3.8 Lost and Confused

Exhausted Adam lay down closing his eyes "where were you?" he asked again.

Wordlessly Ambrogio shook his head distracted by another presence "Silver you shouldn't be here."

"He's asking too many questions. Knows too much" Silver intoned "I need more time with the girl before he comes looking for her."

"Why?" Ambrogio asked concerned not liking the implications " they've been through enough.
Bring the girl here. I'm begging you don't do this."

"I'm sorry my love," Silver said turning towards Ambrogio's essence "It has to be this way."

"No it doesn't," Ambrogio pleaded "let me inhabit my body again. Release me from Adam's mind and we can be together again. Start a family of our own." He felt Silver consider his words only to be rejected "now is not the time."

"Please these are our children's children" Ambrogio entreated "don't you care about them?"

Looking at Ambrogio, his eyes softening at Ambrogio's obvious distress "things need to be done. Difficult things. I can't afford to let feelings cloud my judgement. Not even my feelings for you."

Growing desperate Ambrogio followed Silver through the maze of Adam's mind. He threw up road blocks to impede Silvers progress doing everything he could to protect Adam from what Silver was planning to do. He could here laughter emanating in his mind, in Adam's mind as Silver found their situation amusing. "You worry too much my dear. I do not want to harm you or Adam. Just buy myself a little more time."

"Time to do what?" Ambrogio demanded as panic swelled up inside him. How had he been so blind? Why did all the people he became close to betray him? Manipulate him? Used him for their own selfish gain. He had loved his brother once, loved Selene now Silver. All three had hurt him and destroyed his life beyond repair. "Tell me Silver. I have a right to know."

Whirling around Silver buffeted him with rage "you have no right. No right to question me. Without me you would be dead and these descendants would not exist." The stricken look upon Ambrogio's face caused Silver to soften his tone "I am sorry there are things I cannot tell you. Things that are too dangerous for you to know." Reaching out he caressed Ambrogio's mind attempting to soothe him "all I ask is a little more time. All your questions will be answered soon. I will not harm the girl. She will be reunited with her parents. But it's vital I bond with her before that happens."

"No she needs to bond with her parents," Ambrogio protested knowing how vital that connection was in a child.

"I knew you would feel that way. That is why I must do what I'm doing to prevent you from finding me." A sudden blinding light and searing pain lanced through Adam's mind. Both cried out in pain before succumbing to the darkness. Silver look around listening for awareness from the two minds he had essentially shut off. Frowning as the silence lengthened and their minds remained dark. He felt a pang of remorse, sadness and profound loneliness. His heart had leaped in happiness when he had sense Ambrogio's presence in the time bubble. His first instinct had been to join him at the boys prison but he had the girl to think about. Reaching out with his mind he had brushed up against Ambrogio's. He had sensed Adam's mind but had hoped he was too distracted with the others to notice him. He had been wrong. Adam had gathered information that  he given Ambrogio. He knew then he had to keep Adam from searching for more answers even if it also meant silencing Ambrogio too. He had no other choice.

***

Several hours later Don woke up checked on Heath then turned to Adam. As requested He tried to awaken him. Shaking his shoulder Don called his name. Getting no response Don went to get help. "Dad," he called.

Shon turned at the sound of his son's familiar voice "Don?" he cried half in shock and surprise. He raced his side squeezing him tight "I didn't think I'd ever see you again. Where have you been?" Shon asked looking into his son's face like he could hardly believe what he was looking at.

"I'll tell you everything but first I need you to look at Adam. I think somethings wrong with him. He won't wake up," Don turned towards the tent sure his dad would follow.

Following Don into the tent Shon knelt beside Adam checking his pulse, slow but steady. Glancing at Heath he asked "what's wrong with him?"

Don explained how Heath had just given birth and that Adam had given him some of his blood to heal him.

Rubbing his hand across his chin Shon said "Adam could just be drained from giving Heath too much blood. We'll wait and see if he wakes up on his own. Otherwise we'll need to get him to Bridgeport. They're better equipped to handle vampire ailments then regular doctors."

***

The sounds of low moaning had Don turning towards Heath. "Hon how do you feel?" he asked trying to keep his anxiety from his voice.

Blinking Heath stared up into Don's eyes a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "What happened?" his voice barely higher than a whisper.

