Frederick snorted, glad for the reprieve into humor, even though his smile was as forced as Jamie's laugher. "You're welcome, I think," he offered in return, the smile turning into a tentative grin. Then silence again. Frederick wasn't so good with silence, so he swallowed hard and looked around as if he suddenly found the hallway fascinating.
He listened to Jamie offering him such a lame out and he couldn't resist rolling his eyes at him. "Ki... Jamie, you know I'm not gonna leave until the doctor says you're really okay," he explained patiently. He held up his hands, palms out as in surrender. "Don't worry. I won't try to... to... gay you up or whatever it is you're thinking. I'm still the same guy you knew. I still dig chicks, same as always. Just 'cause a man loves chocolate, and eats all the chocolate he can, doesn't mean that he doesn't get a craving for raspberry every once in a while, yannow? Variety and all that?"
At least his tone was conciliatory this time, and not belligerent, but he still had that vaguely hurt look around the eyes, which Jamie may or may not see.