A/N: I'm not even sure if anyone still reads this story (especially because I don't update it that often, but it's also hard for me to find the inspiration to finish it), but since it's been around for almost 3.5 years without being finished, that's what I'm going to do. :) See the first chapter for the disclaimer. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and please review. :)

Chapter 8

Greg stared at the ceiling as the hours ticked by. Even if Caden wasn't obnoxiously snoring, he couldn't sleep. He couldn't stop thinking about what he'd seen and heard about Adam's childhood. Adam had mentioned in passing a long time ago that his father was a 'bully,' but he'd never talked about it in detail like that. Not that Greg had ever really asked, either. He had guessed and figured a good chunk of it before Adam had told him anything and before what he had seen tonight, but having the confirmation... seeing the damage... Greg was impressed his friend survived.

In the darkness, he looked over to where Adam was sleeping. It wasn't even that Greg had ever been naïve to what Adam had gone through. He had just let his friend be himself. Which meant Adam never really talked about it, outside of passing comments here and there. And Greg never really wanted to pry. Though, now he wondered if he just didn't want to know. If part of him had just wanted to pretend Adam's childhood had been as happy as his.

Of course, it wasn't.

Adam moaned in his sleep, and Greg felt himself tense up. Years of living with Adam had taught him that moaning usually meant that Adam was having a bad dream. Greg cut a quick glance over to his still snoring son before getting up and walking over to Adam. Greg woke Adam up and stepped back from the arms that swatted at him. Adam opened his eyes, blinking in the darkness before registering what had just happened. He stood up and made his way to the bathroom wordlessly. Once he came out, he found the door to the hallway cracked, and Greg standing in it.

"Flashback," Adam whispered, walking into the hallway and standing beside Greg.

"I figured," Greg replied.

Adam shook his head. "I've already freaked you out enough."

"M'not freaked out. M'pensive."

Adam cut a glance at Greg. "Semantics."

Greg looked back at him. "Avoidance."

Adam scowled lightly.

Greg stood there, patiently waiting.

Adam sighed slightly. "There was one time, when I was a kid. I did something... I don't remember what... Dad got mad... he p-pushed me d-down the stairs and locked me in the basement. I... I don't remember how long I was down there. I just remember going to the hospital... b-broken ribs."

Greg flinched slightly and sighed. "I'm sorry."

"Me too."

"It wasn't your fault."

Adam frowned slightly. "Yeah, I know now. I meant for you."

Greg shook his head. "I'm fine. I think I slept too much earlier, so I can't sleep now."

Adam shook his head. "You're lying to me, but I appreciate it."

"You're welcome."

The two of them headed back into the room, going back to bed and back to sleep.

The suit itched. The chairs were uncomfortable. The room was both too hot and too cold at the same time. Whatever the reason, Adam kept fidgeting, so much so that Keri cut a glare to her youngest brother. He merely shrugged. He wasn't comfortable standing within 10 feet of the casket that held his father.

Even with Greg, Nancy, and the kids behind him, Adam couldn't keep still. He wanted nothing more than to run away and go home to New York, but he couldn't.

As the last person in the current group walked away, Greg grabbed Adam's arm. "Coffee break?" he asked.

Adam nodded, excusing himself.

"Although, coffee's the last thing you need right now, Wiggles," Greg commented lightly as they stepped outside the parlor room.

"Just channeling you," Adam joked back.

As they walked outside, the conversation got more serious. "How're you holding up?" Greg asked.

Adam sighed a groan, and Greg nodded in understanding. "Needed to get away," Adam added.

"Understandable."

"I don't know, Greg."

"Halfway there, dude. You can do this."

"Seriously? With the pep squad?"

"Hell yeah, dude. Don't make me bust out some pom-poms."

Adam smiled. "Not sure pom-poms are appropriate at a wake."

Greg shrugged. "Maybe not. But it'd make you laugh."

"It would. I'd be the only one, though."

"Eh. Details."

Adam chuckled lightly. "I'm gonna owe you big time after this."

"Nah, man. You'd do the same for me."

Adam shrugged. "Don't think you'll really be in my position."

"You know what I mean."

"Yeah, I do." Adam sighed. "Guess we should head back, huh?"

"It's up to you, man."

"Let's head in. Before Keri and Mike send Nate and Steve after us."

"Eh, we could take them."

Adam shook his head with a small smile.