"You were right. You're dad came for us" Don told him helping him to sit up "he tried to heal heal..." his voice faltered remembering the pain and how close to death Heath had been.

Putting his hands to his stomach Heath frowned. Turning alarmed wild eyes towards Don "where's our baby?"

Shaking his head from side to side Don stammered "I couldn't stop him...I'm sorry..." Don burst into tears unable to go on.

Grabbing his arms desperate for answers Heath screamed "couldn't stop whom? Don tell me what happened to our baby."

"I didn't know what I was doing," Don blubbered "I was so scared I was....I was....." he paused trying to compose himself remembering the helpless frightened feeling he h ad as he held the scalpel to Heath's stomach. How his hands shook as he was preparing to insert the scalpel. "I was about to cut into you when he arrived..."

Watching the tears flow from Don's eyes and down his face Heath reached out and tried to wipe them away "he who?" he asked trying to calm Don down despite his rising anxiety.

"Our mysterious benefactor came. He took over said I was going to kill you" turning desperate pain-filled eyes toward Heath "I'm sorry I didn't know. I couldn't stop him...."

Squeezing Don's forearms demanding "what happened?"

"He he he he took our baby," looking away ashamed of his weakness as he added "I'm sorry I...I...I fainted. All the blood...I didn't mean to. I'm sorry," he looked up as he felt Heath's hands fall from his arms.

"You let some stranger, some person take our baby," Heath said his voice low, harsh, accusatory. "You didn't try to stop him. You just fainted."

"I'm sorry," Don repeated sobbing into his hands rocking himself back and forth in the face of Heath's anger and contempt.

Ignoring Don's dejected, pathetic state Heath asked "where's my dad?"

Reaching out Shon touched the boys shoulder "you're dad is exhausted from giving you his blood to heal  you." Helping Heath over to his dad Shon continued "I know you're upset. I know I would be too if I found out someone took my child but give  him a chance..."

Reaching out Heath ran a hand through his dad's short hair wiling him to wake up. To guide him in what he should do. Looking up at Shon "I don't know what to do. What to believe. How I should feel. I'm so confused."

"So am I. So am I," Shon pulled the boy close feeling him shudder as he lost control and began to sob on his shoulder. He had no idea what had happened to the two boys during their absence How they could have been able to produce a child in only two weeks but Shon was no stranger to the seemingly impossible. He himself was married to an alien hybrid. Holding his free hand out towards Don he felt his son move into his embrace....he had no idea how long he held both boys as they cried on his shoulder and fell asleep in his arms. He laid them out on the floor of the tent before looking down at Adam frowning. He hadn't moved or shown any signs of waking up. He couldn't help but feel his sleep was unnatural.

***

Crawling from the tent Shon informed Percy and Quentin that the boys had been found. He didn't have any idea how Adam had accomplished it but he had no doubt that Ambrogio had been involved. He wasn't going to question it he was just going to be thankful for it. Sitting around the campfire Shon voiced his concern "Adam appears to be in a deep sleep but it feels unnatural to me. Can you sense anything?" he asked turning towards Percy.

Shaking his head Percy tried to connect with is bonded brother but his thoughts kept bouncing back to him. Shaking his head in frustration "I can't reach him. It's like his mind has been blocked."

"Is it like before? When he tried to kill himself. He was able to block you then." Heath asked coming from the tent.

"You shouldn't be up" Shon fussed at him.

"I'm fine," Heath asserted sitting beside Quentin. "I'm more concerned about my dad."

The others nodded in understanding. Percy sighed "this is different. I can't even reach Ambrogio. It's like their minds  have both gone dark...blank ....like their minds have been turned off."

"Could this be a side effect of him healing Heath?" Shon asked groping for answers.

"I doubt it," Quentin spoke up "it should have sent him into a feeding frenzy."

Nodding Heath added "there are several empty plasma packets lying around him in the tent. So he must have fed before falling asleep."

"So whatever happened occurred while he was asleep," Percy said standing up "when dusk comes we need to be ready to leave. He needs medical care we can't give him here. But where are we going to be able to find a doctor who specializes in vampire ailments?"

