When Andrew heard Maxwell’s footsteps down the hallway, he quickly worked to turn off his computer, and was already pulling on his coat before the door even opened.
Maxwell walked in on Andrew, half dressed, his inside coat still on over his partially put-on outer coat and took a second, before he burst into laughter. Dr. Cox was still at her desk, as was Dr. Piper, and both ladies burst into laughter as well. Mr. Newman was beside Maxwell, holding open the door as he took in Andrew’s embarrassing display.
"He’s fine waiting a few minutes as you finish your day, Andrew." Maxwell told him warmly. "I know you’re worried, but Richard will be fine. He’s in our hands, isn’t he?" Maxwell told him carefully, calmly, and that was what he needed to hear.
He needed to hear Maxwell telling him that he was being silly. That he was overreacting. It felt a cold shower over his shoulders and Andrew took his glasses off, rubbing the bridge of his nose for a second.
"Yeah. You’re right." Andrew agreed. He took a deep breath in before he let it out, sighing and Maxwell ca over and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"It’s fine to be nervous, but I really want you to not overstress yourself, alright?" Maxwell told him. "I don’t need two recently manifested people losing their minds in my ho. Especially since I can’t take care of one the way that I can take care of the other." Maxwell said and Dr. Piper began coughing. Everyone turned to look at her, but Andrew hadn’t put his glasses back on so she was blurred. He narrowed his gaze.
"Are you alright, Dr. Piper?" He asked and was pretty sure he got a dismissive hand wave in response.
"Peachy." She croaked, coughing a few more tis. "Went down the wrong pipe." She said and Andrew nodded. He slid his glasses back on, giving his head a shake as Maxwell patted his shoulder. Andrew slowly slid his arms out of the coat, before he took off the coat he wore for work, hung it up, made sure his computer was properly turned off, and then pulled on his coat again.
Maxwell was holding it open for him, helping him as he got into it. He even buttoned Andrew in, pressing down the lapels of the coat so that everything lay flat and when he was done, Maxwell looked quite satisfied.
"Even so anxious, you look very handso." Maxwell told him and Andrew felt his face warm. Maxwell said it with such pride, such happiness that there was no way that Andrew wasn’t going to pull him in for a kiss. He just begged that no one would kick up a stink as he did it. Even Maxwell seed surprised as Andrew pulled him in, pressing his lips against his own.
He didn’t fight him though, wrapping a hand around his neck and pulling him in for a deeper kiss. Andrew was the one who restrained himself since they had company, and Andrew kind of knew that he shouldn’t have provoked the man.
Maxwell was the one who ca to him and told him he had separation anxiety. He probably needed the kiss as much as Andrew needed Maxwell to tell him to calm down.
Andrew pulled away, staring at the slightly pouty Maxwell before he composed himself in record ti.
"S-Sorry everyone." Andrew stuttered and Dr. Cox waved her hand, her attention back on her computer.
"Enjoy being in love. I’m not going to spoil it for you. I do appreciate that you two stopped at the pg version of a kiss." She slid a teasing look towards Andrew, who nodded.
"I did my best. I just couldn’t hold myself back from kissing him." Andrew told her and she chuckled.
"Uh huh. Go pick up our manager, Dr. Nice, and make sure that he gets better." Andrew nodded, the words a heavy weight on his shoulders, but one that he was willing to bear.
Andrew, Maxwell, and Mr. Newman headed down to the lower floors together. Maxwell was chatting to Mr. Newman the whole ti they made their way down. It was about work, but it ended as soon as they stopped outside of the doors containing Richard.
"ssage if anything urgent cos up. My personal line." Maxwell told him and Mr. Newman nodded.
"Of course, sir. You’ll let know if you need anything?" He was asking Maxwell, but his gaze also slid to Andrew. Andrew smiled at him warmly.
"Of course. Thank you, Mr. Newman. Have a good night. Hopefully we’ll see you on Monday." Andrew told him. Mr. Newman nodded, slid his gaze to Maxwell, got a nod, and then cleared his throat, adjusted his suit jacket, and turned, leaving them alone.
Andrew glanced at Maxwell, who looked up at him before he exhaled, placed his hand on the door and opened it.
