Title: Save Me
By: Jaxson K.
Pairing: Don/Adam & Adam/Mac
Rating: R
Warnings: physical abuse & dark!Mac
Summary: Don helps a friend and it turns into more.

***

Don and Adam sat in the break room at the lab talking. Don was hoping for just such a chance not just because he had a crush on the lab tech, but more because Adam had seemed withdrawn.....

"Now remember what I said. If you need anything, or just somebody to talk to, I'm there, okay?"

"Sure, Don. I appreciate that."

"All right, buddy! Gotta go. See ya later?"

"Maybe....."

With that, Don got up and left the break room. Adam sat there fighting to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. If Don only knew how Adam really felt. Adam had the feeling that life with Don would be so much better than his current situation. With that thought, Adam left the break room to get back to work.

Later that night, Don sat alone thinking about Adam. He knew it was useless to keep pining over the guy because Adam was with Mac. Don wished a million times that he'd gotten there first. He wasn't sure what it was, but he knew something was going on with Adam. Adam used to be a bit shy, but that was no big thing. Now he seemed withdrawn and scared all the time. Don vowed to do his best to figure out what was going on. After watching the evening news, Don went to bed.

Around 2:30, Don woke with a start. He could hear a noise coming from the living room. It was like a faint scratching sound on the front door. Don got up to see what the noise was. He turned on the living room light and looked through the spy hole in the door. He didn't see anything but decided to check and make sure. Don was not prepared for the sight that greeted him when he opened the door. Adam was sitting on the floor leaning against the wall covered in blood.

"Adam? What the hell?"

Don helped Adam stand and got him into the apartment. Don guided Adam to the kitchen table and got him set down. He got some paper towels and started trying to wipe away some of the blood. Adam flinched a lot and kept trying to pull away from Don. Don kept having to tell Adam to be still. Don went into the bathroom and got some alcohol and peroxide to use on some of the deeper cuts and scratches. That set off a whole new round of flinching and pulling away.

Once Don got Adam reasonably cleaned up, he began to ask the questions that were weighing heavy on his mind......

"Adam, what happened?"

"I didn't get dinner ready on time, and I accidentally broke a plate. Mac got mad and I got punished for making him angry..."

"You're telling me this happened over a late meal and a broken dish?'

"Yes..."

"That's not all there is to it....."

Adam put his head down and Don could see tears running own Adam's face.

"Adam?"

"Mac saw us talking at work today and he accused me of trying to sleep with you....."

"Adam, how long had this been going on?"

"About a year or so...off and on."

"Mac's been doing this to you for nearly the whole time you've been with him?"

"Yes..."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I was scared. He told me that if I said anything that he'd make sure I never told anybody anything else."

Don sat there for a moment, thinking about what Adam had just told him. This was bad.

Don left Adam at the table and went to start a hot bath for Adam. He knew that soaking in a hot bath would ease some of the soreness in Adam's muscles. He went back to the kitchen and helped Adam to the bathroom. Don helped him get undressed and into the tub. Adam lay back and began to relax as the hot water began to work its' magic. Adam thought about his situation and began to cry. Mac had made sure to tell Adam that he wasn't coming back, and that he might as well go live with Don since that's the one he wanted. Adam didn't know what to do, and he sue couldn't figure anything out right now. Maybe he could get some sleep and figure things out tomorrow.

His thoughts were interrupted by Don tapping on the bathroom door. Adam sat up in the water as Don brought him some towels and a pair of boxers.....

"The boxers might be a bit tight since you are a bit bigger in the waist, but I think they'll do."

"Thank you, Don....."

"When you get dressed, come to my room across the hall, and we'll get you settled down for some sleep."

***

Adam timidly made his way to Don's bedroom. Not so much because he was shy, but because he was in pain. Don gave him two aspirin and told him to take them and get into bed. Adam argued that he couldn't take Don's bed, and that he could sleep on the couch. Don said that he was taking the couch and Adam was taking the bed. End of discussion!

After getting into the bed and just before Don left the room, Adam began to cry.....

"Don?"

"Yes..."

"Would you mind saying? At least until I fall asleep?

Adam's request was so sad that it tugged at Don's heart strings.....

"Sure, buddy....."

Don walked over and sat down on the side of the bed. Adam shyly reached over and took Don's hand.....

"I want to thank you for being so kind to me. I'm sorry that I showed up like I did. I just didn't know where else to go."

