A HEALTHY DIET

SUMMARY: Based on S4 Ep 407 (Commuted Sentence), When Mac heard that Adam was on a cyan pepper and lemon juice diet in hopes to "lose 20 pounds in 20 days" he had only one word, "eat". Too bad Adam didn't want to listen.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own CSI: NY or the characters

A/N: So...I've been working on this for a long while now. I thought I'd start the new year right and how better to do that then with a story! Hope you like!

FOR: Lily Violet Oak, I hope you like this! This one is for you hun!

OoOoOoOo

PROLOUE:

Adam Ross sat at the kitchen table, glaring at it. All the while his boss, mentor, and uncle/father figure, Mac Taylor, walked around said kitchen cooking dinner.

"You can't just not eat Adam," Mac scolded firmly. "You're done with liquid cyan pepper whatever diet."

"But Mac," Adam protest once again.

"No Adam," Mac was firm in his resolve. "Starving yourself is dangerous and could lead to health complications. If you're that worried about your weight we'll go talk to Dr. Hawkes. If nothing else maybe Sheldon can recommend a nutritionist for us to see."

Adam blushed at the use of 'we' and 'us' but was glad to know Mac wouldn't make him do anything on his own. On the other hand the "liquid cyan pepper whatever diet" as Mac called it, would allow him to lose weight fast.

"You wouldn't stop Danny," Adam mumbled unable to help himself.

"I would stop Danny," Mac disagreed. "Daniel knows better than to do something that would endanger his well being."

"But…" Adam started but was stopped again.

"I'm not arguing about this Adam," Mac said sternly. "I'm telling you, the diet is over. If you want to lose weight you'll do so in a healthy way. Got it?"

Adam pouted, "Got it."

"I hope so," Mac replied, as he put a salad and a plate with baked chicken and steamed broccoli in front of each setting. "Let's eat so we can catch the rest of the game."

With a petulant sigh Adam picked up his fork and began to eat. He'd never admit he was starving and had been since he hadn't eaten the muffin Mac had tossed him the day before. He knew the older man was right but he wasn't happy with it. Internally he decided to give Mac's idea some time but if it didn't work….well, all bets were off.

** TWO MONTHS LATER **

Detective Mac Taylor was in his office, looking up information for a case when he heard his name being called. That, in and of itself, wouldn't have been much cause for concern but it was the way his name was being yelled - with a hint a fear and a lot of panic.

He rushed out of his office and into the hall where he was saw Detective Don Flack running towards the break room. He was quick to follow after taking a split second to ascertain that, that was where the yelling was coming from.

He entered in time to see Don helping the new lab tech, Kendall, laying Adam Ross down on the floor. Mac's heart stopped as he realized that one of the two boys he considered his son was hurt. Shaking himself from his frozen state he looked back into the hall where people where milling around, trying to see what was going on.

"Get Sheldon Hawkes up here, now!" Mac ordered to the hall at large. He knelt beside Don and looked at Kendall, "What happened?"

"I don't know," Kendall answered nervously, "We were just going on like usual and then his hands started to shake and he started to sweat. I asked if he was ok and he said he was but when he went to get up he said he was lightheaded and then he collapsed."

"Where's Hawkes," Mac wondered out loud, about ready to yell for the man.

"I'm right here Mac," Dr. Sheldon Hawkes, CSI, voice soothed Mac's frayed nerves. "I heard what happened. Danny, go grab my bag please. Kendall, what did Adam eat? Adam, open your eyes for me."

It wasn't well known that Adam had a peanut allergy and Hawkes had noticed a bag of trail mix on the table when he'd walked in.

"Nothing," Kendall replied after a moment. "He drank some water and I offered him some of my lunch but he said he wasn't hungry."

"Ok," Hawkes smiled at her soothingly while grabbing his medical bag from Danny who'd come running back. "Come on kid, open your eyes...Open your eyes for me Adam."

Adam slowly gained consciousness, his head pounded, his mind foggy. The last thing he'd remember was playfully bantering with Kendall, again in the break room.

He was greeted with raised voices. Adam found himself strangely unafraid though he wasn't completely aware of where he was. Something about the voices brought him comfort.

