Adam's frustrations mounted as the elevator slowly climbed from one floor to the next, he had hoped for two rooms but due to the storm they would only have one room.
"Slow elevator, sorry." Johnathan shrugged feeling the tension mount in the small confined space, "how old are your kids?"
Adam busied himself with Diesel leaving Kim to respond, "Five years old and six months." She knew Harleigh's age but had guessed on Diesel's.
"They're cute, I like kids. Not enough to have 'em but I like them." He kept chattering on and even Kim began to tune him out.
It was mindless and the ping of the elevator doors as they slid open was a welcomed sound.
They followed Johnathan down the hallway stopping in front of their room, the only room they were able to get.
He opened the door and waited for them to step inside before following them, "The mini fridge is here, you've got the standard coffee maker and all the supplies in this cabinet. Ice machine and vending machines are just down the hall, the opposite direction of the elevator and much closer" he set the bags they had on the countertop, "Do you have any questions?"
Kim shook her head, "No, we're good thanks. Adam, this room is a nice size. Getting the suite would've been silly"
"Expensive too." The bellhop threw in his two cents.
"Whatever." Adam shrugged, "You'll bring up a crib?"
"As soon as I leave here that's my next stop."
"I'll go with you. Save you the trip back up." Adam carefully placed Diesel on the bed, the little guy turned on to his belly and snuggled into the soft mattress and went right back to sleep.
"That's really not necessary sir, It won't take me long at all. It's late I'm sure you're ready to relax." He leaned against the counter, "I'll be back in less than fifteen minutes. Stay with your family."
Kim couldn't shake the feeling that Adam was desperate to distance himself from her and the kids. She waited until the bellhop was gone before she spoke, "Adam, are you okay?"
"Fine." Adam replied as he fiddled with the balcony door, he had it unlocked and opened it in one swift motion.
"It's cold. Close that please." Kim asked him, having already laid Harleigh down in the bed, she wished she had something a bit more comfortable to change into it. Sleeping in denim jeans and a sweater wasn't all that appealing but she had no other choice. She was sharing a bed with a five year old so sleeping in just her panties wouldn't work, not to mention Adam would be in the room as well.
It was going to be an interesting night.
"Sorry." Adam did as she asked, "You okay if I go for a walk?" He asked her, "I need to stretch my legs a bit. I won't leave the hotel."
"That's fine." Kim told him, "Just don't come back too late, you need to sleep." She knew beyond a doubt that he was in fact trying to get away from them.
"Call me if you need me." He held his cellphone up for her to see before sliding it in his back pocket, "lock it behind me."
"I will." She followed him to the door, "Try and relax Adam."
Kim turned the tv on being sure to keep the volume low and flipped through the channels in search of something to watch, she had already texted Voight that they had stopped for the night and would be at the district by mid morning. She found a ridiculous rom-com to watch and waited for the crib to be delivered. She hoped that both kids slept through the night but was willing to settle for just Harleigh sleeping through the night, the last thing she wanted to deal with was her questions. She knew this had to be confusing and even a little scary for the kid.
Once the crib arrived Kim transferred Diesel into it, she managed to change his diaper without waking him and the little guy didn't bat an eyelash as she laid him down in the crib and covered him with a light blanket.
Harleigh begin to stir a bit and Kim stood frozen in place in hopes that she'd stay asleep, after a few seconds Harleigh settled back into sleep and Kim felt herself take a deep breath. She moved to the empty bed and tried to focus on the television instead of Adam and whatever was going on in his head.
The hotel was beautiful a bit to fancy for Adam's taste but he couldn't deny its beauty, he was especially impressed by all of the marble and hand blown glass structures throughout the lobby. He imagined the staff often held their breath at the sight of children, this definitely wasn't a family hotel, despite the indoor playground.
The high end shops were closed but Adam had wandered into a shop that seemed to carry everything one could possibly need, he found a rack of woman's pajamas in the back corner he picked through it and found a pair for Kim, it was a simple short sleeve shirt and lounge pants but he knew she'd like them.
He continued to look through the store, and end up buying a pair of sweats for himself and then found a little baseball bat and ball for Diesel and a stuffed bear for Harleigh though he was certain she'd have no interest in it. She had shown no interest in the doll he had purchased for her when he picked up diapers, and it had been left at the house. He couldn't buy something for Diesel and not her, even if she wouldn't want it.
The more he walked the more it became apparent that he couldn't hide forever, slowly the remaining shops began to close, only the bar and a restaurant were open. He considered sitting at the bar for a bit but getting shit faced wasn't a viable option.
He did place an order for a couple of pizzas to be delivered to the room and made his way back upstairs.
Kim had given up on the movie, Diesel had woken up and wanted a bottle, he sucked it down in seconds and was now happy to sit on the bed and play peekaboo with her. Kim could feel herself falling in love with him, he was a gorgeous little man with dark hair and green eyes.
It infuriated her that a parent could leave their children alone, and the more time she spent with the kids the angrier she became, she was lost in thought when she heard the knock on the door.
She set Diesel on her hip and checked the peephole, "It's Adam." She mumbled in Diesel's ear she kissed his cheek softly before opening the door, "Hey." She noticed the bags in his hands and the bottles of soda under his arms.
"I hit the vending machine and gift shop in the lobby." Adam spoke in hushed tones, "I ordered a couple of pizzas they should be up soon. I'm kinda hungry. I grabbed you some pajamas, I think they'll fit." He handed them to her, "I got the kids something." He fished through the bags and grabbed the bat and ball, "Here buddy. You wanna play ball?"
