A/N: So...I'm not sure I like the Epilogue so I hope you'll all forgive me! Coming back into writing was a little bit trickier then I thought it'd be! So, here it is...the end of the story!

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It took Adam two full days before he felt fully normal again. He'd fully expected Mac to yell at some point but the older man had been surprisingly (ok, maybe it wasn't that surprising) calm and patient during the two days. He made Adam eat and wouldn't move until the food was gone, sure, but other than that, Mac hadn't said a word about the incident.

So when Adam came out of his room, Hawkes having left a few minutes before, after giving him a final once over, he wasn't surprised to find Mac in the living room, sitting on the coffee table. He didn't need to be told to sit on the couch in front of him.

"You ready to talk about it?" Mac asked.

"Do I really have a choice?" Adam muttered more to himself then anything.

"Watch the attitude," Mac warned firmly. "It's been a hard couple days and if you feel you need a nap first or if you feel you need another day then we'll wait. If you keep giving me attitude and muttering then you're going to find yourself in the corner with a stinging backside."

Adam glanced up at the warning, his face flushed by the reprimand. He wanted to say he needed to wait because he really didn't want to do this right now but he knew it wasn't worth putting off. Not only that but there was still a hint of fear that Mac couldn't completely hide and it made the guilt churn in his stomach.

"Sorry," He whispered contritely. "I don't need more time."

"Alright then," Mac nodded. "I know what Hawkes told me but I want to know your versions of what happened to lead up to your collapsing at work."

Adam couldn't help but wince at that. This wasn't the first time he'd been in trouble and experience had taught him Mac usually went about this part of things by way of Q and A. This seemed harder somehow.

"I-I don't know w-where to s-start," Adam stammered.

"How about when you thought this was a good idea." Mac suggested.

Adam frowned not sure that was a good idea but still he wouldn't disobey. He wouldn't add more to an already long list of wrong doings. He took a deep breath and began.

"I-I started skipping meals a-after my last a-appointment with Hawkes and he said I-I'd only uh - lost 5 pounds. I-I figured skipping one - one meal wouldn't be a big deal. Th-then I um - heard Lindsay teasing Danny about g-gaining weight and D-Danny said he'd lost five pounds that week. I um - g-guess I-I just...you got that last c-case and I knew you'd be - be busy so I stopped eating. You'd ask me about uh- m-meals or cook some-something and I'd just t-tell you I ate or I-I'd throw it away. I didn't... uh- I guess I was m-more used to the schedule we-we had for meals then I thought cuz I felt...off. I-I can't really explain it any-any other way. I just i-ignored it though. Then uh - I-I was talking to Kendall and well - you know the rest."

"Yes, I know the rest," Mac agreed. "Kendall called out for help. Don reached her first and together they got you on the floor. I reached you next with Danny coming into the break room a split second after me. I ordered him to get Hawkes. You were unconscious for three minutes and disoriented for almost five. Your blood sugar was so low Hawkes had to give you glucose paste and it's taken you two days to feel better."

Adam looked down at this hands. It had sounded bad enough in his head but to hear it out loud...he was in so much trouble. He wish whole heartedly that the floor would just swallow him up.

"Look at me," Mac ordered again. "Did I in any way make you think I wouldn't listen to your worries? That you couldn't come to me or Hawkes or even Flack or Danny?"

Adam shook his head, startled by the question. His trust in Mac had always been absolute. No one had ever questioned him about it before.

"Adam," Mac's voice was gentle yet firm; silence was not allowed.

"I'm sorry," Adam managed.

"I'm sure you are," Mac intoned, "That's not what I asked."

"I knew I-I could g-go to someone," Adam admitted. "It was just - just that I knew none of - of you w-would let me skip m-meals. I-I thought if I-I could prove to y-you..."

"And how were you going to prove something you shouldn't be doing?" Mac demanded to know.

Adam blushed, "I-I hadn't thought of that."

"No you didn't," Mac agreed. He took a deep breath knowing his next words wouldn't sit well. "I had trusted that when you said you ate you actually did so. And because you lied..."

"Had trusted?" Adam question, eyes wide, not even noticing he'd interrupted.

"You lied to me for two weeks Adam," Mac kept his voice calm and even despite the anger, fear, and disappointment he was feeling. "You took the trust we had and used it to get me to believe you. I trust you when it comes to work related issues. However, when it comes to issues about your health you're going to have to earn that trust back."

