Polly was delighted to see Jay. He swung her high in the air and had her squealing within minutes of arriving before putting her down and starting to chase her around the lawn. Adam watched from the deck feeling a little jealous that he wasn't the one down there with her. He hated this already, he hated feeling useless but at least he was home being useless, as Kim reminded him earlier that morning when he was having a whinge. Kim came out and deposited Angus on his lap, rugged up against the cool fall weather and tucked a blanket around them both. Not that Adam felt he needed it right now but it wasn't worth the effort to argue. Cuddling Angus though felt good and it was about the only thing Kim let him do. He was trying to accept all her fussing with good grace but he was not sure how long he could keep smiling.
The leaves were turning golden and starting to cover the yard and reminding them all of the fast approaching winter, yet the sun still had a little warmth in it. Polly kicked through a pile of leaves and both her and Jay picked up handfuls and threw them in the air so that they rained down on them. Adam turned his attention to Angus who was busy gurgling and waving his hands around tyring to get them both into his mouth at once. Angus smiled back at Adam when he spoke to him and he could whinge and complain all day to him and he would never tell him to shut up. They were buddies; they had each other's back.
He could hear the doorbell ring in the background and he had to admit he was kind of getting sick of all the visitors not matter how well intentioned they were. All he could see was Kim rushing around making coffee for them and barely getting a chance to sit and enjoy one herself. He wanted everyone to back off for a bit.
"Erin." Kim stuttered as she opened the door. "Hi"
"You said come over and see the kids. I should have called. I spoke to Voight and he said that Adam was home. I hope it's okay?" She held out the box of donuts she was gripping and looked nervously at Kim who had gone a little pale. "I'm sorry I can come back another time."
Kim didn't know what to say. "Oh, no it's okay but ummm…." She looked quickly over her shoulder and closed the door quietly behind her and joining Erin on the front porch. It was one of her favourite places to sit in the afternoons and watch the world go by. Their front yard wasn't big but Adam constantly moaned about having to maintain both lawns. There was no way Kim would let him pave it as was his want and keeping the hedge trimmed was the bane of his life but Kim loved it. "Jay is here."
"Oh." They sat down on the step and Erin opened the box of donuts and offered Kim one. "How's Adam?"
"He's good. So much better now he is home but I can see him getting frustrated, not that he would admit it. At the moment he is still moving pretty slow and he refuses to take anything for the pain." She picked at the donut in her hand and knew she was rambling to stop any awkward silences. "Polly is delighted though." In the distance she could hear her squealing in the backyard. "She is fussing over Adam like a mother hen."
Erin laughed but it was incredibly forced as she tried to focus on what Kim was talking about. All she could think about was that Jay was here and that she hadn't seen him in weeks and it was killing her. She would do anything to make it up to him, to apologise to him even though deep down she knew that it would bring all the hurt rushing back to the surface and that they were done. "He must be loving that?"
"Grinning and bearing it manfully."
"And you?"
"It's been a long week, I'm tired but we just keep ploughing on and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now that he is home." Kim took a deep breath. "I couldn't imagine living without him."
"It's hard." The way Erin felt at the moment it was like Jay had died. Certainly their love was dead; she knew that. At least on his side anyway. Kim squeezed her hand and was just about to speak when the door opened behind them.
"Kim…." Jay started and stopped once her saw Erin. His voice suddenly took on a hard edge and both of them jumped up off the step. "Ruzek needs you to come and grab Angus."
"Hi Jay." Erin mumbled as Kim quickly disappeared into the house. Angus had fallen asleep in Adam's arms and the weight was starting to get too much for him.
"I thought you'd done a runner?" Adam was disappointed that even holding Gus for too long was a struggle and it did nothing for his mood and Kim's announcement wasn't going to help.
"Nope." She gently lifted Angus from his arms and he snuggled into her shoulder barely opening his eyes. "Erin's here."
"What?"
"She just turned up to see the kids. I told her to stop by sometime. I swear I didn't invite her today."
"Where is she now?" This was seriously the last thing he wanted right now.
"On the front porch, I left her with Jay."
"Great." He mumbled and Kim could see that he wasn't impressed.
