Chapter 2

The next morning Adamsen arrives late. Tom knew he’d be tired but not this tired. He comes in limping and still wearing his clothes from the night before. When he gets closer Tom can feel the waves of pain come off of him. "Adamsen, what’s the matter?" he calls as Adamsen approaches with the cart.

"Nothing time won’t fix" he says as he comes closer. "I got to spend the night in the infirmary. Remind me not to go back." When he comes into the light Tom sees. His face looks like raw hamburger. The places he can see skin he’s covered in purple bruises. He bends over to unlock the cage and shudders with the exertion. "Come on Tom. Let’s get you out of there."

"What happened to you?" Tom says as he scrambles out of the cage. As he grabs Adamsen to stop him from falling, he feels waves of pain travel over him. Even with his shielding tightly in place he feels ripples of pain.

"Some of my ex-buddies decided I made them look bad, and besides I had some easy duty. They thought they’d teach me a lesson. I learned a long time ago in a kicking fight, protect your head and your balls and get your back against a wall. It coulda been worse. I woulda been here sooner but they didn’t wake me up when I asked to. Sorry ‘bout that. They wanted me to stay in the infirmary for a couple a days, but I said no. Come on Tom, I figure your bladder will burst if we don’t get a move on."

Tom supports him over to the bathroom area, when Adamsen starts coughing. When he pulls his hands away Tom sees he is coughing up blood. "You need to be in a hospital."

"Not for me. Listen, the doc says no permanent damage is done. I’m on light duty for 6 weeks, because of the cracked ribs, but as long as I rest I’ll be all right. I just have to take it easy. I figure I can watch you, as easy as stay in my quarters, at least I’ll have someone to talk to. I’ve got to go see my CO this afternoon, but other than that I’m staying here. I figure it’s the safest place for me. I think you graduated from prisoner to bodyguard."

He eases Adamsen over and places him on the closed toilet. He uses the urinal and gets showered, quickly. Tom is very angry, though his face remains impassive. This should not have happened. As the silence between them lengthens, Adamsen says, "I know you’re the quiet type but you haven’t said a word. My turn to ask ‘what’s wrong?’"

"This should not have happened. You should not be injured because of me. Perhaps it would be better if you went back to your old job."

"Tom, it’s not your fault I got my clock cleaned, they’re assholes, besides it’s not your call. You’re not in a position to do anything about it. Let it be."

Tom goes over to him, with the towel around his waist, and looks carefully at Adamsen’s face. It looks like he was hit once, maybe twice, probably looks more painful than it really was. "Come on. Let’s get your shirt off. I want to see how bad it is." Adamsen is right. His back is virtually untouched, his arms and ribcage are bruised. He runs his fingers over the ace bandage wrapping his ribs to see how tight it is. "Can you get some more towels?"

"Sure, why?"

"You were attacked on your way back to your living quarters last night. From the looks of you, you came right here after getting out of the infirmary. If you shower, you’ll feel a little better. I can help you shower. I can rewrap the bandage. I promise I won’t hurt you. I promise I won’t do anything that could be construed as an escape attempt until you are at least somewhat better."

"Don’t try to convince me. Convince your watchers."

"Let’s assume they won’t stop us until we do something they don’t like."

Tom helps him over to the linen closet where Adamsen gets towels and his clothes each day. He says. "You stay there."

"They don’t want me to know that there is a door on the other side? They never reload supplies from this side. I always assumed it was back loaded. I’m not stupid, you know."

"I know," he says softly. "But apparently they do not"

He gets an armful of towels and hands them to Tom, "Tom are their pockets in those sweats?"

"No"

"Then I’ll keep mine. I need some place to keep keys. Let’s go." He says as he locks the door. On his way back, Adamsen almost falls again and Tom supports him.

"Let’s get you out of your clothes." Tom helps him undress and carefully removes the bandages. The number of bruises on the younger man’s body infuriates him, but his face remains unexpressive. "How could they do this to you? You’re one of their own. You’re not the enemy"

"I collaborated. That’s how they see it. How do your people feel about you?"

Tom nods, "I understand even if I don’t agree with it."

He strips off his towel and goes over to the shower and starts it at a warm spray. He helps Adamsen to brace himself against the wall listening to his breath come in gasps as the water flows over him.

"God, this hurts. It hurts more than when I got hurt."

"I know. Without the bandages to support your ribs you’re feeling the results of the cracked ribs. When I put the bandages back on it’ll feel somewhat better. Actually today and tomorrow should be the worst. It should start to feel better after that.’

