Choices the third of four in the Shattered Series, (Shattered, Forgiven, Choices, and The After,with)

"Get outta here Ruzek, now!" Al snapped when Adam didn't follow the order, "go!"

Adam tossed his hands in the air, "alright, I'm going" he told them.

"Oh, no" Amy said as she watched the news, Adam's face plastered on the screen, "Kim, come here!"

Kim came in just in time to see Adam's face leave the screen, "well, this isn't good" she sat on the couch, "I need to call Adam, let him know what's going on"

With that Adam came in the front door,"what is it?"

"Your face plastered all over the news" she told him, "this is bad Adam"

"Yea, I know. Al and Hank are at the hotel, they told me to leave" he explained as he grabbed a beer, "maybe they can make this go away" he mumbled as he sat down, he ran his hand through his hair, "I never should have hit him"

"Adam, I need to take a good portion of the blame, none of this would have happened if I didn't start talking to him"

"Never mind that, it doesn't matter now." He told her, it's going to all work out, you'll see" he hoped Hank and Al would be able to get through to the guy.

"Hey baby, you need to see this" Derek called Annie into the living room, he pointed at the television, "they just shredded your brother on the news, said he's a hothead who shouldn't have been given a badge" he lifted Drew up on his shoulder to burp him, "that's fucked up, your brother is a good cop"

She sat on the arm of the couch, "This is all a big mess, why can't they see this guy is just out for a pay day" she said, "it's common knowledge that Kim is loaded, but of course the media is just eating this up"

"So, the way I see it is you have two options" Al told him as they escorted him to Hank's car "we will discuss them while we take a ride"

Seth could feel his stomach flip, his palms sweaty "What the hell is going on? What is this about?"

Hank laughed, looking at him over his shoulder, "you're a dumb fuck, you know" he piloted the car towards the silos, "you think you can screw with one of my men, try and fuck with his wife and then have the balls to sue him"

Seth eyes grew to the size of saucers, "his wife was in to me, she wasn't complaining, and he hit me"

Al turned in the seat so he was facing Seth, "how much?"

"What?"

"Don't bullshit me, how much you looking to get? What will make this disappear?" Al asked again, "because one way or another this will disappear, you too maybe"

"Hey, you okay?" Kim sat beside Adam on the back steps, the sun had just set.

"I should never of hit him and I certainly shouldn't have gone after him earlier" he sighed, "this is a fucking nightmare, the media keeps calling they want me to give them a statement"

"Don't do it, we can turn the phones off  if need be" she rested her head on his shoulder, "I'm sorry for all of this"

He put his arm around her, "Kim it isn't your fault, I'm the one who hit him. You didn't"

"I should have been home with you and the kids, not at some hotel" she sighed, "I was just fed up with being helpless" she told him, "I felt like you deserved more" she wiped her eyes, "I'm just so sorry"

He turned to face her, "it's okay, we're gonna be okay" he kissed her forehead, "I may not have a job, but hey it could be worse" he laughed sarcastically, "I really fucked up, didn't I?"

"He set you up, and you know it's because of my family's wealth" she told him, "what if I just pay him what he wants?"

Adam stood up, "Absolutely not, no fucking way" he told her, "I'd rather lose my job and  go to jail than allow you to pay him off"

"I can't bear the thought of that happening, you don't deserve this Adam" she grabbed his hand, "I can fix it, you know the money means nothing to me"

"That's not the point Kim, if we pay him off its like he's right and I won't let him destroy your reputation"

"Adam, please--"

"It's not up for discussion" he told her before going in the house.

"You can't do this!" Seth yelled as they pulled up to the silos.

Al laughed, "well, if we can't do it, how come we are?" He unbuckled his seat belt and went to the back door, "let's go" he pulled him out of the car, "it's funny I have so much pent up energy this is exactly what I needed to get it out" he smirked.

"You too?" Hank smiled, "I thought it was just me, let's do this" he grabbed the golf clubs and baseball bats from the trunk, "so batting practice or working on your golf swing?"

Al rubbed his goatee, "my golf game could use some work" he grabbed the driver from the bag, "still not gonna budge?" He asked Seth.

"Hey it's Annie, is my brother home?" She asked when Kim finally answered.

"He is but he's not in the mood to talk, matter of fact I think he's out cold in bed with Harper" Kim told her, "he's a mess"

"I bet, Kim why doesn't the media see what this guy is doing? He's just looking for money that's all" Annie could feel herself becoming angry again.

"I don't know. I just want to give him the damn money!"

"Don't you dare Kim" she told her.

Kim laughed "your brother said the same thing, though his language was a bit more colorful"

"I can only imagine, I can hear Drew getting fussy, so I need to cut this short. I just wanted to call and tell Adam that I love him and I'm thinking about him. I love you too Kim, it's all gonna work out"

"Thanks Annie, kiss that sweet nephew of mine"

"I'm not signing that, no fucking way" Seth told them pushing the pen away, "ain't gonna happen" he he clutched his side.

Al took a few practice swings with the bat, "you sure? I know I could use a few more swings, what about you?" He pointed the bat at Hank who was twirling a golf club in his hands.

"You know what forget it" Seth grabbed the pen and scribbled his name on the bottom of the legal document, "this isn't worth it"

Hank took the cash from the suitcase and handed it over, "I'm glad you finally saw things my way" he folded his arms, "now, you stay the fuck out of Chicago and you retract all you said about Ruzek and you'll leave his wife alone otherwise we'll find you" he got in his face "and you won't walk away next time"

Kim watched from the doorway as Adam slept, Harper snuggled in beside him her head resting on his chest, she quietly went in and ran her hand through his hair and kissed his cheek, "Adam" she whispered, "wake up baby"

He rubbed his eyes, "what time is it?"

"Just after ten, I didn't have the heart to wake you" she said softly as he removed himself from Harper's side, "you hungry? You slept through dinner, Harper too"

"I'm alright, I didn't realize I was that tired. Anthony asleep?"

Kim took his hand and led him from Harper's room, "he is, he was sad you fell asleep. He wanted to tell you all about his basketball practice with Kevin"

"That was today wasn't it?" He sat on the couch, "I'm sorry Darlin', I completely forgot" her pulled her into his lap.

"He had a blast, Kevin said he's a natural" she leaned back, "Annie called, wanted me to tell you that she loves you and is thinking about you"

Headlights reflected off the wall, "who the hell is that?" Kim asked getting up from Adam's lap.

"Don't go to the window, I'm sure it's yet another news van" he told her pinching the bridge of his nose, "I swear they're vultures"

She looked out the blinds, "it's not a news van Adam" she looked over her shoulder at him "it's ......."

---Note----

I had a couple of requests for a new chapter and had some time to kill so here you go. It's still gonna be hit and miss with this one, but I will try my best.