The knock on the door brought her back to reality, she cursed as she lifted her legs from the bed, the pins and needles had returned and she wanted to scream.

She checked the peephole, "this should be fun" she said to herself before opening the door, "Mother" she greeted her as she stepped inside.

"This is lovely, seems you are more like me than I had previously thought" her eyes scanning the spacious suite, "what I don't understand is why you are here alone, where's that handsome husband of yours"

Kim finally made it to the couch, "I sent him away, which if you're not careful I will do to you as well" she took a cookie from the tray the hotel staff had sent up, "why are you here?" She wiped the crumbs from her hands, "Phil send you?"

"First off, I'd like to see you try and send me away, in case you haven't figured it out I'm not going anywhere" Elizabeth smiled warmly, "and yes your brother sent me, what's this 'I don't want to be a burden' mess all about?" she sat on the couch beside her, "my dear you are anything but a burden"

"Hey Adam, come meet your nephew" Amy said as she came up beside him, "your dad filled us in, don't sit out here alone. Please come in the room"

He looked up from his hands, "I don't know, Annie should be happy not concerned about me"

"Too late, and you're only making it worse by sitting in the corner" she pointed to where he had put himself, "you're like a little kid in time out, come on, do it for me, come see my grandson" she rubbed his shoulder, "she loves you Adam, she isn't thinking straight, she'll be home"

He stood up and wrapped his arm around her, "I love you, you know that" he smiled kissing the top of her head, "thanks for not giving up on me when I was a kid"

Annie held the sleeping infant in her arms, Derek sat beside her on the bed, "who does he look like to you?" She asked him, he had a full head of thick dark brown hair, and his eyes seemed to be blue, the nurse already warning them that his eyes could still change.

"I don't know he kinda looks like an old man, but he's a beautiful old man" Derek smiled holding the little boy's hand in his, "he's got big hands, he'll be a kick ass football player" he smiled.

"Adam!" Annie was relieved to see him, "come see my son" she smiled.

Adam nodded at Derek, "Little sister, you did good" he kissed her forehead, "what's his name?"

Everyone in the room laughed, "what?"

Derek stood up, "he doesn't have one yet, we can't agree on one"

"Just go with whatever she says" Adam pointed at Annie, "it's safer that way, though you'll learn that soon enough" he extended his hand "Congratulations Derek" he smiled as he and Derek shook hands.

He could see Annie wipe her eyes, "thank you" she mouthed, he smiled in return.

"I didn't say I was a burden" Kim told her, "listen, Adam has a stressful job, right? Do you realize he's up most mornings by four, he gets the kids up feeds them, bathes them and dresses them" she paused, "after that or while he's doing that he has to help me do all those things" her tears falling freely, "he leaves for work, spends all day at work and comes home only to have to start the process all over again, he's exhausted"

"And?" Elizabeth asked, she would allow Kim to come the conclusion on her own, she knew telling her wouldn't work.

"And, what?" Kim asked wiping her eyes, "damn it he shouldn't have to do all of those things. I want to be able to give my children a bath, cook for them, dress them! I want to take care of my husband, he deserves someone who can take care of him. I'm not that person anymore"

"You don't love him?"

"Of course I do. With everything I am, that's why I'm doing this. He would never walk away from me, I need to be the one walking" she laughed at the irony of her words "it's more of a limp actually" her voice flat.

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard anyone say, you know that?" Elizabeth told her, "that man would do anything for you, I mean it anything. You're just going to walk away from him and your children?"

"I don't want to, but they are better off without me" she whispered, "can you go, I want to be alone"

"No I won't--" she started to say.

"Please mother, just go. I'm tired" Kim told her, making her way to the bedroom.

Elizabeth left, she wasn't in the elevator long when she called Adam.

"Ruzek" he answered handing the baby back to Derek, "Hey Elizabeth, the kids okay?"

