FAMILY BOND

Chapter 4

Tim takes a couple of heavy drags from the marijuana cigarette.

"Careful now." Nate chuckles. "You're just wanting to numb the pain not get stoned."

"Who says I don't." Tim laughs as he blows the smoke into the air.

"Because if this works, we need to break it to the others gently." Nate says as he takes the joint away from the hitman. "You don't need to go out there higher than a kite."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Tim says as he leans back in his chair and closes his eyes.

"So? How are you feeling?" Nate asks after several minutes.

"You know...." Tim says as he rubs his shoulder. "I think it's actually going to work. I feel calm, my shoulder is not hurting. The nausea is gone. I feel better than I have in months."

"Welp, that's what we were hoping for." Nate smiles. 

"You're a genius, Doc." Tim chuckles as he stands from his desk.

~~

"So this order should be here tomorrow right?" Esther asks.

"Yep, it's being shipped overnight." Kirstie answers as she puts away her laptop.

"Now if we could just find out when we're leaving." Adam says.

"Soon I hope. I wanna get out of this place for awhile." Avi replies just as Tim and Nate walk back into the room.

"Well?" Tim says with a smile, rubbing his hands together. "Y'all ain't packing yet?"

Adam eyes his husband suspiciously. Something was different.

"When are we leaving?" Austin asks.

"The day after tomorrow. Is that soon enough for y'all?" Tim asks.

"Hell yeah!" Avi chuckles. "Let's get to packing."

He jumps up, grabbing his wife by the hand and practically drags her upstairs.

"Shall we start packing, my dear?" Tim smiles as he holds his hand down to Adam. He was trying to avoid direct eye contact because he wasn't for sure how bloodshot his eyes were or how dilated they were from the pot.

Everyone, excited to get started, jumps up from where they were sitting and makes a dash for the stairs. Laughing and giggling like a bunch of school kids.

"How long are we staying?" Adam asks as he comes out of his closet with some suitcases.

"Two weeks for sure maybe a little longer." Tim answers from his closet as he searches through his tee shirts. He begins to sing softly to himself.

Adam stops and looks around at Tim's closet. Something strange was definitely going on with his husband. He hadn't seen him this cheery in a long time.

"Are you alright?" Adam asks as Tim comes out carrying several tee shirts.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask?" Tim asks as he begins to fold his shirts.

"You're just acting a little weird." Adam says.

Tim only chuckles as he continues to pack.

"Okay, Foust. Freeze." Adam says as he crosses his arms over his chest.

Tim stops right in the middle of folding a shirt. Completely frozen like a statue.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on or do I have to beat it out of you?" Adam asks with raised brows.