EIGHT MONTHS LATER

"I'm so damn sick of this fucking cane" Kim yelled as Phil helped her into the car, "I swear I'm going to shove it up my husband's ass the next time he tells me to be patient"

Phil gripped the steering wheel hoping to avoid her wrath, "hopefully Dr.Lee will have some good news, you had an MRI, right?"

"Yea" she adjusted in the seat, "physical therapy is awful you know, and I want to be able to carry my daughter, she's almost two. She's not going to want to be carried around soon, Anthony doesn't."

"I do, Kim, Adam's right it's all going to come back. You'll be running again before you know it" he turned into the parking lot, "hey how's Annie doing, she's due soon, right?"

"I like how you changed the subject, just a few weeks now. She's ready to deliver I know that"

"And Derek and Adam how's that?"

"Nothing's really changed, other they can occupy the same space without someone needing to restrain Adam, only speak to each other if it's necessary. It's stressful when they're both together, I'm hoping once the baby comes it will change" she wasn't holding her breath though, things between her and Adam had also been tense. Though she was the cause of that, her recovery hadn't gone as expected and having only regained some sensation in her legs had been frustrating, Adam always doing or saying the wrong thing.

"How is Adam?"

"He's fine" she undid her seatbelt and opened the door and tried to get out.

"Hold on, I'm coming" Phil told her as he went around to the passengers side "you shouldn't be so hard on yourself, you know"

"Please don't you start" she told him as helped her stand, her legs shaking, "I'm tired of this!"

"I know Kimmy" he supported her elbow, "it's going to get better"

Adam pounded the heavy bag, Kim's words from this morning still ringing in his ears, she accused him of treating her like a invalid. "Damn it!" He yelled as he punched it one last time.

"Ruzek, who pissed in your Cheerios?" Antonio asked as he exited his office, "everything okay?"

Adam smiled, "Kim's just over it, you know" he sat down on the corner of the boxing ring, "she's still struggling with walking, her legs are pretty weak and she hasn't regained full sensation yet"

"I thought the doctors said she would, that her injury wasn't permanent" Antonio tossed him a bottle of water from the fridge.

"They did. It's just taking longer than they expected and my wife isn't the most patient person in the world" he twisted the cap and took a sip.

"Not unlike yourself, right?"

"Yea I know. It's just I can't do anything right lately, shit I don't even breathe the correct way" he told him, "I picked out the wrong outfit and bow for Harper this morning and she flipped out, somehow that turned into me treating her like an invalid" he stood up, "Antonio I love that woman more than life itself, I would move heaven and earth for her, but she's killing me"

"I know you do. Just think how hard it is for her, she still can't hold the kids right?"

"Nope, they sit in her lap but it isn't the same. Anthony wants her to play soccer with him and she can't, Harper is always in motion and Kim can't even attempt to keep up"

"Just love her man, when she pushes you away, refuse to budge" Antonio shook his hand, "when you're pissed come here, find someone to spar with"

"I just may take you up on that" Adam smiled.

"Your sister's fiancé is here a lot, maybe you can spar with him" he joked.

"Don't tempt me Dawson, that would kill two birds with one stone" Adam laughed, "can I ask you something?"

"Shoot"

"What's your vibe on Derek, he good people?" Adam needed someone without prejudice to give their opinion on Derek, "I'm having a hard time dealing with him, I know it's killing my sister and I hate it"

"He's a good kid. He made a mistake but he's paid for it and he's busting his hump to do right by your sister, he works here nights and weekends"

"Thanks Dawson"

"Dr Lee, I'm getting tired of waiting" Kim said as she sat on the exam table, she watched as he read the films.

"I hate to say this but I think it's time we start considering that this may be as good as it gets" he removed his eye glasses, "your MRI didn't show any inflammation, and I don't see a reason as to why you haven't regained complete sensation"

Kim wanted to cry, she was glad Phil had come in with her, "you're kidding? You said my spinal cord was intact, that it was just swelling causing everything. If the swelling is gone shouldn't I be better"

"I'm sorry, I can't say. Let's continue with the PT and keep our fingers crossed, I want see you back here in six weeks" he left the room.

"Are you alright?" Phil asked her, "do you want me to call Adam?"