"Are you going to be okay watching Polly for a few minutes while I put him to bed?" Polly was still running around the back yard, making piles with the freshly fallen leaves for when Jay came back. He was pretty sure he could be trusted to keep an eye on her and told Kim as much and when she turned on her heel and stormed off he sighed realising he'd been a dick about it.
Polly turned and smiled and waved at her father. He pushed himself slowly out of the chair and headed gingerly down the short flight of steps to the garden. Polly ran towards him tripping on the corner of the path, falling heavily on her knees and hands. Adam tried to get to her quickly ignoring the pain shooting through his side as she lay on the ground wailing and he knelt down to help her up, brushing her knees and hands before Polly tried to wrap her legs around his waist so that he could pick her up like he always did when she was hurt. Adam groaned when a flash of pain shot through him as Polly's legs crashed into him and he staggered under her sudden weight.
Kim came flying down the stairs as she heard Polly's cries and she flew out the back door to find Adam hunched over on all fours with Polly crying beside him trying to help him up. "Get up Daddy." She wailed. He had gone pale and sweaty as he tried to catch his breath. "Adam." She cried out as she ran across the yard. "Oh my god Adam."
Kim's yells brought Jay running from the front of the house closely followed by Erin.
"I'm okay Man." He leant on Jay as he helped him up off the ground and back inside. "Just moved a little too quickly." Kim looked like she had seen a ghost as she soothed Polly. Once he was back inside Polly climbed up beside him at Adam's insistence. He hated that he felt so useless as wasn't able to help her when she fell. What good was he as a father if he couldn't help his kids when they were hurt? He knew it was irrational and just a temporary thing but it didn't make him feel any better.
"Sorry Daddy." Polly's sobbing was gradually subsiding.
"It's okay sweetie. How's your knee?" He asked as he rubbed her knees gently. "I was scared that you were hurt." Kim couldn't hear what Polly and Adam were talking about but there were lots of kisses and smiles yet despite that Kim could see that Adam was still hurting. His breathing was still laboured and as he tried to slow it down with long and deliberate breaths and every now and then he would close his eyes as another wave hit him.
Erin had come inside also and was standing in the kitchen. "Are you okay?" she asked Kim.
She grabbed a glass of water and drank it quickly, hoping that would help with the sudden wave of nausea she felt and her hands shook as she lifted the glass. "Yep."
"I shouldn't have come."
"Then why don't you just go." Jay was standing in the doorway. "Then perhaps all this could have been avoided." He waved his hand in Adam's direction and Kim was shocked by the bitterness in his voice. She looked at both of them as they stared angrily at each other before slipping out of the kitchen heading upstairs to check on Angus.
"Jay please." Erin took at step towards him but Jay backed away and left her standing in the middle of the kitchen feeling like she had just been slapped across the face. He was so angry still and they hadn't even had a conversation about any of this or what to do with all their stuff and the apartment. The way this was going it wasn't going to happen anytime soon either.
Angus was still sleeping, blissfully unaware of all the drama going on downstairs. She touched his cheek and it was so soft and smooth. He was a beautiful boy and even at his tender age she could see Adam in him, his dark eyes, the shape of his mouth and the lightness in his hair were all Adam. Angus grunted and wriggled slightly before settling again. As she came out of his room and headed downstairs she could hear the tense conversation between Jay and Erin out on the back deck getting louder.
Suddenly she heard Adam's voice and she flew down the stairs. "Don't you think we have enough shit going on here? Kim doesn't need this to deal with as well." He started coughing which still hurt like hell and he tried to breathe deeply until it passed. He grabbed his side. "So sort your shit out, but don't do it here."
Polly was sitting up on the couch watching a movie and completely oblivious to the commotion outside. "Adam." She slipped her arm through his. "Come back inside. You shouldn't be up."
"Kim, I'm fine." He snapped pulling his arm away angrily.
"Look man, go back inside. I'm leaving." Jay held up his hands in defeat and he apologised to Kim. "Give Polly a kiss for me." Adam had gone back inside before Erin had the chance to apologise and was sitting back with Polly when Kim came back in.
"Was that really necessary?" She asked.
"What?"
