Disclaimer: We don't own the Ducks and probably never will because they belong to Disney. However, Emaliar Malfoy does own Bella, Emily, Alex, and Johnson. Bobcatwriter owns Annie, Mike, Travon, and all the characters at Lakeshore Academy.
A/N: This is the sequel to the other Mighty Ducks stories "The Way Things Are" and "The Way Things Were". We recommend you read those two first. However, this can also be read as a stand-alone story. Please read and review.
Chapter 14
July 4th, 1998 Adam's POV
Today is Independence Day. Usually I would be out on the family boat, at the Bank's cabin in Northern Minnesota, then we would have a barbecue and shoot off about a trillion dollars' worth of fireworks between us and the neighbors all around the lake. This 4th of July I am stuck in a hospital. I didn't dare look at Gunnar I was so pissed at him for spilling my secret. I didn't even look at Charlie either. He was my best friend. How he could betray me like he did drove me up the wall. That and the closeness between him and Bella was making me sick. I wanted to go home. I meant back to Lakeshore, I wanted to keep on with my program to keep getting skinny, I am Fat and here comes the weight back on. Doctor Jobman came into my room, he was a lanky fellow and said, "The test results are coming in."
"WHEN CAN I GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE?" I yelled from my bed. I had been tied down to the bed for the last 24 hours.
"My you are direct, aren't you?" Dr. Jobman said.
"Doctor what is wrong with my brother," Bella asked.
"Yes, Adam lost weight, but he lost the wrong kind of weight. We suspect that he lost nothing but water those first 3 or so days. Then at the end of the first week he lost his muscle tone. Then for the last 5 weeks He has been losing fat, more muscle tone and some of his internal organs.' Dr. Jobman got onto a computer and had everyone gather around my bed. 'This picture is of a normal 15-year-old of normal weight and height.' He then clicked over to the next screen, 'This is Adam. Notice what is missing."
"Adam part of your heart, kidney's and liver is missing," Bella said.
"That is correct Bella," Dr. Jobman said.
"How did you know that Bella?" Charlie asked.
"Some of us actually paid attention in Biology, Charlie," Bella said.
"SO, WHEN CAN I GET OUT OF HERE?" I yelled.
"WHEN YOU BUILD BACK THE PARTIAL ORGANS THAT ARE MISSING! But we must get you on a proper diet," Dr. Jobman said.
"I AM NOT GOING TO EAT IT!" I yelled.
"Too late it's already in," Dr. Jobman said.
"WHERE?" I yelled.
"In through your stomach," Dr. Jobman said.
"I WANT IT OUT, I WANT TO DIE!" I yelled.
"At 15, no way. Too many years left in front of you, son," Dr. Jobman said with his arms crossed.
"YOU DON'T GET IT, NOBODY WANTS ME! MY PARENTS DISOWNED ME I HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO LIVE FOR!" I yelled.
"WE WANT YOU ADAM, WE LOVE YOU!" Coach, Ms. MacKay, Bella, Ollie, Casey, Charlie and Gunner all said.
"YOUR ALL LIEING, YOU ALL SAY YOU WANT ME NOW AND THEN THE MINUTE I TURN MY BACK IT'S THE OPPOSITE I WANT TO DIE!" I yelled.
"You want to die? Alright fine,' Doctor Jobman said and then he grabbed a face mask and turned up a valve of something on the wall and put the mask on my face, 'Here take a breath. A deep breath, you've screwed up everything else. You're going to need help."
I breathed very shallow.
"OH, COME ON SON, IF YOU WANT TO DIE YOU NEED TO TAKE A REALLY DEEP BREATH. YOU WANT TO DIE RIGHT? I AM NOT STOPPING YOU GO AHEAD AND BREATHE DEEP," Dr. Jobman yelled.
"ADAM NNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Bella screamed at me and then a fresh wave of tears came down on her angelic face.
"YOU WANT DEATH WE HAVE LOTS OF IT AROUND HERE! GO AHEAD SUCK IT IN!" Dr. Jobman yelled at me, he had the face mask on my face to kill me. "GO AHEAD SUCK IT IN, I AM NOT STOPPING YOU."
"NO ADAM NO," Bella yelled at me she had more tears come down her face, then she launched into Charlie's Arms.
"OH, COME ON DO IT! SUCK IT IN!" Doctor Jobman yelled.
"WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU? YOUR CRAZY?' I screamed at the doctor. He then removed the mask from my face. 'YOUR TRYING TO KILL ME!" I yelled.
"Of course, I am trying to kill you that's what you want right?" Dr. Jobman said.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" I yelled at him.
"Now that's more like it. Your fighting to stay alive, now aren't you?" Dr. Jobman asked.
I broke down in tears, I felt my arms getting released from the bed. I pulled my arms up to my eyes to cover them. I didn't care that anyone might think that I am a sissy.
"The will to live is a lot stronger than your will to die! Remember that son!" Dr. Jobman said then I heard the valve close.
