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━━"Hey." A voice came from behind Althea.
"Hey, Jackson. What's up?" Althea asked, not looking up from her charts.
"Tally still sick?" Jackson asked, concern lacing his tone. His goddaughter—his honorary niece—was always his soft spot.
Althea stifled a yawn. "Yeah, but her temperature dropped dramatically yesterday. So, I'm not that worried anymore."
"Good! That means you can come over to mine." Jackson grinned, hopeful.
Finally looking up from her charts, Althea gave him a tired but amused look. "No, it does not mean I can come over."
"What? Why?" He frowned, clearly disappointed.
"Because Tally is still sick. You know how she gets when she's sick."
Jackson sighed, placing a hand on her shoulder. The gesture was warm, familiar—too familiar. Althea felt the comfort of it linger longer than it should have, and she gently leaned away.
"Thea—"
"Stop flirting and get to work."
Bailey's voice cut through the air like a scalpel. Sharp. Commanding.
Jackson's hand dropped instantly. He straightened like a soldier caught out of line. Miranda Bailey stepped into view, arms crossed, brows low.
"When Chief Webber told me about you, he said you were a strong, focused doctor. And I believed him. But now, I'm starting to question—"
"I wasn't flirting. We aren't even—"
"Don't cut me off," she snapped. "And before you say, 'We aren't even a thing,' let me tell you—I've heard that line more times than I can count. And I'm not buying it. If I catch you two in another heart-to-heart with touching involved, I'm reporting it. Got it?"
"Yes, Dr. Bailey." Althea sighed.
"Good. Let's move. Patients don't wait."
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Bailey was... meticulous.
Althea had barely slipped away. Whether it was luck or Bailey's obsessive double-checking that spared her, she didn't know. She found herself in a quiet stairwell and took a moment to breathe. Her back against the cool wall, she pulled out her phone.
Two rings.
"Hello?"
Althea's face softened instantly. "Lou. Hey, baby."
"Mommy! Aren't you supposed to be saving lives?"
Althea chuckled. "Yeah. And aren't you supposed to be in bed? Where's Mrs. Hendrix?"