"That?" she pointed to the back deck where they had just come from.
"Really? You were happy with them fighting and dragging out all their shit in our yard."
"Watch your mouth." She constantly warned him about cursing around Polly. "No not at all but at least they were starting to talk to each other."
"I'd hardly call that talking." Adam could sense that his frustrations were starting to bubble over again. He had already snapped at Kim a couple of times today and she had let it slide but he was probably pushing his luck. "Forgive me for not wanting it at my house."
"Your house?"
"Sorry. Our house." He bit back at her sarcastically. Kim threw her hands in the air and stormed out of the room and he could hear her in the kitchen un-loading the dishwasher and sighed wearily as he pushed himself up off the couch and started climbing the stairs. He needed to go lie down, his side was hurting where Polly had unintentionally hit him and he was tired and perhaps he should have stayed and talked to his wife but he didn't have the energy for another argument.
He slept for a good few hours and Kim checked on him once when she came up to grab Angus and now she could hear him moving around upstairs. When he didn't come down Kim headed up to see him with Angus tucked onto her hip. "Hey, you're up?"
Adam was back lying on the bed. He opened his eyes as she entered the room. "Yep."
Kim came and sat on the edge of the bed and rested one hand on his thigh and he reached out and grabbed it, lightly stroking his thumb over her knuckles. "You okay?"
"I'm feeling pretty crappy actually." A flutter of panic hit Kim and she shuffled closer to him. "Can I get you anything? You haven't eaten much since breakfast. "Adam shook his head as Kim glanced at the clock, it was almost 2pm. "Please Baby, you need to eat something."
Finally he agreed to some soup and toast. When he came downstairs Kim could tell that the attention of Polly and constant fussing of Angus was getting on his nerves so she took them out down to the park. He promised to call if he needed anything but he was back upstairs asleep when they got back.
Kim did her best to not worry and also tried to keep Polly away from their room. She didn't understand why Daddy wanted to sleep all day and why he didn't want her to make him feel better. He did come down for dinner and read Polly a story before Kim put her to bed and once Angus was fed and asleep he lay back down on the couch with his head in Kim's lap.
She was running her hands through his hair, which was slightly longer at the moment. He was funny with his hair he would let it grow until it was almost untameable and then cut it short. He couldn't be bothered with regular cuts to keep it a decent length so it was all or nothing. "Are you sure you are okay?"
"I am." He looked up at her and noticed the cloudiness in her eyes. It was the same look she had when he was in the hospital. "I am fine, I think the morning took a lot more out of me than I thought it would. I just needed sleep and peace and quiet."
"Polly is worried that she hurt you."
"She did." He gave her a sad little smile. "Not intentionally and I know I shouldn't have tried to pick her up but she was crying and hurt and I didn't think. It hurt like hell though."
"Why didn't you tell me? You know I could see you were hurt but you weren't exactly approachable."
"I know, I am trying not to be a burden for you. You have the kids to worry about."
"I have you to worry about too. Treating me like shit isn't going to make me not worry."
Adam sighed and closed his eyes and Kim stopped running her fingers through his hair. Opening his eyes again she was staring straight ahead. "Hey…" slowly she bought her eyes back to his. "I'm sorry I was such a dick today."
Kim slipped one hand under his shirt and ran her hand over the warm skin of his stomach. "You get one day of being a dick and today was it."
"Deal." He closed his eyes again and enjoyed the softness of her hand on his bare skin. "You know I hated that I couldn't help Polly today. It makes me feel so useless. I'm her father and I can't even pick her up when she is hurt."
"Adam, it's temporary. You are a great Dad. You know that. Even just having you home is enough for them."
"I guess." He knew what Kim was saying made sense. "Still felt useless though. Have you heard from Halstead or Lindsay?" He had basically turned his phone off after the morning and hadn't bothered to pick it up again. Actually he was enjoying being disconnected from the world for a bit because it didn't happen often.
"I did. They both apologised for carrying on like teenagers. Halstead wanted to make sure you were okay and see if I needed a hand." Jay had called her, worried when Adam's phone was switched off that something was wrong. "I also fielded calls from your parents, Voight, Atwater and Al. All worried because you weren't answering. On top of my parents calling, Platt, Roman and my sister. You may have had a peaceful day but I didn't."