"I - I..." Adam wanted to say something, anything but nothing came out. Unbidden tears sprung to his eyes and he blinked rapidly to keep them from falling. Of all the things he'd been expecting that wasn't one of them and it hurt so much more than anything ever could

Mac put a comforting hand on Adam's knee. "We're going to make it through this son. You can and will earn my trust back; alright?"

Adam could only nod, the lump in his throat to thick for him to speak around. He looked back down at his hands, shame coloring his face.

"Look at me Adam Jacob," Mac ordered, waiting until younger man was doing so before he continued. "You lied to me for two weeks, you're grounded for two weeks. You disobeyed a rule for two weeks, you're grounded another two weeks. That's a total of four weeks. Tell me what that means."

"It-its means," Adam started, "I have to-to come home right after work, n-no extra shifts or uh - going out. Um...once h-home I can read but there's n-no uh gaming, computers, m-moves or uh - phone."

Adam gulped audibly. He barely survived two weeks last time, how was he supposed to survive a month!? Forget that, how did Danny survive three months? He focused back on Mac when the older man cleared his throat.

"Good," Mac praised him despite the situation. "I need you to understand Adam, that you can't just choose to not follow a rule that is there for your health and safety because you simply don't like it. So, for the next while you will eat all three of your meals in the presence of myself or Dr. Hawkes. If we're not available I'll get Flack or Danny to sit with you. I'll also hold on to your snack and you will eat it in one of our presence."

"M-Mac, please," Adam stuttered mortified and ashamed.

"You prove to me that you can be trusted," Mac continued ignoring the interruption, "And I will slowly allow you the freedom of eating on your own. You can earn the right to hold to your snack and eat it when you want. You and I will sit and discuss where we are every couple of weeks alright?"

"Yes, sir," Adam answered quietly.

"I know this is hard son," Mac gave Adam's knee another comforting squeeze. "We're gonna get through it together. You need to talk to me though. I can't read your mind kid. You have to talk to me."

Adam could only nod, hoping that he'd earn back the older man's trust fast. He hated knowing he'd lost it even if it was only for a few short weeks. After everything Mac had done for him over the years he hated knowing that he'd caused the older man disappointment and he wondered how Danny handled it.

"Now," Mac continued, giving Adam's knee a little shake to bring him back to the present. "I'm sure you've realized this - I'm going to say it anyway. You're getting a spanking and I'm going to tell you up front; you're getting a dozen with the slipper. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir," Adam shook his head, blushing yet again. The number worried him slightly, Mac had never gone higher than eight...then again he'd never done something so foolish before.

"Then go ahead and stand up," Mac ordered firmly, waiting for Adam to stand before he slipped into the deserted seat. "Boxers can stay up but the sweatpants are going to have to come down kid."

Adam nodded his head in understanding though it took him a moment to do as he was told. His hesitation had nothing to do with disobedience - despite trusting Mac wholeheartedly it still took him a moment to get in the right mind set to do as he was told. Mac never held it against him.

Adam pushed his sweats down and Mac gave him an encouraging nod before gently helping Adam lie over his lap, keeping his upper body resting on the sofa.

"You can make noise kid," Mac reminded him as he did every time this happened. "There's no shame in it."

It was the only hint Adam got that the spanking was about to begin. Above him, Mac raised his hand and brought it down with a sharp flick of his wrist. *SWAT* Adam let out a quiet groan. He wasn't sure how Danny went through this as many times as he did because he surely couldn't handle it.

He his groans got louder as Mac continued the spanking, going over his backside at least twice. The tears that had been prickling at this eyes since the lecture began fell free.

"OW!" Adam yelled ad Mac landed his first of a dozen swats Adam's under curve.

"Tell me why here Adam," Mac ordered firmly as he brought the swats back to the fuller part of Adam's backside.

"I broke - ah - the rule," Adam answered doing his best not to squirm. Tears were

"Which rules," Mac asked, the swats lightening up slightly so Adam could answer.

"N-not to l-lie -Owwie! an-and to e-eat - AH! th-three meals a - a day," Adam got out through his sobs.

"That's right and what happens when you lie?" Mac continue to question.

Tears fell down Adam fast as he remembered Mac words from the lecture. He didn't want to answer because answering would mean that the words were even truer then he thought.

