Because that was when he finally registered the blood-curdling, desperate scream.
“JOHN!!!”
“Adam,” John gasped. He fidgeted in bed, his movements sluggish, his muscles weak.
The doctor tried to hold him down. “Easy–”
“Adam,” John insisted.
“JOHN!!!” Adam screamed again, that beautiful, precious voice ricocheting through every inch of the hospital.
Then Adam was there. The nurses tried to hold the boy back, but John waved them off. Adam flung himself at John, throwing his arms around John's neck while his tears instantly soaked John's skin.
“Are you okay?” Adam asked between choking sobs. “Tell me you're okay. You can't leave me, John. You can't!” He held John tighter. “I can't go through this again. I can't do it. John, please, tell me you're okay.”
Through the mask over his mouth, John managed to get out, “I'm okay.”
Adam let out a sobbing wail. He trembled in John's arms, clinging to him like the world might end if he loosened his hold even the tiniest bit.
And for Adam, it just might.
“They kept me in that damned waiting room,” Adam rambled on. “And all I could think was I had to get to you. I hadto see you. Because I knew I wouldn't survive if someone came to tell me that you were dead. I couldn't go through that again.”
John squeezed his eyes shut as the guilt overpowered everything else. The pain and exhaustion were nothing. But this? This hit him square in the chest, making his stomach turn and his skin feel hot and cold all over.
For all the times he'd promised Adam that he'd never abandon him again, he'd damned near done so anyway. Putting his life in danger, just to save a few vines.
All because he couldn't let go.
Chapter 24
_________
ADAM
ADAM CAME awake with a jolt of panic. He gasped and looked around, trying to get his mind to catch up with what he was seeing.
John lay sound asleep in the hospital bed. Adam sank back into the chair with a heavy sigh, waiting for his racing heart to slow down.
Holy shit. Adam rubbed his eyes, then stared at John, watching every rise and fall of the man's chest. Even asleep, John looked exhausted. The doctor said that John was going to be fine, but Adam wasn't sure he'd truly believe it until he was allowed to take the man home. At least John was actually sleeping. That in itself was something, especially considering the unfamiliar surroundings and the constant noise and light that never fully went away, no matter how much the staff tried to keep things quiet and dim.
Adam refused to leave John's side, dozing in a chair by the hospital bed. He was starving, but he didn't care. Ever since that call came in from Morgan last night—the wordsJohnandfireandambulanceall seeming to stab him right in the chest—Adam couldn't think of anything other than to make sure Johnwas going to be okay. He didn't care about food or needing to use the bathroom or anything else so mundane. Anything other than John's life didn't matter.
How Adam had made it to the hospital without getting a speeding ticket or causing an accident was beyond him. Morgan had even started the phone call with the insistence that Adam not panic, that Morgan was getting in his car to go pick him up. But Adam knew he couldn't wait that long. His heart wouldn't have survived even the few minutes it would take for Morgan to drive into town to come get him.
Adam's phone vibrated in his pocket. He almost ignored it, not wanting to take his gaze off John for even a moment, but then it vibrated again. Adam groaned and pulled out the device, blinking at the time on the screen. It was just after five in the morning. Adam unlocked the phone and found a new text from Morgan.
Morgan: Morning. How are you? How's John?
Me: Fine. Sleeping. Why are you up so early?
Morgan: Getting ready for work. :P (BTW, I miss you there so much!)
Adam winced.Shit. Of course Morgan would be going to work. Adam himself would be doing the same at that hour if he hadn't stupidly lost his job.
He eyed John, then quickly sent another text.
Me: Thank you for calling me last night. And for coming to check on him.