"No, I want you to take me to a hotel" she put her shoes back on "I need some time alone"

"You're kidding, right? Kimmy, a hotel?"

"If you won't I'll call a cab" she grabbed her cane and walked unsteadily to the door, "I mean it Phil"

"Fine, lets go"

They drove to the hotel in silence,  once at the concierge desk Kim booked the room, almost flipping out on the man when he suggested a handicapped accessible room. Finally settling on a suite with its own private elevator.

"Are you going to call Adam?" Phil asked as helped her in the room, "he deserves to know what's going on"

"You can go now, and don't you dare tell Adam where I am" Kim said, ignoring his attempt to hug her.

As soon as the door closed she broke down, she sat on the couch and cried.

"Boss, my brother in law just texted me, can I step out for a few. He's downstairs" Adam asked he knew Kim had a doctors appointment that morning "she had a doctors appointment I'm a little worried"

"Of course, Ruzek" Hank told him "I hope it went well"

"You and me both boss, you and me both" Adam went downstairs, finding Phil in a vacant office. "What's up?"

"You might want to close the door" he said softly, "Kim's going to kill me when she finds out I told you this" he sat on the desk.

Adam was confused, "Phil, what the hell is going on?" He felt a knot form in his gut, "did something happen at the doctor?"

Phil sighed, "the doctor said that she needed to consider that this could be the best it gets, that it's not going to improve"

Adam felt sick, he slumped down in a chair, his head in his hands "where is she now? Did you take her home?"

"That's just it, Adam. She demanded I take her to a hotel, that if I didn't she would just call a cab, so I took her" he stood up, "I didn't want her getting in a cab, I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry"

"Son of a bitch, what hotel is she at?"

"The Ritz"

"Thanks, I need to go" Adam left the office he ran up the stairs quickly explained to Hank what was going on and grabbed his keys and flew out of the district.

He explained who he was to the concierge and showed his badge in order to be granted access to the suite.

He knocked on the door, and waited for what seemed like forever.

She knew it as soon as he knocked, "thanks for nothing Phil" she muttered as she made her way to the door, she opened the door, "What?"

"You're kidding, right? What the hell Kim?" Adam said, he made his way inside, Kim stumbling as she headed towards the couch, he reached out grab her elbow "let me help"

She backed away from his touch, he deserved better "I don't need help, besides I need to get used to it, don't I? I'm sure my brother filled you in" she snapped, "he shouldn't have told you I was here"

"I'm glad he did, it's pretty fucking obvious you didn't plan on telling me" Adam felt hurt, "what's this for" he waved his hands, "why are you here and not at home?"

She turned away from him, "because I'm useless, you and the kids shouldn't have to put up with me" she was tired of depending on Adam for so much, and poor Anthony had turned into her 'gopher' she was constantly asking him to get something, bring something or some variation "please just go" she told him.

"Kim, don't do this, it's silly. I don't care if your legs don't get improve, please come home" he tried to get her to face him, she recoiled from his touch.

"Don't make me call security Adam, because I will" she felt her eyes fill with tears, "you deserve better than me, Adam"

"What the hell does that mean? What are you saying?"

"Just go!"

Adam went to her, "I mean it Adam, go. Please"

"Fine, but I will be back. I won't let you do this, not to me or our kids" he wanted to throw up, "I love you"

The door was barely closed when Kim burst into tears, she hated pushing him away but she needed to be by herself for a bit, she couldn't stand the way Adam had looked at her since the accident the pity in his eyes. He was always falling over himself to help her do the smallest of tasks, she hated not being able to properly care for her children. Adam had to do everything, she couldn't stand up for more than a few minutes at a time before her legs would scream in pain. It wasn't fair, he spent all day at work and came home only to take care of her and the kids. Annie had been helping but she was due any day now and hadn't been able to help.

Adam pounded his fist on the steering wheel, he had been blindsided and he didn't know what to do. He didn't know what he would tell the kids, he wanted to hit someone, he called Antonio.

"Someone available for me to spar with?" He asked, "my wife left me"

"What the hell?" Antonio asked, "why?"

"Her injury may be permanent, her head is all fucked up. I just need to hit someone, something. I don't know" he rubbed his forehead.

