(I've been poking at this for a month lol. Still feel like crap but Fox doesn't care. He was still complaining to be written. Hopefully the new set of meds do better than the last. Even left my notes up on this chapter before realizing it and deleting them lol)

The inside of the building was ridiculously large. Whoever had designed it didn't hesitate to open the bottom floor up. Windows stretched across the front in even lines while smaller ones dotted the left side and back wall.

Oh don't tell me I found myself with a CEO or something stupid like that. I don't need that kind of cliche in my life.

"Good morning, Clara," Noah said as he walked all the way across the massive lobby and over to a large desk that spanned multiple people.

Is this a DMV? I remember taking shelter in one during a pretty nasty storm, but there aren't many lines. I remember lines and lines of people, even during the heavy rain.

"You coming, Fox?" Noah called out as he turned toward where he still stood only a few steps inside of the automatic doors.

Oh, right.

Catching up in a few moments, Fox stopped right before the threshold to the elevator where Noah watched him from inside.

"What's wrong, Fox? You've never been in an elevator before?" he asked, seemingly surprised.

Sitting down, Fox flicked his left ear and twitched his nose.

When another man stepped into the elevator, Noah stepped out, letting them go on their way as he knelt in front of Fox.

"Would it help if I carried you? I know that you don't like it but unless you want to walk up thirteen flights of stairs, we have to take the elevator."

Stairs it is!

Fox turned in a circle twice before locating the sign above a solid metal door at the other end of the building. Without a moment's hesitation he bounded across the white and grey tiled floor and up to the door. When Noah just stared at him in shock, he pawed at it.

"You're going to make me climb thirteen flights of stairs?" Noah asked in disbelief as he stopped in front of Fox and hesitantly pushed open the heavy door.

It was cool in the stairwell as they stepped through. Fox was actually looking forward to the exercise. It had been quite a bit since he'd actually gotten his heart pumping, which wasn't good for an omnivore that had to hunt for some of his meals.

Up we go!

Without bothering to wait, he bolted up the first four sets of stairs as if they were nothing, then flicked the tip of his tail as he took in a content breath and looked behind himself.

Where's Noah?

"I'm so out of shape."

The words Noah grumbled came from the third floor landing... Fox couldn't even see him until he looked through the railing and downward.

You sir, need to exercise more.

"Don't give me that look. I know I'm pathetic," Noah said as he ground his teeth and quickly forced himself up the next set of of stairs until he was standing next to Fox, leaning against the railing.

"Can we really not use the elevator? I swear it's not that bad," he said as Fox started up the next flight of stairs, turning back to glance at him only once he'd gotten to the halfway landing.

You can just go use it. I'm not stopping you. I can even count to thirteen and read the numbers above the doors. I won't get lost.

"I know that you aren't stupid and can probably get up there without my help, but I can't just let you run around in here on your own," Noah said as he made himself continue onward and upward.

The guy really was having trouble by the six flight, making Fox hesitate by the door.

You really can just let me finish the climb and meet me up there to open the door.

He wasn't really sure what was going on, but it looked like Noah did actually have a medical issue that made too much activity a problem.

Asthma, maybe?

"Don't give me that look. It's just something I've had all my life. It just hasn't acted up in a while so I was an idiot and left the inhaler at home," Noah said as he slowly lowered himself down onto the sixth floor landing and leaned over to rest his forehead on arms that he'd crossed over his knees.

Fox nudged his nose into an opening under Noah's right arm and snorted in his face, making the guy lean back abruptly to wipe at his cheek.

"You're a pretty rude fox, you know that, right?" He noted as he slowly got himself back to his feet and slowly, nervously, fearfully, peered up at the remaining sets of stairs.

Biting back a literal sigh, Fox slowly walked over to the heavy steel exit door and rapped at it twice with his paw.

Let's go already. I don't want you to die just yet. I almost like being in your presence for more than a couple minutes at a time.

"Oh thank god," Noah whispered as he grasped the handle of the heavy door and pulled it open.

Fox grudgingly walked through, his ears pinned and scruff ruffled with annoyance as he slowly followed behind Noah toward the elevators at the other end of the building. There was no one inside when the summoned metal box made its arrival with a falsely cheerful chime.

You lie. I do not trust you.

Noah stepped through the threshold gratefully and leaned back against the cool reflective metal wall with a content sigh, but when Fox just remained standing in the doorway, he frowned and walked forward just in time to put his hand out and stop the doors from closing.

"Come on, Fox. I promise that it's not that bad. Just think of it as a car that goes up and down instead of around on a road. It's actually much safer, too."

You know what's safer? Stairs.

He knew that Noah wouldn't just let him alone to finish running up the stairs, though. Hesitantly... very hesitantly, he stiffly walked onto the elevator.

"Good boy," Noah said with a smile as he leaned over and pushed a button. The entire elevator vibrated beneath Fox's paws as the doors quickly closed, locking inside of the huge metal box.

