Title: Misunderstanding

Author: i luv ewansmile

Summary: Michael Westen comes home after a mission that could only be summed up as, "It could have gone better," only his welcome home isn't quite what he expected. Sick!Michael.

Part 1: Sit Down Before You Fall Down

A soft but persistent knock on the door awakens Madeline from her afternoon nap. She sits up stiffly in her chair and stares at the door before making herself get up.

"Who is it?" She calls out, her hand already on the deadbolt unlocking it.

"Mrs. Westen, its Max and Michael," Michael's CIA contact turned partner stands on her doorstep, his clothes looking wrinkled and two days worth of stubble on his face.

"Oh, Hi Max," Madeline greets cheerfully as she swings the door wide open. Her cheerful smile melts into confusion as she sees the state her son is in.

"Michael?" She questions the man hiding behind his sunglasses; his normally neat hair is cropped shorter than the last time she saw him with spikes sticking up making him appear younger. His white dress shirt is halfway untucked from his grey dress pants.

"Hey Ma," he says weakly with a small smile, using all his strength just to stay upright. Max takes a step forward and brings Michael with him carrying most of the younger operative's weight with his arms wrapped around Michael's waist and chest with Michael's arm slung across Max's shoulders. Michael's shuffles in unsteady on his feet.

"What's going on here?" Madeline demands. She hadn't seen her son in several weeks and had received only one phone call from him during his current job for the government and suddenly here he was. She had missed him being such a constant in her life. But something wasn't right.

Max lets out an uneasy laugh, not able to fully disclose the events that had occurred on their last mission. Even with all the time he's had sitting and waiting, he still has no explanation to deliver. He takes his time formulating a response, "Well…" He pauses and tightens his hold on Michael as he threatens to slide to the floor.

"Oh, no that's alright Max, I don't need you to explain," Madeline's voice lacks the pleasantness she had greeted him with, "you've done quite enough brining him home. Thank you. I can take care of him from here." She pulls Max away from Michael and leads him towards the door.

"Mrs. Westen," he tries to stop her but she continues pushing him out the door. "Let me explain," Max pleads but Madeline closes the door in his face.

Michael having lost Max's support sways slightly as the sound of the door slamming causes him to startle. He reaches out and grips the back of the chair Madeline had been sleeping in and steadies himself while his other hand comes to rub at his temple as he closes his eyes.

He doesn't have time to ponder what's come over his mother as she demands of him to, "Sit down before you fall down."

He opens his eyes slowly, and he has to blink a few times before they would lazily focus on her face. He can read the slightest hint of concern in her face but her features were overwhelmed with disdain?

She watches him with narrowed eyes as he slowly creeps his way to the couch and eases his body down. The softest sigh of pain escapes his lips but she says not a word. He grimaces as he pulls off his sunglasses, the evening sunlight coming through the window nearly blinding him. He squeezes his eyes shut and very slowly eases himself into a laying position on his mother's couch.

He lolls his head to the side as his mother sits down heavily in her chair. He can hear the flick of her lighter as she lights a cigarette. He frowns. The smoke burns his nostrils and his lungs.

"Ma, can you please not do that?" He requests softly as he brings the back of his hand up to his noise to block the scent.

She ignores him, "What's gotten into you Michael? I don't see you in two weeks and you come home like this?"

"Sorry Ma," his says, his voice barely above a whisper as the tone of her voice makes him cringe causing the muscles in his already tense body to automatically tighten.

"You're going to wind up just like your father if you're not careful!" She warns under her breath.

The intensity of his headache increases so he slides his hand into his pocket and pulls out a little orange pill bottle with a white cap looking for relief.

Madeline is up in an instant and swiping the container from his fingers. Reading the label she gets even more upset and begins to really yell.

Please stop yelling is the last thought he thinks as he slowly passes out into a restless sleep.

To be continued...

Author's Note: Well, that's part one, let me know what you think. =)