Tom had had just about enough. For the last two days Adamsen had not said a dozen words to him and Adamsen liked to talk! He sat and brooded or slept. He had hardly eaten anything, either. The only thing that Tom had felt off of him, besides pain, was desire, a raw, sexual, carnal desire, like white heat. Tom was starting to think his sensing ability had been damaged by the isolation. He was going to find out what was wrong with his young friend today.

Adamsen had been in the shower for 10 minutes. He insisted that today he could shower by himself, today. Tom had let him but the waves of pain coming from him had Tom worried. "Adamsen, you need some help. You can either open the door or I'll break it."

Adamsen unlocks the door and returns to the shower. Tom enters and shuts the door. He removes his sweats and kicks them aside. Adamsen is shivering in the shower when Tom approaches. The water was ice cold.

"Adamsen, what do you think you're doing?" Tom says as he regulates the temperature to a warmer degree.

"Don't worry, Tom. Cold showers are good for you." Adamsen says, dully, with his head against the tile wall, his back to Tom. Tom turns him around and looks carefully at him. The bruises are starting to fade. The purple edges are green now. The bruises on his legs are starting to green too. In a few days they will start to yellow and he will be almost out of pain from them.

Tom seizes Adamsen's hands in his own. He then moves with blinding speed. Before Adamsen could grasp what was happening, Tom has moved in closer and gently held both of Adamsen's hands behind his back in his left hand. With his right, he reaches behind his head and pulls him close. Tom kisses him full on the mouth with his tongue reaching deep within to taste, explore and demand. Tom waits for Adamsen to pull away; instead he presses against Tom, turning it into a kiss filled with hunger. He releases Adamsen's hands and feels his arms come around him and pull him close. He feels the waves of desire crash over him as the kiss lengthens and deepens. Tom holds him gently; he doesn't want to hurt Adamsen, as they stand there, each exploring the intensity of the feeling.

Gradually, Adamsen pulls back and lays his head on Tom's shoulder. "Tom, this can't go any farther. We can't become lovers. Sloan wouldn't understand. And I don't wanna end up on a gurney with cattle prods used on me to make you do something. I have no doubt they would do something like that. Oh, Tom, I was so afraid."

Tom gently kisses his neck. "I know, but you stopped talking and I thought my sensing ability was going bad. I think Sloan would understand, but you are right about the watchers." He let his hands run gently over Adamsen's body calming him. "What were you afraid of?"

"Of you. Of what you might say or think or do. I didn't want you to hate me, or be disgusted by me. I figured it was only going to be a week. I could keep my hands off. Dammit Tom. I haven't been attracted to a man in years, why now?

"Because of this place. Didn't you say 'You can't smoke. You can't drink You can't fuck.'?"

"Yeah, but why now?"

"Let me shower and we'll see what we can do. We've still got several days."

Adamsen watches Tom bathe under shaded lashes. God, he looks good. He was down to whipcord and leather. He was almost too thin but the muscles played under his skin as he moved. He was brought out of his reverie when Tom said, "Do you like to watch me?"

"Yes, but I won't if you rather."

"No, I don't mind. I rather like you watching me. You feel warm when you do, not necessarily sexually but more…friendly. Is that why you've been avoiding me the past two days?

"Yes, I like to watch you. You move like a cat. Lithe and strong."

"Adamsen, I've had relationships with men before. I know there are pictures of me with a certain person that were used for blackmail. I was much younger and the man was much older than I."

Adamsen thinks about the implications of what Tom said. "Tom, was it a relationship or were you whoring?"

Tom stops and thinks. "I was being a chameleon, that's all."

"In other words probably a little of both?"

Tom nods. "I guess if it was a real relationship I never would have allowed pictures to be taken. I never thought of it in that context. I guess I was whoring."

"Everybody whores for something, Tom. Try to whore for something you believe in."

By now Tom is finished washing and has turned off the shower. "Let me help you dry off and I'll wrap you up. We'll talk about this later. We can both soak in the whirlpool bath."

They are both more relaxed when they emerge from the shower room. Adamsen is no longer afraid to talk to him and Tom is comfortable with how he feels.

That afternoon Tom insists that Adamsen soak. "Only if you do too, fair is fair."

As they sit in the hot water Adamsen almost forgets why they are there. "Adamsen." Tom lets his lips brush Adamsen's. "I have an idea."

Adamsen is startled. Tom puts his fingers to Adamsen's lips. "Listen, I have been thinking, we have to give a close appearance, right? Have you ever seen groups of teenage girls together? They touch, they hug, they kiss but it is not sexual. Do you think we could project that kind of relationship."