"You sound like you’ve been through it."

"I have, only it wasn’t a fight. I fell off a roof in training, not one of my brightest moments. The only consolation I had was that if it had been for real, I would have been dead. I didn’t live that down for a long time.

"Tom how long were you a chameleon? No, strike that. They don’t need to know."

Tom smiled, "With the water running they can’t hear anything, it’s white noise, about 10 years. Technically I was still in need of some training when I left. Training was continual"

Tom soaps his hands and gently rubs them over Adamsen’s bruised body, cleaning off the sweat and blood, gently massaging where muscles are tight. "Move a bit and I’ll get your hair." He shampoos and then helps to rinse Adamsen’s hair.

For some reason Adamsen starts giggling. "Oh, I can’t do that. It hurts too much."

"What’s wrong?"

"You know, you say that a lot. Nothing, I just had an insane flash of us ending up in a slash flick somewhere. After all we’re both nude, in a shower and you’re bathing me. It sounds made to order."

"What’s a slash flick?"

"Tom, you gotta get out more. A slash flick is a movie with homosexual acts. It’s called slash to denote the pairing. Male-female pairing is always referred to with ‘and’."

"I assumed you were heterosexual. Isn’t there some kind of rule about homosexuality in the military?"

"I am. And there is. But when you’re a teenager and your pop’s drunk, you can find all kinds of trouble to get into. I was just smart enough not to get arrested again, but that didn’t stop me from getting into a lot of things that I shouldn’t."

"Are we gonna stay here all day?"

"No, take your time. I’ll wrap your ribs after we get dry." Adamsen turns the shower off.

Tom helps him out and helps him dry off. Tom helps him dress and re-wraps his bandages, making them slightly tighter. "Tom, that makes it hard to breathe."

Tom nods. "I know that it’s hard to breathe but your ribs need the support. It’ll feel better when you get used to it."

"Tom, I don’t suppose you want breakfast."

"As a matter of fact I do."

"Well, let’s go, and yes, I do feel better, thanks."

Tom helps him back to the cage. Adamsen sits and leans back against it. "Tom do you mind getting your own tray. It’s on the second shelf."

Tom brings his tray back. "Don’t you have one?"

"Don’t think I could keep anything down today, pain upsets my stomach."

Tom hands him his juice. "Drink this. It’ll raise your blood sugar and it shouldn’t upset your stomach. It’s apple juice today."

Adamsen sips it gingerly. He hopes it will stay down. He feels much better.

Tom watches Adamsen as he eats. He can tell the younger man is in a lot of pain and is trying hard to mask it. He also feels that he is very tired. Tom finishes his meal and replaces the tray.

"What do we do today?

"Sit and talk, I guess. I’m not a big one for much else today."

"You need to go back to your quarters and sleep. I’ll be OK today."

"You will but I won’t. I can’t go back to my quarters, Tom. If they catch me again they’ll kill me. That’s why I’m going to see my CO. I’m going to try to get some quarters closer to here. There are some empty Dr.’s offices down the hall. Maybe I can have one of those."

Tom sits by him with his back against the cage. He flinches slightly as he leans back against it. He hadn’t realized how much he hated it. He puts his legs out in front of him. "Lay down and put your head in my lap. It’s bright and the floors hard, but you’ll be safe." Tom’s eyes narrow and he thinks a minute. "I won’t let anyone hurt you"

"Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Tom"

He lays his head on Tom’s thigh. "I thought I was here to help you not vice versa"

Tom puts his hand on Adamsen’s shoulder and uses his command voice. "Sleep, go to sleep."

Shortly the young man is asleep. Tom is glad he can sit still for a long period of time. As Adamsen sleeps Tom thinks. Was this a random action or deliberate? Was he attacked because he was helping Tom or was it for another cause? Since the watchers wanted him to believe Sloan was dead, maybe this was a way to try to get him to transfer empathy to Adamsen. If it was, Adamsen knew nothing about it. Even through the pain Tom could have picked up the deceit. Tom decides to act as if it was a real attack but let Adamsen know that it could have been planned.

Adamsen groans and rolls over. He looks at Tom and says, "Definitely a slash flick. Tom, please help me up. I got an idea." He looks over at he shower area, it still needed to be cleaned.

"I’ve got work to do first."

"I’ll help"

Tom helps him up and they both go to the shower area to clean and prepare it for another day.

