After Adam was released from the hospital, all he wanted to do was sleep. As soon as he got home, the youngest Kramer went straight to bed. Jason frowned at first, thinking that the hospital released his brother too soon. However, Mrs. Kramer assured him that sleeping was normal behavior for a person who had experienced a Grand Mal seizure or any seizure. Jason and Laura ate supper that night together.

"I am just so excited! I never dreamed that Adam would have this chance," Jason said, cutting the loaf of bread that his mother made the night before.

"I know, I just wish your father was here," Laura said taking a bite of the mashed potatoes. "Sometimes I just get frustrated with things."

"His surgery is not for three weeks. Dad said that he would be here next week. This is an important job," Jason replied thoughtfully. He knew his mother got aggravated at his father at times. "Besides, you are more aggravated at his job, not Dad."

His mother sighed and moved around the green beans on her plate. "You are right. But I just think that Adam needs us both."

"In three weeks he will need you. You are leaving for your dig tomorrow I assume." Jason said as he eyed his mother.

"My dearest Jason, we have to meet Dr. Cross a week before the surgery. Actually the surgery is scheduled for a Friday and he is meeting with us on Monday of that week. I am going to call my supervisor and tell him that I can not leave. I will just have to take some time off," Laura said with a matter of fact tone.

"Okay Mom, two weeks. What did Dad say about it?"

"He said not to smother Adam and to go for at least a week."

"There is your answer."

Laura scowled at her dark haired son. "There is no way I am leaving Adam like this."

"Mom, go for a week to get things started. You have been looking forward to this any ways. I will look after Adam," Jason said, pleading with his mother. "Besides, Adam will be very angry if he hears what you are planning. He hates to see us make over him and to change plans."

Laura continued to fuss with Jason, but the battle was soon won. Laura would go for the week to get things started at the excavation site. She would carry her beeper with her at all times and was to be called if Adam even coughed.

"I just wish your dad was not on such a high level case," Laura muttered. But then she had to smile. Her family would not be half as interesting if it were not for the detecting bug that had bit each of the Kramer males.

"Are we going to be able to contact him directly or are we going to have to go through the main office?" Jason said, sipping the last of his tomato juice.

"All I know is that he told me when I spoke to him about the surgery that he would wear a vibrating beeper. If there was an emergency, to call the main circuits board and have them buzz him. He would then get in touch with us as soon as possible. I am assuming that he is not allowed to talk about the case he is on since he never went into details," Laura said, sitting back from the table. "So call me first and then I will call him."

Jason nodded. "I am just glad that Adam has this chance. I hope Alyssa's surgery is going fine. Did he say when it was going to be?"

"I think it is tomorrow morning and that they was supposed to do the prep work this morning. I gave Alyssa our 1-800 number so she could call us and keep us updated," Laura said, finishing the last of her mashed potatoes. "It is funny how life works."

Jason smiled at his mother. He knew first hand what she was thinking. The family had been through a lot in the past few months. But now things were going to get better.

"So how long is Adam supposed to stay home from school?" Jason asked as he helped his mother clear the table.

"Tomorrow for sure, maybe Wednesday. Just see how he is doing. I want you to go in the morning before I have to leave and get your work and Adam's work for two days," Mrs. Kramer directed as she started towards the study area of the house. "I am going to call the university to discuss my change in plans."

While his mother was on the phone, Jason finished cleaning the dishes and placed them in the drying rack. By now, it was late and he was starting to feel the strain from the day's events and decided to turn in for the night. He walked past his own bedroom and down to his brother's room. It was not unusual for Jason to check in on his brother. After seeing the pile of blankets, Jason as satisfied his brother was fine. He made his way to his own bed and fell immediately asleep.

 

It was so early in the morning when Jason was stirred awake by a loud clap of thunder. He sat straight up and looked out the window. Clouds were rolling in and it was a great sight. It had been a long time since they had a storm. Lying back on his pillow, he remembered how much Adam loved to watch the storms and especially the lightning. Jason was always a little leery of storms, opting to stay even away from the windows even as a child. Not being able to sleep, Jason walked over to check on his brother. But when he reached the messiest room in the house, no one was there. Puzzled by his brother's absence this early in the morning, Jason walked past his parent's room. But Laura was still sound asleep. Creeping quietly to not wake up his mother, Jason made his way down the stairs. The storm was still just nothing but lightning and claps of thunder that rolled on across the sky and shook the house at times. Trying to see through the sleep haze that had captured his eyes, he thought he spotted something on top of the path that led to the beach. Surely Adam was not out there in the storm, Jason thought to himself. But his thoughts were soon confirmed. Swallowing his fear of thunderstorms, Jason ran out to his brother. Adam stood on the path over looking the ocean and felt the strong winds that whipped around him. He even still had the same shorts and T-shirt that he wore to bed that night.

"Isn't this a site!" Adam yelled, noticing his brother's presence.

"What are you doing out here! You are going to get struck by lightning!" Jason yelled back. Just then a long, yet scattered lightning streak came down over the ocean. It lit up the entire sky. Then the bone-shaking bang of thunder followed like a shock wave over the earth. The oldest Kramer jumped and grabbed a hold of his brother's arm. Adam let out a huge laugh.

