Before Adam could say anything, Bret came into the room. He saw the stern expression on the Brit's face and... was Adam; afraid? He rushed to his fiancé's bedside. What's going on? What's this?" Bret asked as he pulled the folder out of Adam's hands. He looked at the bold, red letters. He slowly counted to ten. It was something he learned, from Shawn, years ago.
Bret Hart as a younger man, was quick-tempered and hot-headed. He often got into fist fights and afterward regretted his actions. Shawn taught him to count to ten, then and only then ask questions, then and only then, could he think with reason. The advice had kept him calm and out of trouble for most of his adult life.
Adam could tell Bret was counting to ten. He could also see that Bret was shaking with rage. He feared Wade was in danger of being hit; and he wasn't sure if that was good or bad.
"Wade, just explain what this is, and what it means?" Adam's tone was a mixture of anger and confusion. He was wide awake now, they only sign the drugs were working was the there was no pain in his hand.
Bret slid onto the bed, careful of the IV tube, he pulled Adam into his arms. He was going to give Barrett a chance to explain, then he'd kill him. At least the Emergency Room was downstairs. He glared at Wade.
Barrett pulled up a chair, he sat on the left side of the bed, "I've been collecting this file for a while now. Open it, look through it, then: we'll talk," he said simply to the two men on the bed. His tone and express never changed.
Bret put the folder on the little table. Adam nodded to his future husband. He wanted Bret to open the nasty looking file. For some reason, when he touched it, it felt like poison, and he'd had enough poison in his system to last a life time.
The first paper was the missing parental consent form for the little girls stitches. Next, was the field report from Mrs. Williams. There were also notes on times mistakes had been made and Adam had covered for his staff. There were dress code violations, starting with the night Adam had worn jeans. Many of the infractions and rule breaks were minor, hell even Shawn and Hunter had done some of the same things. However, if they were all put together and presented in the right way, it could be very damaging. They could even cost Adam his position as Hunter's assistant, if not his job entirely. Doctor Heyman was fair, but he was also extremely strict, he had to be; he was responsible for the running of the entire hospital.
Bret closed the file. Now he understood; he knew Barrett had been up to something. He wanted Adam's job, probably even Adam himself. Well, hell be damned, neither one of those things was going to happen, not while he was alive and breathing. "Alright you bloody fucking Englishman, what the hell does all this mean? You want Adam's job? Even more to the point, you want Adam himself, don't you? That is not going to happen. See this? It means Adam is mine, forever. He's going to be Adam Hart. Doctor Adam Hart, nothing you do will change that. You think Hunter is going to buy any of this? Another mistake if you do," Bret's words poured out like the venom that once flowed through Adam's body.
"No, Hunter wouldn't, but Doctor Heyman would. That's why you've been up his ass lately isn't it? I always felt like something was up, I just couldn't figure it. Now, I do wonder, maybe you did anger that snake on purpose! Sorry I didn't die, make it easier for you. Wade, I called you friend. You just betrayed me worse than Chris or Randy ever did! I'm sorry you ever came here!" Adam was just as angry as Bret. For once in his life he was standing up for himself, instead of hiding and crying. That was Bret's influence on him and he appreciated it very much.
Wade just sat there, his face set in stone. He reached for the file folder. "No fucking way you bastard, no fucking way," Bret snapped as he grabbed the folder from the table. He wasn't about to let Barrett have the damming evidence against Adam. He only hoped there wasn't a copy somewhere else.
Barrett stood up, he paced the room a bit. Adam and Bret both watched him carefully. With a sigh, Wade melted back into the chair, and began to speak.
"Everything both of you said is true. I wanted Adam's job so I could return to England and stick my success up Regal's ass. I won't deny that I wanted Adam too. I had hoped that maybe, we might even marry and go to England and be the best Emergency Services team in the country. That too, would have made Regal's blood boil. I wanted to come here, be a success and instead, I came here and let things go to my head, plotting and planning. I was a bloody fool," Barrett spoke in a defeated tone. He felt so... dirty.
