He nods. It's an easy answer, but Will isn't his inmate, so he doesn't push. Will isn't even really a friend - not anymore. Sheehan doesn't feel slighted by him at all, but it was a good reminder of the reason Sheehan put up those boundaries in the first place.
"I'm glad you've put some thought into it. And I don't - hold it against you. I hope you know that."
Will can feel a door closing, and- okay. That's okay. He's shut a lot of doors in his life. He'll shut plenty more, undoubtedly. He is, however, frowning at that glass of water. He can feel himself drifting a little.
"That...actually might hurt a little more, Doctor. That you don't. But I understand. Is there anything else you want to know, anything I can do for you? To try and...make things right?"
"I don't know, Will." He smiles and there's no trace of anger there. Only quiet resignation. "You said you hurt someone you didn't want to and caused friction and that's why you wanted to apologize. Which I understand. But you made no mention of how those actions, lies, manipulations...how that directly affected the ones who aren't Malcolm Bright. That hurt me, Will."
That's all he says for a moment as he purses his lips, absorbing the point. "I'm really shit at this, huh?" he asks, looking up at Sheehan. He lets out a heavy sigh. "I don't know why I didn't just say that. I'm sorry for hurting you. I hadn't thought I'd gotten...that far through your defenses."
He licks his lips and looks thoroughly miserable. "Regardless, I did use our time talking together as...I think the term is 'malicious compliance' for following Shaw's orders. Sorry to toss whatever chance we had at friendship out a window like that."
It isn't petty pleasure or satisfaction that makes Sheehan let Will sit in his own apparent misery. He does it because he no longer trusts him. That he doesn't trust him to feel what he's actually showing.
"I - I'm going to, what's the phrase, call bullshit, on that one, Will. That you didn't think you had gotten through my defenses." He's fairly certain he knew, or at least Sheehan had made it obvious.
"Regardless, I'm not forgiving you. Not right now. If friendship is something you still want, then I'm afraid the burden is on you to prove that you have changed and I can trust you. If it isn't, then I understand, and I still look forward to you graduating."
He picks up his glass and takes a drink. "I know what it takes to admit what you did. I can appreciate that, you know."
It's smart not to trust Will at this point, as the man plays up his own emotional display even now, an attempt to get the best response. It's cheap, but these are the defenses he has. They're all he has that he knows can work.
So Sheehan calling out his bullshit gets a weak attempt at a smile, and a mumbled response of "perhaps one line." The 'not forgiving you' part gets a nod and a swallow.
"...thanks. I know it doesn't fix...anything, really, but. Hopefully it helps somewhere down the line. I'd like to try and still be friends at...some point, but I'm not sure..." He shakes his head. "I'll think on it. If there's anything I can do."
Sheehan nods and warms just slightly. "I'm glad to hear that. And if you need anything I can provide, then I'm right next door. I won't ever turn you away if I can help."
He glances to Shaw, then back to Will. He's proud of him, in a way. These conversations are awkward and difficult, but they are necessary.
Shaw stays quiet, but is clearly watching them both carefully: as far as she's concerned, she's not here to inject her own reactions into the conversation, either to bolster Will or to add on more criticism. She's here for observation purposes and for observation purposes only, so that she'll have a more informed opinion when they debrief later.
"Yeah. Thank you," he says, nodding with a small twitch as he pushes himself up to standing. He looks up at the doctor and licks his lower lip before continuing. "You're welcome at my place, if you ever want a dog to pet. Just let me know. I'll...get out of your hair now."
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"I'm glad you've put some thought into it. And I don't - hold it against you. I hope you know that."
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"That...actually might hurt a little more, Doctor. That you don't. But I understand. Is there anything else you want to know, anything I can do for you? To try and...make things right?"
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That's all he says for a moment as he purses his lips, absorbing the point. "I'm really shit at this, huh?" he asks, looking up at Sheehan. He lets out a heavy sigh. "I don't know why I didn't just say that. I'm sorry for hurting you. I hadn't thought I'd gotten...that far through your defenses."
He licks his lips and looks thoroughly miserable. "Regardless, I did use our time talking together as...I think the term is 'malicious compliance' for following Shaw's orders. Sorry to toss whatever chance we had at friendship out a window like that."
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"I - I'm going to, what's the phrase, call bullshit, on that one, Will. That you didn't think you had gotten through my defenses." He's fairly certain he knew, or at least Sheehan had made it obvious.
"Regardless, I'm not forgiving you. Not right now. If friendship is something you still want, then I'm afraid the burden is on you to prove that you have changed and I can trust you. If it isn't, then I understand, and I still look forward to you graduating."
He picks up his glass and takes a drink. "I know what it takes to admit what you did. I can appreciate that, you know."
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So Sheehan calling out his bullshit gets a weak attempt at a smile, and a mumbled response of "perhaps one line." The 'not forgiving you' part gets a nod and a swallow.
"...thanks. I know it doesn't fix...anything, really, but. Hopefully it helps somewhere down the line. I'd like to try and still be friends at...some point, but I'm not sure..." He shakes his head. "I'll think on it. If there's anything I can do."
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He glances to Shaw, then back to Will. He's proud of him, in a way. These conversations are awkward and difficult, but they are necessary.
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He stands up with him and walks them to the door, opening it politely. "Both of you take care."