adam’s face, his hand resting on his head.
“Adam, I’m Gloria, I’m here to help you.”
Adam moaned.
“I have to remove the bandage. I’ll be a careful as I can.” She turned to Kris. “Did you bandage this?”
Kris shook his head. “No, he did. I didn’t even know he was hurt until about an hour ago. I’m sure he had no idea how bad it was.”
She worked slowly. Kris didn’t want to watch but he couldn’t keep his eyes away. The bandage was stuck, the discharge gluing it down. As Gloria peeled it away, it started bleeding again. The yellow and red stained gauze was tossed away and Kris’ stomach churned. He looked at Adam’s still face, running his fingers through the hair behind his ear. It was a good thing Adam couldn’t see what Kris and Gloria did.
A long slice cut across the back of Adam’s neck. It may have started out small but over the past week had mutated into a large raised welt. Gloria explained the swelling and red inflammation flaring up his neck and down his back were signs of infection. She pointed out the pus pockets pearling along the original cut. They would have to drain the wound and start him on antibiotics since the infection had spread into his system. Kris nodded.
“You can wait in the lobby.”
“I’m not leaving him.”
Gloria didn’t press the matter. She excused herself to get the necessary supplies, bumping into the giant standing outside the door.
“You can wait in the lobby.”
“No.”
She didn’t press the matter with him either. Kris seemed very close to Adam and she was scared of the big guy.
Kris continued stroking Adam’s hair, running a finger along his ear. He leaned in.
“Adam, I’m here. You’re going to be okay, I promise.”
He placed a tender kiss on Adam’s temple as Gloria returned.
Off to the side, Gloria put on latex gloves and began soaking a cloth in a watery solution.
“Do you have any idea what cut into his skin?”
Kris knew it had to be related to the ambush. He absentmindedly rubbed the back of his own neck, thinking. His fingers tangled in the chain of his necklace. The necklace. Adam always wore a necklace. He had a few that were one string of metal, no weak clasps. Adam said they yanked his jewelry off him. Someone would have needed a lot of force to tear the chain apart. It surely sliced into him like a razor blade before breaking.
“I think it was a chain, from a necklace. It was ripped from his neck.”
Gloria turned to him.
“It’s a long, horrible story.”
She smiled sadly and placed the saturated cloth over the wound. The excess fluid trickled down Adam’s shoulders. Gloria handed Kris a towel.
“This cloth is soaked in disinfectant. We need to keep it on for 15 minutes or so, to soften the skin.”
“Then what?”
“Then, we start removing the infection.”
That sounded painful. Gloria left Kris and Adam alone.
Kris looked around the cold, sterile room, listened to the noise of sirens echoing off the walls. He looked down at Adam, still out of it, and shook his head.
“Oh, Adam, how could everything go so wrong so fast? We’re suppose to be playing rock star right now, not doctor.” He dried Adam’s shoulder, dabbed his fevered forehead. “I don’t get it, I really don’t. You should be worrying about glittering yourself up not hiding from crazy people. I wish I could make this last week disappear, make the pain and fear go away.” He gazed at his best friend’s sleeping face. He looked twelve and vulnerable. “How could anyone harm a hair on your beautiful body?”
“You…think…I’m beautiful?” Adam whispered, followed by a cough, his blue eyes open and alert.
“Hey baby, welcome back.” Kris leaned in, smiling from ear to ear. Adam tried to get up but Kris gently pushed him down. “Take it easy, don’t move.”
“It’s raining on me.”
Kris laughed softly. “It’s a wet cloth, on your neck, that’s all.” Kris dried him again.
Adam’s eyes looked around. “What happened?”
“You passed out, in your hotel room. It’s your neck, Adam, it’s badly infected. That’s why you’ve been so sick.”
Adam then closed his eyes and let out a shaky sigh. “Is this nightmare ever going to end?”
“Soon, soon.”
They were quiet for a while. Adam took hold of Kris’ hand.
“I should have told you all of this when it happened. My pride got in the way I guess - I was embarrassed about not being able to defend myself.”
“It was one against twelve, how could you have. But you did get out of there and you are going to beat this. I’m with you every step of the way.”
Nurse Gloria came back. She brought another woman with her. Gloria introduced her as Dr. Keeling. Dr. Keeling smiled, happy to see her patient awake.
Kris quickly filled her in on what Adam had gone through, explaining the bruises and scrapes. Adam squeezed Kris’ hand; he didn’t need to words to show how happy he was to be looked after.
Gloria removed the cloth and Dr. Keeling examined the wound. She gently prodded it with her finger, making Adam wince.
