He sat on the edge of the bathtub, tears streaming down his cheeks. His eyes were red and puffy, his hair disheveled, and his clothes, wrinkled from sleep.
In his left hand, his right wrist was being cradled.
The scouts had come to see him today, and after some one-on-one, they put him in a mini-scrimmage with a few players from the Rangers. He was doing great, until he got checked into the boards, and without thinking, he put his right hand between himself and the sides of the rink.
It didn't hurt then - he kept skating. And at the end, the scouts offered him a deal with their minor league team, with a clause saying he could be moved up to the professional league at their discretion. He was thrilled!
Later that day, Guy and Adam went out for dinner and a movie to celebrate, culminating in a night of passionate love-making. His wrist didn't bother him once.
It was during the night, after the two had showered and dressed, as well as fallen asleep, did Guy roll over onto Adam's wrist, trapping it underneath his weight and bending it in an unnatural position.
Adam awoke in pure pain, an agonizing wail escaping his lips.
He tumbled away from Guy, freeing his wrist from underneath the sleeping man. Guy just rolled over, not waking up at all.
He raced out of the bedroom, closing the door behind him out of habit, and ended up in the bathroom. As he flipped on the light, he saw, in the four seconds he was staring at his wrist, it rapidly changed from his normal flesh color to ugly shades of purple and blue and black and even a hint of green and yellow.
Now here he was, crying to himself, the pain quickly becoming unbearable. He couldn't get to his pain medication, which was in the medicine cabinet. His left hand was holding his right, and when Adam tried to get the medication with his left, and his wrist screamed in pain from having to support itself.
It would be useless to try to go back and wake Guy up. The only way to wake him up if he was in a deep sleep was to jump up and down on him. He had to get to his parents.
But how? He'd have to open the bedroom door, and he didn't think he could take it. He decided on trying for the pain medication, before going to wake up his mom and dad.
His tears dropped onto his wrist, as he stood, and he carefully arranged his right wrist against his abs. With his long left arm, he reached for the cabinet.
FUCK!
They weren't there!!
Adam nearly began to hyperventilate as he racked his brain for where they could be. And then he remembered; he threw them into his hockey bag this morning, fearing he might need them.
And his hockey bag was in his car.
Adam thought quick. He would just have to go to his parents without the pills. He exited the bathroom and padded quickly down the hall to his parent's bedroom.
He was beginning to feel light headed from the pain.
"Mom?" he opened the door. Pain shot up his arm, and his legs felt like weak and wobbly, like jell-o.
"Dad?" he called.
"Adam?" his mom sat up, turning the bedside light on.
"My wrist ..." was all he got out, before he blacked out from the pain.
"Philip, call 911," his mom shook her husband awake, and jumped out of bed,
She rushed to Adam and rolled him onto his back, so he wasn't laying on his wrist.
"What's wrong Marie?" Philip asked, rubbing his eyes and looking towards his wife, "Oh my God, what happened?"
"He passed out," Marie said, as she tried to bring Adam back to consciousness.
Philip picked up the phone and dialed 911 before she even finished her sentence.
Guy had awakened now, having noticed the empty place beside him. He got up and checked the bathroom, looking for Adam. He figured that Adam had gone outside to think about his newfound success.
But as he passed Adam's parent's bedroom, he heard words he never wanted to hear.
"Adam, wake up - come back to me," his mom's voice was full of concern, "Please, open your eyes."
Guy pushed the door open, and his eyes fell on Adam, laying motionless on the ground, his mother hovered over him. Out of the corner of his eye, Guy could see Mr. Banks on the phone, but couldn't make out what he was saying.
All he could think about was Adam, laying on the ground.
Guy immediately thought of the worst situation possible: that Adam had attempted suicide. But there was no blood.
But - he could've overdosed.
Guy cursed at himself for even thinking such a thought. Adam was stronger than he was, Adam had no reason.
"Mrs. Banks?"
Adam opened eyes slowly, but shut them quickly. The light was too bright.
His movements however, did not go unnoticed by Guy.
"Hey there," Guy smiled, reaching over for Adam's left hand.
"Hey," Adam lolled his head over to the side, and smiled at Guy.
Anyone could still he was still a little out of it, he had a small dosage of morphine dripping into his veins to and subside the pain.
"Hey sweetheart," his mom came to his other side, sweeping his hair off his forehead.
"How are you feeling son?" his dad asked, coming up behind his mother.
"Good," he smiled.
"Well then," she grinned at Guy, "We'll let you two be. Come Philip, let's go get a cup of coffee," and she grabbed her purse, pulling her husband out of the room.
Adam turned again, and was now looking at Guy again.
