Chapter 5: Meltdown

"...Hi, you're reached Daisey and I'm not available at the moment. Please leave your name, number and message at the beep. I promise to get back to you as soon as I can, goodbye" [Beep

"Daisey? Daisey, please answer your phone, please my love...I'm begging you. You know I would never do anything to hurt you, I'm sorry. Oh God, please Daisey talk to me, I know what I've done was more than wrong...I don't know what came over me! I'm so sorry baby, please sniff...just talk to me." Adam moved his cell phone away from his ear as he closed it shut, his puffy red eyes continued to fill with tears. Sitting at the corner of his room where everything happened, Adam could clearly re-see the action's he made. Grabbing her, yelling and causing her pain, hearing her cries and then throwing her to the door violently, the tom shut his eyes tight trying to block the images out of his mind. It's been two days since it happened, Adam's been locked up in his apartment ever since he woke up after passing out. He's avoided calls from Jake, his brothers and sisters, even his friend at the gym, he knew he could rely on his employee's to run the facility but everyone just loved to hang out with Adam. Sleep and full meals were hard for Adam to enjoy, everything he tried to do reminded him of Daisey; the way she always took care of him when he was too busy or sick. Her smile, her scent, her very presence made it seem like nothing could ever bother him; no matter what mood Adam was in. Adam looked at a random pill that sat on the small rug in front of him, his body shook a little and the burly tabby began to sweat. He knew his problems were caused by the medication, it helped him before with his fears but now it seemed like they made things much worse. Adam jumped slightly as his cell phone began to ring; the confused kat looked around to see the room now dark, only light from the hallway outside crept under his door. Adam didn't realize he fell asleep, the phone continued ring as the kat picked up to see who was calling...it was Chance. Adam brought the phone to his ear slowly. "H-h-hello...?"

"Adam? It's Chance, where are you kitten?"

"In my house..." Adam responded.

"Where in your house Adam?" Adam raised an eyebrow at the question, wondering what differences it would make to tell his exact location.

"In my room, just woke up. Why?" Adam's other ear became erect as the sound of footsteps sounded louder and louder when they made their way up the stairs. Soon Adam could see a shadow pair of feet from the crack of his door; the knob rattled a bit making Adam climb to his feet still against the corner of the room. The door slowly opened as a flash of light blinded Adam, the dark figure stood in the doorway standing tall. "Chance?" Another set of lights turned on as Chance flicked the switch by the door, the ceiling lights shinned bright on both kats.

"Adam? What are you doing in the dark?" Chance looked around the room, he could see that the fight took place here, noting was cleaned up or put back together. Chance quickly noticed the pills that were scattered about his brother, they were everywhere. Adam closed his phone and tossed it on his bed. Chance closed the door, carefully he looked back to see a small dent on the door, his eyes trailed to the floor where a small area of dried blood showed, only a couple of droplets thank goodness. Chance closed his eyes for a moment trying to collect himself before he would continue; Chance looked back at his brother. Adam looked so tired and drained of energy...bags formed under his eyes, speaking of his eyes; they were puffy and bloodshot. "So from the looks of things, I'm guessing she found out about those pills realizing they weren't what she thought it was. She must have been the one who tossed them, then you went and lost it didn't you Adam?" Chance stood tall and stern towards his brother, no remorse in his words and no comfort for his brother. Adam stood there, tears flowing again, he simply froze.

"Please...where is she?" Adam chocked on his own breaths, trying to steady his breathing. Chance didn't blink, he saw his younger brother suffering as he stood against the corner, but if things were to work as Ian planned then they would have to show no help to their brother. "Chance?"

"She's home finally, we brought her to the hospital after she came to the house. She's at the mansion now with Jake and their parents, if I were you Adam I'd give it some time before you two see one another again, trust has to rebuild."

"I'm so sorry..." Adam wept softly.