"Sorry, but what can I say people love me."
Kim smiled softly. "Jay seemed pretty cut up about today." She changed the subject slightly.
"I will give him a call later."
"Tomorrow. I am kinda liking the peace and quiet at the moment." Kim knew that if he turned his phone back on he would check all his messages and then feel the need to reply to them all.
"I'm liking it too. You've got some magic healing powers in them hands Darlin'."
Kim lifted up his shirt to check out his bruising all up his right side and pulled down the waistband of his sweats to see how far down it extended. "Don't get too carried away Baby."
"You wish."
"I certainly do."
"This is an unexpected consequence of your accident." Kim teased him knowing full well how much he hated going without sex for too long and so far it had been almost two weeks and for them that was a long time. Apart from the weeks following the birth of both their babies they were pretty regular and even when their shifts clashed and they were both dead tired they still managed a few times a week.
While he hadn't been told specifically that they needed to abstain he just wasn't sure he could cope with the pain it would cause and Kim certainly wasn't keen to hurt him either and after today's incident they both knew it wasn't happening any time soon. For Kim at least not until he was cleared by the Doctor.
The last few nights it was just nice to have her sleeping next to him again but he knew that Kim spent the whole time worrying that she was going to bump into him and hurt him. Her hand, right now moving slowly over his stomach felt nice and he enjoyed the feeling of peace that settled on him for the first time all day.
"Hurts more than my injuries." Adam winked. "Let's go to bed."
"Really?"
"Hey, my hands still work, my lips still work, just and I reckon having your naked body next to mine might just have some magical healing powers also."
"You really think that you have that much control?"
"When it comes to you I have no control, you should know that by now." She helped him sit up and he then grabbed her around the neck and pulled her in for a long slow kiss. Their kisses had to be slow, not that he minded, because in all honesty his face still hurt too. "See, perfectly capable of some things."
Slowly he headed upstairs, stopping by Polly's room first he checked on her before popping into Angus's room, it was a habit he was unlikely and unwilling to break. Sleeping children were beautiful, particularly his children because they were still untouched by all the shit in the world and he wanted to hang onto that for as long as he could. They had moved Angus out of their room when Adam came home because Kim was worried that he would disturb Adam when he woke and she could feed him in the nursery and Adam could sleep. He did protest, knowing that Kim preferred to have him close but Kim was adamant that this was for the best.
"They okay?" Kim came into the room behind him and placed the monitor on the side table along with a glass of water. Adam nodded as he lowered himself slowly onto the edge of the bed. "Sleeping like babies."
Kim needed to help him out of his clothes. Lifting his arms over his head to remove his t-shirt was still painful. "I seem to recall you always liked ripping my clothes off."
"It's one of my favourite things to do." She planted a kiss on the top of his head. "Do you want to take a shower?" He agreed only because he convinced her it would be easier if she showered with him.
While he hated being useless he did like that Kim was so attentive. He could get used to having her shower with him again. They did it a lot before they had kids, now she more often showered with Polly and he often got Angus shoved in with him. This was so much better.
Bob and Susan had come over early to look after the kids while Kim took Adam in for a scan and check-up. She had had fed Angus and left some more milk for him should they get caught up and Polly threw a little tantrum when they left worried that they weren't going to come back. Bob offered to take her to the park so by the time they were out of the driveway she was already bouncing out the door and they were soon forgotten.
The scan showed that the liver was still healing as it should, however there was still a long way to go. "Don't get too excited, just because it looks good it can still start to bleed again if you push it." The doctor warned them. "No lifting, nothing too physical." Form the corner of her eye Kim could see Adam's smile fade a little.
"Doc, when you say nothing too physical?" he smirked and Kim looked at him sideways and squeezed his hand to try to get him to stop. The Doctor smiled to himself, understanding where this question was going. He got it a lot.
"I mean no running, jumping, dancing, mowing the lawns, cleaning, sports." He chuckled. "As for other physical pursuits try and be a little more.." he paused just for a moment… "passive for awhile." Adam winked at Kim who dropped her head so that the Doctor wouldn't see her blush.
