Max leans against the edge of his car, brows quirking up curiously as Adam makes his way slowly from the building to join him. "You ready?" he asks, shifting to face him fully, taking in the small grin on his face that only grows under Max's scrutiny.
"Yep," he says cheerfully.
"I'm not sure why you insisted on me coming along to this rehab appointment," Max mumbles, holding the passenger side door him as he maneuvers his crutches around to get inside without bumping his ankle.
Adam doesn't say anything, just continues to smile at him as he rounds the car and sinks into the driver's seat, casting one last suspicious glance at him before starting the car up and hitting the open road to take them downtown to the building where Adam and he'd been rehabbing their various injuries for the last few months.
Thankfully the waiting period isn't long and before either of them are fully prepared, there's a knock on the door and Adam's doctor peers in before stepping fully into the room. "Hello," he says cheerfully, glancing from Max to Adam. "How are you both doing today?"
"Good," Adam says, Max echoing half-heartedly. "So, doc, you said you had something you wanted to talk to me about. What's up?" He's sitting on an elevated hospital cot, his good foot dangling while the doctor examines his other foot.
"Well, we did x-rays last week, and the rehab specialist confirmed with me what I was thinking. You followed our advice and spent the last couple of weeks at home, and that along with the wheelchair allowed you to heal enough to take the next step." He unstraps the walking boot and sets it aside, standing up. "Go slow, but see how it feels to walk in it."
"Really?" Adam and Max say at the same time, the doctor smiling a little. He scoots slowly to the edge of the cot, Max watching closely as Adam carefully puts weight on his ankle, standing on his own unaided for the first time since October. "Oh."
"How's it feel?" the doctor asks, watching closely, staying nearby to catch him if something goes sideways.
"Not bad," he says. "I mean, not really... 100%, but... better than it has in a long time."
The doctor nods, still examining him. "Well, here's what we're going to do. You keep it like this, unless you're traveling or think you'd feel more comfortable with it on. Hanging around at home? Feel free to go without. If something feels wrong, or you start experiencing pain, come back immediately." He looks over at Max. "I'm expecting you to keep an eye on him, Max."
Max smirks. "My favorite hobby, doc."
Adam rolls his eyes, flushing slightly. "Max," he chides with a laugh, the doctor barely reacting to the suggestive tone Max is using.
"You're far from being cleared to compete, so I don't want you to get the wrong idea," he continues. "But this is a very good first, well, step." He straightens back up and smiles. "Check in with the front desk, we'll schedule another follow up to see how things are progressing in a couple of weeks."
"Great, thanks, doc," Adam says, shaking his hand. Even Max shakes his hand on his way out and then they look at each other once they're back in the hallway a few minutes later, heading for the exit. "Well," he says. "I suspected, but still. It was... so easy."
"Tell me about it," Max scoffs. "Hell, baybay, I think we should go celebrate. What do you want to do?"
Adam pauses by the car and looks over at him. "You wanna know what I really wanna do?"
"Yeah?"
"Go home," he says with a sheepish laugh. "Get Piper and just... cuddle up in bed with some Chinese food and pastries from that bakery you love so much, and just... relax. Knowing that I'm finally at the tale end of this thing. How does that sound?"
Max smirks. "You had me at bed, Adam."
Adam rolls his eyes. "I'm being serious, Max."
Max shrugs. "So am I," he says, before his smirk softens into a more sincere smile. "C'mon, let's get you home so we can start this fantastic celebrating plan you have laid out."
"Yeah?"
"Hell, yeah, man, it's your show. C'mon."
Adam beams. "Thanks, Max."
Max winks at him. "Anything for you."