Adam was absolutely stunned, he just stared at Wade. He had so many questions, "You sound like you've changed your mind. Why is that and tell me why I should trust anything you say?"
"I have changed my mind. I just hope you'll hear me out and maybe you'll believe me. First of all, I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry. It was not my intention for that snake to bite you. While, it was an accident, I still feel angered it by kicking the grass. I never even knew it was there until it had bitten you, it was so fast. Seeing you so sick and in so much pain, and then the way Captain Hart worried over you. I knew I couldn't destroy that just to piss Doctor Regal off. By the way, for what it's worth, I do congratulate you and wish you well on your upcoming nuptials," Wade's tone was full of contrition. What he'd said was true.
The night they returned from the camping trip, Wade was so wracked with guilt about the snakebite, he'd began to reconsider his whole plan to destroy Adam. He stopped to think of the reasons why he'd formed the plan in the first place; lust and greed. Two of the seven deadly sins. There was also the fact that he wanted to make a fool out of Doctor William Regal, because of what had happened between them. Wade debated long and hard, this time the question was, did he admit what he'd done or just drop it. He knew he couldn't just drop it because of the forms he'd taken from the charts. He had to tell and then be ready to face whatever he had to face.
Adam simply didn't know what to say. However, Bret did, "Adam was very upset the day this form got lost. He came to me, extremely worried and anxious. How could you do something like this to someone who called you his friend? Hell, you even dated him, kissed him. Then called him a tease, if I recall. I should have turned you in to Hunter then. So, what are we going to do about this?" Bret held up the incriminating file folder. He felt like Wade shouldn't just get away with it.
"Bret's right, Wade. This paper caused not only me, but Hunter a lot of worry. We got past the teasing thing..." Adam paused, then he thought of something else and continued, "Wait a minute. When you were watching me paint, just before the snakebite, you tried to get in my head, didn't you? You said Bret was using me as a rebound for Davy. You were trying to split us up, even then! Is that why you wanted to go on the trip in the first place?" Adam asked, his eyes ablaze with anger.
Wade hung his head in shame, "Yes, I'm sorry. I partly wanted to go on the trip to really camp, but yes, I thought maybe I could do something to make you come back to me," he couldn't stop himself. Now that he was confessing, he felt his soul lifting. It felt good to finally get it all out.
"That's probably the most heartless thing I have ever heard. To use my Davy against Adam. This man has so unselfishly allowed me to keep Davy in my heart and share it with... I just... this is just unbelievable," Bret was so angry and dumbfounded that he just couldn't put words to what he wanted to say. What he wanted to do was hit Barrett till he was unconscious.
If it was possible, Barrett sunk even lower in his chair, he deserved everything that was being hurled at him. As a matter of fact, he just wished Hart would haul off and hit him, it was no worse than what he felt he deserved. He had a sudden thought, what if Doctor Helmsley fired him and sent him back to England.
"I know, I know. It's almost like this thing took over my every thought. I'm not really like this, not really. I'm just a well-heeled Englishman who was trying his best to make his parents proud. Then that damn bastard Regal... I should have turned him in for sexual harassment. It just... put something bitter in my soul. I just had to come here and prove I was good at my job. If I got rid of Adam and became Hunter's second in command, even Regal would have to be impressed. I know I keep telling you that, but it's the only excuse I have. It's a lousy one, I know. I know there is no excuse. All I can do is put my fate in your hands. I'll do whatever you want me to do. I just hope that someday you can find a way to forgive me," Wade placed his head in his hands. He was so ashamed of what he'd done.
For a few minutes, no one said anything. Adam was too flabbergasted, Bret was too angry and Wade was too embarrassed. The only sounds were those beyond the door, the hustle and bustle of the busy hospital.
