Tim decided to sleep on the couch so he could be near the phone. Adam still hadn't called yet and he was beginning to get worried.

He tossed and turned most of the night. Trying to think of a good reason why his husband hadn't called yet. But all he could think of was bad reasons. What if they had a wreck? What if Chris won't allow him to call? The last time he looked at the clock before finally dozing off, the clock read 1:30.

The ringing of the phone startles him. He grabs for the receiver, dropping it before finally getting it to his ear.

"Hello?" He answers in a raspy voice.

"Hey, Baby. It's me. We finally made it." Adam says quietly into the phone.

"Thank, God. I was getting worried." Tim says as he sits up on the couch, running a hand through his hair.

"I know and I'm sorry. But Chris kept wanting to stop at places. Then I had to wait until he went to sleep." Adam whispers.

"Is that why you're whispering?" Tim asks.

"I'm in the bathroom. I don't want to wake him up." Adam answers. "He's acting really weird, Tim."

"Weird? How?" Tim asks in a concerned voice.

"Truthfully? I think he thinks I'm staying up here. He's wanting to rent a three bedroom house and he keeps saying 'we'. There is no 'we' to it." Adam says.

"Do you want me to come after you?" Tim asks.

"No, I'll be fine. Just give me a few days as we planned. If he doesn't seem to be in a hurry to find a place soon, I'm leaving." Adam says.

"If you need me for anything, Sweetheart, call me. I'll be there." Tim says.

"God, I miss you." Adam says in a soft voice. "But try not to worry, okay?"

"I'm sorry, I mean, I know he's your brother and you love him but I don't trust him." Tim says. "He's not acting like the Chris I thought I knew."

"Sadly, I do have to agree with you on that. He's definitely acting differently. But I'm a big boy, Mr. Foust." Adam smiles. "I know how to take care of myself."

"I know you do. It's just...." Tim says with a sigh.

"You worry too much, Swamp Rat." Adam says. "It's late so I need to get to bed. I'll call when I get the chance."

"Okay. Please be careful and remember I love you." Tim says as he tries to hold back a sniff.

"I know you do and I love you. Get some sleep." Adam says as he, himself, wipes a tear.

After ending the call, Adam grabs some toilet paper to wipe his eyes.

"I'll be home soon, Baby." He whispers before leaving the bathroom.

~~~

Austin stumbles from his bedroom, yawning as he scratches his head. He stops as he sees his older brother asleep on the couch.

He turns and puts his finger to his lips as Olena walks out quietly behind him. She was not wanting to wake their daughter and he was not wanting to wake his brother.

"I'm going to start breakfast." She whispers as she tiptoes to the kitchen.

Austin nods then notices Sami coming down the ladder to her bedroom.

"Morning." She says.

"Shhh." Austin hushes her then points to Tim.

"Is Olena up yet?" She asks quietly.

Austin answers by pointing to the kitchen.

"I wonder if Adam ever called last night?" Olena asks as Austin and Sami join her in the kitchen.

"Lord, I hope so. If not, Tim will be going crazy today." Austin says as he fixes a pot of coffee.

"He's going to be crazy until the love of his life gets home." Sami says as she gets the eggs and bacon from the fridge.

"I just don't know what's going on with Chris. I would have never thought of him acting this way." Austin says as he shakes his head.

"Me either. And for him to actually think that he can get Adam to leave Tim just blows my mind." Olena replies. "Those two are rarely ever apart."

"Apparently, he's forgetting how Cajuns act when they get pissed off." Sami says. "I've seen Beau mad before and it's not a pretty sight. Chris will definitely get his ass kicked."

"That, you can count on." Austin nods. 

The trio hush as Tim walks into the kitchen and heads straight for the coffee.

"Well?" Austin asks.

"Well, what?" Tim asks in his deep morning voice.

"Did Adam ever call?" Sami asks.

"Yeah, about three this morning." Tim answers as he sits down at the table with his brother. "Seems as though his big brother is being a pain in the ass."

"By doing what?" Austin asks. Not really for sure if he wanted to know the answer.

"First of all, he didn't seem to be in a big hurry to get back to Minnesota. Adam said he kept stopping along the way. He also mentioned to Adam that he wanted a three bedroom house and kept saying 'we' as if he planned on Adam staying with him." Tim says as he stirs his coffee.

"I think the guy has lost his f*cking mind." Sami says as she sets the table.

"I'm really worried about what he might do to keep Adam up there." Tim says as he rubs his tired eyes.

"Like what?" Austin asks.

"I don't know. I really don't think we are dealing with a sane person." Tim answers. "Adam said to give him a few days and if Chris keeps wasting time, he was leaving and coming home."

~~

"You're going to have to make up your mind, Chris." Adam says after seeing another house that Chris was not happy with.

"Why? You in a hurry?" Chris asks as they get back into the car.

"Uh, yeah." Adam says with sass. "I've got a husband waiting for me at home."

"Why do you want to go back to that stinking swamp for, Adam? Minnesota is your home." Chris says.

"No. Minnesota is NOT my home. Teche is. And if you don't find a place soon, you'll be looking by yourself. Understand? Cause I'll be on my way back to my husband." Adam states. "Besides, you don't need to blow money on a three-bedroom house since it's only going to be you. Don't think that I haven't noticed that you keep saying 'we', I got news for you, brother, it's only going to be you living here. Not 'we'. This is your decision to come back, not mine. I have a home."

The next day, Chris found a two-bedroom house that he actually liked. Very spacious. Even though it had only two bedrooms, it was still large enough for two people. Now. To figure out a way to keep his brother with him.

"It's colder than a well-digger's ass out here." Adam complains as they unload the furniture Chris had bought from the moving van. "Why on earth would you want to live here?"

"Because it's our home." Chris answers.

"No. Let me remind you, this is your home, not mine." Adam huffs as he grabs one end of the couch. "Let's go and go slow, these steps are covered in ice."

'I just need more time.' Chris thinks to himself as he grabs the other end of the couch. 'I can talk him into staying. I know I can.'

"Slow down. It's slippery." Adam warns.

'I just need more time.' Chris thinks as a smile comes across his face. 

He gives the couch a slight shove.

"CHRIS!!" Adam yells as his feet slide out from under him. He hits the ice-covered sidewalk and screams out in pain as he feels something snap in his ankle.

******

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