Chapter Text
But the boss wasn’t done. “Minute you get back, you’re updating your personnel file. Protocol says you need a local contact in case of emergencies, and that’s non-negotiable. You don’t know anyone in town, fine. Ask one of the team. Hell you can use me if you want. But you will find somebody because so help me I will chain you to your desk until you have one -- understand?”
There was nothing she could say against an order like that. Nothing she could say, period, that wasn’t: “yes, boss.”
“Good.” Corner of her eye, she saw him nod; tight-lipped and perfunctory. His hands flexed once around the steering wheel. “That’s good,” came out so much softer than the rest, like he’d been speaking for himself alone, and hearing it made her insides twist in realization.
“So. Never been out to my boss before.” That startled a laugh, but then it was meant to. They needed to laugh after the day they’d both had.
“Well I’m honored, then.”
No way she could ever repay him -- no way he’d ever want her to; for him this was just part of being her boss -- but this? This she could do.
“Well, you should be.”
This she would do, and gladly.
“Good.”
“Good.”
And then they both were laughing.
-fin-