"They're fine, it's Kim I'm worried about" She exited when the doors opened, "I just left her hotel room, she's a mess"

He shrugged, "I know she is, but she won't let me help her" he went outside, "I don't know how many times I need to tell her that I love her regardless of her legs" he went out into the cool air, "can you keep the kids a bit longer, I'm going to head over to the hotel, my dad and stepmother are with my sister, she just had the baby"

"Thats wonderful, everyone doing well?"

"Mother and son are perfect, thanks. I will call you soon. Thanks again"

"Please don't give up on my daughter, Adam. You're the best thing that ever happened to her"

He smiled, "she's the best thing that ever happened to me, I won't give up on her"

Kim couldn't take the silence anymore, she shuffled her way to the bar. She spotted an empty barstool off to the corner of the bar, "a Cosmo please" she ordered smiling at the the bartender.

She watched as the crowd ebbed and flowed, surprised when someone approached her, she placed her cane under the bar out of the man's line of vision.

"Seat taken?" He asked before sitting, he extended his hand "I'm Seth"

She smiled, "Kim" she slid her empty glass to the side, "here on business?" She asked, she couldn't believe what she was doing "I'm here for an interview" shocked as she lied.

"Can I get a jack and coke, and a refill for my friend" Seth asked the bartender, passing her the drink when it arrived "I'm here for a trade convention, sucks but looks as if I may have found an unexpected surprise" he winked at her.

"Listen, I gotta go. Elizabeth is worried about Kim, I want to talk to her see if I can't convince her to come home" he leaned over the baby's bassinet "see you little man Uncle Adam loves you" he kissed the baby's head, "I'm proud of you little sister, he's perfect" he kissed her forehead, "he needs a name, Adam is a good one you know" he smiled as he headed for the door.

"Adam, she needs you" Annie smiled, "and his name isn't Adam"

"Bye guys" Adam waved as he left.

Kim could feel a buzz from the drinks, she hadn't eaten much and was feeling it for sure. It was nice not being treated as if she were glass, she couldn't help it. It was nice feeling normal again.

"So, an interview, eh?" Seth asked as he moved the bar stool closer to hers, his hand falling on her thigh "if I was doing the interview, the job would be yours already" his other hand brushing her cheek.

Adam waited as the elevator started climbing, he wasn't leaving without his wife, he had already decided she was coming home.  As the doors opened he stepped out and noticed the housekeeping cart in the doorway.

"Excuse me?" He tapped the maid on her shoulder, "my wife Kim, do you know where she is?"

"Yes sir, she's down stairs at the bar" she replied, Adam was shocked.

"Okay, thanks" he went back in the elevator.

"That's funny" Kim laughed as she listened to Seth's story, it was unbelievably easy to make up another life, one that didn't include her being an invalid.

Adam could hear her laughter echo through the nearly deserted bar, he spotted her at the bar, a little too close to another man.

Rage filled him as he watched his hand travel up her leg, he was at the bar in seconds pulling him up by his shirt collar and tossing him the the floor.

"Who the fuck are you, guy?" Seth asked as he stood up.

"Her fucking husband" he said through gritted teeth, "what the hell is wrong with you, he's got his hand all over you?"

"Stop Adam" her words slurred.

"You're drunk? What the hell is wrong with you?" He asked, Seth grabbing his arm, "get your hands off me"

"I think you need to leave her alone" Seth told him.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me, it's obvious she doesn't want you here" Seth told him.

"Fuck you man" Adam said before punching him, a security guard rushing over.

"Adam stop it!" Kim yelled as the two fought, knocking tables over.

Another guard came over and helped  separate the two, "you need to leave sir" he told Adam, "before I call the police"

Adam pulled his badge out, "go ahead call them" he wiped the blood from his face on his sleeve, he reached for Kim, "let's go!"

"No Adam, I'm going up to my room" she felt horrible, she couldn't stand to look at him and see the pain in his eyes.

"Whatever" he turned to leave, stopping just before the door, "just so you know, my sister had the baby, a little boy" he looked at his hand, his knuckles already swollen he was sure it was broken, "don't do this Kim" he whispered before leaving.