Diesel took the soft bat and put it in his mouth, "Look he loves it." Adam rubbed the baby's foot, "he's a cute kid, isn't he?"
Kim smile, "Yeah, he is." She set him on the bed, "they both are."
"I wonder what their folks are mixed up in." Adam asked, "I fear they're up to their eyeballs in this shit we're chasing, I just don't know how yet. Something tells me they're low on the food chain."
"Agreed." Kim felt her stomach begin to grumble, "how long on that pizza?"
"Any minute now." Adam tossed the ball to Diesel and chuckled when the baby face planted oh the bed as he reached for it, "you're top heavy aren't you little dude?"
"He is. He can't be older than six or seven months. I don't understand how a parent can leave their children home alone. This isn't the first time they were left alone, it's happened before. I'm guessing it's normal. Harleigh said she has to hide and that Diesel has to stay in the crib."
"That's insane. Anything could've happened, they're babies for fucks sake." Adam was pissed off, "They were helpless. Sitting ducks. Could you imagine if wasn't us that found them? What if had been someone with less than pure motives?" He was livid, "They don't deserve those kids."
Kim couldn't disagree with him but something he said left her unsettled, they were helpless sitting ducks. She wasn't so sure that Adam was only talking about the kids, she knew he had felt helpless in prison and he was most definitely a sitting duck.
"They're safe, Adam. Don't go there." Kim took Diesel and put him in the crib and then answered the knock at the door, "Pizza is here."
Adam set up the small table and moved it further away from the kids.
Kim tipped the guy and set the pizza on the table, "I didn't realize how hungry I was. Thanks for this and the pjs. I can't wait to put them on."
Adam was already two bites in and nodded his head, "You're welcome."
Harleigh woke up to the aroma of pizza, she slowly climbed out of the massive bed and followed her nose. She saw them sitting at the small table and slowly approached them, "Pizza?"
Kim jumped up, "Yes. It's pizza. Adam got it. Would you like some? It's really good." She pulled her chair out for Harleigh to sit down and she quickly grabbed a slice and set in on a plate and handed it to her. "Would you like something to drink? We've got soda and fruit punch. Which would you like?"
"Soda." She responded meekly, her stomach growled as the first few mouthfuls hit her mouth.
Adam gave Kim his seat and he went to retrieve the stuffed bear he had purchased for her, he crouched down beside her with the bear in his hand, "Hey, kiddo. I saw this downstairs and I thought you'd like to have it."
Harleigh focused on her slice of pizza and never acknowledged Adam's presence nor did she accept the bear.
"I'll leave it here for you, it's really cute. Maybe you'll want him later. Yeah?" Adam told her.
Harleigh finished her pizza within a few bites and went back to bed and zoned out to the television.
Kim turned her attention back to Adam, "This is pretty good, it's not like Chicago pizza but it ain't bad." She grabbed a napkin and wiped her mouth, "Adam, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine." He told her.
"No, Adam. You're not fine. You forget that I know you. You're not yourself. You haven't been in a long time. I miss you."
"I'm here, Kim. No reason to miss me." He had expected this conversation hours ago but shit had gone seriously sideways and he'd been given a reprieve but clearly his time was up.
"Yes, you're here but let's be reality you're not yourself. You've changed." Kim knew she needed to tread carefully, "I know things aren't the same between us, but I'd like to think we are still friends, I care about you and I'm worried."
"Don't be." Adam response was curt, he instantly hung his head, "I'm sorry."
"It's fine." Kim pushed her plate aside, "I want you to talk to me, I know you're not okay. You've haven't been okay since Al..." she was surprised to hear her own voice crack, "none of us have been."
Adam pushed his chair back from the table, "I don't know what you want me to say? I started fucking up long before Al was killed. It's the Adam Ruzek way. You know that better than anyone. Why are you acting so shocked?"
"Don't do that. You weren't the only one to fuck up. I made my fair share of mistakes." Kim hadn't envisioned the conversation going in this direction, "I will forever regret the way we ended, I should've talked to you."
"Would've been nice, fuck I'm still not sure what I did wrong." Adam shrugged, "it doesn't matter though, it's done." He really wanted her to stop talking.
"Maybe it won't change anything but I want you to know that you didn't do anything wrong. Not really. I had expectations of how things should be and when things didn't go the way I thought they should I started to panic. I let my own insecurities get the best of me. I created drama where there wasn't any. I was swayed by someone who didn't have my best interests at heart."
Adam laughed a little, "I always knew that prick wanted in your pants."
It was crude and he regretted it a little but didn't let her know, "Why are we talking about that? It's over and done. We both moved on."
"We did." Kim shifted the topic, "You're right there is no sense in discussing that. I'm worried about you and what went on when you were in prison."
"No." Adam stood up, "I'm not discussing this, not here. Not now and not with you or anyone. I lived it I don't want to talk about it at all. Why the fuck does everyone wanna know? It's fucking prison! I'm a fucking cop."
Adam made his way towards the door and Kim stood up, "Don't leave, Adam. I'm sorry. We don't have to talk about it, okay? Just stay. It's late." She pleaded with him, "Please don't go, Adam. Don't leave, don't run. Not from me." She couldn't take her eyes off of him, he stood with his back to her.
Kim took the bag with her pajamas in it started towards the bathroom to change she knew he needed some space, "I'm sorry Adam." She was nervous as hell that he'd walk out, she hoped that by going in to the bathroom she'd give him what he was so desperate for, a bit of distance between them.
He bobbed his head up and down, "it's fine." He was solemn and as much as he wanted to run from her, he didn't have the strength to do it.
He needed her.
