Except for the late afternoon storm pounding outside, Zack and Aisha's wedding had happened without a hitch.

Now, the guests were milling around in the hotel reception hall; some were finding their seats and others were waiting until it was their turn for pictures.

Having already fulfilled his pictorial obligation, Adam sat at a table alone near the patio doors, tugging at his tie. The isolation was a choice, one he had made since he'd been shot. He had known the dangers of being a cop, but knowing and experiencing those dangers were two separate things. He was ashamed that he was all worked up over what amounted to a flesh wound. He'd been to the department psychologist and done what he could to help himself. He'd been told that it was natural to feel this way. He couldn't get past it. He thought he made a mistake in choosing to become a cop.

Since then, he'd been thinking. Thinking of what he really wanted in life. Thinking about Rocky.

What did he have in life? A job that he was afraid of and an empty apartment that he just existed in until the next day rolled around. He had friends, but most were married and being the fifth-wheel wasn't his style.

He'd been talking to his parents and his sister about making a change. He had admission to two different law schools. One in California and the other to a school in New Mexico, in the same city his sister and her family lived. He had an offer to rent his sister's basement, if he wanted to, though he was a little wary because he knew his sister and her husband was going to expect baby-sitting service for his four nieces and nephews.

Really, it didn't matter; he just had to get away. And that brought his thoughts back to Rocky. Sometimes, just sometimes, he cursed the day that he ever blurted out his feelings and finding out there could be a "possibility" of them. No matter what Rocky had said, he had been waiting. He had been helpless to do otherwise even though it meant he was alone. But he couldn't do it anymore. He just couldn't be this close to him and not be with him.

He thought he was acting naturally enough, though he'd be surprised at how wrong he was. He stared at his hands, oblivious to his friend's worried looks and to Aisha cornering Rocky and gesturing his way.

"Is something wrong?"

The voice came out of nowhere and Adam jumped.

"Hey, it's okay. It's just me." Rocky's voice was soothing as he slid into the seat next to Adam. "I'm sorry I scared you; I thought you saw me coming."

Adam shook his head. "It's okay. I was in my own little world."

Rocky didn't ask and Adam was grateful. Since the incident, Rocky had been hanging around more than usual and just driving him nuts by being so close. Another reason he needed to leave.

"Nice wedding," he finally commented, but all I care about is when are we going to eat."

"8," Adam tugged at his tie again, regretting that he had promised Aisha that he would leave it on until the reception was over.

"That's not for another 20 minutes," Rocky exclaimed. Adam smiled slightly. "Dude, leave your tie alone," Rocky leaned into him.

He tried to hide his wince, but he couldn't quite succeed.

"Oh, man, Adam. I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"

Adam blushed. His arm wasn't the problem; it was being so close to Rocky. "It's okay."

"Good. I was afraid I hurt you."

They stared at each other. Looking into Rocky's eyes reminded him of the dream that he had while he was in the hospital. Rocky had held his hand and admitted that he wanted, no, needed to tell Adam his feelings. It's what had cemented his decision to leave. Dream Rocky was probably the closest he would get to hear what he wanted. Real Rocky couldn't or wouldn't or didn't have feelings for him and even though Tanya's predicted 10 year resolution wasn't up yet, he had to leave. Lord it would hurt when he left. He finally broke eye contact. He wasn't sure what Rocky wanted, but he had looked almost expectant, looking back. He didn't have it in him to figure out what his best friend wanted; it was hard enough figuring out what would get rid of his own emptiness.

He looked out at their assembled friends and family. Jason and Kim, sans daughter Annabelle, were sitting with Kat and Tommy. The most shocking pairing of the night was Tanya and Skull. They weren't a couple yet, but the sparks were clear between them. Adam smiled fully at them; the first full smile in months that his friends had seen. Tanya deserved to be happy and it looked like Skull could do it for her.

Seeing the smile, Aisha squeezed her new husband's hand and nodded toward them. She got Trini's attention and sent her over to them.

"Hi guys." Once again he was startled out of his thoughts, but at least this time he hadn't jumped. Trini smiled at them, one hand supporting her belly.

"When's the baby due?" Rocky asked.

"Two months and I'm ready for it. One of the babies is on my bladder." She laughed happily at their expressions. "Billy has been reading every baby book he can get his hands on."

She glanced over her shoulder. "Rocky, Aisha wants to talk to you." He got up and she sank down in his abandoned chair. "How are you doing?"

"Good," he smiled slightly.

She looked at him, concerned. He didn't look 'good', he looked exhausted. She gripped his hand. "If you change your mind, I'm available, okay?"

He nodded. She squeezed his hand and pushed herself up when Rocky returned. She extracted a promise from both of them to dance with her later and she went to her table because, finally, it was time to eat.

Two hours later, Rocky found Adam sitting outside on the covered patio, watching the rain.

He watched the light glinting off Adam's hair and he drew in a deep breath. In the three months since the shooting, he had wrestled with the decision to tell Adam how he felt. He kept putting it off but he was damned if he kept it secret much longer. One reason he hesitated, besides the fear, was that Adam had frozen up since the shooting. He refused to talk about it, no matter how many times he was asked. Aisha was badgering him to find out the problem, even at her wedding, which was the reason she had wanted to see him earlier.

He came farther out onto the patio, but a look at the table next to him stunned him into stopping again. Adam was a total lightweight when it came to alcohol and with four empty bottles of beer and one partial; he was well on his way to getting drunk.

"Adam, you know Aisha is going to kill you if you get trashed at her wedding."

Adam smiled faintly and shrugged. "I'm done. I'm just thinking."

This time he asked. This time they were alone enough to have an intimate conversation so this time he wouldn't hold back. "Want to talk about it?" he questioned.

"I was thinking about everybody; how happy they are and how many are in relationships."

"Does it bother you?" he asked. "Being one of the few who is still single?"

Adam shrugged again. "Not anymore." Alcohol always made him less restrained. "At one time, yes, but then I realized that marriage and the like is out for me. Short term is all I do these days. I believe in the saying that there is one person for everyone." He paused to take a pull from his beer. "It didn't work out for us, so I doubt I'll ever have feelings stronger than what I feel for you."

Rocky's heart jerked at Adam's reply. The man always surprised him, but this was what he needed to hear to give him the courage. He opened his mouth to respond.

Then Adam dropped his beer with a clatter.

"I, uh…I'm going to dance with Trini."

Rocky nodded and watched Adam walk inside. Very slowly, he smiled.