"You have to tell Hunter. If you are truly sorry, then you'll show him this. If for nothing else than to clear my name about the consent forms. I warn you though, he will be angry and so will Shawn. I don't envy you. I'll tell you what, we'll tell them here, together, if you want," Adam finally said after thinking about it. He wanted to see if Wade was truly sorry.
Bret huffed, "How can you be so... nice about it. Well, I know why, it's Randy isn't it?" the Captain asked as he kissed the top of Adam's head.
Adam nodded, "What ever else, I understand about sexual abuse and the mental abuse after is... crippling. It can make you do things you wouldn't ordinarily do. What happens now is up to Wade."
Wade looked up at the two men in the bed, his face was haggard, his eyes red-rimmed, "you would do that for me? Let me tell Doctor Helmsley here? I don't deserve that, but I do appreciate it. When we can do it, the sooner the better," Wade said in a defeated tone. He just wanted to get it over with.
"I'll call and see if they are still awake. They were going home to sleep, but I'll tell them it's important. I'll get the phone in here connected while I'm at it. You just leave Adam alone. I'll be right back," Bret said to his fiancé and the Englishman. With a kiss to Adam's lips and a warning glare to Wade, Bret left the room. He hadn't charged Adam's cell phone yet, and he wanted Adam to have a phone in his room. He hated leaving them together.
"I'll ease the tension, would you like a tea or coffee?" Wade asked politely as he stood to leave. He knew it would make Bret feel better if he left the room.
"I'd love a cup of peppermint tea, two sugars please. Wade, I don't like what you did, but I can understand the motivation behind it. I'll try to get Hunter to understand it," Adam said in a soft voice. He felt sorry for Wade, just a bit.
Wade nodded and whispered a thank you. He left the room to get the cup of tea for Adam. Wade wasn't back yet when Bret returned. Adam explained where the Englishman had gone. A minute later Wade came back into the room. He'd been watching for Bret to return.
"Hunter and Shawn are on the way. I didn't tell them anything, just that it wasn't Adam's health, but that it was important," Bret had calmed down a bit. It was Adam's good nature and the fact that Barrett at least appeared to be doing the right thing.
Adam sipped his tea, "Good. Thank you, Bear. I told Wade I'd try to get Hunter to understand what abuse can make you do. Wade, I have one last question for you. If I hadn't been bitten, what would you have done next?" he asked curiously. He wondered just how far that man would have gone in his plot.
Wade was standing by the window, sipping his own cup of tea. He turned toward his former victim, "I was going to keep planting doubts about Captain Hart's true intentions towards you. Oh, I have another confession. Remember the night I came to the carriage house for dinner?" Wade paused to let Adam acknowledge the question.
"Yes, I do. Oh Wade, no, you didn't? Did you?" Adam asked in a stunned tone. He sat his cup of tea down. Bret looked a bit confused, now what had Wade done.
"Yes, I did. I looked Jericho up on the Internet. I saw a picture of the two of you at some red carpet event. The caption on the picture said, The Lion, Chris Jericho and his Kitten, Doctor Adam Copeland. It gave me the idea about the stuffed kitten. I thought, If I could bring up a bad memory of Chris, I could comfort you. I realize now how cruel it was. Again, I am so sorry, Adam," Wade sat back down and added his cup to Adam's on the table. He put his head in his hands once again. He almost felt sick.
"Barrett, I am beyond words. My Adam has been through so much. You knew, at least some of it, yet you still hurt him. And, Adam you still want to help him? I love you, Sugar but sometimes I just don't understand you. I'd pin his balls to the wall with rusty, pus infected, dull nails!" Bret said with a growl as he paced around the room. He truly didn't understand Adam sometimes, being nice was one thing, but this was ridiculous.
Both Adam and Wade grimaced at the visual Bret's words conjured up. "I know, Bret. All I can picture is how I felt... after Randy's last... attack, for lack of a better word. I turned to my work and school. I did what ever it took to wipe the memory away. I am not excusing what Wade did, I'm just saying I understand what abuse can drive you to do. Maybe, Wade, some therapy would help?" Adam said in a thoughtful tone. Maybe therapy would be good for Wade, Adam knew it had helped him.