Another moment later and the whole thing was shaking, then he felt as if he was being pushed into the floor by some invisible force. Out of instinct, and a healthy dose of excessive but necessary fear he fumbled toward Noah and began climbing his pant leg with little thought besides getting away from the disturbing feelings the elevator was creating.

"It's okay, buddy. I've got you."

Fox knew that his claws were easily digging into the guy's arm as he was lifted up and hugged against his chest, but he couldn't care enough to try and remove them. Everything in him was on hyper alert as he jammed his face into Noah's suit jacket.

It felt like forever before Noah was finally carrying him off of the torturous device. The awkward pressure he'd felt vanished, but Fox wasn't curious enough to glance out from where his head was still tucked against Noah's chest behind his dark coat.

"I'm just going to go to my office. Is my appointment there already?" he asked as he started rubbing Fox's back through his suit-coat.

An young, feminine voice confirmed that whoever Noah was expecting was indeed already present in his office.

Please don't be a CEO. The elevator was already bad enough. Please don't be some snooty rich man.

Granted, his home had definitely not been very big. It also hadn't had a bunch of useless junk lying around that would only denote money, not that Fox had seen the insides of rich people's houses... but one could guess.

"Perfect. Thank you, Clara."

Noah started walking again, but the woman replied abruptly. "Is that your nephew, sir? Do you need anything for him?"

Do we look related?

"I've got some newspapers I haven't cleaned out of my office yet, so I think we'll be fine. Thank you, though," Noah said, ignoring her previous question, though Fox wasn't sure if he just forgot about it or didn't care. Either way, it didn't matter who he was to her.

Once inside of Noah's office, which was quite a bit chillier than the rest of the floor, Fox was gently removed from his jacket and set down on the floor. The room was furnished with several large black leather chairs that were lined up in front of a decent sized desk with a large office chair behind it that Noah promptly dropped into. He flicked on the computer sitting there, then offered the young man who had been watching Fox with a confused nervousness, a smile.

"Welcome Mr. Mackenzie. I'm Noah, the hiring manager for the company. I've reviewed your resume and we've already chatted over the phone a little, so I'd like to take the opportunity to give you a formal interview," he said as he seemed to get down to business.

Taking the silent hint that he'd been clearly dismissed, Fox walked about the office as the two chatted, taking in the soft but thin grey carpet and floor-to-ceiling windows behind where Noah sat.

Okay. Too high up.

He quickly turned away from the glass and tilted his head as he caught the younger guy's nervous stare.

"Ah, sorry. I guess I should introduce you to my guest. I hadn't planned on bringing him, but he's here now. This is Fox, a friend of mine," Noah said with a nod toward him that Fox stuck the tip of his tongue out to.

We'll go with acquaintance that you feed periodically and manages to tolerate you.

"He's pretty cute. How old is he?" the man asked, making Fox flatten his ears to his head and twitch his nose.

Noah leaned back in his chair and reached for his mouse.

"that's actually a good question. I have no idea how old he is," Noah said as Fox wandered up onto the couch against the wall, then up higher onto a ledge that was about a foot or so from the ceiling and lied down.

Not sure, either. Not that I care or it matters.

"Well, let's get started. I have to ask the basic stuff to begin with, so here we go. Name, birth date, and why you want this job?"

Well, if you insist on knowing.

Fox tilted his head slightly and flicked one ear.

Fox. I don't remember. And if I work for then you'll feed me. But since you already feed me, I'm just going to be lazy and let someone else do everything.

After the man answered Noah clicked his mouse a few times, then seemed to be looking over several things before replying.

"Your background check is already in so you just need to go get drug tested. You do understand that this is a full time job with full benefits after ninety days and you can accrue vacation time," he drawled, a hint of an accent coming through that Fox didn't care to try and place.

Oh hell yes, I love vacations. Where are we going? I hear the beach isn't nice this time of year. Maybe the DMV? It will be warm in there.

"Yes sir. I'm looking forward to being an asset to the company," the man said with a smile that was far too bright for Fox.

Noah nodded after a glance up at the man, then slid a folder across the desk.

"Read through this carefully, then sign on the last page and give that paper back o me. The rest is yours to keep."

The man silently did as told while Noah returned his attention to the computer. Once he was done with reading and signing the intended form, Mr. Mackenzie and Noah discussed a few more quick things, then stood and shook hands. Once the man was gone, Noah dropped back down into his seat and seemed to focus intently on what he was reading.

Curious, Fox hopped down from his perch and sauntered over to sit slightly behind Noah.

Hey... wait a second.

Inching closer, Fox felt his heart pick up just the slightest amount as he stared at the photo on Noah's laptop screen. It was him. It was definitely him. A very old school photo of his human form, and one of his fox right beside it.

Amber Alert notice.

Male.

Age:8

Eye color: Brown

Hair color: Brown

Height: four foot two

Weight: Forty-eight pounds

Name: Adam

Will likely appear as a fox. Do not approach. Please contact authorities if found.