They drew some blood for a liver function test before he then moved on to the kidney specialist. A urine test and scan later, despite needed to drink lots more water everything was going along okay there as well.
Finally the Respiratory Physician was happy with his punctured lung and suggested to keep up the breathing exercises until he could start some physio and gentle exercise in the next few weeks.
As frustrating as it was to be doing nothing he was happy that everything was coming along. The pain was easing off but it was still his constant companion and he got tired easily so the fact that he felt Kim relax and start to smile a genuine smile again was enough at the moment.
"So…" he started as soon as they got to the car. They had been at the hospital for close to 4 hours and he was tired. "…looks like you'll be doing all the hard yards for awhile. Lucky I like you on top."
Kim laughed despite herself. "Pity I am so exhausted from looking after your son and daughter and you that all I want to do when I get into bed is sleep."
"I saw lust in your eyes last night. You can't resist."
"Don't bet on it Baby." Kim rubbed his thigh lightly.
Adam stared out the window for a moment. The sky was still a perfect blue despite the coolness that was now creeping into the days. They were getting shorter and it wouldn't be long before the real chill of a Chicago winter swept in. "Hey you think we have time to stop by the District?"
"No. My boobs are about to explode and Angus will be getting hungry soon." Kim answered a little sharper than she anticipated.
"It was just an idea." He shrugged. "Sorry."
"Why?"
"Why what? Why do I want to stop and see how everyone is? See how Al is? Let them know I am okay?"
"Don't get all defensive." Kim snapped and Adam sighed loudly. "Forget it." He mumbled.
Kim bit her bottom lip as it trembled slightly. She had no idea what had come over her; her emotions were all over the place the last few days. She should have been happy that Adam was doing well, that all the Doctors were happy with his progress but she just felt drained. If she could have locked herself away from everything and everyone she would have. The past two weeks had been the most emotionally and physically draining weeks of her life and today it just seemed hard to put one foot in front of the other.
"I'm sorry you have to take care of me, drive me around the place and look after our kids. I'm sorry I am so useless." Adam muttered sarcastically. Kim gripped the steering wheel so tight he could see her knuckles turn white.
"Don't be stupid Adam."
"You seem pissed off. I thought you'd be at least a little happy that I am okay."
"I am happy, I am more than happy." Swallowing a lump in her throat she continued. "I don't know what is wrong with me today. I am just exhausted." Adam turned his head away from the window and looked at Kim. She took a deep breath and held it for a few moments before letting out a long slow breath to calm her emotions. Adam rested a hand on her thigh and rubbed it softly.
"I wish I could help more."
"You are helping, you're home that's all that matters." She squeezed his hand. "I'll be okay." But he wasn't sure she meant it and right now there was not a lot he could do about it. He couldn't take the kids off her hands, Angus needed her every few hours so sending them away for a night didn't seem viable and they were not sure it was a good idea right now as Polly was still a little unsettled and was making things difficult with her erratic behaviour.
When they got home she took Angus up to their room and fed him and Adam found them both asleep an hour later. Susan had stayed to help with Polly and she cooked dinner for them while she was there. "Kim looks exhausted." She had commented as they sat down for lunch. "Is she okay?"
"I think everything is just catching up with her. The stress of last few weeks, the kids…" he shrugged a little. "Taking care of her crippled husband. We had Erin and Jay here fighting yesterday and it's just too much. I don't know what I can do to help though."
"What can we do? Take the kids for a bit? Polly could have a sleepover."
"Not sure Kim would agree to that just yet. She is worried about getting Polly back into a normal routine and Angus was pretty unsettled with feeding and that's just getting back on track so I certainly don't want to muck that up again. She won't entertain giving him formula." Adam sighed and closed his eyes. "Do you mind staying awhile? I want to have rest and Kim's asleep."
Susan was more than happy to stay. Adam quietly lifted Angus out of their bed and put him in his pram, he barely even stirred and Susan took them both for a walk down to the grocery store. Kim didn't stir either as he lowered himself gingerly onto the bed. She was surprised when she woke a little later to find Angus gone to be replaced by her husband. Not that she minded. The house sounded quiet and she wondered where the kids were but at that moment didn't have the energy to get up. Adam felt her move. "Susan is looking after the kids, they have gone for a walk to the grocery store. Just rest baby." He slipped an arm over her.