The next thing I knew Bella attacked me in my bed in a hug, she was crying too! "I'm sorry. I'm so, so, so, so, so, so sorry for everything that I have ever done to you, please, please, please forgive me," Bella said through tears.
Ollie joined us in the hug I felt his tears too and then he said, "Me too, Adam!"
We cried for a good 5 minutes before I asked, "What about mom and dad?"
"SCREW THEM! ALL THE PAIN AND HEARTBREAK IS NOT WORTH THE 6 MILLION DOLLARS WE ARE GOING TO GET WHEN THEY ARE DEAD," Ollie said.
I thought that it was crazy but important: I was getting my independence from my parents.
Bella's POV
"OH, COME ON SON, IF YOU WANT TO DIE YOU NEED TO TAKE A REALLY DEEP BREATH. YOU WANT TO DIE, RIGHT? I AM NOT STOPPING YOU GO AHEAD AND BREATHE DEEP," Dr. Jobman yelled.
"ADAM NNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" I screamed and then a fresh wave of tears came down on my face, I had been crying on and off for the last 24 hours.
"YOU WANT DEATH WE HAVE LOTS OF IT AROUND HERE! GO AHEAD SUCK IT IN!" Dr. Jobman yelled at Adam, he had the face mask on Adam's face to kill him. "GO AHEAD SUCK IT IN, I AM NOT STOPPING YOU."
"NO ADAM NO," I yelled and then I launched into Charlie's arms.
"OH, COME ON DO IT! SUCK IT IN!" Doctor Jobman yelled.
"WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU? YOUR CRAZY? YOUR TRYING TO KILL ME!" Adam yelled.
"Of course, I am trying to kill you that's what you want right?" Dr. Jobman said.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Adam yelled. I pulled away slightly from Charlie.
"Now that's more like it. Your fighting to stay alive, now aren't you?" Dr. Jobman asked.
Adam broke down in tears, Dr. Jobman and I released Adam's arms from the bed. he pulled his arms up to his eyes to cover them.
"The will to live is a lot stronger than your will to die! Remember that son!" Dr. Jobman said then I saw him close the valve.
I attacked Adam in his bed in a hug, I was crying buckets of tears! "I'm sorry. I'm so, so, so, so, so, so sorry for everything that I have ever done to you, please, please, please forgive me." I said through tears.
Ollie joined us in the hug he was crying too and then he said, "Me too, Adam!"
We cried for a good 5 or 10 minutes before Adam asked, "What about mom and dad?"
"SCREW THEM! ALL THE PAIN AND HEARTBREAK IS NOT WORTH THE 6 MILLION DOLLARS WE ARE GOING TO GET WHEN THEY ARE DEAD, Ollie said.
I thought that it was crazy but important. It was mine and Adam's independence from our parents.
We all took turns being with Adam. I and Ollie had a shift together. Gordon and Michele would relieve us, and Casey would take the night shift until Adam fell asleep at night. Only Charlie and Gunnar would not come up to the hospital to see him. I think they were scared.
After I had gotten to Coach's home from the hospital that day, I had called the Ducks.
"Hey Guys," I whispered into the receiver. Jesse had them all over for an Independence Day barbecue.
"Ace, what the hell happened this time?" Portman asked.
"Adam has Bulimia," I said.
"What?" The ducks all said.
"He's not been eating some days and when he does, he throws it back up on purpose. It's eating away at his organs and…." I LET A SOB SLIP, "Why does he do this?" I choke out. "Does he have some otherworldly mission to make us feel the worst pain possible?" I asked.
"I won't say that Ace," Guy said.
"I don't know he wanted to die today. Literally die, I don't know what to do about my brother," I said.
"I need the phone guys," Portman said.
"Hey!" the other ducks said.
After two or three minutes I heard the door lock and then Portman came back on.
"Bella are you still there?" Portman said.
"Yeah," I said. I was shocked, by the fact that he called me Bella. It was usually Ace, Girl, Babe, Princess, Sweetie or Doll.
"There is nothing that you can do about Adam, except be there for him. He needs all the support in the world. I know, I was once in your shoes," Portman said.
"What? When?" I asked.
"About 6 weeks before I joined Team USA, my older brother took his own life. I know that its tearing you apart. But just be there for him. If I was there for my brother, he might still be alive today. Enjoying his 21st birthday," Portman said.
"Dean I had no idea," I said.
"Just do me a favor, keep it between you, Adam, me, Fulton and whatever wall might be listening," Portman said and then he kicked the door.
"OW," said a voice on the other side of the door, it had to be Connie.
"Yeah, I promise. Thanks Dean," I said.
"Alright, I am going to get back to the party, I will see you when you get back," Portman said.
"It's a deal, see you in a couple of weeks," I said.
Then we hung up the phone, I started to feel immensely better.
A/N: What do you think? What was Adam thinking and what will he do next? What will happen when Gunnar and Charlie do show up at the hospital. Please be kind and leave a review!