The Other Man [Adam]

[Chase Campbell]

Since their talk with Niko yesterday, Chase had been riding a strange high. The knowledge that he was going to be a father now, that was good enough. But the fact that he had James by his side, to help him when he stumbled, or didn’t know quite what to do made it that much better. They were partners, yes. But now they’d be working together at this. A team. It made him feel like nothing could go wrong.

There had been, however, that funny look in James’ eyes yesterday. He’d seemed like he’d wanted to talk, and Chase had asked him about it. But he’d brushed it off like it was unimportant. The trainer hadn’t fully believed him, but he’d let it slip as they'd moved away from that topic, and back on to Niko. James was looking into what they had to do in regards to fostering today. And Chase… was looking over his grade books at the moment. He didn’t have a class until next period, and he had to figure out averages for his current students in time for report cards, or administration was going to kill him.

Working over his books, Chase was only half paying attention to the activity in the hallway, outside his door. His mood was still up, despite having to do paperwork. Right now, only his family was on his mind. Well, family, and grades. He shook his head. A few of his students just weren’t making progress. Maybe he’d ask Jude if he could take on a few more. If he couldn’t teach them, he’d have to ask Anya. And he didn’t want to do that just yet.

[Adam Collier]

Adam sighed, he not happy about what he had to do now. He had given James time to tell Chase everything, and he didn't. Now the unpleasant task fell to him. Chase deserved better, he deserved to hear James, not from Adam. It should be James telling his husband that they had started their relationship while he was still seeing Adam. Adam was not the person who had done anything wrong, and now he was the one being the adult.

First he had to find Chase. HE had checked the staff lounge, but didn't find him there. Adam was glad about that, he had had the first talk with James there and felt even then that it was too public of a place. He would check his classroom next. Hopefully he would be free enough now to talk, and they could keep it private. Above everything else he hoped Chase didn't get too mad at him, after he was one of the victim right? he was the person who got cheated on right?

Adam took a deep breath as he came to Chase's door. He knocked while opening, he wasn't completely rude.

"Hey Chase? You got a minute? I.. uh... I got to talk to you about something."

[Chase Campbell]

Chase really didn’t have a clue about the so called impending doom heading his way. He was lost in his own world at the moment, his concentration not as sharp as it should have been. Grading was only so exciting, and he was happier to think about other topics. Things like what they could do when Niko actually came to live with them. Crashing out in a pile on the couch, watching movies until past the boy’s bedtime. Watching James teach him in the kitchen (those were lessons Chase knew better than to attempt himself). Yeah, he was a little distracted.

So when Adam knocked, Chase jumped slightly, looking up. Oh. Adam. He knew him. Of course he did. They’d been at Hammel as students roughly the same time. And of course, they were both part of the training department. They weren’t a huge team, so they all knew one another fairly well, and often traded students to see if anyone else could get better results. (Really, he should have smelled him before he’d knocked, but he just wasn’t on the ball today.)

That was what he was assuming this was about. Considering the same thing was on his mind, only it was Jude he’d need to track down. Chase put down his pen and leaned back in his chair, motioning Adam closer. “Yeah, man. What’s going on?” He was attentive, focused on the other trainer.

[Adam Collier]

Adam noticed Chase was working on grading paper and felt a little bad for interrupting him, he was also in a good mood. Adam knew that mood would last, and for the briefest of seconds considered making sure he stayed in a good mood. But that would make him go against everything he believed in, no he would let Chase feel everything he wanted about the news he was about to be given.

"Well, its um... its about James." Adam paused he really had no idea how he was going to actually tell Chase this. "You and James you guys got together while he was on a recruiting for Hammel right? About four years ago?" Adam paused and took a deep breath there was no going back from here. "Well, you see, four years ago I too was working here. Had been for a while actually. I wasn't exactly single four years ago. At the time I was, I was dating James."

Adam let out the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. There, it was out in the open no more secrets! Now he just needed to wait for Chase's reaction. Hopefully he would lash out at Adam.

