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The door to Andrew's office banged open by a hard push from the other side. There wasn't the decency of knocking or even a question for permission. Lukas stormed into the room, dragging a reluctant Alec with him by the arm.

The boy had a developing black eye on his face and his clothes were scuffed and torn. It wasn't too much of a loss, at ten, he was starting his growth spurt and would likely out grow them within a few months.

He let Alec go and he stumbled a few feet.

"What," Lukas snapped, as always in Russian, "Have you been teaching the boy?"

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It's always sort of startling when Andrew calls him Sasha. Alec doesn't mind it, of course, it's just a bit strange.

"Apparently he has been, if what's been happening in school is any indication." Lukas also notes the use of Sasha, and represses a smirk. "But he is ten and ten year olds tend to follow examples before them as what to do. It's how children learn what's right and what's wrong."

He gives a cough and then shakes his head briefly. There's a worried look over in Alec's corner.

"But what's right and what's wrong is so subjective," Andrew argues. He's always believed it, and he won't change his beliefs just because he's raising a child.

"I would like to believe there are a few things that remain absolute."

He raises his hand and gives a slashing gesture as he speaks. Alec flinches just briefly.

"Then we'll have to agree to disagree."

Andrew's voice is firm, like he wants to hear no argument whatsoever.

"Then you aren't going to punish him stealing?"

"I'm going to talk to him about what society considers appropriate, and why it might be a good idea to avoid getting arrested or thrown out of school. He won't be repeating his actions again, I assure you."

But probably not for the reasons Lukas would want.

He has a feeling its that. There's another cough.

"You can talk to his teacher then."

"I will, of course, speak with his teacher. I've done so before."

Because Alec seems to find multiple ways to get into trouble. He frowns at Lukas' cough.

"I hope your health is all right."

It's a knack of Alec's.

Lukas waves his hand briefly. "It is nothing."

Alec looks a bit worried, but doesn't say anything.

"Are you sure? Have you spoken with a doctor?"

There's no love lost between himself and Lukas, but he knows Alec cares for the man, and for that reason, he's perfectly capable of behaving as though he's generally a kind and thoughtful type when it comes to other peoples' health.

Lukas snorts. "Doctors. What do they know?"

Some people have the old country's trust of medicine.

Alec's chewing on his lip.

"Generally far more than those of us not trained in medicine. I admit, I don't like seeing them myself, but there comes a time when one must give in and do so. I see some excellent doctors -- I could give you a recommendation."

There's a suspicious look for a brief moment.

"That's very kind of you to offer. I doubt I'll be able to afford your doctors." It's only a slight jab.

Andrew waves his hand dismissively. "Please. Most doctors who charge an exorbitant fee do so because they know they'll not get any repeat business, and want to maximize their profit while providing the shoddiest work possible. I do not go to expensive doctors -- I go to good doctors."

"Snake oil sales men, yes. But still..."

Alec pipes up here. "Maybe you should, Lukas. It's been getting bad."

Lukas gives him a sharp and angry look and Alec flinches again.

"The boy is concerned about you," Andrew says smoothly, never above using someone else's concern for his own interest. "You should at least see someone. I see a doctor who never charges a fee unless he actually does something, which is far from the norm, I realize, but an excellent way of doing business, assuming one is a decent doctor, which he is."

Lukas grunts and coughs.

"Yes. Fine. Since Sasha asked."

"Good. I'll just write down the information for you, then..."

He shuffles in his desk and pulls out a small pad of paper and a pencil, then glances at his address book, jotting down an address, name, and telephone number. The conversation seems to have turned to this rather than Andrew's failed parenting, so he's happy to keep it going in that direction.

"And I hope that you're explaining to him that it's important to avoid getting arrested beyond the fact that it's an inconvince."

"But of course. I'd also like him to avoid having a criminal record."

That probably wasn't the answer Lukas was looking for. He slides the piece of paper across his desk to the other man.

He takes the piece of paper and folds it up to put in his pocket.

And no, it was not. "You keep on dancing around with these ideals and words of yours. I think they will lead nowhere but trouble."

"Do you?"

Andrew doesn't really sound like he cares what Lukas thinks. "I have founded several companies and become lucratively involved in many industries through, mostly, my ideals, and by utilizing my words effectively. That doesn't seem like trouble to me."

"And you haven't had anything to challenge them either."

"Haven't I? The economy is hardly what it once was. We're still in the grips of a serious economic downturn. That has certainly proved a challenge."

"That is business. That is not people."