"I'm sorry."
"What for?"
"Being so cranky."
"Darlin' tell me what I can do? Talk to me."
Kim turned over slowly so that she was facing him. She rested one hand on his cheek, enjoying the feeling of his rough stubble beneath her fingers and the closeness of his body to hers. "Just keep getting better, that's all I want." Leaning in for a long slow kiss for which Adam was happy to indulge in.
"I just want to see you smile again, like really smile." He traced her jawline and ending rubbing his thumb lightly over her lips. Burying her head in his shoulder for a moment she was content to just breathe in his smell. It was warm and musky and comforting.
They heard the door open downstairs and the unmistakable sound of Polly's wails and Angus's whine. Kim glanced at the clock, he wasn't due for a feed for another hour but since they were re-establishing their routine she wearily pushed herself up off the bed. Leaning back for one more kiss. "You stay here and rest awhile. You need it."
Adam grabbed her hand and waited for Kim to look at him. "I love you Baby."
"Good to know." She smiled and headed back down to deal with her loud children. By the time she got downstairs Polly had calmed down and Angus had ramped it up. "Sorry. Did we wake you?" Susan asked as she was unpacking some groceries in the kitchen with one hand while trying to soothe Angus.
"No. What's up with Polly?" She patted the head of her daughter who was clinging to her leg while she took Angus from Susan's arms.
"She wanted to go to the park again. I said that we needed to get Angus home and she had a little temper tantrum."
"He always cries." Polly stamped her foot angrily.
"That's enough Polly." Kim admonished her daughter which started her sulking again while Angus continued to fuss until she had to ignore Polly and feed him. Usually she loved sitting down with him, feeling him snuggle in and attach, his hand resting on her chest but today it felt like he was just sucking what little life she had left in her.
The ruckus had bought Adam downstairs and he managed to convince Polly to sit with him and read some books. While he read Polly's favourite book, for the umpteenth time he glanced at his wife. Her eyes were closed and he couldn't stop the feeling of helplessness he felt. She was beautiful, even when exhausted and very rarely did things really get her down, but something was getting to her right now and he felt powerless to stop it.
When finally she got both kids bathed and into bed she came back downstairs, laid on the couch with her head in Adam's lap and drifted off to sleep. He stroked her hair softly and watched her breathing even out. As soon as the game he was watching finished he shook her gently. "Baby, come on let's go to bed." Kim groaned as she opened her eyes to find Adam starting intently back at her.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"About two hours. You know you are beautiful when you sleep."
"Are you just saying that because you want some other physical pursuit?" There was a faint sparkle in her eyes that he caught fleetingly.
"No, I am saying it because it is true…..however."
Kim helped him up the stairs, her arm looped around his waist. He sat on the bed as she gently pulled his t-shirt off over his head and before they could even contemplate what was going to happen next they were interrupted by Angus's desperate cry for attention. For just the briefest of moments Kim dropped her head in defeat and by the time she got him back to sleep the moment was lost.
"I'm sorry Honey." When she crawled into bed she whispered as she kissed her husband quickly and rested her head wearily on the pillow.
It didn't help that she was up to him three more times that night, finally falling asleep in her feeding chair with Angus soundly sleeping in her arms. Adam found them at 6am and gently took the baby from her arms and put him back into bed. Kim stirred, looked up at Adam and promptly burst into tears. "Come on baby." He tried to help her out of the chair with his limited strength. Any other time he would have swept her off her feet and carried her back to bed. "What's going on?"
"I don't know." She sobbed as he sat on the edge of the bed where Kim was now laying. "I am so tired, I feel like the life is being sucked out of me. It's everything you know. A few weeks ago everything was perfect I couldn't ask for anything more and I know I have all that still, but I almost lost you and I just wanted to be with you but I couldn't and I just wanted to stop the merry-go-round but it just keeps spinning. I want to go to bed at night, with you and wake up the next morning still you with."
