Chapter 15

Adam was in the Hospital for 6 days. Tommy came and stayed as much as he possibly could and still avoid his family and friends. He would come and tell him how Skeletor would wonder around the house looking for him before deeming Tommy acceptable and laying down with him.

Tommy went to the grocery store while Adam's mom brought him home. Adam did his best to get her to leave without being rude. He was walking short distances with a walker, he could take care of himself.

Finally after two grueling hours of mother henning, he got her to leave. He sent Tommy a text and very slowly laid on his side and pulled his legs up on the couch. His mother had insisted that he take more pain meds and he felt them starting to kick in.

Adam was jerked out of his nap when Tommy came in carrying an arm full of bags.

"Welcome home." He said with a small smile.

"Feels great man. Well that could be the pain meds talking."

Tommy chuckled and took the bags to the kitchen, after a few minutes of banging around Adam heard the clicking of the gas range.

"Oh my god real food! You are awesome!" Adam called.

They ate dinner on the couch. Well Adam ate reclining carefully on the couch with his feet on Tommy's lap.

Tommy put him to bed shortly after dinner with a fresh bandage change. It was still early but Adam found himself out cold in a matter of minutes, happy to be in his own bed.

Adam started physical therapy two days later. Kyle came to pick him up around 1 pm and helped him into his jeep.

When they got to the PT office it took him a good 10 minutes just to get in the front door. He was exhausted and in pain by the time he got sat down on the leather covered table.

The tech did a full consult on him and Kyle sat quietly by his side. When they were finished they had Adam lay on his stomach and attached a e-stem system to his back and left it to do it's work.

Kyle looked around uncomfortably before rolling his stool closer.

"Look man I have to ask you something... Who was that guy visiting you in the hospital? And don't try to lie to me, I saw him in the room with you."

Adam's heart stopped for a moment and he did his best not to show his fear on his face. "uh.. he's a friend of mine."

"The friend you've been texting non-stop for the last few months?" Kyle asked.

Adam chewed his lip before nodding.

"Are you guys..." Kyle leaned in and lowered his voice. "sleeping together?"

Adam thought his heart had stopped before, now he was sure it had frozen in his chest. "I don't see how it's any of your business who or what I'm doing."

"Adam.. are you telling me you fucking a guy?! Dude! That's fucking gross man." Adam quickly looked around when Kyle's voice started to climb in volume.

"Keep you voice down you asshole!" Adam hissed.

"Dude this is not cool. Why wouldn't you tell me something like this?" Kyle looked a little hurt and confused.

"Because I knew you'd react like this! I'm not gay Kyle.."

"You're sleeping with a fucking bear of a man.. I think that makes you gay."

Adam couldn't stop the flame of red hot anger in his chest and he pushed himself up on the table and grabbed Kyle by the collar of his jacket.

"Say what you want about me Kyle. It really shows how much of a friend you are. But you don't know Tommy and I won't let you bad mouth him."

Kyle shut his mouth and Adam laid back down on the table. It was a long time before either of them spoke again. The tech had come back by and set up bi weekly appointments for Adam and they were getting ready to leave when Kyle spoke.

"Look man; I was out of line. I'm sorry. It's just kind of a shock.. you with a guy and all."

"It's cool. I don't really understand it either. I'm not attracted to men. Tommy's just.. different." Adam let Kyle help him into the jeep. He winced as his stitches pulled.

"When did you meet him?" Kyle asked, climbing into the drivers seat.

"The night I found out I had cancer. I went out and got drunk. He almost beat me up." Adam muttered looking out the window.

Kyle rubbed his hands over his face and sighed. "This is a lot to take in. Do I get to meet him?"

"I don't know. I was going to find a way to ease everyone into meeting him once we figured out where our relationship was going. Things have been to messed up to even think about it."

They both went silent as they pulled up outside Adam's house.

"Are we cool?" Adam asked.

"Yeah man, we're cool." Kyle muttered clapping a hand on his shoulder.

"Tommy it's been over a month. I need you back here training. You have fights lined up all summer." Colt's voice sounded annoyed as it filtered through the speaker on the phone.