Richard was already out of the small chamber that they had been keeping him in with very few other people in the room in bare clothes. They were wearing suits that would cover their pheromones, like they were weaning a baby or sothing.
Richard looked up as soon as Maxwell and Andrew entered. Andrew stayed by the door, as did Maxwell, and Richard gave them a tight smile. He was already pale, his skin looking sickly in the light. His eyes were strained and Andrew felt his heart squeeze as he looked at the other man.
"Are you alright?" Andrew asked, already knowing the answer. Richard let out a sharp laugh as the team around him worked.
"Could be better. I had an adverse reaction to soone’s oga pheromones." Richard told him, and Andrew felt his eyes widen. Oga pheromones? He hadn’t expected that to co out of his mouth. He would have thought that he would have been fine.
When Andrew glanced at Maxwell, he could tell that the other man was scrambling with the news. Maxwell had it in his head that Andrew was going to be the problem when it ca to pheromones. Maxwell had every right to assu that, but now he was probably feeling like his world had tilted on its axis.
"An oga?" Maxwell repeated from where they stood by the door and Richard gave a laugh.
"I know, right? Isn’t that the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard? A newly manifested oga not able to be around other ogas? That’s bullshit if I’ve ever heard of it." Richard’s tone dripped sarcasm and Andrew swallowed.
"Have you tested alphas yet?" He asked and it was Dr. Spencer who replied. She was in one of the suits.
"No. Not yet. This happened recently, when we let him out of the room." She said. It was good that she clarified, but that didn’t sound like good news to Andrew. Would he have to spend another night here? That sounded terrible.
"Okay. Well, take your ti. We’re here, waiting." Andrew confird and Richard let out a laugh.
"Thanks Andy. Sorry you ca down here for nothing." He apologised and Andrew felt his jaw tighten. For nothing? Richard was not nothing, and that hadn’t been decided yet.
Instead of getting mad at Richard and yelling at him when he was already feeling like shit, Andrew turned to his phone and updated everyone on the current situation. Of course they had a flood of questions, and Andrew was only able to answer what he could. He didn’t want to bother the doctors as they worked, and Maxwell turned to his phone to work from there while they waited for the good, or bad news.
It was about 45 minutes later when Dr. Spencer asked Andrew to co over and let Richard get a sniff of his pheromones. They had other alphas around, but it made the most sense to use Andrew since he was the one who he was going to spend the most ti with.
Andrew was nervous about this, asking a lot of questions before he even made a step closer. He really didn’t want to fuck up Richard.
Dr. Spencer controlled the experint, and Richard started coughing, having a reaction. Andrew felt panic well inside of him as Richard’s own floral scent filled the room but it didn’t seem like Dr. Spencer was too worried about it.
"Is he okay?" Andrew asked, panicking, but Dr. Spencer took a mont to respond before she let out a sigh.
"Perfectly normal. That was actually well within predictions, unlike his reaction to the oga pheromones. He’ll be fine in a few minutes, so just go wait with Mr. Beckett for a mont while we give Richard his shot. Then, I want Mr. Beckett to co over." Dr. Spencer ordered and Andrew nodded.
They spent another 45 minutes doing this little song and dance and when Richard had a significantly less serious reaction in Andrew’s mind to Maxwell’s pheromones, Dr. Spencer seed to finally relax.
"I think he’ll be okay. It’s going to be a lot of exposure therapy for him, but I think he’ll manage." Dr. Spencer said. "I’ll have my cell on , so call if anything goes wrong." She told the couple. "Also call the Doctor if you need help. Dr. Smith said he’s familiar with the situation and is also ready whenever you need him." Of course it was Michael. It was always Michael.
Andrew nodded.
"Thank you Dr. Spencer. We’ll wait over here until you tell us to co over." Andrew said, shuffling over towards the door. Maxwell was watching Richard calmly.
"It feels like we’re picking up our child from the hospital after they’ve been in intensive care." Maxwell said, catching Andrew by surprise. He gave Maxwell a strange look, before he snorted.
"We are not telling him that." Andrew warned. "I want to save that for a later date. Like Christmas or sothing. Or new years." Andrew said and Maxwell’s eyes turned up as he smiled. He grabbed Andrew’s hand and gave it a squeeze.
"I adore you." Maxwell told him and Andrew’s heart lted. How nice.
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