"Sorry won't take back what you did to that girl Adam; for God's sake she was never going to win! She could try until she died but we all know if she fought back like before, even doing it a hundred times she would always end up defeated." Chance started to raise his voice now.

"If she just wouldn't have made me mad, none of this would have happened! She and I could have slept or watched a movie, anything would have been better than hurting her. She was just so mad at Cliff and my..."

"About that" Chance interrupted crossing his arms, an angry glare shot into Adam's soul. "What in the world is that bastard doing around you? Have you already forgotten what he's done?"

"No" Adam spoke softly.

"He abused Jake mentally and physically..."

"I know, and..." Adam continued to explain a reason for seeing Cliff, but every time he would try Chance would cut him off.

"He drugged Jake and me; not to mention Ian"

"Chance please" Adam began to sob.

"He raped Kyle and sexually harassed Daisey, YOUR Daisey!"

"Stop, please stop" Adam fell to his knees trying to cover his ears; his head hit the floor still trying to block his brother's voice out. Adam's tongue fell to the floor, when it returned inside his mouth it carried three of his antidepressant medication pills. Before he realized it Adam swallowed the pills, Chance looked at his brother coughing and gasping for air. Chance went to his side; holding his brother by the shoulders.

"Adam! What's wron...?" Before Chance could finish, he was shoved away hard by Adam, who slowly began to rise to his feet. Chance ached a bit, but eventually sat on his bottom looking up at his brother. The poor kat began to drool out the side of his mouth a little; he looked flushed and started to sweat badly. Adam closed his eyes at the moment, feeling the room spin and his vision becoming would take deep breaths; his heart pumped continuously as he tried to maintain his balance as he stood.

"I thought you, of all people could understand...would understand what I'm going through. You should know what I feel right now, the pain, and the torment of the evening playing over and over again in my mind. I CAN'T make it stop, it won't leave me alone"

"Adam I know what you're going through, believe me. But you can't just sulk in your grief; that won't solve anything. Come on kitten, let us..."

"STOP CALLING ME THAT!!!" Adam yelled, he grabbed the lamp off his nightstand and chucked it at his brother, Chance barely dodged the flying piece of glass as he dove to the ground covering his head as the shatters fell from the wall, the sound of the lamp hitting the wall echoed in the studio apartment. Adam shut his eyes and placed his hands on his head, growling through the cracks of his teeth, Chance slowly looked up to see his brother having trouble standing up. Adam sobbed as he held his throbbing head, he felt hot all over and his brother's words weren't helping him one bit.

"Adam" His brother whispered.

"Heh...you talk big, but last I remember you raped the one you love. It must have been hell, listening to his screams and hurting slowly" Adam opened his bloodshot eyes, tears poured out like a stream.

"Adam...don't" Chance got up once again facing his youngest brother.

"Or maybe you like that, you gays...such a weird bunch." Adam smirked.

"Enough Adam, don't say anything you'll regret"

"I never regret my actions, you're so ungrateful ya' know. I hid the sheets of your bed, you should have seen the blood you made Jake spill for your lust."

"You know I had no control, I was drugged" Chance balled up his fists tight.

"Says you..."Adam stepped quickly over to his brother will lightning fast speed, grabbing Chance's neck with his meaty hand as his finger's pinched Chance's skin. Adam lifted Chance in the air with ease, watching his brother gasp for air as his feet kicked at Adam's body. Nothing was working; suddenly Chance was slammed against the wall hard, still losing air by the second. Chance placed his hands on Adam's arms trying to free himself, but nothing helped the kat as he squirmed; Adam looked at his brother's energy drain. Suddenly realizing what he was doing, Adam tossed Chance over to his be, Chance bounced off the mattress and then onto the floor hard. The kat gasped for air as he turned to his side, Adam could hear footsteps coming and looked over to his door to see Nail and Earl standing in the doorway. Kats gasped, the room was dark but they could still see their friend on the floor.