As Adamsen puts the dirty linen in a hamper in the closet and retrieves more towels and sweats for tomorrow he asks, softly, "Tom do you think they can here us here?"

"I don’t know. All of the mikes I’ve seen are connected to cameras. I can’t see or hear any cameras here. I can both see and hear all the others."

"OK, I’m going to try to get you a little more freedom, but it’ll probably come at a price."

Tom feels apprehension and worries under the pain. There was nothing he could say or do. Adamsen hit the switch that turned the lights out over the bathroom area and escorted Tom over to his cage.

"Tom, I’ve got to lock you up again, I got places to go and people to see." He waves his hands at the cameras. "Hey, lab coats, let your boss know I’m coming to see him. We got negotiating to do."

Tom returned to the cage. "Adamsen, you should know that the attack may not have been just some of your buddies. It may have been planned, hurt you to hurt me. You are the only one to have any contact with me."

"I know Tom, but there’s no way to know and there’s nothing that can be done about it now. I just hope I don’t pass out trying to get things done." He locks the door.

Tom realizes the young soldier is risking a lot for him. He watches Adamsen leave and wonders if he’ll ever see him again, or see him alive.

Adamsen returns the cart and goes down the hall to that office, where he met that man before. He figures that he was the head honcho of all the lab coats, he refused to think of them as scientists, perhaps torturers, but not scientists. He comes to the door, leans against the wall to settle himself and takes as deep a breath as he can and knocks.

"Enter"

"May I sit?"

"Please." He looks up and sees Adamsen’s face. "What happened to you?"

Adamsen eases himself into the chair. "I got set upon by some former buddies. I came to talk about Tom. I know you want him to cooperate. He helped me today when he didn’t have to. If he cooperates he should get some reward. That’s the way it works, right? I want him to have a better place. At least a place where he can stretch out to sleep and a real bed."

The man considers the request, "What do you have in mind."

"I don’t really know. Personally I have no problem with him. He seems to like me. I would be willing to let him have the whole room as his prison cell, but you probably wouldn’t go for that. How about an 8x10. A lot more than he’s got now, with a bed and bedding."

"What are you willing to give up for his comfort?"

"What do you mean?"

"If we were to implement your suggestion it would take a week to build, perhaps less. But it would mean he would have to stay in the cage until the construction is over. I don’t want him killing someone or getting hold of some tool that he could use to escape."

"What’s the alternative?"

"We move him to a regular cell. It would mean you would be his constant companion until construction was complete. No passes to town, all meals would be brought in, just the two of you.

"And the cameras."

The man nods."

"How about a compromise. You have some empty Dr.’s offices right down the hall. We could use one of those. Use a couple of cots to sleep on. Some of them have bathrooms connected. You could secure it just as easily. I’m going to need some new quarters. I could use it as my own after this. I’ll be closer to be on call and I won’t be in so much danger from former friends. I know you are trying to foster a bond between us but I won’t hurt him just to hurt him."

"Cameras?"

"Put cameras in the living area but none in the bathroom, please, I don’t need to star in somebody’s X-rated film, with the promise when no longer needed they will be removed. Let him live something close to normalcy. You can leave the old cage there as a reminder. It also means you don’t have to take him all the way across the compound. That could mean a dead Tom and some dead guards.

"Would he try to escape if you were with him?"

"I don’t know. If he thinks he has a reasonable chance he might. He’s more stable than he was a few days ago, but that’s not saying much."

The man sits and closes his eyes. Adamsen sits quietly as the minutes pass.

15. It seems like hours.

"Do you trust him enough to live with him for that week?"

"Sir, he has never hurt me. I’ve got 3 cracked ribs. He could have let me hurt and done nothing. He helped me to shower and let me get some rest, without asking for anything. He promised he wouldn’t hurt me and he hasn’t. He also promised he wouldn’t try to escape, but I don’t think that one will hold if the temptation is too great."

"How did he phrase it?"

"Let me see. He said ‘I promise I won’t do anything that could be construed as an escape attempt until you are at least somewhat better.’ That leaves a lot of wiggle room."

"I see what you mean. I tentatively approve, but only if your commander approves too."

"Thank you. Should I come back to let you know?"

"Please ask him to phone me. He knows the extension."

"By the way sir, if possible could you get me one of those therapy rooms? They have a whirlpool bath attached and at least for the next couple of weeks I sure could use it."

"I will consider it. You are dismissed."