“Okay, we’re ready for the next step.” She turned to the boys. “I’m going to need each of you to do something very important for me. Adam, I need you to stay as still as possible. It’s going to hurt and you’re going to want to move but its imperative that you don’t. I don’t want to cause you more damage.
“Kris, your job is to distract Adam - do and say whatever you can to keep his attention from what I’m doing. I’ll also need you to hold down his shoulders, to help keep him steady.” She passed Kris a rolled up bundle of gauze. “If you want to Adam, Kris can place this roll of gauze between your teeth so you can bite down. I could use a local anesthetic but with this cut so near your brain stem, I’d rather not. We don’t want further complications. Are we ready?”
Both men nodded. Kris moved to the head of the bed, his arms on either side of Adam’s head, firmly holding his shoulders. He leaned on his arm closest to Adam’s face.
“Adam, look at me.”
Adam looked up.
“You can do this - you survived Simon Cowell, this should be a walk in the park.”
“A walk down Sunset Boulevard.”
“Sure, wherever you want.”
Adam’s eyes, full of trust, locked onto his best friend and he braced himself, holding the edges of the gurney.
Kris kept his gaze on Adam yet somehow managed to keep an eye on the doctor. He figured if he knew what was coming, he could help prepare Adam.
Gloria was sterilizing a tweezers-like instrument while Dr. Keeling started breaking and cleaning up the pus around the edges of the cut. Adam’s breathe quickened but he seemed okay so far.
Next, Dr. Keeling took the tweezers thing and starting prying at the edges of the wound. Adam squeezed his eyes closed, hissing, his fingers digging in to the metal gurney. She dabbed a little more with the sterile gauze. She looked to Gloria and then setting the tweezers down, picked up what looked to Kris like a scalpel. She caught Kris watching her.
“There are more pockets of infection beneath the surface. I will have to make an incision to get to them. It’s the only way to eradicate the infection.
“How are we doing Adam?” she asked, genuine concern in her voice.
“Like shit but do what you have to do. Kris?”
Kris returned his gaze to Adam. He could see fear in those bottomless eyes.
“I’m here.”
“I think I’m going to need that gauzy thing. I don’t want to pierce my own tongue.”
Kris picked it up and put it to Adam’s lips.
“Wait,” Adam sputtered before being gagged. “I want you to sing to me, anything, just keep singing, no matter what.”
Kris fought back tears. So did Adam. Kris nodded and Adam opened his mouth, biting down on the roll as it was set between his teeth.
Dr. Keeling made the first incision and Adam nearly bolted off the table. A combination roar and scream forced itself past the gag and his snarling lips. Kris held down has hard as he could but Adam’s legs kept thrashing. Dr. Keeling stopped. She looked towards the hulk standing nervously outside the door.
“Who’s that?” she demanded of Gloria.
Gloria shook her head, looking to Kris for an answer.
“He’s one of our bodyguards.”
“Bodyguard?” both women asked, stunned.
Kris shrugged. “It’s…”
“…I know, I know…a long, horrible story,” Gloria concluded.
“Goliath!” Dr. Keeling called, directing her attention to the bodyguard. He looked at her, worried. “We need you help. Get in here.”
He tried talking himself out of it but failed. Dr. Keeling ordered him to the end of the bed and directing him to hold down Adam’s legs. Content that all bases were covered, she started again.
Adam screamed, muffled by the gauze, his breathing heavy and fast. Tears poured down his face. Kris kept singing, his head resting atop Adam’s, keeping that much needed body contact. He sang ‘We are the Champions’ into his ear.
“You’re doing great boys, almost finished,” Dr. Keeling yelled to be heard over the screaming, the singing and the swearing coming from the bottom of the table. Gauze tissues flew onto the floor as she cleaned out the infection.
“’We are the champions my friend - And we’ll keep on fighting til the end - We are the champions, we are the champion - No time for losers - Cause we are the champions of the world.’”
“All done,” the doctor declared, wiping her brow.
Gloria helped the weak kneed Goliath out to the waiting room. Kris removed the roll from Adam’s mouth, kissing his cheek and forehead.
“You did it baby, you did it. You did it.”
Adam panted, running his tongue over his parched lips, eyes still closed but now from exhaustion.
“We…did…it.”
Dr. Keeling soaked a fresh cloth in more disinfectant and placed it over the cleaned wound.
“This needs to stay on for half an hour. After that, we’ll pack some more gauze around it. I want to keep you in overnight Adam. We’ll need to change the bandages often and monitor you to make sure I removed all the infection. You should be able to go home tomorrow.”
“Whatever you say doctor, right Adam? Adam? Doctor!”
Dr. Keeling checked him.
