A Midsummer Storm

Chapter 12

A few months had gone by since "the bar incident", as Austin called it, and Chance could see a little change in Adam. He talked a little more with the rest of the group. Not nearly as much as he did with Tim, of course, but even short conversations were much better than when they had first taken him in. The blond didn't flinch when Tim touched him. The biker leader would drape his arm over his shoulders while they were sitting on the couch and Adam wouldn't react or would scoot closer to Tim.

Adam had been so overjoyed at the bucket of parts to look at and play with he'd flung himself into Tim's arms, draping his arms around the brunette's neck, taking everyone, including Tim, aback. He never showed this kind of emotion before. Tim chuckled and slid his arms around Adam's waist in return. The look on Adam's face was all that Chance and Austin had needed. The pure joy on his face made them both happy.

One evening, as Adam couldn't concentrate on anything he was trying to study, the blond decided he needed to talk to Tim. He hated it but he knew in order for him to get those images, get rid of the nightmares, and all the negative thoughts and feelings he still carried with him out, he would need some help.

"Uh, Tim...can we talk? You said if I needed someone to talk to..." Adam trailed.

"I'm always here, cutie. What do you wanna talk about?" Tim set his book aside so he could give Adam his full, undivided attention.

"I... (Adam looked away) ...I like when we kiss. But then all these images come to my mind and it freaks me out. (He teared up as he spoke) It's why I always pull away." Adam furrowed his brows.

"But?" Tim's eyebrows, pulse and heart rate all shot up.

"Well, I don't know how to deal with that. How to make all those images go away. How to stop freaking out like that." Adam's face heated up as he avoided looking at Tim, "And... I was thinking a while back about what you said about attraction. I... (Adam's face turned deep red) ...like looking at you, watching you. I find your voice very soothing. Is...is that attraction?"

"Well, being attracted to someone simply means you find them interesting or pleasing in some way and you like them because of that. Attraction can be based on personality, looks, or both." Tim did his best to explain.

"Oh." Adam looked down.

"Don't worry about asking these types of questions, Adam. I'm not going to make fun of you." Tim gave a warm smile to fidgety blond, "To answer your question, it sounds like attraction, yes."

"So...we are attracted to one another?" Adam raised his eyebrow.

"It would seem so." Tim's eyes twinkled as the corners of his mouth upturned.

Adam's face turned a deep red once more as he tried to hide behind his hair.

"I like...when we're...close." Adam pulled his brows together again, "At night."

"You mean when we're cuddling? (Adam nodded his head) Me too, cutie." Tim watched Adam's face, "I like holding you. It makes me feel like I'm somehow protecting you."

"It makes me feel...wanted. And safe." Adam swallowed the lump that wanted to choke him, "It makes me feel...cared for."

"You are, Adam. Very much so." Tim smiled at him, "Would you consider seeing an actual counselor? Maybe they could help you better than I. They would know what to do. I don't want to make things worse for you."

"I...I..." Adam shook his head.

"Ok, can I try an experiment? I promise no harm will come to you." Tim gently rubbed Adam's back.