Adamsen thinks about it as he runs his hands over Tom's chest. "Tom, how much touching are we talking about. I like to touch you. I don't want to loose control. The past couple of days been real hard."

"It'll be easier than trying to avoid me." He kisses Adamsen gently again. "Could you stand being kissed like that. We would have to avoid deep kisses but this would be good." He gently brushes his cheek and lips again. "Or is that too arousing for you."

"We can make it appear as if I am the aggressor, it gives you some protective cover. It should not interfere with your life. This little dance can be stretched out for months. You said we have to give Sloan time. This is one way to do it."

"Ok, Tom. How will I know you're doing something just for the cameras? I know you'll know when I do something. I bet your sensing thing will tell you. And yes it's arousing but better than trying to ignore you. The more I tried to ignore it the harder it got."

Tom gives a low chuckle. "That's usually the way it goes. We can refine it in the next few days." He thinks for a moment. "How about if I am doing something specifically for the cameras I grasp your left hand while I'm doing it? But this," he kisses him again. "Doesn't have to be just for the camera. I am attracted to you, you know. Sex for my people doesn't have as many restrictions on it as most humans seem to have. Sex is natural, part of life. It doesn't have as much importance on some levels. It has more on other levels. Someday I'll explain it to you, as much as I understand. But the subject is too complex for easy explanations."

"Yeah, but would Sloan understand. Tom, you're spoken for. I don't want to interfere with that."

Tom leaned back in the tub. "Sloan is an anthropologist. Even if she is a bio-anthropologist, I'm sure she has seen and heard of much worse than our relationship even if we were to become lovers." Tom thought of her and swallows. "I care for her deeply, but I cannot change what I am."

The next few days go by quickly as Adamsen sees what Tom means by a dance. They touch casually, they talk and laugh together, they get close and whisper and generally ignore the cameras. At night more than once he has woken with his arms wrapped around Tom. Tom ignored it, so he did too. In some ways he was sad when the week was over, but he knew that now he had a real chance to help Tom if the newspaper ad had been successful. It was even more important to him now.

When they return to the room they see Tom has a new cage. It has been constructed near the other one it is as was requested 8' by 10'. He has a mattress on the floor with bedding. Adamsen gets a new key to put on his ring. He stays with Tom the most of the day but leaves that evening to get his things moved. With a dolly and help from the guard the CO assigned him he can move everything in one trip. When he got to his new quarters he saw that it already had been outfitted with a cot and desk. He doesn’t need anything else. He goes to give Tom his dinner and lets him know that he's moving into the room.

"Tom, I'm gonna arrange to go to town in a couple of days. Do you want me to pick you up something? So far no one has said I can't. I'll bring you something if you want."

"Adamsen, the only thing I want is for you to come back, safely. No more broken ribs. No more bruises." He grasps Adamsen's left hand and gives him a gentle kiss on the cheek and a hug. "I'm going to miss you."

He hugs Tom. "See you tomorrow."

It takes him forever to get his room set up and ready for bed. Tomorrow he goes back to wearing uniforms and he has to get the CD ready for town. When he checks the room the cameras are gone. He can't find any concealed ones, but he doesn't know if he would be able to tell.

He falls in bed in an exhausted sleep.

The next day he brings breakfast to Tom and pretty much lets him roam free in the large room, Tom tells him that the light goes out above his new cage but the one above the small one never goes out. It was being used to remind him.

They continue the dance. Tom is locked in when Adamsen goes for dinner, but other than that they continue along those lines the whole day. When he does his exercises Adamsen lets himself watch and notice things he hadn't before. It wasn't only that Tom was thinner his body was changing. More like the lithe body of a ballet artist than the thicker body of a weight lifter, not that Tom had gone to either extreme.

"Tom, have you noticed? You're changing. Becoming something else. I don't know how to describe it. Like you're becoming more cat like. You used to be a little blocky. Now you're not."

"I wouldn't be surprised. I can't do any strength training here, except for things like push-ups. My body is adjusting to what it can do. The pressures brought to bear against it. I don't think I have lost much strength but I have become more flexible.

After dinner and locking Tom up, Adamsen tries to find the best way to get to town and be able to do the things he has to do. He finds he can go the next morning with the supply truck for the mess hall. It leaves at 0400 and returns at 1200. That gives him time to do what he must. But tonight he has to burn a couple of CD's. This is going to be tricky. He sets his computer up for burning and gets everything together. He'll bring Tom something before he leaves, and make sure he goes to the bathroom. After the CD burns he looks at it in disgust and makes another. If any one is watching he hopes they think it came out bad. He makes another and puts it in a case after it is finished. He feels like he is living his life on television. He made arrangements to go with the truck the next morning and set his alarm for 0200.