Seth grabbed her hand, "you alright? He seems like a real douchebag" he told her.

She pulled her hand from his, "I'm sorry, this was a mistake. This whole thing, he's my husband, he's my world" she could feel tears well in her eyes, "I'm sorry" she grabbed the cane and made her way to the elevator.

Adam parked the truck in front of Kim's parents house, the last thing he wanted to do was have to tell them what had just happened. It was almost impossible to not tell them, his hand was obviously broken and his eye cut.

He knocked on the door, Daniel answering.

"The kids just fell asleep, they can stay" Daniel told him, once Adam stepped inside he noticed his face, "what happened?"

Adam played with his wedding ring, "I don't want to talk about it, are you sure about them staying?" He asked, "I will get them first thing in the morning"

"Absolutely, is it Kim? Is she okay"

"I don't know, I really don't want to talk about it, please" Adam turned, "tell my kids I love them"

He drove aimlessly, somehow ending up at his parents house, he knocked on the door.

"Adam what happened to your face?" Amy asked as he stepped inside.

"I got into a bar fight" he told her.

Amy nearly laughed, "you're joking, what really happened?"

"I wish I was joking, I went to see my wife and she was at the bar with some asshole who had his hands all over her" he was angry all over again, "I could have killed him, he had the balls to tell me to leave her alone"

"Honey, I'm so sorry" she hugged him "what can we do?"

"Nothing, I don't know if there is anything anyone can do" he sat down his hand throbbing, "can I get some ice"

She took his hand, "you need an an X-ray, Bob, take him please" she asked, "Adam, don't give up on her, she loves you."

"Everyone keeps telling me that, but I don't know"

Bob grabbed his keys, "let's go, I will drive"

Kim wanted to call him to tell him how sorry she was, that she wished she could take it all back. She hated herself, she was no better than Wendy and how she had treated him before she died.  She took her cane and started smacking it against the nightstand sending the lamp falling to the ground and shattering.

Adam's hand was broken, once it was placed in the splint they started to leave the hospital, "wait a second, let's go see your sister's baby" Bob suggested, "he will make you smile"

They made their way up to the nursery, Adam was pleased to see the the tightened security after what had happened to Harper, "Dad can we just go please?" He wasn't in the mood.

"No, you need to see him. Remind you what you're fighting for" the nurse wheeled his bassinet to the front, "you remember the night Anthony was born, and how lost you felt?"

"Yea" Adam couldn't help but smile at his nephew.

"Who saved you that night?"

"Kim did, you know that"

Bob smiled, "Son, it's time to return the favor. She's lost, you need to fight like hell for her. Just the same way she fought for you, you owe her" Bob put his hand on Adam's back.

"I didn't hook up with some chick at a bar dad, that ass had his hands all over her" Adam muttered, "do you know how much that hurt?"

Bob nodded, "Adam, she's hurting too, don't turn your back on her. Do for her what she did for you"

"Names, let's go. Our son needs one" Annie said as she flipped through the pages, "you're totally against Derek Junior?"

"Yes, he needs his own name" Derek responded. "A good name, one that'll look good on a football card"

She laughed, " don't get your hopes up, being a cop is in his blood" she smiled, "I would like to work my dad's name in somehow"

"We can name him Robert if you want, I kind of like it" Derek told her "we could call him Bobby?"

"I don't know. I was thinking more of the middle name, like you said he needs a name all his own"

"You tell me, what you want" Derek told her "your brother and I seem to have made a connection huh?"

"I told you he would come around" she smiled, "I hope things are okay for him and Kim, I can't believe she checked into a hotel"

"Andrew?" Derek said.

"What?"

"Our son's name, we could call him Drew. It's a great name, just think about it. Starting quarterback for the Bears, Drew Madison" he smiled "sounds great, doesn't it?"

"Andrew Robert Madison, I love it" she told him.

"Awesome, I will fill the paperwork out"

"Where are the kids?" Bob asked as they drove off.