"Adam," Mac said warningly giving Adam's sit spot a firm enough swat that the younger man's feet drummed slightly.

"You lose trust that I can take care of myself," Adam quickly answered.

Mac stopped the spanking, rubbing soothing circles on Adam's back to calm him down before he brought out the slipper. "That's right but you can and will earn my trust back Adam. It's gonna be harder the second time around but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes," Adam hiccupped sadly.

"Almost done kid," Mac rubbed his back gently with one hand while with his other he picked up the slipper. "Twelve more and then it's over."

Adam just nodded knowing there was no need for him to give a vocal response. His nod was enough to show Mac that was ready for the last part of his punishment.

Mac had never continued a spanking if Adam wasn't ready because he was well aware that Adam's father had been a "bully" to his only son. He never wanted Adam to feel any similarities between himself and the man whose blood ran through Adam's veins.

Adam had been glad when Mac had told him, the year before, that he would never use a hairbrush or paddle on him - and as Mac had never used a belt on Danny and he wouldn't start on Adam. In all honestly, the slipper stung but wasn't the worst thing he'd ever felt - and Adam wasn't sure he would be able to handle a brush the way Danny did.

"Let's finish this up," Mac patted Adam's back once more before raising the slipper. He started to lecture as he brought it down with a sharp crack.

*SMACK* "You will eat at," *SMACK* "at least," *SMACK* "three," **SMACK, SMACK* "meals" *SMACK* "a day." *SMACK, SMACK* "Is that in anyway," *SMACK* "unclear?" "*SMACK*

"N-no, s-sir," Adam cried.

Mac rained down the last two smacks quickly and before Adam had time to even register the pain on his sit spot Mac already had him flipped over and cradled in his lap.

"I'm sorry," Adam cried into Mac's chest. "I-I'm sorry."

"I know kid," Mac soothed. "It's ok Adam, we're ok."

"D-do-don't trust m-me," Adam hiccupped brokenly.

"Look at me Adam," Mac ordered gently. Adam refused to look up, refused to stop clinging tightly to Mac. "Adam Jacob, look at me please." Adam pulled away slowly. "Thank you. I need you to listen to me. I have faith in you that you will earn my trust back. And just because we're hit a little rough patch doesn't mean I care any less. It doesn't mean I'm going to give up on you. I will still be here and when you mess up I will still be here to stop you. Got it?"

Adam nodded, his tears slowing as he understood Mac's words. Still he couldn't stop himself from whispering, "I'm sorry."

"I forgive you," Mac murmured as he brought Adam back into a hug.

Adam, much like Danny, quickly fell asleep, comforted by the knowledge that he was safe in Mac's arms.

PROLOGUE:

Adam woke up just twenty minutes after he'd fallen asleep, his face flaming red as he realized he was still in Mac's lap. Mac simply helped him stand and got him going to the bathroom to freshen up before supper.

The next day, much to Adam's surprise, Mac took him to see a nutritionist. He'd stared at Mac with wide eyes, "So I can still..."

"Yes, you can diet so long as it's healthy." Mac had chuckled. He added more seriously, "I understand it's not always easy having everyone on the team seemingly know what's going on with you. Hawkes is more than willing to keep helping and I'd like him to. If you like Jack, then you can work with him on a healthy diet plan including a workout. Deal?"

"Deal," Adam agreed, a giant smile on his face.

"Ok, then let's go talk to Jack and get some lunch before we go to work." Mac ushered Adam into the nutritionists office.

For Adam Lunch brought home the fact that he wouldn't be eating out of site for a while. Almost three months to be exact. It took two weeks before Mac would let him eat his snack alone and even then he'd had to get his snack from Mac (or on rare occasion Hawkes). It was another two weeks before he could hold on to his snack alone.

Two weeks seemed to be the time factor for Adam to earn the right to eat alone and hold his own food. It no longer surprised him, though Adam was always thankful, that Mac was willing to follow the nutritionist's advice with him.

On his first day of being able to eat all his meals alone, Adam went to the break room for supper, a spring in his steps and sat down. Staring and noticing the room was empty he got up and walked to a well known room.

*Knock, knock*

"Come in," A familiar voice called out.

"Hey," Adam stuck his head in, "I was gonna eat...do you have time to..."

Mac smiled, "I'll be right there."

Adam smiled back and head to the break room once again. Just because his grounding was over didn't mean he had to alone.

THE END