"Bridgeport" Don said coming up behind them. Heath looked up and away as his cheeks flushed hot. As the other's discussed what needed to be done he stared into the flames. Two weeks. It had only been two weeks. His mind was still trying to adjust to that information. Don had told him everything Adam had told him. He still couldn't believe it. It felt like it had been two years. How could he have fallen in love with Don in two weeks? Had a child in two weeks time? Was anything he experienced, felt, thought during that time been real? Don said he had loved him before being in the time bubble. Not so for Heath. He was only eighteen years old. He had just taken his date (a girl) to the prom. Don was his friend, his best friend. He hadn't even known Don was gay until right before the Watchers had attacked them. 

Standing Heath felt everyone turn to look at him "I'm going to check on my dad," he mumbled shuffling towards the tent. Don moved to follow when Shon silently grabbed his hand shaking his head.

Sitting beside his dad Heath wiped his eyes "I'm so confused. I don't know what to do. What to feel. What to think," looking at his dad's face he pleaded "I need you. I need you now more than ever."

"Hon ...." Don began than broke off as Heath glared at him "sorry. Um they're ready to go. We need to bring Adam out so that they can take the tent down."

Nodding Heath stood aside and watched them pick up his dad, too numb to help. Idly he watched Don noting how tired and sad he looked. A part of him wanted to go to him. To hold him and tell him everything was going to be alright. Another part of him wanted to blame him for everything that had gone wrong. For his confusion and unhappiness. He thought he knew who he was now he was lost and confused. Above everything else he hated himself for not being strong enough to be what Don needed him to be.

***

They had been walking for three hours when Don stumbled falling to his knees. Refusing to be helped Don waved the concerned faces and helping hands away He was determined to not slow them down. Adam needed to be in hospital. He didn't want to cause Heath anymore pain. It seemed whether he meant to or not he was always causing someone pain. His sister hated him. His mother hated him. The love of  his life hated him. All because of his weakness. He was too weak to stop Silver from walking away with their baby. If he was in Heath's position he would hate him too.

Two hours later they stopped to rest. Don stumbled to a tree. Leaning against it trying to catch his breath. His dad came up to him "son are you alright?" he asked in concern "if you're not well we can slow the pace."

"I'm fine," Don mumbled as he sat down upon the ground. Closing his eyes he meant only to rest but was soon fast asleep. The insistent shaking woke him. Looking bleary-eyed into someones face  he asked "Heath?"

"They're ready to go" Heath told him helping him up. Grabbing his arm as he swayed almost falling "are you alright?"

"I'm fine," he said jerking his arm free.

Shrugging Heath let him go feeling he was letting him down somehow. Why was it so difficult for him to understand is his own feelings? A niggling almost painful sensation throbbed through his brain. Wincing he brought his hands up to his temples. Squinting as the pain intensified as he struggled to follow the others. Don who was behind him noted Heath seemed to be having a hard time walking although it could have been just him as he could see straight.

***

"Adam," Ambrogio called out in the silent confines of Adam's mind. Ambrogio had set up a hiding place for them when he realized he couldn't stop Silver. He had commanded Adam's weak and tired mind to hide in it before Silver turned them off. He found it difficult to believe Silver had done this to them, to him. "Adam answer me" he called out again in concern.

"What, what happened?" Adam asked muzzily.

"Silver tried to shut our minds off," Ambrogio told him his voice reflecting the shock and betrayal he'll felt.

"Why?" Adam asked still trying to make sense of what happened.

"You were asking too many questions. Silver didn't like it," Ambrogio hesitated before continuing 

"I'm sorry. I didn't know he had an ulterior motive towards the child. I didn't know he wanted the child as the much as the watchers did. I should have known better, should never have trusted him..." his voice dissolved into tears.

"Ambrogio," Adam called softly "its not your fault. He did everything he could to make you trust him. To love him. There was no reason for you to suspect him."

"I should have known. Everyone I've ever loved has betrayed me, why would he be any different?" Ambrogio cried out feeling more alone than he had ever felt before.

"Snap out of it Ambrogio," Adam demanded "now is not the time to throw yourself a pity party. Silver may or may not have a good reason for what he's doing. We have to figure out how to alert someone on the outside. Get help..."

"I don't know what he did to us," Ambrogio said after attempting to contact Percy "I can't reach anyone. How about you?"