"I know Colt. I'm just not ready to leave yet."

"I need you here next week. Or else. You know I hate to threaten you but you have a career to worry about. One canceled fight is one thing but if we have to cancel another we could be in deep shit."

Tommy sighed knowing that Colt was right. "OK.. book me a ticket for this week. Late this week. Give me as much time as you can."

"I'm sorry Tommy. I know this friend of yours must be important, but we have to do what we have to do."

"I know." Tommy said his goodbyes and closed the call. He glanced over at Adam who was stretched out on the couch napping fitfully. They were weaning him off the pain killers and the pain was enough that he was having trouble sleeping. Thankfully they weren't completely pulling him off the meds only decreasing his dose, but it still worried Tommy.

He made his way into the living room and moved Adam's feet so he could sit down and leaned over, planting a gentle kiss on the corner of Adam's mouth.

Adam grinned a turned his head, kissing Tommy back.

"I gotta talk to you." Tommy whispered.

"What's going on?" Adam asked pulling himself up a little.

"I have to go home later this week." Tommy whispered working himself into the space between Adam and the back of the couch. Adam looked disappointed but was trying to hide it.

"Oh... when?"

"I'm not sure yet. Colt is booking the ticket."

"So... what are we going to do once you leave?" Adam asked leaning his head on Tommy's shoulder. "Are we.. dating? Or what?"

"I don't know. Do you want to be dating me?" Tommy brushed his nose against Adam's ear.

"I.. yeah I do."

"Then we'll work something out."

"We could use Skype? Do you have a Laptop?" Adam looked hopeful and Tommy couldn't stop himself from kissing him again.

"I don't. But I'll get one."

Adam giggled and shoved playfully at Tommy's shoulder. "You need to stop. I'm in no shape to take care of the wood you're causing."

Tommy huffed out a laugh and brushed his lips against Adam's throat just to feel the smaller man shiver.

"Do I call you my boyfriend now?" Adam asked.

"I guess so." Tommy shrugged.

"Wow. This is really weird. This time last year I would have never thought I'd end up dating a guy."

"Stranger things have happened."

"That is true. What are the chances of a 27 year old man getting spinal cancer?" Adam reached for Tommy's hand and tangled his fingers in his.

"I wish you didn't have to go through all this.. but if you hadn't we would have never met."

"And you know what? I'd almost say it was worth it. Almost. This is kinda shitty. And I can't even get a handy right now."

Tommy chuckled and grabbed the remote with his non occupied hand and turned the volume down. He let out a content sigh as he laid his head next to Adam's.

"When you visit again.. or when I come visit you, I'm going to make all this up to you. You've been so much better to me than I deserve."

"Hush." Tommy mutter and Adam did.

Adam leaned against the door frame as Tommy shoved his cloths in his bag. "This really sucks." Adam muttered.

Tommy took a deep breath before turning and lifting the bag on his shoulder. He had to leave soon so he could return the rental car and still make it to the airport on time. Adam was still leaning against the frame blocking the doorway with his crutches. He looked sad and Tommy wanted to drop everything and stay but he knew that he couldn't.

"I'll call you as soon as I land OK?" Tommy took Adam's face in his hands and kissed him. After a moment the kiss became more heated and Adam's fingers found their way into Tommy's hair. Tommy finally pulled away and looked Adam in the eye. "This isn't the end."

"I know. I've just gotten used to you being here. It's going to be too quite when you're gone. Skeletor's going to get lonely." Tommy could have sworn that Adam was actually pouting.

Tommy leaned in and kissed him again. "I have to go." When Adam hobbled out of the way on his crutches Tommy moved by.

"Tommy..." He turned and looked at Adam who was slowly making his way to the living room.

"Yeah?"

"I think I might be in love with you. So if you disappear on me I'll be forced to hunt you down and strangle you in your sleep."

Tommy froze for a second and let that information sink in before rushing across the room and kissing Adam until he feared the smaller man's legs might give out.

"I'll call you when I land" Tommy whispered before letting Adam go and nodding before walking out the door.