"What are you smiling about, huh?" Adam chuckled.
"I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"You know, I haven't had any of those images of Connie in the last two weeks, since I've been back with you. Really, I'm just so happy to be back with you," he brought Adam's left hand to his mouth, and left a sweet kiss.
"You've been feeling alright?"
"I feel wonderful Adam."
Adam grinned. Maybe they'd finally beat the demons within Guy.
He turned to look at the room, taking in the few machines he was hooked to.
"Guy?" Adam pondered, "What happened? Why am I here?"
"Your wrist. You blacked out. Now that you're awake, they'll give you a check-up and you can probably go home in the morning."
"Did they..." Adam trailed off, finally realizing his right arm was in a full cast.
Guy saw the fear in Adam's eyes.
"Ad."
But then Adam did something unexpected.
He began to laugh.
A deep, body-shaking laugh.
Guy instinctively moved back.
Adam threw his head back, tears of laughter streaming down his cheeks.
"Why are you laughing?" Guy was a little freaked out.
Adam slowly brought his laughter to his chuckle, and then suddenly, his tears turned from ones of joy to ones of sadness.
Guy moved in quickly, climbing onto the edge of the bed, pulling Adam close.
"Shush, don't cry," Guy whispered, rubbing his back soothingly.
Adam pulled away enough to speak, "I'm really not destined to play hockey, am I?"
"Maybe not play. You can still coach. You know the game in and out and any team would be lucky and honored to have you as their coach," Guy reassured.
Adam began to calm, "I'm sick of it. I'm sick of always having to be careful, of always ending up hurt anyways."
Guy left a chaste kiss on the top of Adam's head and pulled back, "No Adam. I understand that it's frustrating, but it makes you a stronger person."
Adam sniffed and looked up at Guy through his tears.
"I admire you - It's one of the things I love about you. You're strong, so strong. I don't think you realize it," Guy started to tear, "Back in L.A. when I thought of you, all I could think and see and hear, was you telling me that I was stronger than just walking out. I was only strong because I had you. Without you, I was weak, I had no confidence," Guy paused, and thought hard about what he was going to say next, and what it would mean, "Without you - I had no reason to live. And I thought I had lost you for good. That I screwed up big time."
Adam's eyes clouded with confusion. Wait, Guy did try to commit suicide? He reached his hand up, and gingerly touched Guy's cheek.
Guy pulled away, ashamed with what he just admitted.
"But I talked to Julie, rather, she talked to me, about Connie. About the end of Connie's life. And how Connie knew about us. She told me not to feel wrong about how I felt for you. Adam, that it was okay to love you. And that Connie's fate was not mine," Guy turned away, and looked down at his sneakers.
Adam tried to touch him again, this time successfully resting his palm on his leg.
"You make me strong Adam, because you're strong. You don't need me like I need you," Guy placed a hand on top of Adam's.
"I need you just as much Guy. If I'm strong for any reason, it's because of you," Adam whispered.
Guy squeezed his hand.
Adam sat up and attempted to hug Guy. However, due to his full arm case, he couldn't bend his arm the way it needed to bend in order to give a proper hug.
"Uhh, umm," Adam said, trying to find the best way.
They both erupted into a fit of giggles, and finally, Adam laid back, and Guy rested on his chest, his arms wrapped around Adam's neck.
Epilogue:
Adam led Guy slowly into the room, and after they stopped, he took off the blindfold.
"What's this?" Guy looked around the furnished apartment.
"My parents got it for us," Adam said, showing Guy around quickly, "There are a lot of other students that live here, as well as other people too," he explained.
Guy walked around the living room and peeked into the kitchen, "Ours?"
Adam came up behind Guy and wrapped his arms around his waist, "No roommates, just us," he dropped his lips to Guy's bare neck.
He twisted in Adam's arms and met his lips with eagerness and passion.
"Where's the bedroom?" Guy breathed.
Adam chuckled, "This way speed racer."
**Fini**
A/N: I hate author's notes ... but I just wanted to let you know, there's more in the works ... where this story is done, I've decided to create a whole little "universe"? Sorta ... there's one more test to Adam and Guy's relationship, and then there's an emphasis on Julie and Russ, which will give insight to Connie her senior year, and what happened during Julie's visit ... and how about a twist on Charlie (and by the way ... I hate Charlie, if you couldn't tell, so don't expect anything good). I can't give you a time line of when these two stories will begin to show up on ff.net, but they will come, hopefully before Christmas, at least one will begin (which will be a result of me NOT studying for finals)
Happy holidays ... and please review! And thanks for the nomination of Finally Home. Ya'll rock my socks!