Adam leaned his head against the window, "they're staying with Elizabeth and Daniel, I'm glad I don't think I have it in me to explain where their mother is. Jesus, Dad what the hell is she thinking"

"She's not" Bob smiled at him, "she's always been an independent person and now she's dependent on you for everything. It's as if she's a child, she needs your help with everything, and now she's been told it may not get better. She's scared"

Adam groaned, "if you say so" he couldn't get the image of some other guy's hands all over her, "she looked a little too comfortable at that bar, like she was enjoying it"

"Don't be an asshole son, you know that isn't the case" Bob told him "she isn't enjoying any of this, she hasn't enjoyed much the last eight months" he parked the car.

"None of us have Dad, none of us" Adam got out of his father's car, "I'm going home"

"Don't go home, stay here" Bob told him not wanting him to be alone, "Amy will love having you"

"I'm fine" he got in the truck and drove off.

"Grandpa, I'm hungry!" Anthony whined, "when is daddy coming?" He asked for the hundredth time that morning, "and where's mommy?"

Daniel handed him the donut "don't tell mommy, or Grandma" he winked, "you want one too Harper?"

"Please" she responded, "such a sweet girl, just like your mommy" he put the donut on her napkin. "Eat up, your daddy should be here soon" he checked his watch it was nearly eleven and he was starting to worry they had expected him around eight.

"Do you think we should call him?" Elizabeth asked, her phone in hand already, "never mind I'm going to call him"

She dialed the number and disappointed when it went straight to voicemail, "his phone is off, I'm worried" she sat down beside the children, "I will try Amy, maybe she's spoken to him"

Adam's head was pounding when he finally opened his eyes, sunlight filled the unusual room, he rubbed his eyes. The splint reminding him of the previous night, "son of a bitch" he muttered searching for his phone, quickly realizing it was off.

He suddenly heard a woman's voice, call him from the kitchen.

Kim stared at the room, she laughed at the destruction she had caused once she had started she found it impossible to stop. She had already placed a call to the hotel manager to let him know about it and her promise to cover all repairs and then some. She was trying to work up the courage to call Adam, but was afraid of how he would react, his pain was evident last night. She hated that she was the cause of it and would never forgive herself for hurting him.

Annie was feeding Drew when Bob and Amy arrived, "hi, Dad, Amy" she smiled, "your grandson has a name" she smiled, "where's Adam, I was hoping he would come with you"

"He went home last night, hopefully he'll be here soon, and Kim will be with him" Bob told her leaving out what Adam had found when he went to the hotel, "where's Derek?"

"Food run, he is tired of eating from a vending machine" she handed Drew to Amy, "you want to know his name?"

"Of course" Amy replied, Bob rubbing the baby's foot, "tell us!"

"Meet Andrew Robert Madison, also known as Drew" she smiled, "do you like it?"

Bob smiled from ear to ear, "I love it, it's a great name"

"It's perfect" Amy said, her phone ringing, she handed Drew to Bob, "hello?. No I haven't, hang on a second" she took the phone away from her ear, "Bob have you spoken to Adam at all? It's Kim's mom he was supposed to pick the kids up this morning and she can't get ahold of him"

"No, last I spoke with him was last night after we finished up at the hospital, he told me he was going home" Bob told her, he noticed confusion on Annie's face "I will fill you in"

"Please call me if you hear from him, and I will  do the same" Amy said as she hung up and sat in a chair, "where the hell is he?"

"Dad what happened, why was Adam at the hospital last night?"

Bob sighed, "Adam and Kim had a misunderstanding last night and Adam ended up in a fight, he broke his hand. It's going to work out, try not to worry"

"Well where is he now?" Annie asked, "you need to find him"

He heard her say his name again, he sat up on the couch and pulled his shirt over his head and followed the voice.

"Son of a bitch" he was shocked to see her sitting at the table.

"Headache?" She asked as she passed him a coffee mug, "it's black, it should help"