Yes, I made Adam a cop. I hope it's clear, but you never know. Okay, excluding chapter 8 (because I had writer's block), I have certain criteria I follow to update. It usually takes four days. It took less than 20 hours this time. So a present.
Safety
I swore as the phone rang at my elbow, effectively breaking my concentration. My dojo had been going strong for three years and was now in the black.
The phone rang again and I reached for it. "Red Flame Dojo, Rocky speaking."
"Rocky, come to Angel Grove Hospital now. Adam's been shot." Aisha's voice trembled violently.
I felt my heart rip and I couldn't speak. Was he dead? What happened? Why wasn't Aisha answering? Finally I realized I hadn't said anything.
"Rocky," she shouted.
"How bad is it?"
"We don't know yet. Julia called when he was brought in. Just get here soon."
Julia is Zack's mother and she's a doctor at Angel Grove Hospital.
"Okay, I'll be there soon."
I don't remember much about the drive from River Bend to Angel Grove, usually a thirty minute trip. I made it in fifteen. The only thing I kept thinking was if Adam had died, he would never know I loved him.
I hurried into the hospital waiting room and there was Aisha reading a magazine.
"Is he okay?" I asked as I ran toward her.
"God, Rocky, how fast were you driving?"
"Aisha, what is wrong with you? You're complaining about my driving and Adam's been shot. What the hell?"
She punched me in the shoulder but then hugged me hard.
"He was shot in the upper arm but he's going to be fine."
I squeezed her back, hoping she thought I was hugging her back. Actually, I was holding myself up, I was so relieved.
"How did it happen?" I wondered.
"Domestic dispute evolved into attempted murder. Adam pushed the man out of the way and ended up with a bullet for his trouble."
"When can we see him?"
"He's sleeping, but go on up and check him out. You know you won't relax until you do." She told me where to find him. I went to the elevator and pushed the floor number, then leaned against the wall trying to settle my racing pulse.
I found his room and pushed the door open. He was in the first bed, hooked up the monitors, sound asleep. I sat on the chair next to the bed and looked at him. I clasped his hand with both of mine and ran my thumb against his fingers.
"I'm glad you're okay, Adam." I was appalled at myself. I had to make this right. Once Adam woke up, I had to tell him how I felt.
"It scared me." Talking to him while he was asleep. Good one. "It made me realize that if you had died, I'd never get to tell you how I felt. How much you mean to me. How much I respected you for telling me you cared."
I stopped. Telling him was making me feel better, but he was asleep.
"I'll be back later to check on you."
I went down to talk to Aisha again. We split up and called the rest of the old team.
Later, I went back to Adam's room and he was awake.
"Hey, man."
He looked at me and smiled softly.
"How are you doing?"
"Good when the pills are kicked in."
My mouth quirked slightly. I remembered saying the exact same thing to him once.
"Really, Adam, how do you feel?"
"Like I've been shot."
I groaned. Leave it to him to get a sense of humor now.
He yawned. "I'm fine, I swear. It went straight through. I'll get some rehab and I'll be good as new…" he trailed off.
"But…," I prompted.
"I'm afraid. Afraid of being shot again. Afraid of being alone because every creak makes me think someone's sneaking up on me."
"Try to go back to sleep." I put my hand on his ankle. "I'll stay until visiting hours are over."
"Hmmm." Adam mumbled sleepily. "That's the safest I've felt all day."
He drifted off to sleep and I sat there, knowing that I was finally ready and I prayed that he still felt the same way as he had nine years ago.