Wade was nervous, he knew Adam was being very generous with his understanding. Bret was angry and that was to be expected. He prayed Adam would be able to help him with the Helmsley's.
For the next few minutes the room was again silent. Thunder rumbled in the distance, as a new storm floated in over the Rocky Mountains. Bret went to his bag. He pulled out two cell phones chargers. He plugged them in, then put his and Adam's cell phones to recharging. Although Bret's could run on solar power, it also needed to have its regular battery charged.
Adam rested a bit, all this was tiring. Wade once again stared out of the window. He wondered what his parents would say if they ever found out about this. Everyone turned when the door opened. In walked a very annoyed Hunter and equally annoyed Shawn. They had just gone to bed and were having a rousing round of sex when Bret called.
"Alright, what was so damn important that I had to get out of bed and come here? Shawn was in the middle of giving me a... uh never mind. So? What?" Hunter fairly growled out his words. He pulled up one of the three chairs around the table. Shawn, with a bit of a flush on his cheeks, pulled up another chair and sat next to his husband, sometimes he wished his man would put a muzzle on his mouth.
"I'm sorry we had to call you back, but as you'll find out it is important. Wade? It's up to you," Adam said as he tapped the file folder on the bed table.
With a heavy-hearted sigh, Wade walked over and picked up the file folder. He handed it to Hunter, and then launched into the explanation about the contents of said folder. He left nothing out, not even Doctor Regal in England. It took Wade over an hour and half to explain everything. It was the most difficult thing he'd ever done in his life. When he finished the silence was deafening, somewhere the faint sound of a flushing toilet reached Barrett's ears, he hoped it wasn't a metaphor for his career.
Hunter flipped through the folder once again. It was the fifth time he'd looked at it. He was almost as relieved as Adam to see the signed consent forms. He was extremely angry, he felt betrayed. It was like Barrett had come here under false pretenses, and he the fool for having picked Wade from the list. He passed the folder to Shawn. He like Bret and Adam, at first, simply didn't know what to say. He waited for Shawn to finish with the folder.
Wade sat in the chair, he looked like a man who was waiting for a jury to give him life or death. Adam and Bret sat together on the bed, Adam's hand head rested on his future husband's shoulder. Shawn put down the folder. Adam looked at the nurse, he'd seen Shawn angry, more than once, but never in his life had he seen the man this angry. Shawn was actually shaking.
Before either of the Helmsley's could say anything, Adam spoke, "before you explode, I want to speak on Wade's behalf..." he did his best to explain, although very hurt, angry and disappointed, why Wade had done these things. He made no excuses, but offered reasons. He was calm and soft-spoken. The entire time Adam spoke, Bret calmly stroked Adam's long hair. The gentle touches gave Adam the courage he needed.
"... so while I certainly don't condone what Wade did, I can, again understand what drove him to do it. I would like to keep this, between the five of us in this room. I don't think anyone else needs to know about this, especially any one upstairs in Administration." Adam finished his equally long part of the events.
The entire time Adam has spoken, Shawn and Hunter just stared at Wade. The Englishman had sat there, his head down. By the time Adam had finished his speech, a few tears fell on Wade's cheeks. He couldn't believe Adam actually defended him. Well, not so much defended as comprehended his reasons. When Adam asked for this not to go further, it was too much; that had prompted the tears to fall.
Shawn's anger had left, he absolutely heard everything Adam has said, he remembered so clearly a beaten and bloody Adam, lying on an ambulance gurney as he was wheeled into the emergency room. While this Doctor Regal hadn't beaten Wade's body, he had beaten his mind, sometimes that was an even a worse type of beating.
Hunter too, had his own thoughts. He'd also heard Adam's words. He also knew Adam hadn't turned and tried to hurt the people who cared about him. However, Adam had nearly drowned himself with work and school. It was his way of dealing with Randy's abuse. Maybe, Wade just couldn't think of another way; all he thought of was what he had to do to stick it in Regal's face.