“He’s alright; he’s just worn out.”
--*--
Adam woke up in a hospital room, lying on his side. He felt something pressed up against his back and legs.
“Kris, are you feeling cuddly all of a sudden?”
“You wish Lambert, you wish.”
Kris came around the bed from his spot at the window. He sat down.
“The nurse tucked pillows behind you to prevent you from rolling onto your neck.”
“Yeah, been there, done that. No fucking fun.”
“I have to go soon. Dr. Keeling let me stay until you woke up but after I check on you, visiting hours are over for me.”
“I wish you could stay.”
Kris brushed the hair from Adam’s eyes.
“Me too but I have a few things to take care of back at the hotel.”
“Like telling everyone what happened.”
Kris paused. “They have a right to know.”
“I know. Thanks for doing it - I don’t think I could handle reliving it again.”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to. Dr. Keeling said you should get counseling to help deal with the anxiety attacks.”
“Anxiety attacks?”
“That’s what you’ve been having Adam. She says counseling will help you deal with your fears and move on with your life. Didn’t you tell me you’d do whatever it takes?”
“You can’t hold me responsible for that; I was under extreme duress.”
“Too late to recant. Try and get some sleep. See you in the morning.”
Kris kissed Adam’s forehead and headed for the door.
“Kris.”
He turned, smiling warmly.
“I just wanted to say thanks and, and I love you.”
“I love you too.”
tbc
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.
WARNING FOR THIS CHAPTER - hospital stuff, might make some queasy; may not be exactly medically accurate but makes for great drama
Part One - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/2135.html#cutid1
Part Two - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/2471.html#cutid1
Part Three - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/2575.html#cutid1
Part Four - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/3170.html#cutid1
Part Five - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/3170.html#cutid1
Part Six - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/3453.html#cutid1
Part Seven - http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/3610.html#cutid1
PART EIGHT
The car careened into the hospital parking lot and up to the emergency entrance. Adam had become alert a couple of times than passed out. They were extremely careful with his neck and shoulders so when they couldn’t get Adam on his feet, their bodyguard scooped him up in his arms. This gentle giant was only a few inches taller than Adam but he was massive and had no problem carrying him.
Kris rushed ahead to the admittance desk, literally grabbing a passing nurse. She eyed him suspiciously until he gestured towards the twosome coming through the sliding doors.
“His neck…there’s something wrong with his neck,” Kris stammered.
The nurse pulled back Adam’s loose shirt, examining his wound. She reached up, checking his eyes and feeling his face. She gave a sharp nod.
“Follow me.”
She led them to a private examining room.
“Let’s get his shirt off and lay him down on his stomach.”
While the bodyguard supported Adam, Kris and the nurse removed his shirt. There were more scratches and bruises on his arms and back. The nurse gazed over him, turning to Kris with a puzzled, concerned look.
“The doctor will need to know what happened to…”
“Adam. His name is Adam Lambert. And I’ll tell the doc everything, whatever’s needed to help him.”
Carefully, they laid Adam down, his head turned to one side. They removed the pillow to minimize the pressure on his neck.
“Mr. Lambert, can you hear me?” the nurse asked as she slowly removed the medical tape from the bandage.
“Call him Adam,” Kris offered. He had pulled up a chair and was sitting by Adam’s face, his hand resting on his head.
“Adam, I’m Gloria, I’m here to help you.”
Adam moaned.
“I have to remove the bandage. I’ll be a careful as I can.” She turned to Kris. “Did you bandage this?”
Kris shook his head. “No, he did. I didn’t even know he was hurt until about an hour ago. I’m sure he had no idea how bad it was.”
She worked slowly. Kris didn’t want to watch but he couldn’t keep his eyes away. The bandage was stuck, the discharge gluing it down. As Gloria peeled it away, it started bleeding again. The yellow and red stained gauze was tossed away and Kris’ stomach churned. He looked at Adam’s still face, running his fingers through the hair behind his ear. It was a good thing Adam couldn’t see what Kris and Gloria did.
A long slice cut across the back of Adam’s neck. It may have started out small but over the past week had mutated into a large raised welt. Gloria explained the swelling and red inflammation flaring up his neck and down his back were signs of infection. She pointed out the pus pockets pearling along the original cut. They would have to drain the wound and start him on antibiotics since the infection had spread into his system. Kris nodded.
“You can wait in the lobby.”
“I’m not leaving him.”
Gloria didn’t press the matter. She excused herself to get the necessary supplies, bumping into the giant standing outside the door.
“You can wait in the lobby.”
“No.”
She didn’t press the matter with him either. Kris seemed very close to Adam and she was scared of the big guy.