"CHANCE!" Both went over to his side. Earl knelt over and grabbed Chance by the shoulders, slowly lifting his upper body, Nail knew who did this and he looked over to Adam who began to take his shirt off. Adam's fur was wet as his skin still continued to sweat through the pores. Adam started to walk out the room, dazed and confused as he tripped over his own feet constantly. Nail walked behind the kat and grabbed his wrist from behind.

"Hold on Adam..." Before Nail could finish Adam punched him in the stomach, causing the pilot to drop to his knees and hug himself as he gasped for air like Chance was doing. Adam left the room, turning to his right he could see Jackie and Anna coming to the top of the steps; both she-kats looked at their brother. He seemed like he was suffering from something. Adam still made his way to the steps. Jackie held her arm in the air keeping Anna behind her.

"Adam?" Jackie questioned, Anna just gazed in awe at her brother, he was flushed as stumbling. Adam began to growl showing his teeth and extending his claws, with a sudden burst of energy he leapt at his sisters. Jackie and Anna moved to the side quickly, seeing their brother hit the wall hard, his feet planted on the ground as he rubbed his head. At the corner of his eye he saw Jackie, with a swift swing of his arm he slashed at Jackie, cutting her at the neck of her chest. Anna saw her sister fall to her side hard as she yelped hitting the floor, she had to think fast or Adam would attack her...and then opportunity showed. Adam's body began to fall backwards, his hell slipped at the edge of the top step.

"Adam...I love you" Anna closed her eyes and rubbed forward as she tackled her tall and strong sibling, he gave a growl and she screamed as they began tumble down the steps. Adam held onto his sister tight, she was covered up by his massive arms as they fell on the hard wood steps. Adam's head, shoulder, arms and back suffered most of the blows; Anna's legs hit along with her hips. Both reached the bottom step finally, Adam's body sat up at the bottom step, his legs flat on the ground as Anna was cradled in his arms; his body was bruised and bleeding from his cuts. A shadow blocked the light coming from the living room, Adam slowly looked over to his right and saw Ian standing over the two of them, and slowly he placed his hand on Adam's head, ruffling his hair a little. Ian looked at Anna who was wide eyed and shaking, breathing hard as her arms laid on Adam' chest still entrapped in his tight embrace.

"Anna, you alright?" Slowly Anna nodded, her legs were going to be sore for a while, that's for sure. Adam didn't take his glare off of Ian, a tear fell from his eye, Ian looked back and moved his hand off Adam's head to brush it off until he felt Adam's forehead. He was burning up badly, his eyes dilated as Adam stared at the blur that use to resemble his brother, Ian placed his hand under Adam's chin and tilted the kats head up so Adam would be staring into Ian's eyes. Ian noticed his mouth was dry and hot from the breaths of air he puffed out, Adam's head jerked some trying to release itself but Ian held on tight causing the younger tom to moan slightly. "Adam I'm not going to argue with you...SO STAY STILL" Ian roared at the top of his lungs, his voice echoed throughout the studio apartment and rattled Adam's very soul; his eyes grew wide as his body froze. Suddenly his body went limp, his grip on his sister loosened as his hands fell to his side hitting the floor. Anna raised herself slowly as she looked down at her unconscious brother, he looked pale and weak after the fall and now just lost; Ian looked at what he did to his brother. At the moment Chance, Earl, and Nail who carried Jackie by her side as her elbow slung over his shoulder, the looked down at the trio as Ian scooped Adam into his arms. Adam's body shook terribly, his eyes rolled to the back oh his head as his teeth chattered softly; Ian held his arm under Adam's head for support as it constantly shot forward and hung back in an instant, turning side to side at the same pace. Ian walked up the flight of stairs and stood in front of Chance, both nodded at one another and made their way to the bathroom down the hall. The others went downstairs to join the shocked Anna and wait to see if they would be needed later. For now, it was in the hands of Chance and Ian to go through with the next step.