He opened his eyes to slits, wary of what he'd find. His vision was blurry but he'd know the shape of at least one of the people in the room no matter what the circumstances.

"Mm..." Adam tried to call out but it came out as a groan.

"Adam," Mac's voice held visible relief. He stroked a hand through Adam's hair gently.

Adam closed his eyes all the way, the lights too bright for him to keep them open. He automatically leaned into Mac's touch. The second person was soon evident when he spoke.

"Adam, can you follow my finger...come on kid. Don't make me call for an ambulance." Hawkes looked the younger man over with a frown. He didn't like how lethargic Adam was or how weak he seemed to be.

"What's wrong with him?" Mac asked unable to keep the fear out of his voice.

Hawkes shook his head as he asked again, "Adam, what did you eat today?"

Adam mumbled an answer, his words garbled and confused. Hawkes finally looked over at Mac.

"I packed him a baked chicken breast with a small salad - um...spinach leaves, tomato, cucumber and a light French dressing. I also sent him some grapes to snack on." Mac informed the ME turned CSI. He ignored the snickering of Flack and his second surrogate son, CSI, Danny Messer.

"Flack, check the fridge, see if the food is still there." Hawkes pulled out a lancing device and a blood glucose meter.

"Still in here Doc," Flack called from the fridge.

It was Mac's turn to frown. It was already two in the afternoon; they'd had breakfast at eight that morning. Even with a snack it was well past the point of when Adam should have eaten. Even he'd managed to find time to grab something to eat.

"You're gonna feel a poke in three - two - one - poke," Hawkes voice was soothing to the patient.

Adam whined low in his throat, not liking the short, sharp pain that erupted in his finger. Mac was quick to sooth him by running a hand through his hair. Adam settled down fast.

"His blood sugar is low." Hawkes informed those gathered around. "When was the last time he ate?"

"I..." Mac started but stopped. "I worked a triple. I cooked last night but Adam got in late. I made breakfast but I was getting ready while he was supposed to be eating..."

"With as low as it is I'm comfortable enough to give him this," Hawkes pulled out some glucose paste. "I don't want to give him a lot because I'd rather him eat but we need to get his blood sugar up. Once we get this into his system we can move him into your office."

Mac nodded, not trusting himself to say anything as he realized that Adam hadn't been eating. Not only that but Adam had been lying to everything he'd answered 'yes' when asked if he had eaten. Really between Adam and Danny, Mac couldn't believe he wasn't completely gray or bald.

There was a noticeable difference as the glucose paste did its job. The agitation that Adam had been showing was starting to clear up and he looked around the room in confusion.

"What - I don't - um...huh?" Adam blinked wildly.

"You're fine Adam," Hawkes told him calmly. There was a hint of teasing in his voice as he added, "You gave Mac a scare though. Alright, we're going to sit you up before we get you standing. Nice and slow guys."

Don and Danny had rushed to either side of Adam while Mac sat behind him and Hawkes stood in front. With coaching from Hawkes they got Adam sitting up, first only half way elevated and once they were sure he wasn't going to pass out again, all the way up.

"Guys, I'm fine really," Adam protested to everyone around him. "Just embarrassed."

"Well we're not going to risk you having another episode if it's all the same to you Adam," Hawkes said with a shake of his head. "Ok guys, on three, lets stand him up but make sure you take most of his weight because trust me, his legs are gonna go. Adam, let us do the work, you just concentrate on keeping upright. Ready?"

"Doc," Adam started to protest.

"Adam Jacob," Mac's voice was soft yet more stern then Adam had ever heard it directed at him.

"Got it Doc," Adam agreed, not wanting to risk Mac's wrath in front of everyone.

"Ok then," Hawkes stood a few inches back, ready to help if needed. He watched as Mac stood and grabbed Adam's waist while Danny and Flack each grabbed an arm. "One, grip firmly but try not to leave a bruise, two, start to lift, and three, nice and easy."

Hawkes had been right, as soon as Adam was in the standing position his whole body seem to go limp though thankfully he didn't lose consciousness. The three holding him didn't lose their grip as they waited to see if he could get his feet under him.

"Can you walk Adam or do you need someone to carry you?" Hawkes asked as he shone a light in the younger man's eyes.