"Don't worry about that at all, Adam. Remember what I told you about being there if you ever needed me? Well, here I am....."

"I'm glad, Don, cause I got a feeling that I'm gonna need somebody in the worst way before this is all said and done."

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Now, get some sleep."

Adam turned over and soon drifted off to sleep. Don stretched out on the other side of the bed, but sleep was much harder for him to obtain. A thousand things went through his mind, but the one thought that kept coming back was how much he wanted to get his hands on Mac Taylor.

The next morning, Don got up trying to shower and dress without waking Adam. Since he was off that day, he hadn't made any plans, but with this development , he hoped to get some answers. Adam woke up not knowing where he was. When he realized he was in Don Flack's bed he got a bit embarrassed. He got up and made his way to the bathroom for a much-needed pee. When he finished, he made his way toward the kitchen where he smelled fresh coffee. Don looked up when Adam walked into the room and instead of saying "Good Morning...", Don's jaw dropped and he said, "Son of a bitch....."

Adam was startled and stopped short just inside the kitchen door.....

"What is it, Don?"

"Oh, Adam.....Go look in the mirror on the back of the bedroom door..."

Adam did what Don told him to, and was horrified to see the bruises on his chest, stomach, and face. He could only imagine what his backside looked like. His face was the worst. He had a black eye, a split lip, and various cuts and bruises. He went into the bathroom and washed his face. Don stood in the bathroom doorway.....

"I want to know if you'll be okay by yourself long enough to go out for a while?"

"I guess so....."

"Okay. There some coffee and sweet rolls in the kitchen. I'll be back as soon as I can."

With that, Don turned and Adam heard the front door close. Adam went to the kitchen and had some coffee. While he was having his coffee, a hundred thoughts swirled around in his head. He wondered where Don was going and why Don was being so kind, he wondered about the lab, and he wondered what he was going to do next.....

***

Don arrived back at the apartment about an hour later weighed down with bags and packages. When he got inside, he called out to Adam. Adam came in from the bedroom looking sleepy.......

"What is is it, Don?"

"I need some help with this stuff, please..."

The two set about separating the packages. Adam took the food to the kitchen and Don took the other things to the bedroom. When Don came back, he asked Adam to come with him to the bedroom. Adam went to the bedroom to find two outfits on the bed.....

"Don, what's all this?"

"Well, I thought that since your other clothes got ruined, and all you had was a pair of my boxers, I thought I'd get you some more clothes."

Adam looked at the clothes and began to cry....

"Adam, if you don't like them, I can take them back....."

"You don't understand, Don. I don't feel deserving of the all the kindness you've shown me already....."

"Hey, you do deserve this!"

When Don said that, he was "talking with his hands", and when he raised his hand, Adam flinched. Don saw the reaction and pulled Adam into his arms.....

"Adam, I'm so sorry. I was not going to hit you....."

Adam said nothing but stood there shaking......

"I know that, Don. I don't think you would ever do anything to hurt me. It's just that old habits die hard."

"I understand..."

"I also don't know how I'm going to pay you back. I talked to Stella while you were gone, and Mac fired me. Told Stella that if I came to the lab that I was to be escorted out by security."

"That son of a bitch! Why?"

"He told Stella that I screwed up some tests on a case...That's the 'official' version. You and I know the real reason."

Don told Adam to try on his new clothes. While Adam was doing that, Don went to the living room to make some calls. Adam sat on the side of the bed wearing one of his new outfits. Everything fit perfectly, even the underwear! Adam was a bit concerned because he'd always had a bit of a crush on Don, and these crazy feelings he was feeling confused him. Was it gratitude for everything Don had done for him, or was it something more? He knew he should be concentrating on getting well and getting on with his life, but all these funny feeling came up when Don was around. He was almost positive Don didn't feel the same. He didn't know what to do.

Don knocked on the bedroom door. He opened the door and whistled in appreciation.....

"Looking good, Adam!"

Adam blushed and said, "You did an excellent job with the sizes. Everything fits perfectly, even the underwear!"

"I'm glad that stuff fit. I had to guess at some of that stuff."

Adam reached out and hugged Don and thanked him again. Don was in heaven for those few brief seconds. It was all he could do not to try and kiss Adam......