Shawn and Hunter looked at each other. They had that skill that only people who loved each other deeply had; the ability to communicate without verbal words. Their "conversation" lasted a few brief moments.
Hunter spoke, "to begin, we agree with Adam, there is no need for this to go beyond this room. However, it isn't so much for Doctor Barrett's benefit, it's for Adam's. Some of the things in this file could be harmful to him; especially if this file was read with no explanation. The consent form will have been found, having been a mistake in filing. Mrs. Williams field report will be compared to the replacement one Adam worked on, if any changes need to be made, they will; as no one will remember the numbers exactly. The rest of this file will have a very hot date with the hospital incinerator. I will escort it personally, before I leave today," he spoke with a tone that left absolutely no room for questions or disobedience.
Captain Hart had taken it all in, while he stroked Adam's hair absent-mindedly. Wasn't Hunter going to do anything? Just destroy the file? What kind of punishment was that? No, his boy had been badly hurt and he wasn't going to have that. A low, rumbling, very bearlike growl rolled up from his chest and passed over his lips. "What? That's it? You're not even going to make him burn the file himself? He hurt Adam, badly. Barrett has to be punished, severely!" Bret's words formed from the growl. They too left no room for argument.
This time Shawn spoke, "We agree, Bret. Wade will be punished. However, since Adam is the one that was hurt; he and he alone will decide Wade's punishment. We think that's fair," his tone joined the others in their absolute firmness.
Adam's mouth fell open as Wade's head snapped up. Neither one could quite comprehend what Shawn had just said. Neither one had expected that response.
Adam was about to speak, but Hunter held up his hand to stop the blond's physician's reply, "and Bret, just so you know, I'm one of the few that has a key to the incinerator. It would look odd if Wade was seen throwing something into it. Where as I burn old records on a regular basis. I'll just add this to the box in my office and I'll do it today before we leave. A bit of cleaning before I return to work in the morning," Hunter explained. The incinerator was watched by a security camera.
The hospital incinerator was used to destroy outdated medicines, syringes and other medical items. It was also used to destroy old records and files. It protected patient's privacy. Hunter, Doctor Heyman, another Department Head in Psychological Services, the Head Janitor and Security had keys. Anyone not on a very short list of users would be questioned. Patient privacy was extremely important.
"I guess it doesn't matter who burns it, as long as it gets done," Bret said in an understanding tone.
"But Hunter! How can I punish Wade? I'm the one that understands his reasons. I would hardly be fair for me to punish him," Adam didn't know what to think. He didn't know how, let alone want to punish anyone ever. He'd had to discipline an intern once a couple of years ago, and though it was deserved, he still felt guilty about it.
Wade spoke next, "It's alright, Adam. I deserve it. You were the one I hurt, I'll accept whatever you decide. I just... thank you again for being so understanding. I really do not deserve it," his tone was honest and sincere.
"I need to think about this. Can I have a day to think about it?" Adam asked in a tone that was close to panic. He needed time, and to talk to Bret.
"Yes. I know it is a lot to ask, son. It's not just about punishing Wade, it's about how you can handle yourself in an Administrative position. Also, a surgeon has to be able to make rapid choices, you won't have the luxury of twenty-four seconds let alone hours, understand?" Hunter asked. Now he used his University Professors voice. It was the most annoying tone Hunter used. Sometimes it made Adam feel like a first year med student all over again.
It was all Adam could do not to roll his eyes at Hunter's tone. Although, now he understood why Hunter was doing what he was doing. "I understand. Okay, I'll start with this. Wade, go home. I'll see you here, in this room, at ten am, sharp. Hunter, keep that folder until after I deal with Wade, just in case I need proof. Hold him hostage for a change," Adam said thoughtfully. He wanted to make sure Wade did return.
