Pain. Heaviness. Scorching light.
TJ sat up, coughing heavily and pulled at the tubes currently attached to him… everywhere. Fuck, fuck, fuck what was going on. When he finally managed to crack his eyes open, stuck from tears and sweat, he saw white. Oh god. Not a hospital again. No no, not again.
Then he saw Dougie, moving forward to press TJ back and calm him down. He let him touch him, press his shoulders back. He let out a shuddering breath. He didn’t remember this time, didn’t know what had happened. He tried, groaning when sharp pain shot through his temple.
“Wha’ happened?” He croaked, shifting in the bed to lay down again. Doug looked crestfallen and sat down slowly.
“You overdosed.” He whispered. “Again.” It sounded disappointed, almost to the point of boredom. Of course, why would anyone ever have any faith that he could be clean. The reminder came back to him. Coke, in the club.
Where had Adam been? Normally if he needed to be calmed down… oh. He’d been avoiding him. His mother wanted to meet him even more now and the idea terrified TJ. He’d had to be at a function and the people.. he’d sent himself over the edge. Oh holy fuck. He’d made a huge mistake. He took another breath. “How long have I been here?”
“A week… you’re in a private hospital in New York.”
Of course he was. He swore under his breath. “Does Adam know?” He glanced up at Doug, frowning ever so slightly.
“TJ… We believe it would be best if you cut ties with him. At least until you get back on your fe-”
TJ cut him off, voice angry. “I was going to. Give me my fucking phone.” He was snappy, angry and alone. He took his phone with a sigh and gestured for Doug to leave. “Get out.” He glanced up at him and flicked his wrist again. “Get. Out. I’m not going to do anything except call him.”
He didn’t call him though. He sent a voice message, like a coward.
“Hey Adam… I’m sorry I’ve been avoiding you. Mum wanted to meet you and I just… I couldn’t let that happen to you. Anyway I um… I overdosed again.” He took a small breath. “I got drunk, I… I made a mistake. I kissed some guy. I don’t know who he was, I didn’t… I don’t think I slept with him. But I um… I’m in hospital. Somewhere else. I won’t tell you where because… well… my family… I don’t think we should see each other again, I think it’s time I let you go. You can do so much better Adam. You can find someone who isn’t a mess. I’m sorry I wasted your time…”
He hung up the phone and turned it off, throwing it to the side of the room, ignoring the smashing sound as he curled up into the white blankets and took a shuddering breath.
@morecomplicatedthanuniverses (I’m not sorry)
To be quite honest: it worried Adam. This...radio silence, as it were. The decreased phone conversations after work, TJ not stopping by or being in when Adam had time to spend with his boyfriend. He tried to not press, knowing TJ needed space. They didn’t need to be in each other’s pockets, just as Adam wouldn’t complain about always being in his boyfriend’s presence.
But he was getting worried.
The last time this happened, TJ ended up in hospital.
Adam wasn’t able to check his phone until work was over and he was on his commute home. Without TJ, Adam used public transit and put earbuds in to block out the rattling, the talking. Music was usually his distraction. But his phone politely informed him there was a message waiting. A voicemail. The sender was TJ Hammond.
He almost missed his stop. The Oracle was so engrossed in the message, so horrified, so...upset...he nearly missed getting off to return home. Dear God, but his worries had been correct. And as TJ either refused to or couldn’t answer, those worries merely increased.
“I don’t want better, Teej,” he sighed as he finally started recording a message from the safety of his apartment. “I want you. I want to see--well, you know what I mean...I want to know you’re okay. Please...please just pick up the phone. Call me back. Don’t just give up, TJ, okay? Because I love you...and you’re worth it. We’re worth it. Don’t let your mum push us apart, however indirectly. ...I love you.”
More drastic measures were needed.
A couple of days later, the groundwork was laid for the final phone call that would (hopefully) resolve things. TJ was worried about Adam meeting President Barrish? He was worried she’d do something that would hurt Adam? Well...TJ had already split them up. Not much more she could do. Heart pounding, Adam dialled the number provided, and quietly but politely insisted to speak to Madam President, casually dropping Peggy’s name when introducing himself.
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