Shaking his head "it feels like my body is dead," Adam muttered "I can't reach anyone either. I should be able to connect with Heath but he's as silent as everyone else. It's like we're being blocked somehow."

"I guess we have to figure out what Silver did to use, reverse it then try again."

"Do you have any idea what he did?" Adam asked devoid of all hope.

"No I'm sorry. I didn't even know Silver could get inside your head led alone turn both of us off. Plus I was a bit busy trying to prevent him from doing anything that I couldn't see what he did. When I realized what he was attempting I set up this hiding spot for us," sighing "I think I may have fallen for his trick and inadvertently trapped us."

***

It was a long four days but they eventually made it to Bridgeport. The vampire specialist refused to treat Adam without giving him a blood transfusion. "He's a vampire he needs blood," the doctor insisted.

"No he doesn't," Heath shouted at him "he's a vegetarian. He's been living off of plasma fruit." He threw a juice packet at the obstinate man "analyze that," he demanded.

Once the lab results came back the doctor grudgingly complied with Heath's wishes and began tests to find out why Adam couldn't wake up. While they ran the tests the doctor insisted they leave. Not wanting to leave his dad or trusting the doctor Heath agreed to leave as long as someone stayed with his dad at all times. The hospital staffs appalling lack of vampire knowledge was frightening and they were supposed to be the experts.

Coming into the house Don was smothered in hugs and kisses from his mom and siblings. The sight made Heath homesick. Excusing himself he called home "Mom..." his voice broke as he heard Beverly break into tears at the sound of his voice. He told her what happened and that Adam was in the hospital. When he disconnected he looked up to find Don staring at him in concern. "She's coming, my mom...." Heath began "dad needs her...if anyone can figure out how to help him she can."

Shoving his hands in his pockets Don nodded "good. Adam needs all the help he can get." Hanging his head he moved towards the door.

"Don," Heath called out unsure what he wanted to say "Please....don't go." He stretched his hand out to him beseeching him to stay.

Taking Heath's hand Don moved close to him "are you alright?" he asked taking his face in the palms of his hands.

Shaking his head as tears began to flow Heath mumbled "hold me."

Without a word Don drew Heath close. Holding him as he cried on his shoulder. Running his fingers through his dark blue hair. "Heath honey I'm sorry. I know this must be difficult for you."

Sniffling Heath nodded his head wrapping his arms tighter around Don. "I'm just so confused. How could so much happen in so little time? Were we manipulated into having feelings for each other? Was any of it real?"

Pushing Heath away from him Don peered into Heath's eyes "I love you," he told him his voice both firm and gentle. "I know what we felt was real. I understand your confusion...."

Lifting his eyes Heath stared back at Don in bewilderment "you do? You're not mad?" Leaning forward Heath sighed as he hugged Don close "I thought you would think I was being weak and silly for having doubts. I felt like I was letting you down disappointing you."

Stroking his face "you could never disappoint me. You're one of the strongest person I know. We'll get through this together. I promise whether or not we're couple in the end."

"Just give me a little time. That's all I ask," Heath said leaning into Don's caress "too many things have happened I...I need time to process it all."

"I know hon," Don kissed him lightly on the forehead "you can have as much time as you need."

"Thank you," Heath said snuggling his head on Don's shoulder "are you alright? You didn't look so great on the walk here."

"I'm fine," Don told  him rubbing Heath's back.

"You're not just saying that, are you?" Heath asked looking up at him in concern "tell me the truth."

"I'm not and I'm fine," Don insisted dropping his eyes unable to hold Heath's piercing gaze. He felt somewhat guilty for not telling Heath about the baby. How could he? It would be just one more thing thrown at him. Another added stress he didn't need or could handle. He'd check with a doctor, make sure everything was ok first. He was tired and a little nauseous but nothing compared with what Heath had experienced. He could handle this on his own. He didn't want to influence Heath's decision in anyway. He'd tell Heath when the time was right.

Heath noticed how Don's eyes shied away from him. He had a feeling Don wasn't telling him everything. There was something he was afraid of telling him. He would lay odds that something had to do with his health. He was sick Heath could tell. He wouldn't stand around and do nothing while another person he loved suffered silence. He couldn't do anything for his dad but he could do something about Don.