While they were having a late breakfast, Don told Adam that he had solved Adam's employment problem. One of the calls he made was to the captain at his precinct. There was a position coming open in communications, and Don asked the captain to hold the position because he had someone who would be perfect. The captain agreed, and told Don the guy could start the following week. While on the phone, Don asked if he could take a few of his vacation days. The captain agreed and told him he would see him the following week. Adam was beside himself. Things were starting to look up.

Don was excited to see Adam looking happy, and it gave him a secret thrill to know that he had made it possible. He knew he'd do whatever it took to make Adam happy not just because Adam was a friend, but because was finally admitting to himself that he was in love with Adam.....

***

The two men spent the next couple of days taking care of various chores and Don took Adam to the precinct to get the paperwork done on his new position. Adam met his supervisor and everything was put in order. There was a very tense couple of moments when they were leaving. Don's supervisor was asking him about a current case and Adam decided to wait on the side walk. As he exited the building, he looked around and there was Mac not 50 feet away from him. Mac had his back to Adam and was talking on his cell. Adam instantly panicked. As luck would have it, Don came out of the building just then and quickly assessed the situation. He took Adam by the arm and quickly steered him in the other direction.

They caught a cab and went back to Don's. Once they were inside the apartment, Don hugged Adam and asked if he were okay. Adam said he would be alright......

"Adam, why don't you go lay down for a while?"

"Don, I'm alright....."

"Come on, babe, do it for me..."

"Okay..."

Adam made his way to the bedroom and lay down on the bed. He couldn't stop thinking about Don calling him "babe". Did he mean it? Adam sure hoped he did. He was going to have to find out.

Meanwhile, Don sat on the fire escape smoking a cigarette. He was mentally kicking himself for calling Adam "babe". He knew that sooner or later he and Adam were going to have to talk about this because he was finding it harder and harder to hide his feelings. He wanted to take care of Adam, be there for him, keep people from hurting him, and most importantly, love him. Don had been alone for a long time, and he liked how Adam made him feel.

Don's thoughts were interrupted by Adam's voice. Don went toward the bedroom and could hear Adam begging Mac to stop hitting, that he was sorry, that he wouldn't do it again. Don rushed to the bed and gathered Adam in his arms.....

"Adam, shhhhhh, baby, I got you....Adam?"

Adam clung to Don in terror. He was shaking like a leaf, but was was starting to calm down a bit with Don holding him.....

"Don, he was coming to get me..."

"No, baby, Mac's not coming to get you...you're safe."

"Are you sure, Don?"

"Yes, baby, I promise....."

They sat there on the bed with Don hugging Adam much longer than necessary. Adam was enjoying the feel of Don's arms around him, and Don was enjoying the feeling of having Adam in his arms. Don was the first to move, easing off the bed so he could go to the bathroom. When he came back to the bedroom, he found Adam laying on the bed crying softly.....

"Adam, what's wrong?"

"I'm trying to work some things out in my head....."

"Like what?"

Adam didn't say anything. He sat up on the bed and motioned for Don to come sit next to him......

"Don, there's something I want to talk to you about....."

***

Don walked over and sat down next to Adam on the bed. Adam took a deep breath and started to talk.....

"Don, I need to tell you something, but I'm afraid to. This has been building up for quite a while, and I just can't keep it from you anymore...."

"What it is , Adam?"

"I want to be with you. I want you to be my man."

Don's heart skipped a beat and tears came to his eyes.....

"If you aren't interested, I understand. Look, just forget I said anything."

Adam started to get up off the bed, but Don stopped him. He looked up at Adam with tears streaming down his face and said,"Adam, you don't know how long I've wanted to hear you say those words to me. I've loved you for a long time but I didn't say anything because of Mac and the fact that I was afraid you wouldn't want me."

Adam was stunned to hear Don's confession. He really didn't know Don had loved him for that long. He was relieved to know that Don felt the same way about him, and he hoped that they could have a future together.....

"I had no idea, Don. I want you to know that I will do my very best to be a good partner to and not screw up too badly....."

"Adam, don't worry about that. All you have to worry about is loving me and staying by my side. I want this to last forever.....

Hearing that made Adam cry. He fell to his knees in front of Don and looked up at him.....

"Don, I promise I will do my very best to be the best companion I can to you. All I want to do is be with you and love you..."

Don looked down at Adam and said,"That's all I'll ever ask of you, and I promise to do everything I can to keep you happy. Will you be with me?"

"Yes, I will...."

Don leaned down and kissed Adam. Adam stood up and they lay down across the bed. They began to gently kiss and made small talk about their future.....

THE END

***