I'm SORRY, Okay? [Dr. Sexy! <3]

[Jesse Adams]

Jesse did not want to be doing this. He looked downright criminal, the way he was slinking down the hall, trying to avoid any of the other potential members within the compound. In one hand, he had a hastily scribbled note. In the other, a small box. A peace offering, of sorts. Which was exactly why he didn’t want to be seen right now. He knew his reputation around the compound. He was a brat, a stubborn little thing that only a few members actually liked. (Not that that mattered any, when you were the leader’s favourite.)

He could probably stand to apologize to a few of the members around the compound. But there was one in particular he could admit to feeling a touch guilty over. ... A touch. Enough to make him want to slink out of his room during a time when most of the operatives were out of the mansion. He didn’t really want to be going where he was going. He’d spent far too much time there recently, so why in the hell was he voluntarily going back there now?

Easy. He was apologizing. The word ‘sorry’ didn’t slip past the teenager’s lips all too often. Recently, the only person he’d actually apologized to was Gabriel, after his royal fuck up at Hammel. But this was different. He’d actually made a point to make this person’s job a pain in the ass, and he knew he wasn’t really fair to the guy when he saw him outside the office, either. So, he was apologizing.

He just wasn’t going to be caught at it. Not by anyone.

He slipped into Max’s office and dropped the little box of tea on his desk, along with the barely legible note. He was trying to spend as little time as possible in the room. Even without the resident doctor inside, it was still an intimidating place. The sights, the smells, they had the teenager uneasy. Well, he’d done his job. He was ready to slink right back out again. The perfect crime.

[Nathanael Lee]

It was an excellent sandwich. The one that Max had made for lunch, that is. Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, ham, turkey, salami, provolone, mayo, mustard; the works. All between two slices of wheat bread. And interruption from dogs at the dinner table was limited. Bonus. Jesse's plan wouldn't go quite as smoothly. It had been a good lunch break, but the doctor had work to do and needed to get back to his office.

Max was making his way around the corner of the hallway when he noticed the blond boy slinking around. In normal circumstances, the physician would have simply ignored the kid. It was obvious, however, that Jesse was moving towards the office. Maxwell stepped back to conceal himself, and peaked around the corner to see what Jesse was up to. With a scowl the doctor watched him sneak into the office, obviously holding something in each of his hands. Maxwell didn't know what the boy was doing in there, but he doubted it was anything good. He was ready to assume the worse of Jesse; he didn't think the kid was capable of anything other than malice.

Max left his hiding spot and darted down the hallway as quietly as he could manage. With a quick peak through his door, he noted that Jesse was standing by his desk doing...well, he couldn't tell. But he wasn't going to wait around to find out what it was. The doctor shoved the door open and walked right in.

"What the hell are you up to?" he snarled as he marched across the office, grabbed the boy by the collar of his shit, and violently shoved him back into the desk. "Why are you here?" He practically barked the question, anger clear in his tone of voice. The box and it's sloppy note of a companion went unnoticed. The doctor didn't need to look for the crime when the culprit was directly in front of him.

[Jesse Adams]

Food might have been a good idea. Jesse had spent his almost his entire morning studying. The only small exception had been when he’d asked Gabriel what he could use as his peace offering. A quick trip into Pilot Ridge (and I mean quick) had secured him what he’d needed, and then he’d gone right back to studying. Food had been the last thing on his mind. And it was probably going to remain that way.

Jesse had no idea he was being followed. Really, he took so little interest in the other members (besides the twins and Gabe, of course) that it wouldn’t have surprised him to learn he got followed around. He tried to mind his own business, but it was hard when he was the clear cut favourite of the group. Gabriel’s little protégé. He could get away with sticking his nose where it didn’t belong. As long as he didn’t push things too far. But if someone was up to something interesting, he never could resist taking a quick peek.

Technically, he was pushing things now. At least if he got caught. But getting caught wasn’t in his plans. Get in, drop the box and the apology note (which, literally, just said ‘I’m sorry’), and get the hell out again. But the voice (the angry voice made him jump, and then freeze. Fuck. He knew that voice. And the fact that it was angry made his heart pound. He looked up at Max and grunted as he was grabbed and shoved. He was shaking slightly in the doctor’s grasp, avoiding eye contact. Well, Max had terrifying the kid down pat. It didn’t seem to matter if he was calm and sweet, or angry and grabby. Jesse had hoped this would improve their relationship. Even slightly. Now... not so much.

Struggling to get control over his breathing, he managed to spit out at least one word. “Nothing!” Yes, that was why he was sneaking around and leaving things in the doctor’s office. “Lemme go!” He wasn’t struggling, mostly because he was too afraid of Max actually hitting him. “I didn’t do anything.”

So much for apologies.

