Kono wakes up when the car comes to a stop and the engine is turned off. It's a dark place, indoors somewhere. Her eyes adjust with a few blinks to spot a couple of cars very similar to the black Hummer she's currently in. A parking garage. But not a public one by the looks of it.
Her whole body aches and protests against her twisting in her seat, turning to face Adam, who looks back over when he feels her eyes on him. He has his phone back in his hand and is sending a message this time.
"Hey. Thought I'd have to carry you in for a moment there." He jokes with smile, which she returns effortlessly because that's what he makes her do.
"Where are we?" She asks instead, pushing herself into a sitting position instead of slouching and pulling the jacket around her.
"One of the hotels' parking lots." He tells her, not having to clarify further that it was one of his hotels.
"Isn't this a bit predictable if Delano comes looking for me through you?" She asks, curious, because she's sure there is a plan here.
"You'll be safe here, Kono." He assures her as a form of answer but she simply blinks at him and he sighs, reaching out a hand to squeeze her leg gently and leaving it to rest here. "I have many safe houses, Kono. All over the world. But that's predictable and sooner or later, the one we keep you at will be discovered. A hotel is more public and less likely to be a possibility." He explains.
"Hiding in plain sight." She adds, nodding to show she understands because the idea of being hidden away for days, weeks, months if Adam got his way, in another country no less, was enough to make her edgy already. At least here she knew she was at home, less constricted and would be able to leave when she was back to 100 percent. Or Delano was caught. Whichever came first.
The chime of an arriving message breaks the silence they have lapsed into. It seems to be what Adam was waiting for because he types out a quick reply because pulling out the keys and opening his door to step out. She follows his lead, undoing her belt and opening the door. But before she could step out, he's there, waiting patiently and she wonders how slow she was really moving.
Brushing off his attempt to help her down, Kono manages with ease, gripping onto the door handle a bit tighter when her knees threaten to buckle and her legs burn with the movement and weight. She doesn't pull away from the arm he wraps around her waist once they start moving away from the car because if he didn't, she would probably fall.
They get into a regular looking elevator on the other side of the garage. It needs a key to operate and although it had buttons for every floor, it must be used exclusively for the penultimate floor because it lights up as soon as the key in inserted and a code is entered. Kono realizes she's never been to this hotel before. Since their relationship was made public, she has visited his place, the apartments and penthouses he had in his hotels, and he had been to her place much more freely than before. It had made life easier even if, dare she say it, she sort of missed the taboo of sneaking around at times. Just because it was exciting. But now, going public was exciting in it's own right, allowing them to enjoy things like never before. More than that, without going public, he wouldn't have been able to save her.
The thought makes her stomach twist uncertainly, makes her lungs aches again though she now has an abundance of oxygen, and her body to stiffen slightly as a fight or flight instinct takes over again.
Adam's arm around her waist tighten, pulling her closer as he shoots her a questioning glace whilst talking on the phone about something being set up. She's not sure what exactly. She's not paying much attention to what he says, but only to the low murmur of his voice, comforting her with its familiarity.
By the time he hangs up, the elevator 'bings' in signal for arrival on the floor they want. The doors open and he ushers her out, leading her into a wide but short and empty corridor. It was obvious that this floor had exclusive use by Adam only. Or whoever was authorized to need and use the room at the end of the hallway.
"What's going on?" She asks as they walk, noticing how raspy her voice has slowly become. There's a tight feeling in her chest when she breathes too, similar to the tightness felt when she's caught a horrible cough. Or swallowed too much water after crashing into the ocean when she was learning to surf. Both initially and after her injury.
"Nothing." He replies but she doesn't believe him and lets him know with a look. "I'll explain in a bit. First you need to be checked out."
Kono rolls her eyes at his answer because she had wondered why he hadn't mentioned seeing a doctor yet after almost drowning. She had already formed the argument that if he wanted to get her checked out, then she wanted to go to the same hospital that Malia was in so she could see Chin too. But Adam had gotten it all covered.
"No. First, I want a shower and some dry clothes." She tells him and he nods at the change of plans without a second thought whilst opening the door to the suite. Because that's what it is. A suite.
A/N: Wow, not a single review or PM or anything for the last chapter. Was it really that bad? I know you guys were reading it. I hope this one fairs better. A small comment, even a simple word summing up what you thought or if I should continue would be highly appreciated. I understand that Adam/Kono are a minor ship fanbase but I know there are more than a few out there. I've seen you on tumblr for starters.
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.