Kris continued stroking Adam’s hair, running a finger along his ear. He leaned in.
“Adam, I’m here. You’re going to be okay, I promise.”
He placed a tender kiss on Adam’s temple as Gloria returned.
Off to the side, Gloria put on latex gloves and began soaking a cloth in a watery solution.
“Do you have any idea what cut into his skin?”
Kris knew it had to be related to the ambush. He absentmindedly rubbed the back of his own neck, thinking. His fingers tangled in the chain of his necklace. The necklace. Adam always wore a necklace. He had a few that were one string of metal, no weak clasps. Adam said they yanked his jewelry off him. Someone would have needed a lot of force to tear the chain apart. It surely sliced into him like a razor blade before breaking.
“I think it was a chain, from a necklace. It was ripped from his neck.”
Gloria turned to him.
“It’s a long, horrible story.”
She smiled sadly and placed the saturated cloth over the wound. The excess fluid trickled down Adam’s shoulders. Gloria handed Kris a towel.
“This cloth is soaked in disinfectant. We need to keep it on for 15 minutes or so, to soften the skin.”
“Then what?”
“Then, we start removing the infection.”
That sounded painful. Gloria left Kris and Adam alone.
Kris looked around the cold, sterile room, listened to the noise of sirens echoing off the walls. He looked down at Adam, still out of it, and shook his head.
“Oh, Adam, how could everything go so wrong so fast? We’re suppose to be playing rock star right now, not doctor.” He dried Adam’s shoulder, dabbed his fevered forehead. “I don’t get it, I really don’t. You should be worrying about glittering yourself up not hiding from crazy people. I wish I could make this last week disappear, make the pain and fear go away.” He gazed at his best friend’s sleeping face. He looked twelve and vulnerable. “How could anyone harm a hair on your beautiful body?”
“You…think…I’m beautiful?” Adam whispered, followed by a cough, his blue eyes open and alert.
“Hey baby, welcome back.” Kris leaned in, smiling from ear to ear. Adam tried to get up but Kris gently pushed him down. “Take it easy, don’t move.”
“It’s raining on me.”
Kris laughed softly. “It’s a wet cloth, on your neck, that’s all.” Kris dried him again.
Adam’s eyes looked around. “What happened?”
“You passed out, in your hotel room. It’s your neck, Adam, it’s badly infected. That’s why you’ve been so sick.”
Adam then closed his eyes and let out a shaky sigh. “Is this nightmare ever going to end?”
“Soon, soon.”
They were quiet for a while. Adam took hold of Kris’ hand.
“I should have told you all of this when it happened. My pride got in the way I guess - I was embarrassed about not being able to defend myself.”
“It was one against twelve, how could you have. But you did get out of there and you are going to beat this. I’m with you every step of the way.”
Nurse Gloria came back. She brought another woman with her. Gloria introduced her as Dr. Keeling. Dr. Keeling smiled, happy to see her patient awake.
Kris quickly filled her in on what Adam had gone through, explaining the bruises and scrapes. Adam squeezed Kris’ hand; he didn’t need to words to show how happy he was to be looked after.
Gloria removed the cloth and Dr. Keeling examined the wound. She gently prodded it with her finger, making Adam wince.
“Okay, we’re ready for the next step.” She turned to the boys. “I’m going to need each of you to do something very important for me. Adam, I need you to stay as still as possible. It’s going to hurt and you’re going to want to move but its imperative that you don’t. I don’t want to cause you more damage.
“Kris, your job is to distract Adam - do and say whatever you can to keep his attention from what I’m doing. I’ll also need you to hold down his shoulders, to help keep him steady.” She passed Kris a rolled up bundle of gauze. “If you want to Adam, Kris can place this roll of gauze between your teeth so you can bite down. I could use a local anesthetic but with this cut so near your brain stem, I’d rather not. We don’t want further complications. Are we ready?”
Both men nodded. Kris moved to the head of the bed, his arms on either side of Adam’s head, firmly holding his shoulders. He leaned on his arm closest to Adam’s face.
“Adam, look at me.”
Adam looked up.
“You can do this - you survived Simon Cowell, this should be a walk in the park.”
“A walk down Sunset Boulevard.”
“Sure, wherever you want.”
Adam’s eyes, full of trust, locked onto his best friend and he braced himself, holding the edges of the gurney.
Kris kept his gaze on Adam yet somehow managed to keep an eye on the doctor. He figured if he knew what was coming, he could help prepare Adam.
Gloria was sterilizing a tweezers-like instrument while Dr. Keeling started breaking and cleaning up the pus around the edges of the cut. Adam’s breathe quickened but he seemed okay so far.