When he rises at 0200 he hits the shower for a cold shower. He has GOT to wake up. He brings Tom something from the mess hall to eat while he's gone. He unlocks the cage and Tom is already awake.

"Tom, I brought you something to eat. I'm gonna be in town 'til noon. I thought I better make sure you get something to eat and a chance to use the bathroom before I go." Tom reaches up and runs his hands over Adamsen's body. At this moment, he doesn't care if it is for the cameras or not. It feels so good. He closes his eyes to enjoy the sensation. He knows what he wants. He wants to feel Tom kiss him. Drive his tongue into his mouth. Let Tom's hips grind against…he shook himself. It was too early in the morning and he shouldn't be thinking about it anyway. Tom gets up and whispers in his ear with a soft chuckle. "Adamsen, you're going to be the death of both of us if you aren't careful", and kisses his ear. The light was already on in the bathroom area.

"Tom, do you think you could wrap me up. I tried, but I just can't get it right."

"I hope you didn't wake me up just to be your medic."

"Nah, I brought you some food. A couple of rolls, some cheese and some fruit."

"Come on, let me go and I'll wrap you."

They go over to the lighted area and Tom finishes what is necessary. Tom wraps his ribs and they chat as Adamsen and return to the cell. He locks the door and tells Tom he should be back by noon. Tom squeezes his shoulder. "Be careful." Adamsen nods.

Adamsen rides in the back of the truck. At least he doesn't have to talk to anyone on this journey. Some journeys are meant to be taken alone and this was one of them. He thought about that Birth, Death, and this one. He didn't know what to call this one except perhaps a prelude to death. He'd decided that even if he died he had to get Tom back to Sloan, it was the right thing to do. It was the necessary thing to do. And Tom needed her; he ignored the echo in his mind that told him Tom didn't need him. After he helped Tom get out, he was a liability to him

The first thing he did when he got to town was to hit the coffee shop, it was a little past 6 in the morning but it was open and he was glad. He needed some good coffee.

He negotiates with the manager to have one of their fast machines at 0830. He knew the paper opened at 0800, and if there was the answer he was expecting he needed to be able to use it. The faster he was able to get the information out the sooner Tom would be home. Every time he thought about Tom being home he bled a little. He let himself feel the pain of Tom's loss now, because when he returned he could not possibly even consider it. Tom would pick it up. He had picked up his desire even through the pain. He drinks his coffee and shakes off the depression that tries to cover him like a heavy cloak. He smiles to himself. He knows what he can give Tom and he won't even have to go shopping.

He plays at a computer until just before 0800, when he leaves to go to the newspaper office. The box he rented has several letters in it. He opens them up, one by one. Most are letters from girls wanting pen pals. Some of the pictures enclosed are quite revealing. One letter caught his eye when he opened it there was only one thing on the piece of paper, an e-mail address. Enclosed was a newspaper clipping of Tom. Bingo, he had it or at least he had something. All he could do was send the information and hope for the best.

He ran the letter and the picture through the shredder at the newspaper office, after memorizing the address. If they wanted to trace him through the letter let them try to get it in that mess.

He got back to the coffee shop just before 0830. His machine was ready. The truck left at 1000. That gave him all of an hour and thirty minutes to download all the information. He had the machine for 2 hours, and he would turn his remaining time over to one of the regulars. Easiest way he could figure to stop someone from tracing him. He logged on and opened one of his accounts he set up last time. He opened the drive and dropped in the CD. He started to send the information he had transferred to the disc. It would take some time he knew. Everything he knew about the base was on it; security, diagrams, where the prisoners are being held, everything but him and who he was. He took a fatalistic view of this. He guessed that he would die in Tom's escape. In fact, he rather hoped for it. It would certainly make things easier for Tom in the aftermath.

The download went rather quickly, in 45 minutes all the information had gone out. He removed the disc from the drive and put it in his pocket. He would have to destroy it and scatter the pieces. "Hey, Jimmy, ya want this machine. I gotta go and got some time left." Jimmy was always there and nursed a coffee and sat at a computer almost the whole day. If he was one of the watchers he had a very boring job. According to the manager Jimmy had been there for years.

Adamsen went to the bathroom and broke the CD into shards. As he went back to where he was to catch the truck back to the base he dropped the pieces in various trashcans on the street. He'd covered himself as much as he could. All he could do now was wait.