"I'll be here, Adam. You don't need to hold me hostage with the file. I deserve what ever you decide. Doctor Helmsley, Nurse Helmsley, thank you for your generosity and understanding. I'll be here, ten am sharp," Wade replied as he stood to leave. He just wanted to get home and hide.
"It's alright..." Shawn paused and opened his inside jacket pocket, he pulled out a small digital recorder. "We have everything recorded. Hunter will destroy the file as planned, it's for the best," Shawn said in an almost atypical smug tone. He'd had a feeling something was up, so he decided, along with Hunter's approval, to bring the recorder.
"Okay. Now, I'm really tired and my hand is starting to hurt a bit. Wade, thank you for being honest. You didn't have to do that, you could have either continued with your plan or destroyed the file without a word. Good or bad, it took a lot of balls to do what you did. I'll be fair, but firm. Hunter, Shawn thank you for coming. Now go home and finish what you were doing. Bret, feed me please?" Adam was already sounding like an Administrator. He knew he needed to take a tougher stance in that part of his job as Hunter's second.
"No, Adam, thank you. You... show what the true meaning of what friendship is. I'll be here in the morning. Again, for what it's worth, I'm truly sorry for what I've done," Wade spoke as he put his hand on the door to leave. He looked everyone in the eye, then left.
Hunter and Shawn stood. Hunter checked the bandage and Shawn adjusted the flow of medication on the IV. Bret gave them the number of the phone in Adam's room. Nothing more about Wade was said. When the Helmsley's left, the file folder was under Hunter's jacket.
Bret went down to the hospital cafeteria. He bought two roast beef sandwiches, two pints of milk, two pieces of apple pie and several candy bars, he knew Adam loved candy when he didn't feel good. He also stopped at the hospital gift shop. He bought Adam a huge bouquet of mixed wild flowers along with a big, dark pink teddy bear. It was held a white heart, with dark pink lettering that read, 'I love you'. He thought it would all cheer his boy up.
When he got back to the room, Adam was on the phone. Bret laughed, it had only taken his fiancé a matter of minutes to call his brother. His hazel eyes lit up when he saw the flowers and teddy bear. Bret set the flowers on the table under the window, luckily they had come with a vase. He put the bear at the foot of the bed, so it was smiling at Adam. Lastly he put the food on the tray table. He got a couple of paper plates and napkins from the stock Shawn had left.
"... Okay Jay Jay, be safe. Go over to the main house, Shawn keeps the basement ready. No, don't come today, please. Good... yes... Bret's here with my food... I love you too, Jay Jay... (Adam laughed).. Yes Heath, it's a beautiful ring... Heath? Make Jason pay attention to the weather warnings, he tends to laugh them off... love you little brother-in-law... bye," Adam hung up the phone.
"Storm warnings?" Bret asked as he took a bite of his sandwich. He saw how worried Adam looked.
"Not yet, but they are saying by late afternoon there probably will be," Adam clicked on the TV from the bedside remote. He put on KUSA, Channel 9, with the volume muted. "Thank you for the bear and flowers. I love you. Thanks for lunch too, dinner is chicken pot pie, I said yes to that for us," Adam said as he attacked his own sandwich.
Bret chuckled, "must be the meds making you hungry. Adam, you know if tornado warnings do get issued, I'll be going to the station. Can you deal with that, without fussing?" Bret asked seriously. He would go in even if Adam fussed, his job came first.
"I know, Bear. I'll worry of course, but I do understand. Besides, even if I said no, you'd go anyway. Bret, I'll never stop you or ask you not to go. I couldn't stop you. I just wish my hand wasn't fucked up, I should be downstairs. I remember the last tornado disaster. So, if you go, you'll go with my love and blessings and a bit of worry," Adam said with a soft voice and a smile to match. He would never stop or attempt to stop Bret from doing his job and he knew Bret would have the same respect for him.
"I knew you'd say that and yes, I would respect you and your work just the same. I know, Sugar, it's fucking hell to be laid up when you're needed at work. Now, I want you to lay back and rest, you need sleep, baby," Bret said with a soft kiss to Adam's lips. He moved the bed tray table and threw away the trash from their lunch.