"You do, we do that. I know it's hard at the moment. I know Angus is being a pain and I want to help you. What can I do? Seriously Kim I am worried about you."
"I know you are. I will be okay. Can I just sleep for a bit more?" Her eyes were already fluttering closed no mater how hard she tried to stay awake. Adam couldn't look after the kids, he wasn't physically able but she just couldn't keep her eyes open.
He called on Becky who came to help. Adam didn't want to call either of their parents as they would all pile on the pressure and worry about Kim so he thought Becky would be the best option. At least then he could also talk to her about Kim and voice his concerns.
"It's just been the last day or so, she is exhausted and just doesn't have any spark. It worries the hell out of me. She's always on top of things." He poured Becky a cup of coffee and grabbed himself a bottle of water. The Doctors warning that he needed to drink more for his kidneys made him more determined, especially with Kim being all over the shop. The last thing they needed was him getting sick or going backwards.
Becky was cuddling Angus who had woken up just before she arrived and so far had been content to be cuddled and played with. Adam handed her a bottle of cool water to try and stretch him out so Kim could sleep longer. "It's been a really tough few weeks for her Adam and now you are home it's probably just caught up with her. Give her a couple of days to get back on her feet. Do you want me to talk to her?"
"I don't know. She'd probably hate to think I am talking behind her back anyway. She knows I am worried about her."
"Kim's the toughest woman I know." Becky leant across the table and squeezed Adam's hand. "You two are the toughest couple I know. Anyway how are you?"
"I'm good. All the doctors were pretty happy yesterday with how it's looking." They both turned to look as Kim came down the stairs; she had obviously showered and was looking half way decent. Polly came bounding over when she saw her mother and Kim as able to take a few minutes to sit down with her on her lap and chat before Angus decided enough was enough. "So I guess Adam has been dobbing on me." She squeezed his thigh under the table.
"A little."
"I'm not surprised. He's such a worry wart."
"That makes two of us." Adam countered.
Becky offered to take Polly out for the day. She was catching up with her sister who had a little girl a couple of years older than Polly. She assured Polly that there would be lots of dolls to play with and a swing set in the backyard when she showed some reluctance to leave her parents. The offer of ice-cream sealed the deal. "And then when we come home how about we bring Sean with us too?" Becky insisted that she would bring dinner back with her.
Adam was sitting on the couch playing a video game. He rarely got the chance these days as it was not something that Polly needed to watch and learn from. Kim slipped both arms around his neck after she had put Angus down to sleep for his morning nap. "You know this is usually his longest sleep." She whispered softly in his ear. She could feel him smile as she kissed his neck. "Want to come upstairs?"
He threw the controller on the table and switched off the TV as quickly as his battered body would allow and let Kim lead him upstairs. "So that extra couple of hours sleep worked wonders?"
"It did." As they walked into their bedroom he tugged lightly on her hand.
"Baby. Are you sure?"
"Ads, honey. We need this." He wasn't going to argue, he did need it, he wanted it, he wanted her.
Kim eased his shirt off his shoulders and ran her hands lightly over his chest avoiding his still healing scars. Like he had done for her when she was shot. Slowly he undid her buttons and unclasped her, if he had to be honest, ugly nursing bra. But what was waiting for him was anything but ugly. His hands cupped them both as he lowered his mouth to kiss each of her breasts. "God I love you." He whispered against her warm skin.
She helped him onto the bed and removed his sweats before pulling off her own clothes and climbing on top. "Tell me if I hurt you."
"You know some pain is worth it." Carefully throughout she watched his facial expressions for any hint that it was too much or she was hurting him not that she was sure she could stop if she tried and she definitely knew that he couldn't.
The smile on her face, the way to made it all the way to the very corners of her eyes made what discomfort he did feel worth it. She had been gentle, slow and attentive to him watching every flicker on his face, kissing every smile and curling into his good side, naked when she was done. "You are good at this." Running one hand through her hair and pressing his lips against his forehead.
"I feel a little more like my old self now. It's like re-charging my battery. You are my power source."
Adam laughed. "Never thought of it like that." He looked at the clock on the side table. "How long do you reckon we have?"
Kim figured that they had another hour at least. "Want to top up my battery some more?"