"I will go a few rounds with you. She loves you Adam, just be patient with her"

Annie felt a sharp pain, shoot across her lower abdomen, that on top of the constant back pain had her uncomfortable, finally she called out "Derek, I'm not sure but I think I might be in labor"

"What? Are you sure?" Derek panicked, "do we need to go to the hospital?"

"I think so, we need to call my family" Annie told him, she grabbed the hospital bag and followed him to the car.

Amy jumped as soon as the phone rang, she had just settled an argument between Anthony and Harper. Anthony had been a handful since Kim had come home from the hospital, "hi Annie, oh my goodness" she said realizing she still had Adam's children "I will be at the hospital as soon as I find someone to keep Adam's two, okay?"

"Thanks for this" Adam said as he removed the boxing gloves, "I'm pretty sure you went easy on me" he smiled.

"Yea, I did. Don't get used to it though, that was just me being nice" he patted his arm, "don't let her push you away Adam, she needs you now more than ever"

Adam checked his phone to see if she had called, disappointed to find she hadn't. He had a text from Amy informing him that Annie was in labor and at the hospital, Kim's parents had picked the kids up.

He raced to the hospital, he was dreading them asking about Kim, he didn't want to ruin Annie's day. He spotted Derek in the parking lot, and approached him, "how's Annie?" He asked.

Derek smiled at him "she's great, I'm the one who's a wreck. Does the fear go away?" He asked, his hands shaking.

"Nope, it doesn't. I'm still terrified, but you deal with it. Children are great, I know my kids love you, Kim says you're great with them" he offered his hand "how about we turn over a new leaf, start fresh?"

Derek shook his hand, "I would like that, Annie too"

They walked into the hospital room together, "Hey little sister, how are you?" He asked hoping no one would ask about Kim, he was holding it together as best he could.

"I'm better now, they gave me the good stuff" she smiled, "where's my sister in law, I need her here for this"

Adam jammed his hands in his pockets, "we're having some issues, but nothing for you to worry about" he told her "excuse me" he needed out of the room before he fell apart in front of everyone.

"Is he okay?" Annie asked, "Dad, go check on him"

Bob searched for him, finding him sitting in the corner, his face buried in his hands. He took the chair beside him, "Adam, what's going on? Why isn't Kim here?"

"She left me dad, she's staying at a hotel. She thinks we deserve better" almost laughing at how insane it sounded "the doctor said she may not recover any more, that this might be permanent"

"Oh no" Bob said softly.

"Dad, I don't care. Why doesn't she see that?"

"I don't know son, give her some time. She'll come around" Bob told him, "she loves you and those kids too much to stay away"

"I'm just gonna stay out here, come tell me when the baby is here, okay?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yea. Do me a favor don't tell Annie, I don't want her worrying about me" Adam smiled, "this is her and Derek's day"

"Adam, she's already worried about you"

"Tell her I'm fine"

Kim was miserable, she hated the idea of never being able to run and play with her children, like she used to. She hated the idea of missing her runs with Adam, nothing would be the same, she would need Adam for everything. He didn't deserve to have to do it all, it wasn't fair and she wouldn't ask him to do it. That was why she needed to stay at the hotel, as much as it hurt her she refused to burden him.

It had been hours, Adam didn't budge from the seat. He heard his dad hooting and hollering, as he came down the hallway, "It's a boy Adam, he's healthy and beautiful!"

Adam smiled, "that's great Dad, listen tell Annie and Derek I said congratulation" he hugged him, "I need to see my kids, I don't know what I'm gonna tell them though"

"Why would she leave him?" Annie asked Bob when he returned, "that's bullshit, Adam would do anything for her and she knows it" she lowered her voice when she noticed the baby was asleep in Derek's arms, "I'm calling her, what hotel is she at?"

"You're not calling her now, not when you're angry" he told her "plus it's late, she thinks she's doing what's best for your brother, she's hurting as badly as he is, remember that"

"Does the newest member of our family have a name?" Amy asked trying to change the subject.

------Authors Note-------

This will be it for a few days, the weekends seem to be the best time for me to update. This baby needs a name, feel free to make suggestions for me.

As always, thanks for reading!

-Kristi