Unwanted

Chapter 8: Running Away

~Some weeks later~

After the falling out with his father, Adam was adrift in a sea of misery. His concern that everyone would abandon him after Exile told him to get lost, evaporated. The rest of the Rovers were unhappy about what Exile had said and done but couldn't blame the hurting husky, so they did all they could to take care of Adam away from their team mate.

They did their best to try and make Adam feel wanted but it never got through to him. His appetite was gone and he slept a lot in the new bedroom he'd been given by Hunter and his family whose apartment he now resided in.

Colleen saw that he was fed, had clean clothes, and was comforted when he had nightmares as did Hunter. Ethan and Isaac were very distressed by what had happened and tried everything they could think of to help Adam out of his imposed shell but nothing worked.

It got so bad that a suicide watch was placed on the kitten. He was never left alone long except when he was in his bedroom sleeping.

Today, Hunter made Adam come outside with him and get some fresh air. They didn't speak as they walked along the shore then sat on the beach watching the waves for hours.

Hunter had made many attempt to get Adam to speak to him about how he was feeling but the kitten had clammed up completely. Beyond saying thank you and asking for something specific, he never spoke and his expression was always a blank slate.

Sighing, the Golden Retriever gently caressed Adam's head with his paw. He looked above and saw it was getting toward dinner time. "Time to go back inside and have dinner," he said gently, getting to his feet and brushing off the sand.

Adam obeyed without a word or change of expression and followed his uncle back inside. He could feel Hunter's gaze on him, but ignored it as usual.

As they made for the hall that lead to their apartment, Hunter sighed inside. They couldn't even go to the communal kitchen with Adam in case they ran into Exile. It was bad enough seeing the cold husky around headquarters occasionally without actually being in close quarters with him and Adam.

For the kitten's sake, they did their best to keep the pair separate but the situation was getting really awkward and was bad for the Rovers morale. Their Master mentioned just yesterday when Exile was out of the building, that the situation as it stood now could seriously jeopardize the Rover's ability to fight as a team.

"This must not be allowed to happen. I will set about looking for a counselor for the pair, the Master said firmly.

Everyone felt that was a very good idea and hoped they could convince Exile to go.

Until the Master could get them help, everyone continued to keep the pair apart and do their best to ease Adam's pain. The difficult part though, was the others couldn't help Hunter out as much as they would like.

Blitz was too busy taking care and spending enough time with his own daughter, son and mate but did take time to say hello and ask after Adam's welfare. Shag's pups had finally arrived and he was totally wrapped up in learning to be a father. The birth had brought a moment of cheer that lasted only about two days before the uneasy tension returned.

Hunter's musings halted when he arrived at his apartment. He told Adam to wash up then went to help Colleen get supper on. A short while later they sat down to eat, Ethan and Isaac chattering happily about their day, casting sad looks at their friend who kept his eyes on his plate and picked at his food.

A couple hours later the young ones were herded off to bed. Colleen tucked her pups in and soon they were sleeping peacefully. She smiled when she heart Hunter come in to kiss his twins good night.

The two slipped out and went to Adam's room. They stood in the door and stared unhappily at the kitten curled up in a tight ball, even in sleep his misery was plain. Her mind went back to that terrible day when Hunter carried the kitten in sobbing inconsolably. She was both angry and sad at what Exile had said and done to his adoptive son. The poor thing was totally bereft and lost and nothing she did could penetrate the wall he'd erected since that day to keep everyone out.

She felt Hunter move into the room and go to Adam's side. He leaned down and licked the kitten gently receiving no response. He tucked the blanket around the sadden youngster and turned away. The two left the room silently, closing the door but leaving a small night light on.

"I truly wish there was something we could do to reach him," she said, sadly.

"I know love, I wish there was too. I'm afraid the Master is right, getting therapy is the only way to help him now."

"I hope so. This loss could ruin his whole life," she said worried.

Hunter could nod in agreement, giving his wife a lick on the face to comfort her. "Let's go to bed."