Adam yawned, he pushed the button on the bed to make it a bit flatter. Bret pulled the covers up over his precious boy. He kissed Adam's brow. He pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed. He was close enough to gently stroke Adam's brow as the patient slept. Bret's eyes flicked from his book to the TV. He was keeping an eye for any storm warnings that popped up.
As the afternoon wore on, Bret's head drooped, he dozed, his hand still moved on Adam's brow, but barely. Finally when his sleep was deep, his fingers stopped moving. Adam stirred a bit, but went on with his sleep.
Both men missed the first weather warning. Storms were approaching Denver from the south-west. Dry, cold air swooped down from the mountains and poured over the plains and mixed with hot, moist air. This created the perfect conditions for extremely severe thunderstorms, dangerous lighting and of course the Devil's finger on earth, tornadoes. Usually the tornadoes stayed in the eastern plains of the state, near the border of Colorado and Kansas, but today, a tornado watch was issued issued for fifteen, more interior counties, including Adams, Arapahoe and Jefferson. Those three counties took in the entire city of Denver and it's suburbs; like Aurora.
The nearest severe thunderstorm warning was in Teller county and the southern half of Douglas county, it was approaching Denver at forty-five miles per hour. High winds, rain and hail were toying with the earth. Lighting was striking. The skies to the south Denver were going dark and it wasn't time for the mountains to block the sunset.
Adam and Bret were both awakened when a voice called out over the pager, it was louder than the usual volume for paging, "DOCTOR GREENWAY, CALLING DOCTOR GREENWAY," a pause then the message repeated, "DOCTOR GREEN WAY, CALLING DOCTOR GREENWAY."
Adam sat up, "Doctor Greenway is the code for them to prepare for an emergency evacuation. What time is it? It's dark, but... oh... my... god!" Adam looked up at the silent television. There was a live report, video on the screen showed a large tornado ripping and twisting anything in its path. Adam turned up the volume, "... the tornado is twenty miles southeast of the downtown Denver area, it is moving to the areas directly east of downtown. This will include the city of Aurora..." the reporter continued but Adam had muted the volume.
"That explains the call for Greenway. You'd better go, if your going. At least the station is in the opposite direction. Just, be careful and call when you can. I love you, Bret," Adam knew that Bret would go. Already the firefighter had his coat on and was putting his cell phone in his pocket.
"I'm torn, to be honest. I want to stay here and make sure you are safe, but they are going to need all hands at the station," Bret said as he stood next to Adam's bed and held his right hand gently. He hated to leave Adam in danger.
"No, Bret. Go, you will be needed at the station. I'll be safe, we have a good patient evac system. Please, go now before the storm hits. I love you, be careful, my future husband," Adam said as he pulled Bret's arm. He pulled Bret down and they kissed deeply.
"Alright. I'll call as soon as I can. I love you my future husband," Bret spoke softly, gave Adam another deep kiss, then left. At least he had his departmental SUV. He dashed for Station 51 with lights and siren blaring.
Ten minutes after Bret left, a nurse came into Adam's room with a wheel chair, "Come on Doctor Copeland, we're moving all the patients to the interior hallways," she spoke calmly, but panic was just under the surface.
Adam grabbed his new teddy bear, he didn't care that he was grown up doctor, he wasn't a child that wanted his teddy, he wanted to hold onto the last thing Bret had touched. He put on his robe and stuck his cell phone in his pocket. The nurse hung his IV on an antenna like pole that was attached to the back of the wheel chair. She wheeled Adam out into the hallway. Patients were being moved quickly to safety. It was chaotic but highly organized.
They were taken to a long, interior hallway, deep in the center of the Orthopedic Ward. Patients who were unable to walk or be in wheel chairs were in their beds in a long, neat line down one side of the hallway. Wheel chair patients were along the other wall.
