EXO 729

0800-1200

Looking at the time clock she was worried Desmond might find her, though Joan had come a few minutes early to throw off everyone's expectations. She was no expert at stealth, her steel-toed boots filling the hallway with an echo, but as she peered around corners before passing by she hoped she was stealthy enough. As she neared the hangar she gulped and hugged the wall, fearing her bright red bandanna would get singled out like a beacon. When downstairs she crouched to avoid the large break room windows, and thought she had made it to the locker room without being seen when the door opened as soon as she reached for the handle.

"Good morning Joan!" Faye greeted, Joan's eyes going wide in shock.

"U-uh, morning," she attempted to mask disappointment unsuccessfully. Faye was undeterred, her winning smile wide as ever.

"Happy birthday girl," she said under her breath, causing Joan to wince. She had hoped against all hope, that somehow no one had remembered.

"Thanks, Faye," she grumbled. Faye edged past her, motioning for Joan to follow. The wide striped tank top she wore underneath her purple jumpsuit already had rings of sweat, and her forehead was noticeably dirty. She had been hard at work but clearly had a surprise planned, and it was for this reason only that Joan entertained her. "If anybody sings, though, I will leave," she voiced her complaint early.

"Oh don't worry," she reassured unconvincingly, leading them to the very break room Joan had snuck past. Much to her relief there was actually no ambush of people waiting to sing happy birthday, the only noise being the suction pull of a fridge being opened. "I made these for you!" She pulled out of it a plastic container which she opened with some dramatic flair. The box was set in Joan's hands, and it contained six massive blueberry muffins, complete with a professional-bakery-looking glazing on top. Joan's face didn't twitch as she looked down at them, though she felt her heart drop and rise in the face of such a sweet gesture. "I wasn't sure what sort of sweets you would like, but I didn't take you as a cupcake kinda girl, so I tried making these instead," she seemed hesitant to carry on, "what do you think?"

"These are-" Joan was hit with guilt from not seeming pleased with them, "these are gonna be my breakfast." She picked up one and regarded it with a growing smile. "These look real nice Faye, you done did a professional's job with 'em."

"Aw, thank you! It's actually Desmond's mom's recipe, and at this point I've had them enough times to know them well," she said with a laugh. Faye retreated upstairs, leaving Joan to her mostly black coffee and blueberry muffin. Fifteen minutes later she was sneaking upstairs herself, dreading the minute she would step out into the exposed hangar bay. She stormed out hoping her speed would be her saving grace, and made it to the Appaloosa without attracting any further attention.

"Morning Joan!" Desmond called cheerily while attempting to look casual leaning up against the side of the craft. A thin, knowing smile was on his lips and Joan knew she was in for something.

"Morning, Desmond," she grumbled. Sensing her tension, he patted the side of the ship and dropped his cool act.

"Happy birthday, Joan. And, I gotcha something," he said and slid one of the doors open to grab something out. It was a large circular box, larger than Faye's muffin container, but as he placed it in Joan's hands it weighed hardly anything.

"That's a whole lotta nothing you got me," she mumbled, making him wait. It was a plain brown box with some sort of brand label she didn't recognize. Still, she turned it in her hands like she was looking for a clue.

"It's something, I promise." She glanced up at him, smirked, and finally took off the lid. She pushed aside some crinkly tissue paper and sitting in the center was a beautiful tan leather hat with a wide brim. There was a braided cord around the band, and Joan sighed with a soft smile as she pinched the divots in the crown and picked it up. "Saw it in the store and thought of you."