"I got it," Adam said as he moved his head away from the light. It took him a moments to actually get his feet steady enough under him that Danny and Flack backed up. He looked down at the arm still wrapped around his waist. He blushed, "Mac..."

"Let's go to my office," Mac responded, his grip never wavering.

Adam didn't fight the hold, knowing it'd be useless. It didn't, however, stop him from sending Danny a beseeching look. Danny held up his hands in a 'don't look at me' gesture; he wasn't about to incur his surrogate dad's wrath.

Once in Mac's office Adam was seated on the futon that was posed to look like a couch. Adam slouched in his seat while Mac stood by his desk and Hawkes crouched in front, bag in hand, to continue to look over the younger man.

"How long has it been since you've eaten Adam?" Hawkes questioned, as he took the younger man's blood pressure.

Adam bit his inner cheek and looked up at Mac through hooded eyes.

Hawkes gave him a knowing smile and tossed over his shoulder, "Mac can you grab Adam a bottle of water and give us a few minutes."

Mac wanted to protest but with Hawkes in doctor mode nothing and no one would get in his way of him helping his patient.

"Sure," Mac finally agreed. He gave a pointed look, "Behave."

"Yes, sir," Adam mumbled, face flushed brightly. With Mac gone Adam visibly deflated. He looked at Hawkes sadly. "He's gonna be disappointed."

"In what you did, not in you," Hawkes reminded him. "Now, how long?"

"A few days since I had a full meal," Adam admitted quietly. "I made sure to drink some water and I ate a handful of grapes yesterday while Mac was in the lab."

Hawkes held back the sigh that desperately wanted to leave his lips. He knew that on good days Adam didn't like disappointing people. It hadn't been a good day.

Hawkes voice was gentle, holding only the smallest amount of rebuke, "I know you want to lose weight but you need to eat. This isn't healthy Adam. You're causing damage to your body."

"I know; I just..." Adam's wide, wet eyes looked up, meeting the older man's for the first time, "I'm sorry."

"I know kid," Hawkes gave him another reassuring smile. "Looks like Mac's coming and he has your lunch. You need to eat as much as you can and when you're done I'll check your levels again. If they're normal then we'll let you nap for a little while. If it's still low we'll get you a candy bar ok?"

"Ok doc," Adam replied, his guilt not letting him argue. "H-hey doc..."

"Yeah," Sheldon questioned as he cleaned up his supplies.

"C-could...I-I mean...would..." Adam flushed.

"I'll talk to Mac," Hawkes agreed.

"Thanks," Adam managed before Mac came back into his office.

For his part, Mac can't help but be more worried. Adam may finally be lucid but now he looked like a lost little boy. And while Mac may not know what doctor and patient discussed he can only hope it's nothing life or death.

Putting the food down in front of Adam, Mac ran gentle hands through the younger man's hair.

"Feeling any better?" Mac's rumbling voice did more to help keep Adam relaxed than anything else.

"A little," Adam answered truthfully. "Still feel a little...funny but..."

"That's to be expected," Hawkes soothed Mac's worries. "It's why I want you to eat and nap. So grab that salad and start eating."

Adam gave the CSI a smile as he leaned over to pick up the small Tupperware that held the salad. His hands shook so Mac grabbed it for him, grabbing the fork and spearing a couple leaves.

"Mac," Adam whined and to both older men it sounded like a five year old saying 'dad'.

"You need to eat Adam," Mac said, his tone no nonsense. "I can either help you or you can almost surely wear it."

There was no more argument as Adam wasn't willing to risk any further damage to his favorite shirt. He couldn't help but sulk as he blushed and allowed Mac to feed him. He managed three quarters of his salad and half the chicken breast.

It wasn't a lot but Hawkes was satisfied so Mac didn't push for him to eat more. A finger poke later and Mac's couch was made into a bed and Adam's head was nestled on a pillow and he was covered with a blanket. As he drifted off, with Mac sitting beside him, he can hear the hushed whispers of the two men.

Adam may be a lot of things but dumb isn't one of them. He's well aware that Hawkes may have agreed to explain things to Mac but that doesn't mean he won't be in trouble and have some explaining of his own to do later. Right now though the feel of Mac rubbing his back is putting him to bed...everything else can wait for later.