Clawson Manor

Daisey lay on her bed, her face hidden in her pillow as she sobbed while her father paced her room smoking his pipe; Jake sat on the edge of the bed patting his sister's back softly. The smoke from their father's pipe clogged the air in the room a little, Jake made sure to crack the window open so it wouldn't leave a long stink on the furniture like it always does in the living room.

"This is unlike the boy, very unlike him! But how DARE he place a hand on you Daisey! This is unspeakable, if your mother knew about this she would faint knowing her child was harmed by someone she loved…..this is inexcusable!" Mr. Clawson yelled at the top of his lung, Jake's ears lowered to muffle the volume he produced; Daisey didn't seem to pay attention as she cried some more.

"Dad please…it was an accident and we explained the situation….."

"THAT'S NO EXCUSE!" Mr. Clawson roared; it scared Jake a little. He had never seen his father so upset and out of his mind. "Jake, I'm thankful you're looking out for her but this is something out of your league. Daisey, you are not to speak to that boy until I have a word with him" With that, Daisey raised herself up from her pillow and looked behind herself.

"Daddy please, he's suffered enough. He knows what he did was wrong, just leave him be" Daisey pleaded, her father stood still for a moment before blowing another puff of thick smoke, the fumes danced in the air leaving its stench lingering. Mr. Clawson looked down at his daughter, her arm bandaged up and headband wrapped tight around her head pushing her hair backwards. Here eyes red and puffy from her countless amounts of crying she's done for days, it was not the vision he'd ever want to see from his child…either of them. Mr. Clawson didn't say a word as he left the room, closing the door behind himself, Daisey sunk back into her pillow and sobbed again.

"Daisey, everything is going to be alright. Chance and the others are going to talk to their brother, try to relax" Daisey's ears popped up as she turned her head slightly, she knew what that meant.

"Jake, are they going to hurt my Adam?" Daisey questioned, she didn't get an answer back. Feeling anger and worry Daisey kicked her legs off the bed and tried to make it to the door; before she could get up she was grabbed back down onto the mattress by her brother who held her down by her shoulders lightly. "Let me go, don't hurt my Adam! JAKE!" The she-kat struggled to break free, but all her attempts were to no use.

"Daisey, this is for his own good and you know it." Jake replied, only to get angry screams back as his sister tried to sit up. Her arms tried to push Jake's arms off of her, but her medications had kicked in a while ago causing the she-kat to tire easily. Jake's sister began to lose her energy and could barely raise her arms anymore to protest, Jake could see his sister's eyes' start to close, it was late in the morning and she needed her rest. Daisey began to cry once again, she knew she wasn't going to win this battle and her vision was giving way.

"Jake……please doesn't let them hurt my…mmm-my Adam..." Jake watched as his sister passed out, releasing his grip on her shoulders; Jake picked up his sister and placed her properly in her bed before putting her blanket over her body. Jake stood up and left the room quietly and went downstairs to the living room to meet with his father. He didn't look like he was going to be swayed no matter what Jake would have to say, but Jake would have to give it a try no matter what.

"Dad?" Jake's words brought his father out of deep thinking.

"How could this have happened to her Jake? I trusted the boy….and now, now this happened!" Mr. Clawson continued to smoke on his pipe as he sat down on the reclining chair next to the well lit fireplace. Jake stood in front of the chair and took a deep breath in.

"Dad……there's something we need to talk about that involves a lot more people and things that lead up to this. What I'm worried about is where to start from" Jake said as he knelt next to the chair. Back in Daisey's room, the dark furred she-kat reached under her pillow for her cell phone. She clicked on a random button which activated the backlight of her phone; she noticed she had a new voice message from Adam. The she-kat hesitantly called to her voicemail and listened carefully, putting the volume up to its highest.

"You have 1 New Voice Messages:"

""Daisey? Daisey, please answer your phone, please my love..."