Adam listened as the door closed and he was finally left alone with his unhappy thoughts. The lick on his face felt warm but it didn't help to ease the choking pain in his heart at his father's rejection. Ringing in his head were his father's last words to him: 'YOU'RE NOT MY SON...YOU CAN MAKE ME HAPPY BY GETTING OUT OF MY LIFE...' The pain of those words hadn't gone away despite how much time had past.

Tears ran down his face and he whimpered. 'Why...why did his life have to be this way? Why couldn't his mother have lived to care for him? Since she did die, why couldn't he have simply died with her instead of living this hell without her?' he moaned.

No answers came to him in the night, only the constant reminders of how much his father hated him and the effort everyone else was making to try and help him move on. He appreciated what they were trying to do but none of it help to ease the anguish in his mind and heart.

Sitting up, he dashed an angry paw across his eyes. He couldn't stand it anymore...all the looks of pity...his ex-father's cold glances whenever they happen to see each other, the constant tension among the Rovers...all caused by him. Well he had the solution to that...he would runaway...find a new life away from this hell.

Decision made, Adam shoved the bedding off and quickly and quietly got dressed. He didn't bother to pack anything as there was nothing he wanted with him that would be reminders of all the things he wanted to forget. He grabbed a jacket and pulled it on.

Going to the door, he opened it a little and peered out, listening hard. The apartment was quiet, everyone was asleep. Slipping out of his room, he hurried down the hall and through the living room. He opened the front door and snuck through, closing the door quietly shut behind him.

As he hurried down the quiet hall of headquarters heading for the outside, his father's last words chased after him making it hard to escape.

"YOU'RE...NOT...MY...SON!"

As he reached the outside, he began to run along the shore in the dark, the echo of his father's voice spurring him onward.

"Why couldn't you have just died at birth...?"

He knew to the east was a forest which gave way to a desert beyond that. Maybe he would die of starvation or be killed by predators...either way he didn't care and kept running.

"You can make me happy by getting the hell out of my life!"

Adam never looked back. He knew his adoptive family would be worried about him but he couldn't bear to be taken back there so tried to put enough distance between them and away as he could before morning's light. He repeated a litany in his head that kept him moving forward.

'I have nothing to back there for! Nothing for him! No love there only pain! I have no family….I never did! I was just trouble for them!'

Maybe if he said it often enough, he would believe it.

However, no matter how badly he wanted to get far away, he was far too young to get far. He made it as far as the edge of the forest before the cold and exhaustion got to him. Shivering, despite the jacket he wore, he wrapped his arms around himself to keep some warmth in and looked for a spot to stop and rest.

A nice thick bush presented him with the perfect hiding place and it would be warm. No one searching for him should find him here, forgetting completely how good the noses of the Rovers were. He crawled into the bush and settled himself into a ball. It didn't take long before he fell into exhausted sleep.

He thought he was clear were he rested but, if he knew someone was watching him he would of turned back. From space a video cam watched Adam escape the Road Rover HQ and it sent a 'ping' sound when it captured Adam sleeping.

What Adam didn't realize, Rover Headquarters was under surveillance by those that wanted them dead. When he made his dash across the sands, a hidden camera linked to a space monitor, caught his movement and sent images back to its origin. A soft 'ping' told its watchers something interesting had been seen.

A dark figure went to the machine and stared at the image on the screen. A grin of evil pleasure crossed the figures face. Turning away, he shouted orders..

"Send a squad of Catomutants to Rover Island to pick up that kitten," he barked, pointing at the screen. His assistant saluted.

"Yes general…I've already taken the liberty and they are on their way," she said briskly.

"Excellent," the dark man said, returning his attention to the screen.

~Only a short time later~

A small group landed their small craft in the desert then ran through the forest rapidly to the location they'd been given.

It didn't take them more than ten minutes to arrive at a certain bush and find the sleeping kitten. One of them reached in and picked up the kitten carefully. Adam never woke which made their job much easier as they returned the way they'd come, boarded their craft, and carried Adam away.

A/N: This is bad….what will happen now? Please Review.