The two of them walked back inside, Adam taking his place next to his siblings and Greg rejoining his mom and kids. Nancy glanced over at him, and he shrugged in response. She frowned, and Greg patted her hand gently before standing up. She followed suit as the twins talked quietly amongst themselves.

"How bad?" she asked outside the room.

"He's hanging in, Mom," he replied. "It's just tough. These are mostly his father's friends and family, outside of Steve, Nate, and us."

She frowned again. "None of their friends or coworkers?"

Greg shrugged. "Not that I'm aware of, but it's not like I'm stalking mourners."

Nancy shook her head. "I don't know where you ever got that sarcasm from..."

He smirked.

She turned away from him, heading back in. Greg lingered for a moment, just long enough to catch a glimpse of the newest arrivals. He nodded at them as he snuck back into the wake.

Adam was staring at the floor, the only safe place he identified to look at. He felt a nudge from behind, and he turned to look at Greg. Greg nodded over to the door, and Adam glanced over as Mac and Stella finished signing the guestbook. Adam turned pale, and Greg leaned forward.

"You need something?" he asked.

Adam shot him a look.

Greg smirked slightly, leaning back.

Danny, Lindsay, and Hawkes followed behind Mac and Stella, making their way over to the casket.

Nancy looked over at the boys, then the group, then back to Greg. Greg looked over at her and shrugged.

The group walked over to Adam's mother, and Mac introduced them all to her, Keri, and Mike. "We work with Adam," he finished.

"It's nice to meet you all," she replied.

"We're sorry for your loss," Lindsay said.

Harriet nodded. "This is my daughter, Keri, my son, Mike, and you know Adam, of course."

Mac shook hands with Keri and Mike before moving to Adam. The younger man stood before his boss, who stared at Adam for a moment.

"You guys didn't have to come," he said quietly.

Mac looked at him pointedly. "How're you doing?"

"I'm okay."

The other four stepped forward and hugged Adam while Mac watched.

"Flack, unfortunately, couldn't make it," Danny said. "He's actually on this weekend."

Adam nodded. "I talked to him the other day," he said.

As another set of mourners approached the family, Adam's team moved aside, heading to sit behind Greg, Nancy, and the twins. Mac lingered, and once the group passed, he nudged Adam gently. At Mac's nod, Adam excused himself from his family.

"Check in time?" Greg asked Stella.

"Are you guys staying nearby?" she replied instead.

Greg simply smiled.

Once alone in a quiet room, Mac turned to Adam. "How are you holding up?" he asked quietly.

Adam hesitated, not sure he trusted his voice at that point.

Mac nodded as he sat down on a couch.

Adam paced in front of him. "You know," he said after a few minutes. It wasn't a beginning so much as a complete statement.

Mac didn't react either way.

"How long? Since you hired me?"

Mac shook his head slightly. "Since the Ava Brandt case," he answered simply.

Adam nodded to himself. "Let me guess, though. You'd suspected something wasn't right long before that."

Mac gave the smallest glimmer of a nod.

"Just figured I wasn't normal, or...?"

"You've always flinched any time I've raised my voice," Mac explained quietly.

Adam sighed. "Always a giveaway, huh?"

Mac merely watched as Adam sank into a chair.

"It's almost over, right?" Adam said quietly after a moment.

"The services are," Mac answered.

Adam sighed, tucking his knees into his chest. "I want to go home."

Mac arched his eyebrows slightly.

"I know. I sound like a child."

Mac smiled lightly.

"This just sucks."

"I can imagine," Mac said.

"Your father alive?" Adam asked softly.

"No."

"How'd he die?"

"Lung cancer."

"He a good man?"

"Yeah. He was."

Adam shook his head. "See, that I don't understand."

Mac furrowed his brow.

"Good men die slowly, and the bastards go quick."

Mac didn't have an answer for that.

Adam didn't have anything else to add after that, either. Instead, he hunched further over in the chair, so much so that his face was almost against his knees.

"You're going to be okay, Adam," Mac said softly as he rested his hand against Adam's shoulder gently.

Adam chose not to respond.

Mac didn't say anything else, nor did he move his hand. After a few minutes, Adam shook his head.

"I'd better get back," he said solemnly, standing and brushing Mac's hand aside.

Mac just watched as Adam walked toward the door.

Adam paused in the doorframe, turning back toward Mac while still looking down at the floor. "It's almost over, right?" he asked softly.

"Yeah," Mac replied. "It's almost over."

Adam nodded, turning and walking out of the room, leaving Mac behind to worry about his young employee.