[Nathanael Lee]

Max didn't believe for a second that Jesse was doing "Nothing". He wasn't going to hit the boy, because that wouldn't look good if Jesse went to Gabriel about this later, but the doctor could certainly defend himself on the count of the break in. He knew bringing violence into the equation was a bad idea. That wasn't going to stop him from being angry about it, however.

"Listen, you little brat. Just because you're Gabe's lapdog, doesn't mean you get to go around invading my privacy," he growled, his grip tightening as he went on. He certainly didn't do that sort of thing when he was sleeping with the boss. "Now, what did you do?"

There was of course, the things Jesse brought with him, which Max finally realized were not on his person. The doctor glanced around the room, but nothing appeared to have been moved. Then he looked at his desk and saw the items in question. He let the boy go, but not before hissing, "Don't you dare move." Max leaned over him to grab the box and the note, then smoothed the crinkled paper out. I'm sorry.

It almost made him laugh. Almost.

"What is this?" he asked, looking down at the other blond with quirked brows. There was more surprise in his voice than he expected, but this was Jesse and Jesse was not nice. Maxwell turned the box over in his hand and stared incredulously at the label. Tea? Was this a gift? No. It couldn't be. There had to be some kind of trick behind it, because it was from Jesse and there was something wrong with the thought of this kid giving anyone other than Gabe or maybe the twins a gift. Especially not to a doctor.

[Jesse Adams]

So much for attempting this nice crap. It was exactly this reason that Jesse didn’t try this more often. ... Okay, so it wasn’t like he did anything to actually earn trust, especially not when he was the top lapdog. He got what he wanted simply because he was on top. Not because he actually let people in, and made friends. ... So maybe Reese and Lala counted as “friends.” He didn’t know. But he did know that he’d just tried to do a good thing, and now he was being punished for it.

He was still working hard to avoid the doctor’s gaze as he growled at him. If he’d had any thoughts at all about getting on better terms with Max, well... the older blond had just shot them all to hell. He held his body rigid, his jaw clenched, just waiting for it to be over. (In his mind, it was going to end with hitting. Things like this almost always ended with hitting, in his experience.) “I. Didn’t. Do. Anything.” He was going to continue to argue that, because, technically, it was true.

“Don’t you dare move.” Like the teenager could after being grabbed and hissed at like that. As soon as Max’s hands were off of him, he felt his breathing jump up a notch. He could just run for it now. Granted, Max would probably chase him down and pin him. Or worse, drug him with something. He stayed put.

He did, however, wince when the doctor picked up the note and read it. This was exactly what he’d wanted to avoid. Being in the room when Max actually saw the thing. The question made him twitch. “What’s it look like, asshole?” Now he wasn’t being held, his bravado was making a comeback, feeble as it was. “It’s a fuckin’ box of fuckin’ tea. Can I fuckin’ go now?” Oh please, Max, don’t let him go. Not yet. The fun’s just starting.

[Nathanael Lee]

In all honesty, the doctor was relieved that he did not receive a punch to the gut while he was reaching for the objects. It was the sort of thing he had come to expect from the boy after their last couple of encounters. However, Jesse's reluctance to answer his questions was less surprising, and quite aggravating.

Max scrunched his nose at the boy's words. He thought his bewilderment was valid and didn't appreciate being talked back to. "Watch your mouth," he reprimanded the younger blond. The doctor had called Jesse a brat, but at least he wasn't dropping f-bombs with every other word. Besides, he was twice this kid's age; He deserved proper respect.

"No," he stated with force, "You're staying right here." Of course, Max really had no say in the matter. If Jesse wanted to run away, he would allow it. But as angry as he was with the kid, Max wanted him to stick around. The doctor still had a lot of questions and there was one above all others that he wanted an answer to before the boy left.

Max hastily stuffed the note in his pocket, then wandered back to his door and shut it. All the while he turned the box over in his hands, examining it for any signs of tampering. It was still sealed and there were no apparent punctures. In fact, there was nothing out of the ordinary about it, other than that it was a gift from Jesse. Of course, that alone was reason enough to be wary, and he pondered this as he turned around to address the boy. "Why?"

[Jesse Adams]

Considering the nature of Jesse’s visit to the doctor’s office, punching him probably wasn’t the best of ideas. He didn’t think he’d actually have the courage to hit Max. The older blond could retaliate, and in more ways than simple violence. Jesse didn’t want to go down that road. No way.

He did, however, scowl at being scolded. He knew he had a dirty mouth. And he knew he didn’t watch it. With all the language classes Gabriel had him taking, he knew he had a good deal of more creative swear words. It was just easier (read: lazier) to keep with English. “Shut up,” he snapped back. He couldn’t help snapping at the doctor. Being defensive was his natural state.

