A/N:

I do apologise for the wait for this chapter, I have a toddler and well, say no more. I'm a little hesitant about how people will react to this, but this is just how I think Adam would have reacted, however I understand if people think differently. Thank you for reading and a special thanks to Mrs Carmichael, fayeftvanity, Lynny, RachelMasonFan39, hannah5240 and LittleH12!

Please enjoy.

The collateral damage of love

Adam.

He had seen them. Kissing. This was not okay.

Hurt. Shame. GUILT.

Within seconds, Rachel and Eddie had turned to face Adam. Shock. His whole body was suffering, and anger emerged not so long after.

'It's okay', Eddie whispered as he could sense this would turn ugly. He felt her body tense, and she began to distance herself away from him.

'Adam I-', Rachel began but stopped as Adam cut in, sharply.

'Eddie. This is Eddie. It all makes sense now', Adam said as he edged closer to them. As soon as the words left his mouth, he could see Rachel duck her head in shame. He was piecing the jigsaw bit by bit.

'Adam, I can explain-', desperately she answered.

'Dont bother. You were my wife Rachel', he sarcastically replied.

My wife. It made her heart ache. This man had taken her when she'd hit rock bottom. He'd tried his very best to keep her happy, and she'd betrayed him, and not only once.

'I was. I am-', she quickly rambled as she'd realised her mistake.

The clocks were turning, and he felt himself getting more and more worked up. The thought of his wife being with someone else. It was killing him.

'You've been with him all of this time .. every time you've been out!'. Eddie nearly cut in finally trying to calm the situation, but it was short lived by Rachel pleading.

'Adam, it wasn't like that-'. It was a cry for him to understand, to finally realise how she had felt, for her to be open.

'Then what Rachel?!', Adam shouted as he turned away from her.

He was disgusted.

He gave it a moment before turning back to them. He glared at Eddie before talking once more, 'I know you've been seeing some psych with him'.

'The dr you've been seeing, I asked him and he told me he'd never heard of you .. he was protecting this', Adam gritted his teeth as he neared the end of his sentence elaborating on the 'this'.

He was furious.

Eddie had sensed that Adam's anger was at boiling point and he didn't want Rachel to be in a situation she had no control over. He wanted to protect her, like he should have done from the day she left.

He rested his hand on her back, reassuring her he was there but also careful not to overstep the mark and make the situation any harder on anyone.

'Hey that's enough', Eddie said as he looked to Adam.

'I'm her husband. I suggest you leave'.

'Eddie', Rachel whispered hoping he'd leave the room for a few moments. She needed to sort this, and she needed to do this on her own.

'No. I'm not leaving', sternly Eddie told her as he shoved his hands in his pockets taking a stand.

'Eddie, please, I just need to explain'. She placed her hand on his arm trying to reassure him she was okay. In all honesty, he knew this was raw, and it needed to be handled in a delicate manner, but he just couldn't bare the thought of her taking the hit. Still, he trusted her.

'I'll be in the living room', he grunted as he made his way to the other room, cautiously crossing Adam.

. . .

It had been several minutes, and the room had been nothing but silent.

Rachel took the opportunity whilst it was quiet. She wanted to be honest with him. He deserved that, at least.

'I never wanted to hurt you, Adam', she sighed watching as he shook his head. He didn't believe her. She couldn't blame him, she had done the worst thing possible.

'I don't want to hear it. You've made your bed'. His words had hit her like a thousand bricks and she felt an overwhelming feeling of sadness dawn upon her.

'Please-', she stopped for a second. Lifting her eyes to his and placing her hand on her chest, she took him in.

'How did you know about Dr Williams?', she asked.

'I read your text from him. That night, I came home and seen that he'd messaged saying he already missed you, and that he would see you for your next session. I found some number on your phone and phoned them', he spoke as she listened, carefully. He had been through her phone. Eddie had told the truth, and he really had messaged her. She stood in disbelief sick at the thought of him seeing what Eddie could have said. Her whole body had stopped. What did Adam know?

'What did he mean when he said he already missed you?', Adam asked. In all honesty, he was sure he already knew the answer, but he just didn't want it to be confirmed; admitting what his wife had done would be torture.

'It was from that time in the school', she quickly answered. It was a lie and her lips began to quiver.

'You're lying, Rachel'.

Sh*t.

'Please do not tell me it was that night?', he started edging closer to her, and his anger boiled with every step. He watched as she shifted her eyes away from his.

GUILTY.

'It was, wasn't it?! He was in this house!', Adam roared as she looked on terrified.

'It wasn't like that', she spoke quietly hoping he'd stop.

'Did you sleep with him?!', Adam demanded to know the truth. Tears fell from her eyes, and she nodded slowly. She couldn't lie anymore.

'That's it'. Adam grabbed his keys from the top and came to a holt when he saw Eddie standing in the doorway. He glared at him before clenching his fists.

Three.
Two.
One.

He stopped. He knew he'd be no better if he punched him. Pushing Eddie out the way, he hastily made his way to the front door, slamming it on his way out.

The loud slam of the door brought Rachel to her realisation. Adam had gone and it was her fault. She'd hurt him. More tears fell and she buried her face in her hands before she felt the warmth of Eddie pulling her in to him. He spoke the famous four words, like he had done that day Mel had returned.

'I am so sorry'.