[Chase Campbell]

Much as he should have been compiling grades for administration, Chase honestly welcomed a distraction. There was only so much he could take of it. As long as it was done by the end of the day, he was fine. Even with the boring task, he still managed to be in a good mood, but that was mostly because Niko and James were still fresh in his mind. Who wouldn’t be happy?

What Adam first said worried him. While Adam paused, Chase couldn’t help it. “James? Is he okay?” It was a reflex, but one that, as it turned out, wasn’t necessary. He nodded at the questions, baffled as to where this was going. “Yeah. Back in my hometown. Why?” Most of the staff knew this by now. Not many of them were all that bothered by it. But the why was quickly answered, and for a moment, Chase just blinked, trying to make sense of it. So… wait. James and Adam…?

The blonde was somewhat guarded now, but he tried not to show it. “Right… funny, Adam. Seriously, where is this going?” Whatever it was, he was starting to get the feeling that he wasn’t going to like it.

[Adam Collier]

Adam could see the confusion all over Chase's face. He could also tell Chase was trying to hide his emotions from Adam. But between Adam's power, and his training as a counselor there was no way to hide emotion, or much of anything from Adam.

Adam was surprised by Chase's reaction, he didn't believe him? He thought Adam was lying or joking around? How could he think that? Did he think this was fun for him?

"I'm being serious Chase. Look I know you don't want to hear it, don't want to know it. But I think it is only fair that you know the truth. I'm not trying hurt you, that is the last thing I want, trust me. I just think you should know especially now, that you two are talking about bringing a child into your family." As soon as the words left Adam's mouth he regretted bringing up the possibility of a child for the two of them.

[Chase Campbell]

Really, the confusion was born more out of the idea that Adam would joke about something like that. Even if it was the truth, it had to have been over between the two of them when he’d met James that night. Right? So why was he telling him this? It was ancient history, gone and buried. At least, that was how Chase wanted it to be.

Okay. So maybe it was true. So what? But now those little insecurities were nagging at him. There was a possibility there he didn’t want to face. But it was the only one that would make sense as to why Adam was telling him now. Which only led to further questions, and further distress. It couldn’t be that bad. No way. Again, he tried to play it off. “So… you guys dated before he met me. Big deal.” He shrugged. “James doesn’t know about my partners before him. I don’t really care who he was with before me, either.” He caught Adam’s eye, a hint of a challenge in his own gaze. If he was going to be hurt, it wasn’t exactly going to be because of Adam. It would be James he’d be a little hurt by. Because if what he was thinking about was true… he didn’t want to think about that.

The offhand mention of Niko, however, had Chase further on guard. He’d been protective of the kid since he’d first met him. And that had only gotten stronger since he’d agreed to try and be a part of their family. “Whatever’s going on, it’s gonna be between the three of us. Got it? We just got Niko to agree to try this fostering thing. He doesn’t need to know about… this.” He waved his hand slightly, his tone warning. If Adam was intent on pulling this, Chase was setting the rules right now. Niko was not going to be involved. They were going to sort this out like adults.

[Adam Collier]

Adam could see the cogs turning in Chase's brain he was trying to make sense of everything, and was having a hard time doing so. As soon as he had said that James and Adam must have been together before Chase was with James Adam looked down at his feet.

Looking back up at Chase Adam took another deep breath, he seemed to be doing that a lot today he about to come clean and just bluntly tell Chase when he started talking about Niko. Adam had had no idea that it was Niko that the two men were trying to adopt, he thought they were going to get a baby or the like, not the little boy who had been around the school lately. Adam liked the boy, even if he didn't know him too well. He was a confused little boy that needed help, and Chase and James were probably the perfect people to help him. For a second he thought about not telling Chase, he didn't want to hurt Niko's chance at a happy family. But he had gone too far and there was no turning back now, he had to tell him everything.

"First of all I had no idea that it was Niko that you and James were bringing into your home. I would never involve that boy in anything that would cause him pain, this can and will stay between the adults involved. What you and James choose to tell him is up to you. I am not a bad guy, and am not trying to hurt him, or you for that matter.

