Hazel Rain

Chapter 8

The morning was overcast and dreary, the sky a slate gray. It mirrored Adam's current state of mind perfectly.

He'd had been unable to calm his nerves, his hands a jittery mess. He was pleased Kim had offered to drive, he kept his gaze focused on the landscape and tried to steady himself.

Up until a few days ago he'd been living in a state of shock, maybe even a touch of denial. At times in the past it wasn't unusual for him to go a week without seeing his dad or Kyle and Kristin. As the days passed it became like a heavy anvil on his chest. Until he was crushed by the weight of it all, and then reality hit and it hit hard.

Kim found a parking spot, she turned the car off and turned to face him, "Adam, we're here." She had become accustomed to him zoning out and growing quiet. She knew in those quiet moments he was reflecting on all that had transpired.

When his eyes never left the floorboard of her Honda Accord she placed her hand on his knee, giving it a light squeeze, "We need to get inside."

Adam chewed on the inside of his cheek, "I know...I just don't know if I'm ready. What if they don't let me see her? God, Kim I miss her so much" he pinched the bridge of his nose, "I miss all of them."

"I do too" Kim smiled sadly.

Adam released a long sigh, "Can you give me a minute? Head in and I'll catch up." He needed a minute to get his head right.

The last time he'd been to court was the day Kim testified and her relationship with Sean was outed to a courtroom full of people.

"Are you sure?" Kim asked tentatively.

"Yes" he nodded, "I just need a few minutes, I'm ok."

Kim found herself welcoming the solo elevator ride, she was trying to push the memories of the last time she was in a courtroom with Adam and how much her actions or lack thereof had hurt him.

It gave her the few minutes she needed to push those thoughts out of her head, it did her no good to keep going back to that awful day. It wouldn't help Adam and it certainly wouldn't help him get Hazel back.

As she exited the elevator she couldn't miss the group standing off to the side of the building. They huddled together, she had no idea that they'd show up but it really didn't surprise her all that much.

Kevin was the first to turn, "Where's Adam?" He glanced over Kim's shoulder, "I thought he was riding in with you"

Kim hugged him, "He's here. He needed a few minutes, he will be up soon. Thank you all for coming" she went and hugged Jay and Al both, "It'll mean the world to Adam."

Al rubbed her arm, "Voight wanted to be here but Olive is in town with Daniel, so he stayed with them. He wanted Adam to know he's thinking about him."

Adam leaned on the concrete barrier and looked down on the city, the city he vowed to protect. He looked skyward, "Kyle...I screwed up...I was scared man. I was so fucking scared...I don't know the first thing about kids." He ran his fingers over the jagged edge of a chip in the barrier, "I want to get her back..I won't stop until I do. I'm gonna make sure she knows all about you, Kristin, and dad. I want to make you proud" he wiped his eyes, "Help me out here.." He laughed slightly.