Adamsen slowly leaves. It is going to take forever to get to his quarters. He looks carefully down the hall as he approaches the corner where he turns to his quarters. Empty. He makes it to his room and gives a sigh of relief as he closes and locks the door. He carefully undresses and gets into his uniform.

How do you tie your boots when you can’t reach your feet; at least not very well? He compromises by stuffing the laces in the boot and calling it good. He is sweating by the time he gets to his commander’s office. The outer room is empty. He is glad. He steps to the door and knocks.

"Enter." His commander glances up. "What the hell happened to you?"

"I assume you’ve read the report and seen the tape. Some of my former buddies decided I was getting away with something and showed their disapproval. May I sit, sir?"

"Yes. Are you sure the prisoner is not responsible?"

"Sir, I’m sure you’ve read the report. He had nothing to do with it. I assume all those concerned had good alibis. I’m pretty sure it will be an unsolved incident. I need some new quarters. The head honcho over there said I could have one of the old Dr.’s offices for quarters if you approved."

"Granted"

"I also need your approval for something else. Tom helped me when he didn’t have to so I’m trying to get him better quarters. To do so, I’ll have to bunk with him for a week. I don’t mind. I don’t think I’m in any danger from him."

"Son, he’s a killer. You may not survive."

"Sir, he is what he is. He’s never hurt me. My former friends and comrades have. Who would you trust?"

"I see what you mean. Let me think. I’ll make some phone calls and let you know."

"Sir, can I wait in your outer office. I don’t need to get caught by someone again. I don’t think I could take another beating."

"Very well. Dismissed."

He leaves the room, shutting the door behind him. He sits and listens to the murmur of the voice in the next room. Time stretches out until it seems like an eternity. How could Tom spend all that time doing nothing? He would have been stark raving mad. As he thinks about it that was probably something like what they wanted. He glances at his watch. It’s been more than half an hour. He thinks about knocking for about half a second and settles back down to wait some more. He got comfortable again when he hears, "Adamsen."

He gets up and opens the door. "Yes, sir?"

"Your request is approved, even though I have reservations. I don’t like my men used as bait. You are confident you will be OK? That he will not hurt you?"

"I’m as confident as I CAN be. I didn’t think the people I work with would do this to me. I was wrong. When he had a chance he didn’t, I can’t say anything more than that."

"Very well."

"Sir, what can I do about my stuff? I can’t move it until after the week is over and I would appreciate it if my quarters are not trashed."

"I’ll see that your quarters are sealed. When you are ready I’ll see that you have a guard to help you move. If you find a pencil out of place I want to know. My orders will NOT be ignored."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

"Your quarters will not be ready until sometime tomorrow. Will you be all right until then?"

"Yes, sir."

Before going back to see Tom, he goes to supply and gets 2 sleeping bags and a couple of pairs of sweats. He gets to camp out.

He realizes that it’s almost time for dinner so he goes to get the cart and supper for them both.

Tom is almost startled when he arrives. He doesn’t say anything, but Adamsen is in a better mood. He opens the cage and smiles. "Come on, Tom, tomorrow’s moving day."

"What do you mean?"

"I got you some better quarters, the price is that we are in close confinement for a week. I hope you don’t mind having a roommate."

They talk as Adamsen escorts Tom.

Tom hears about the plan. "Adamsen, what have you done?"

"Tom, there was a price to be paid. The price they asked was one I could pay. In a week you may not be able to stand me. Let’s hope we’re still talking to each other."

"Do you think this is a good idea? It puts you in the place of the enemy."

"Tom, I’m already the enemy. Wouldn’t be in this shape if I weren’t. The past is the past, let it be buried."

When they were back at the cage eating dinner, the silence was deafening. Tom, positive this was a disaster and Adamsen, sure it was the right thing to do. After he puts the trays away, he pulls the sleeping bags off the lower shelf and tosses one to Tom. "We camp out tonight. Tomorrow we go to new digs, at least for a while."

"How did you manage this?"

"I didn’t. I told you I’m going to stay here so I figure you don’t need to sleep in your cage while I’m here. I’m in such a bad humor with everything that has happened, I’d just as soon give them screaming fits."

"Adamsen this could be dangerous to you."

"So could getting up in the morning."

Tom realizes Adamsen has no idea how dangerous the game he is playing is and he doesn’t care. He is in a great deal of pain and has been betrayed for no reason. He has thrown in his lot with Tom. The young man is determined. His confusion is gone.