I think that it is just time that you know the whole truth about what was going on when you and James got together. I don't believe in basing relationships off of lies and that is what James has done. I have given him time, a great deal of time to tell you. I told him the day before yesterday that he had one day to either tell you himself or I would do it for him. He obviously chose not to tell you, and so I am here doing his dirty work."

Adam was stilling fuming that James had been a coward and not done this himself, how could he not see that it was only going to make things worse for him?

"I would agree with you, who James was with before you doesn't really matter. But you know what does matter? Who he was with when you got together." Adam took a steadying breath. "When you and James got together on that recruiting trip, James was not single. He was in a relationship... with me. He and I had been together for a while by that time." Adam stopped there, everything he had just said needed to settle in Chase's mind.

[Chase Campbell]

The only reason Chase had brought up Niko was simply to protect the kid. He was already unhappy with Adam, although part of that was just misdirected annoyance because he was confused. If this was such a big deal, why hadn’t James told him himself? Why did Adam have to get involved? As far as Chase could see, this was going to end up between him and James. ... And hell, he was already dreading that. He hated even the little disagreements he and James had. But this was going to be something else entirely.

Not the bad guy? So, what? Adam was calling James the bad guy now? Chase scowled slightly, but he didn’t lash out verbally. Not yet. He just crossed his arms over his chest and listened. The fact that the other trainer had no plans to bring Niko into this mess should have made him relax. But it didn’t. He was tense now, just waiting for the axe to fall. The fact alone that Adam had been threatening his husband was bad enough. The way he phrased it was even worse. Chase would be the first one to admit that, yes, he had a temper. Regardless of whose fault this was at the core, the blond wasn’t going to let Adam get away with talking like that.

“You know what, Adam? I don’t like where you’re going with this. And I really don’t like your tone.” There was a real bite to his voice now. He didn’t really care what Adam’s history was with James. It was over now. Done. It was –

... What? Chase fell quiet. James had... cheated? With him. On Adam. In Sedona. He thought back, trying to remember if James had ever mentioned being with someone else. He hadn’t. Not once during that week. And while Adam seemed to be left feeling burned by it all, Chase now had a dilemma. Did he feel bad for Adam? Did he get angry with James? Well... he was still angry with Adam for the time being. “... Then he couldn’t have been very happy with you, could he?” He knew this wasn’t fair on Adam, and a part of him wanted to thank him for telling the truth. But the idea he’d threatened James (whether Chase was angry at him or not) had tipped his temper over. In the back of his mind, he had the seed of doubt planted, though. James had cheated once. What was stopping him from cheating again? “I think you need to go.”

[Adam Collier]

Adam felt bad for Chase, he really did, his whole mind must be exploding. Adam had felt similar when James had broken things off with Adam, not that he saw their life together going places, but he had thought James was an adult not the kind of person that cheated. He had no such delusions now, before he had always decided that it was his private business, now a child specifiably Niko was involved. That changed everything.

Adam Let Chase fume and he even let his comment about his tone slide. But his comment about James not being happy with him really made him upset. He ignored Chase's demand to leave. Chase still seemed to not be understanding what he was trying to say.

"Are you implying that I was not enough for him? That it is my fault he cheated on me. I have news for you, it wasn't the fault lies totally on him. Maybe he wasn't enough for me, maybe I knew that the relationship was going nowhere. Regardless of all of that, the fact remains that James cheated on me, with you, and you deserved to know. To know now before a child is brought into the family, because I assure you this would have eventually all come out. And waiting any longer would have made things worse for everybody."

Adam was really losing his temper and when this happened he could begin to lose control of his power, something he really did not want to do at the moment, it only make things worse.

"I got over him cheating on me, especially when I saw the two of you together, yes it hurt to be cheated on but I understood. I hold you no ill will, I will say again I just thought that all of this was something that you needed to know."

[Chase Campbell]

When he’d first met James back in Sedona, Chase remembered being fascinated by him, and his boldness in the bar that night. Never had he thought, not for one moment, that he was unwittingly becoming ‘the other man’ in an existing relationship. All he’d known was that there was something between them. Something that he’d missed in the three weeks James had been back home in Vermont. It was that something that had made him want to go to Vermont, too. It was that something that had made him agree to marry James.