Next, Dr. Keeling took the tweezers thing and starting prying at the edges of the wound. Adam squeezed his eyes closed, hissing, his fingers digging in to the metal gurney. She dabbed a little more with the sterile gauze. She looked to Gloria and then setting the tweezers down, picked up what looked to Kris like a scalpel. She caught Kris watching her.
“There are more pockets of infection beneath the surface. I will have to make an incision to get to them. It’s the only way to eradicate the infection.
“How are we doing Adam?” she asked, genuine concern in her voice.
“Like shit but do what you have to do. Kris?”
Kris returned his gaze to Adam. He could see fear in those bottomless eyes.
“I’m here.”
“I think I’m going to need that gauzy thing. I don’t want to pierce my own tongue.”
Kris picked it up and put it to Adam’s lips.
“Wait,” Adam sputtered before being gagged. “I want you to sing to me, anything, just keep singing, no matter what.”
Kris fought back tears. So did Adam. Kris nodded and Adam opened his mouth, biting down on the roll as it was set between his teeth.
Dr. Keeling made the first incision and Adam nearly bolted off the table. A combination roar and scream forced itself past the gag and his snarling lips. Kris held down has hard as he could but Adam’s legs kept thrashing. Dr. Keeling stopped. She looked towards the hulk standing nervously outside the door.
“Who’s that?” she demanded of Gloria.
Gloria shook her head, looking to Kris for an answer.
“He’s one of our bodyguards.”
“Bodyguard?” both women asked, stunned.
Kris shrugged. “It’s…”
“…I know, I know…a long, horrible story,” Gloria concluded.
“Goliath!” Dr. Keeling called, directing her attention to the bodyguard. He looked at her, worried. “We need you help. Get in here.”
He tried talking himself out of it but failed. Dr. Keeling ordered him to the end of the bed and directing him to hold down Adam’s legs. Content that all bases were covered, she started again.
Adam screamed, muffled by the gauze, his breathing heavy and fast. Tears poured down his face. Kris kept singing, his head resting atop Adam’s, keeping that much needed body contact. He sang ‘We are the Champions’ into his ear.
“You’re doing great boys, almost finished,” Dr. Keeling yelled to be heard over the screaming, the singing and the swearing coming from the bottom of the table. Gauze tissues flew onto the floor as she cleaned out the infection.
“’We are the champions my friend - And we’ll keep on fighting til the end - We are the champions, we are the champion - No time for losers - Cause we are the champions of the world.’”
“All done,” the doctor declared, wiping her brow.
Gloria helped the weak kneed Goliath out to the waiting room. Kris removed the roll from Adam’s mouth, kissing his cheek and forehead.
“You did it baby, you did it. You did it.”
Adam panted, running his tongue over his parched lips, eyes still closed but now from exhaustion.
“We…did…it.”
Dr. Keeling soaked a fresh cloth in more disinfectant and placed it over the cleaned wound.
“This needs to stay on for half an hour. After that, we’ll pack some more gauze around it. I want to keep you in overnight Adam. We’ll need to change the bandages often and monitor you to make sure I removed all the infection. You should be able to go home tomorrow.”
“Whatever you say doctor, right Adam? Adam? Doctor!”
Dr. Keeling checked him.
“He’s alright; he’s just worn out.”
--*--
Adam woke up in a hospital room, lying on his side. He felt something pressed up against his back and legs.
“Kris, are you feeling cuddly all of a sudden?”
“You wish Lambert, you wish.”
Kris came around the bed from his spot at the window. He sat down.
“The nurse tucked pillows behind you to prevent you from rolling onto your neck.”
“Yeah, been there, done that. No fucking fun.”
“I have to go soon. Dr. Keeling let me stay until you woke up but after I check on you, visiting hours are over for me.”
“I wish you could stay.”
Kris brushed the hair from Adam’s eyes.
“Me too but I have a few things to take care of back at the hotel.”
“Like telling everyone what happened.”
Kris paused. “They have a right to know.”
“I know. Thanks for doing it - I don’t think I could handle reliving it again.”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to. Dr. Keeling said you should get counseling to help deal with the anxiety attacks.”
“Anxiety attacks?”
“That’s what you’ve been having Adam. She says counseling will help you deal with your fears and move on with your life. Didn’t you tell me you’d do whatever it takes?”
“You can’t hold me responsible for that; I was under extreme duress.”
“Too late to recant. Try and get some sleep. See you in the morning.”
Kris kissed Adam’s forehead and headed for the door.
“Kris.”
He turned, smiling warmly.
“I just wanted to say thanks and, and I love you.”
“I love you too.”
tbc