Darker: Sequel to Harder To Breathe

Every Road [I] Took Led Back To [You]

*Adam's pov

"I love you baby, so so much" Jaz smiled caressing my cheek lightly. "Mommy!" the voice pulled me out my dream and into the dark reality of life. I sighed and got out of bed and headed into Molly's room. "Hey sweetheart" I said trying to smile. She threw her arms around me hugging me. I pulled her close and held her on my lap. "I miss mommy" she cried. Tears rolled down my cheeks, "I miss her too baby" I said and we rocked back and forth trying to comfort each other.

*a month and a half ago

"Come on Jaz" I said locking the store early. "I don't want to" she said leaning against the wall her arms crossed. "You're the biggest baby I've ever met" I teased kissing her softly. "I'm just tired is all, I'm fine Adam" she said her arms still crossed. "Humor me baby" I asked pouting some. "Fine, whatever" she said and started one of her coughing fits. She bent over coughing hard and covered her mouth while I rubbed her back. She stood up and moved her hand, it was shaking horribly and it was covered in blood. Her nose was bleeding like a faucet and she was shaking with what I assumed was fear. "Oh God no" she whispered and fell to her knees. I sat next to her holding her, completely helpless. "Come on Jaz, let's go" I managed, the fear strong in my voice. I helped her up and ushered her to the car. She was crying still as I got behind the wheel and I bit my lip. "Talk to me" she whispered her voice trembling. I glanced at her, "what do you want to talk about?" I asked. "Anything" she whispered back. I bit my lip, "I've uh been meaning to talk to you about this... I guess now works... I want to get back in the studio, it's too hard to not be there. I thought this would be better, stopping before I ruined everything but I miss it. I miss writing songs and I miss performing, it's been a long 5 years" I sighed. "Ad...." was all she managed before she passed out. I rushed to the hospital terrified of losing her. I rushed in carrying her and ran up to the cancer floor and saw Dani at the nurse's station. "Adam, Jaz!" she said confused and scared. "Get Katie, now!" I yelled. I laid her on a bed in the hall and caressed her cheek. "It's gonna be okay" I mumbled. Katie touched my shoulder, "let me Adam, please" she said and pulled her away. I collapsed on the floor, useless.

Dani helped me into the waiting room, "it'll all be okay" she said. "Please don't make promises you can't keep" I mumbled and I knew she could feel my pain. She's been there through it all, she knows Jaz as well as I do. She knows what this feels like. She nodded and kissed my head. I sat there for an hour agonizing over not knowing, when the guys walked in. "Adam" Jesse said reaching me. "What happened?" I shook my head, "I don't know she's been coughing a lot lately but she didn't seem worried so I ignored it for a while. But it was getting worse and I insisted she come. We were on our way when she started coughing and her nose was bleeding" I shook my head in hysterics, "we got in the car and she passed out" I said. Katie walked in then, "Adam" she said and I stood quickly. "She's okay" she said reassuringly. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, "What happened?" I asked. "Can we talk alone?" she asked. "They can hear, they're going to find out anyway" I said. She nodded and stepped further in the room. "She has cancer, it's not breast cancer. It's lung cancer" she said. The guys had to keep me upright. "But how? Will she make it?" I asked. She took a deep breath, "listen Adam, she's refused treatment. I told her I'd give her time to think before she signs anything" she said. "Can I see her?" I asked. She nodded and pointed to her old room.

I ran down the hall and into her room. "Hey Addy" she said softly. I cried seeing her. She looked so small and frail. "Katie told you" she said. She sounded stronger. I nodded uncomfortable by her decision. "Adam, I just can't do it anymore. Not with Molly, I can't stay here and I don't want you handing her off to be here and I don't want her to see this" she said shaking her head. "So you rather her watch you die?" I asked scared and angry. "Don't Adam please, it hurts too much" she said. I sat on the bed beside her. "After everything you've been through you're giving up?" I asked. She nodded, "I'm sorry Adam, I love you baby, so so much" she said softly. "What now?" I asked. She pulled out a paper, "I wrote this for you. Before you read it promise me you'll go back to Maroon 5. Promise me you'll write again, and perform and be happy. Promise me you'll move on and find someone to make you laugh and hold your hand when times get tough" she said. "I'll go back to the band but I can't promise I'll move on" I said shaking my head, "please I need you too. For you and Molly." I swallowed hard and nodded. "Say it" she said. "I promise I'll go back to the band and move on" I said reluctantly. We talked a while longer and Katie came in with the papers. "Can I go out for one last party?" she asked. Katie nodded.