And it was that something that he was now clinging to, privately, to keep him sane. But he couldn’t ignore the points Adam had brought up. James had cheated. Regardless of the circumstances, he’d done it. And it was difficult to get around that fact.

Why had Adam felt the need to bring this up? On one hand, it was good to have it out in the open. But on the other, he and James were happy. Things had been going so well. They were sorting out the fostering thing with Niko, and they were going to be a family. And Adam had officially smothered those happy feelings for now. “Y’know what? I don’t care whose fault it was or wasn’t. You know why I’m mad right now? Because you threatened my husband. If he wanted to tell me, he would have told me.” He didn’t blame James for not wanting to tell him. Especially with everything that was happening with Niko now. Still, if he’d heard it from James, they would have had a chance to talk about it. All he was hearing now was Adam’s side. The one who had been cheated on. Of course it would sound bad.

Adam wasn’t the only one losing his temper. If Chase really wanted to, he would have forced Adam to leave his classroom. He wasn’t there. Yet. But he really wanted the other trainer gone. He brought one hand up from his chest to press at his temple. “Yeah, well, I know now, don’t I? Your job’s done. Now go away.” Preferably before the blond did something he was bound to regret.

[Adam Collier]

Adam wanted to hit his head against the wall, once again he had let his temper get away from him, and his point suffered. He had not done a good job of making it clear his main objective was to make sure the child didn't get hurt, he had no intention of breaking James and Chase up. He knew they would work through and come out much stronger then ever before. What Adam was hoping to avoid was a innocent child getting caught in the middle. It seems he had been too late. Niko was already entering into their family and whether they liked it or not James and Chase would have to deal with all of this now.

Adam almost laughed when Chase went on about not caring who's fault it was, and why he was really mad at Adam.

"You know what Chase, the only reason 'You don't care whose fault it was' is because there was only one person who was ever in the wrong. As for me threatening James, you can look at it that way if it helps you sleep at night. In reality what I did was give him another chance before I told you. His plan was to never tell you. Can you tell me honestly now knowing what you know that you wish you could go back? Back to a relationship based on lies?"

Adam could see that there was nothing more he could say to Chase, the only person that needed to talk to Chase now was James. He went to leave Chase's classroom. He did however have one more thing he needed to say, and he needed to say it the calmest voice he could.

"Before I go, I think you should know my goal was never to hurt you or James. I have always thought that you needed to know the truth, i gave him years to tell you. I only told you now because I had hoped to that you two could resolve this quickly and before a child was brought into the family. I was too late for that, and for that I will always be sorry. But I am not now or ever will be sorry for telling you the truth."

[Chase Campbell]

Chase’s temper was faring no better, and if he didn’t calm himself down, and soon, he would end up doing something that would either land him in trouble, or that he’d regret. What had Adam thought would happen? Of course this was going to stress his and James’ relationship. It wasn’t something Chase could hear and go ‘oh, that’s nice,’ and simply walk away. Life wasn’t like that. Instead, life had him afraid. He was considering the possibility of James cheating again. He was considering what his feelings were as far as James not being single when they met. ... He just didn’t know what to think.

Well, he did know one thing. If Adam didn’t get out of his face soon, there would be a little more than heated words flying between the two of them. “Lies,” he repeated. “It was one goddamn lie, Adam.” Granted, a big lie, but now he was worrying about that, too. If James had been capable of lying about this, what else might he have lied about over the past four years? He hated himself for doubting James. He loved him. He didn’t want to talk about this anymore.

But he’d have to. He’d have to talk to James. He knew that. He had an awful feeling that what James had tried to tell him the night before was exactly this. And maybe it would have been easier to swallow, coming from James. He felt miserable now. And he still had a few classes to get over with before he could even get to his husband. He’d just have to deal with it.

When Adam moved to the door, Chase thought it was over. Not quite. He pressed his fingers against his temple, not even looking up. “Yeah, well what did you think would happen?” This couldn’t have been dealt with like this without someone getting hurt. “Just go, Adam. I’m done.” In more than one way, he was done. All he wanted was to sort this out with James. But even that would have to wait.

It was going to be a long afternoon.