Overhead the roar of the coming storm could be heard. The thunder echoed loudly even though you couldn't see it, you could almost feel the lightning.
"That's a cute bear," a familiar voice said from Adam's right side. It was Chris Jericho, in his motorized wheel chair. He was holding Evan's hand, who was sitting next to Chris on a folding chair, his injured leg held straight in front of him, it was now wrapped in a strong ace bandage from toe to knee.
"Hey Chris, Hi Evan. What are you doing here? I thought you went home a few days ago?" Adam asked in a confused tone. To be honest though, he was glad to have a friendly face to talk to.
"As you remember, we were here for rehab, it ran late today. I've pushed it to twice a day, six days a week, I want to be out of this damn thing. I want to get back to rehearsals. We were in the middle of our second session, when the evacuation began. They wouldn't let us go home." Chris explained. Evan yelped a bit when an extremely loud boom of thunder rolled over head.
"I'm glad you're doing so well, Chris. Evan honey, how's the leg?" Adam asked calmly. He could almost smell the fear from Evan.
"Um... it's okay. Aches on stormy days, I'm finding out. I'm able to play my drums, so that's good. Oh, I'm scared... um... oh... um.. I'm sorry about what happened to you. Chris told me... Oh Chrissy!" Evan could hardly speak, he was so nervous. He screamed for Chris when the lights suddenly went out.
"It will be okay. The generator will kick on in a minute. I promise," Adam again used his calm doctor's tone, but the bear in his hands was about to have the stuffing squeezed out of it. As he finished speaking, as if on cue, the emergency generator came on. The lights worked, but their power was reduced, making the hallways look eerie in the dimmer light.
"Every one, cover your heads and duck down. Do it, NOW!" several nurses said as they walked up and down the hall. Their arms full of pillows for those patients who didn't have one to cover their head with.
It was as if the building was being rocked by an earthquake, not a nearby tornado. They could hear a train like roar and a breeze blew down the hallway. Chris had pulled Evan into the wheelchair with him. He held a pillow over both their heads.
"Oh Lord, please let Bret be alright. Protect him and everyone from the storm. Keep us safe in your loving arms, amen," Adam whispered his prayer.
"Amen" Evan repeated in a shaky voice. He felt much safer in Chris' arms, as the storm continued to roar over head. The tornado was three blocks east of the hospital as it roared like a thousand hungry lions on the hunt for the prey. For the tornado, the prey was anything in it's path, cars, buildings and in some cases, people.
After nearly two hours in the hallway, patients were finally being taken back to their rooms. Chris, with Evan still in his lap, rolled along side Adam. The nurse just rolled her eyes at the two rock stars. When they got to Adam's room, the physician invited Chris and Evan into his room. The nurse helped Adam back into his bed, while Evan sat in a chair next to Chris.
"Well, Sticks, looks like we'll be stuck here a while. Cab company said at least two hours. The streets are a mess. Power lines and trees down all over," Chris informed his lover as he pocketed his cell phone.
"Did you just call Evan, Sticks? Oh wait! I get it, because he plays the drums right? At least I don't think he has stick legs," Adam said with a laugh. Lightning flashed in the far away storm. The view outside was eerie. The setting sun made the sky an angry red against the black storm clouds, now in the distance.
Both Evan and Chris laughed, "Yeah for the drums. Ain't nothing 'stick' about these legs," Chris said with a sly wink and pat to Evan's legs.
"You're welcome to wait here for a while, but you'd better be down at the cab rank in time or they will leave without..." Adam froze, he'd turned on the television to get a report on the storm damage. Outside the noise of sirens filled the evening air. Even with the windows closed, sounds filtered in from the streets below.
"... the building collapsed as the rescue team from Station fifty-one was trying to extricate several people trapped in the debris..." the reporter continued. Pictures of the rescue team flashed on the screen. It was footage from before the building fell. John Cena, Phil Brooks, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose were shown going into the building, they were being led by Captain Bret Hart.