doc-dawson:
…
Max didn’t have a lot of free time but when he did have a bit he tried to get to the gym or at least go for a run. He’d noticed when Callie came in, the focus on her features, and absently watched her on the treadmill as he used the rowing machine. When she moved to the heavy bag he saw the ferocity she hit it with and remembered, after a moment, what anniversary they were coming up on. It seemed like it was always hard. Max couldn’t imagine the anniversary of Ginny’s death getting any easier to bear and there’d only been a few of those. Callie had had a lot more and Max knew it still affected her deeply. How could it not? Finishing his own work out, he walked over, figuring he might as well see if she needed to talk or just show that he was there for her. He hadn’t been trying to sneak up on her and realised too late she had airpods in which was probably why she hadn’t responded to him. “Sorry. Didn’t realise you had headphones in.” He smiled a bit. “I was just coming over to see how you were doing. Was going to offer to hold the bag for you, too.”
Callie softened when she realized it was Max who had approached her. “Hi Big brother.” She said with a big smile plastered on her face. She knew if anyone could see through her façade it was him, but she still couldn’t help but put it on. “I’m ok. Just thought I would take my free afternoon and get a little extra workout in.” She said with a nod. “If you want to I certainly won’t say no.” She told him.
She took a few hard hits against the bag before sighing and stopping to look at him. “How do you feel about going to grab a drink?” She asked him. She knew she could let her guard down with him, he was the only one that understood. She hated that he did, but secretly she was grateful to have someone who could understand how she felt and not push her to feel more.