"I can't believe that you can run into a burning house and all of the other things that we have done, but you are scared of a thunderstorm. I tell you Jason, you are really funny!" Adam said, still chuckling. Jason made a face, but still held on to his brother's arm until he caught his nerves. "I never understood why you have always been afraid of storms!"

"At least I was not afraid of Santa Claus! I remember when it was Christmas time and Uncle David would dress up as Santa. You used to run and hide! Jacob would even tell you it was his dad and you still would not have anything to do with him," Jason recalled. Adam flashed his brother a look.

"He was a dead man. No one lives for hundreds of years like that. Thunderstorms are alive!" Adam called back. Seeing another streak extend from the sky and to the ocean, he called out to his brother, "Here it comes." Sure enough, the clap of thunder rolled onto the shore. Jason just held his breath trying not to show fear. "Jason, you really need to face your fear."

"You are going to be a dead man if you don't get inside!" Jason called out, trying to nudge his brother in the direction of the house. "Since we could get struck by lightning, I think that death would cross my mind at a time like this."

"Jason, I am not afraid of death anymore," Adam said without any hesitation. Jason just looked at him numbly. He never bargained on that statement. Noticing his brother's shock, Adam looked at him searching for any sign of reaction. "I have been watching the storm and it is going to stay out at sea. Let's sit down here and watch it." Adam slowly sat down in the sand and gestured for his brother to sit beside him. Jason hesitated at first, but then sat down beside his brother.

Adam's statement took Jason back. Flashbacks of the time that Randall died and his brother became very unstable haunted his memory. It was something that still troubled him, to know that Adam HAD considered taking his life. To Jason, that meant two things. First of all, Adam was extremely unhappy and was not thinking right. Second, that Adam did not fear the unknown. Then there was the time back in Ohio when Adam chose to sacrifice his own safety for the safety of himself. Adam did not seem to show any fear of taking that chance. Then when he went over the side of the bridge... All of this caused Jason to shudder and sent cold chills up his spine. He looked at his brother, who was looking out over the ocean like he was watching a natural wonder.

"Lightning and thunder are just God's own set of fireworks," Adam said, trying to change the subject. But Jason's expression told him that was not possible. Sighing, Adam knew what he had to do. It was time to talk to his brother about his thoughts on the surgery. "Can we talk?"

"Sure, you can always talk to me about anything," Jason said as he woke up out of his trance. At first there was an awkward silence between the brothers. "I like it when we talk. It is something that we don't always seem to do so much anymore."

Adam smiled at his brother to reassure him. "Jason, I came out here to see this because I want to experience life before I go into the surgery."

"What do you mean by that? You are going to have a new life! You are going to be just as good as new after the surgery," Jason started in. "And I am going to help you out every step of the way."

"I know that Jason, but there are risks in every surgery. I mean, this is the brain that they are going to be cutting on. Anything can happen," Adam replied thoughtfully. He wanted to try to discuss his feels with his brother. He thought that maybe that would sooth his fears of the surgery making his condition worse. But Jason was not picking up on his brother's hints. Being thoroughly excited about the procedure, Jason did not really think about the negatives. All he could think about was the positives, that his brother was going to be the same again.

"But nothing is going to happen. Everything is going to be just fine. You are going to wake up and we are going to be there to greet the new Adam Kramer. The one who will not have to go to special education classes and suffer from seizures," Jason exclaimed, putting his arm around his brother's shoulders. "Just wait until Alyssa finds out! She will be so excited."

"We are not going to tell her. I don't want her worrying about me while she is recovering. Promise me that you will not say anything," Adam abruptly said with a stern tone. Jason did not count on that reaction, but nodded in agreement with his brother's wishes. "You never know what is going to happen in surgeries like this. Plus I really don't mind going to the special classes. The seizures are a little scary, but I am more scared of the surgery and the after days, IF I make it through the surgery."

But instead of hearing and taking in Adam's words, Jason took another look at things. "Adam, I don't want you think that way. You are going to go through the surgery, get better and do all the things that you are meant to do. We are going to start with a new beginning including Alyssa. So I don't want to hear you talking about it being like your doomsday! It is going to be the miracle that we have all been waiting for!"

But Adam sensed that Jason was just too caught up in what was possibly going to be that he did not hear him. It was funny though, Adam always thought that just being alive after the accident was the miracle. But now he was seeing the effects of his disabilities on his family. He knew that they loved him and wanted the best for him, but they had not exactly accepted him for his shortcomings. Adam felt like he was a well loved broken doll that was waiting to be fixed and put back in the display cabinet. But there were no guarantees that things would go back to the way it was before the accident. Adam would prefer to die than to live his life like a vegetable or even with half of the abilities that he had now. That might seem very vain, but that is how he felt. Adam looked at his older brother who was now smiling as he looked at the thunderstorm continuing its path out to sea. The thunderstorm had its path to follow and so did Adam. A path that was being built and walked on by everyone else except for him. He felt like his life was already planned out. But that would be in three weeks. That meant that he had three weeks to live life the way he wanted to live it. It was obvious that Jason was going to hold him back, be the protective brother that he had always been. But Adam didn't need protecting; he needed someone who was willing to do some living.

Hey, I tried talking to Jason so Chuck can rest easy, Adam thought. I love you to death big brother but I have some things I have to do. In three weeks, I will do what you want me to do, but until then I am going to do what I want, when I want and how I want.

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.