He scowled up at Max and bit down on his lip at the instructions. He didn’t want to stay here. The few moments it had taken to drop off the apology had been bad enough. Where did Max get off bossing him around? He didn’t really have to obey him. Gabriel’s orders were the only ones needed to be carried out. But Max intimidated him enough to keep him rooted to the ground.

As Max shut the door, Jesse grasped the edge of the desk and hung on, trying not to make eye contact. He did keep a wary eye on him, however. It was clear he was suspicious about the gift, not that Jesse blamed him. But seriously, it wasn’t necessary. He hadn’t done anything to it. He was about to voice that when Max posed the question to him. He blinked. What? Why? He glanced away. “Just because, okay? Do I need a goddamned reason?” Actually, you do. Sorry, Jess.

[Nathanael Lee]

The doctor did his best to ignore the childish retort to his scolding. It was, after all, an improvement from the boy’s earlier choice of words. It pleased him more that Jesse hadn’t seemed to move an inch towards the door after he told him to stay put. Maybe there really was something to being intimidating. Or maybe not.

Typical. Max wasn't sure he'd ever be able to understand this kid, but at least Jesse was consistently rude and therefore predictable. The doctor snorted at the snappy response to his question. "Yeah, actually. You do."

He suspected the teenager would ask continue to protest, so he went on. "Because it's not like you." Seriously, he wasn't aware of the kid giving anyone anything. Other than a headache he always managed to give Max, that is. "And can you really blame me for being incredulous? You've only ever spoken to me twice, and only after you had been in fights. That's not exactly being friendly."

Max walked back to his desk then, and sat on it next to the boy. "Look. I know you don't like me; you make that obvious." The avoidances, the trembling, the bitch fits Jesse through around him. Max had taken notice of the kid's aversion long ago. He held up the box and waved it around. "And you expect me to think that this isn't out of place for you? So tell me, why would you do this for me?" There. Hopefully the kid would straighten up enough to give the doctor a response now.

[Jesse Adams]

Jesse couldn’t help the retort. It was automatic. He still didn’t want to be here, cooped up in the office with the person he was probably most afraid of in the entire compound. Paulo was creepy, yeah, but Max was a fucking doctor. It didn’t have so much to do with him as a person. Just his job. The intimidation was strong, and it kept him rooted to the spot.

He was going to be content with just waiting Max out. If he was stubborn enough to keep his mouth shut, maybe the doctor would get bored and just open the door and shoo him out again. But his hope was diminished quickly. He actually made eye contact with Max this time, about to protest. He didn’t want to tell him why he’d done it. Wasn’t just doing it enough?

His gaze fell back to the floor as Max continued. He couldn’t actually argue any of that. Like a (relatively) good child, he actually waited for Max to finish before he even began to think of a reply. He mulled it over before actually lifting his head. “It’s… to apologize.” His voice didn’t have its’ usual edge. Though his eyes still showed a hint of fear, at least he sounded sincere. “Because I was a jerk.” He hadn’t needed to actually apologize to anyone in a long time. The last person had been Gabriel, after his screw up at Hammel. But this was different.

He really was sorry. What Max said just made it worse. He sighed softly. “It’s just… it’s not you, okay? It’s what you do.” He pulled his arms around himself. “I never liked doctors. Even nice ones. … Ever. So I’m just… I’m sorry, okay?” He pulled away from the desk, still not comfortable with being so close to Max. “Can I go now?” Even though he wanted to, he still didn’t inch to the door.

[Nathanael Lee]

The doctor waited patiently for Jesse's reply. It was nice that he was actually taking time to think about what he was going to say, instead of just blurting out whatever insult came to him first. It was a major improvement, actually. Max nodded solemnly as Jesse finally gave his reasoning. The reason itself wasn't a surprise, although the fact that it was coming from Jesse was. The doctor was still having a hard time excepting that.

Max scratched his chin as he mulled over his own response. "I'm not going to pretend that the way you act doesn't bother me, or that this makes everything all better." It was a nice gesture and all, but Max wasn't so willing to forget everything Jesse had said to him. The teen was just so...defiant. And therefore annoying. "...But I appreciate it. Thank you." The kid's apprehension made Max smirk as Jesse pulled away from the doctor. Not all his questions were answered, but the response he got was satisfying enough. "Yeah, you can go now."

Maxwell watched as the boy left, and then walked around his desk to his chair. He sighed as he sat down, and placed the tea box on the desk. The note was uncomfortably poking him through his pocket (figures it would be just as annoying as the boy who had given to him), and he pulled it out and threw it on top of the box. Max shook his head as he glanced at the half-open door, and finally, once he was sure Jesse was out of ear-shot, he dared to laugh. As much as Jesse was annoying, he was amusing too.