Tim groans in pain as he lays down on his stomach on the bed. He had removed the bandages so that Adam could doctor the gashes across his back.

Tears fill Adam's eyes as he sadly looks down at Tim's wounds.

"You know they are going to leave bad scars, right?" Tim asks over his shoulder.

"Naturally. They're deep cuts." Adam replies, quickly wiping away the tears before he starts to apply the ointment.

Tim hisses at the burning.

"Does it bother you?" Tim asks through gritted teeth, wincing from the pain.

"Baby." Adam says as he leans over and kisses Tim's cheek. "They discuss me but not in the way you think they do. They piss me off when I look at them. How could someone be so cruel to do such a horrific thing to such a beautiful person? Am I going to shun touching you because of the scars? Hell no. I love you so much. I'm just so thankful to have you back. Even if you do have a few scars, you're still beautiful to me."

"I love you too, Angel. But right now, I feel pretty ugly." Tim says softly.

"Shush, Tim. I don't want to hear that kind of talk." Adam says sternly. "Yes, you'll have scars but I would rather have you with scars than not have you at all."

"I'll be alright." Tim says as he looks up at Adam's worried face. "I've been knocked down before but I always manage to get back up."

"And you will this time too." Adam smiles as he kisses Tim's lips softly. "My gorgeous little swamp rat."

Adam gently bandages the wounds to keep them from getting infected.

"Done, my little burrito." Adam chuckles as he kisses Tim's shoulder.

Tim smiles as he closes his eyes. It had been a long day. It was nice to lie down in his own bed. The stinging of the medicine had subsided and had numbed the pain enough for him to drift off to sleep.

Adam quietly gets up and leaves the room closing the door behind him.

"How's he doing?" Austin asks from his seat on the couch.

"He was hurting pretty bad but the medicine numbed it enough for him to go to sleep." Adam answers as he sits down on the other end of the couch.

"And how are you holding up?" Chris asks.

"It's hard seeing him like that." Adam says with a sad tone. "I think he actually thinks the scars will make a difference on how I see him."

"Well, you'll just have to work twice as hard in changing his mind about that." Jenika smiles.

Adam smiles as he seems to drift off in deep thought.

"Penny for your thoughts." Jenika smiles.

"Oh, I was just thinking about the first day I ever laid eyes on Tim." Adam smiles fondly.

"Yeah, but you were afraid to even get out of the car." Chris chuckles.

"I know." Adam laughs. "Good thing I did."

"No one was speaking English. It was like we dropped into the middle of another country. It was so weird." Chris says.

"Then we saw this guy standing on a porch with a large furry dog." Adam smiles as he ruffles Satchmo's fur. "I couldn't take my eyes of the guy."

"He offered you some jerky. Didn't offer me any." Chris laughs. "It was like you two were the only one's in existence."

"Hmmm, gator jerky." Adam nods.

"Should have known." Austin chuckles shaking his head. "Tim's addicted to gator jerky."

"I am too now. Sounded disgusting then cause I'd never heard of it." Adam says.

"I think I was at the Mardi Gras when yall first got to town." Jenika says. I remember meeting yall at Hattie's cafe and you kept shooting me dirty looks."

"You know I hated you, right?" Adam smiles. "You were hugging Tim and you two kept whispering to each other."

"Actually, we were whispering about you. Tim told me to keep my distance that you were spoken for." Jenika laughs.

"Man, that all seems like such a long time ago." Olena says.

"Yeah, it does." Adam smiles and looks down at his wedding band. "And that tall, dark, handsome Cajun with the dog and the gator jerky is now my husband."

"If you can keep him in one piece." Austin says.

"True, I've almost lost him twice." Adam says.

"I'm like a cat. I have nine lives." Tim smiles from where he was standing at the bedroom door.

"I thought you were a sleep." Adam says as Tim slowly makes his way to the couch.

"I just hurt too bad." Tim says as he eases down on the couch.

"Is it your back?" Adam asks.

"Everywhere." Tim answers shaking his head. "I don't think there is a muscle in my body that ain't hurting."

"Chance gave me something to give you for pain." Adam says as he gets up to head for the kitchen. 

"How are you doing, Tiny?" Tim asks, glancing around at Olena.

"Much better. The morning sickness is just about gone." Olena smiles.

"That's good." Tim groans slightly as he tries his best to get comfortable. "Do yall know what it is yet?"

"No, it's too early." Olena shakes her head.

"Here ya go, Baby." Adam says as he hands Tim his pain medicine and a glass of water.

"Thanks." Tim says as he gulps down the pills washing them down with some water.

"Hey, Chris? You busy in the morning?" Austin asks.

"Not that I know of. Why?" Chris asks.

"I need help running the traps and Tim is definitely in no shape to do it." Austin answers.

"Sure, I'll help." Chris replies.

"Yall stay together." Tim says. 

"We'll be alright." Austin says.

"I'm serious, Austin. You stay with Chris." Tim says as he gives his little brother a warning look.

"I will, I promise." Austin smiles.

"So what time do you need me here?" Chris asks.

"Oh, maybe about six." Austin answers. "We have two places to check and to reset the traps. We have several traps set out in those two areas."

"Uh, Adam?" Olena calls.

"Huh?" Adam answers as his eyes were glued to the television.

"Do you mind getting your husband?" She laughs.

Adam looks around to see Tim leaning on Olena fast asleep.

"Tim? Sweetie?" Adam smiles as he tries to wake his husband.

"Hmm?" Tim answers barely audible.

"Come on, Honey. Let's go to bed." Adam says.

Tim nods slightly but doesn't move.

"Looks like you're going to need some help." Chris laughs as he stands up from his chair.

Adam grabs one of Tim's arms and Chris grabs the other to lift him from the couch. As they try to lift him, Tim's knees buckle and he falls to the floor.

He groans in pain as his back hits the couch. Opening his eyes, which were heavy due to the medication, he looks up at his husband.

"Why did you push me off the bed?" He asks in a drunken manner.

***********

VOTE & COMMENT PLEASE!