Chapter 51: Old Friends

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About a month after the first meeting with Dr. Skoda, Mia and Jackie were spending their lunch at Mia's desk in the Diagnostics office, something they had been doing often due to their incoming deadlines for the book.

They were lost in their work when the door opened, and a slew of footsteps walked in.

"Shit is it already lunch time?" Mia asked, running her hand over her face.

"Yup." Jackie said, looking at the time on her watch as she sighed. In walked Ethan, Tobias, Aurora, and Harper. Each one had a paper lunch tray from the cafeteria, with Ethan and Tobias holding two.

"What is that, the third time this week you've lost track of time?" Ethan said as he and Tobias placed Mia and Jackie's lunch trays in front of them, the four taking seats in the office.

"Oops." Mia said, grabbing the food and digging in.

"Thanks for taking over the team office." Tobias said.

"Taking over is an understatement." Mia said. "We just sit at my desk."

"And it's quiet in here, and it's not like we're infringing on Diagnostic Team business." Jackie said, her and Mia having their eyebrows furrowed.

"Woah woah, it's just a joke." Tobias said. "You two are so on edge today."

"Not just today." Aurora said.

"Our drafts are due to the editors in two weeks." Mia said.

"So, stressed as hell." Jackie said, grabbing her sandwich from the tray.

"Aren't you guys going for dinner tonight with Dr. Calhoun?" Mia said to Tobias, Ethan, and Harper, the three of whom were meeting with their old friend Serena Calhoun from their resident days, who was visiting from San Francisco.

"About that...." Harper started to say, before she looked over at Ethan. "You tell her."

"Why can't you?" Ethan asked.

"Let's see..." Harper said, looking up as she started counting off the reasons on her fingers. "You're married to her, she's having your children, you probably have great tactics to convince her..."

"Okay, wait, what's happening?" Mia asked, confused in the conversation.

"Serena's wife Mona and their daughter Stella were able to come down with her, and she said that we should invite the significant others along, since she hasn't met you or Harper's new boyfriend Jason yet." Ethan said.

"Do I HAVE to go?" Mia asked.

"Well, Ethan would be lonely." Harper said.

"But I'm freaking huge." Mia said, referring to her 7-month baby bump.

"And we know you have work and are tired and not feeling the greatest, so we'd understand if you say no." Harper said. "Serena has already told me she plans on threatening him, but he can be an outlier of sorts with Mona."

"I doubt Aurora would go though, since she's been nervous about it since she found out she has to go." Tobias said.

"I have not been nervous." Aurora said, the tone in her voice making it obvious she was. The four looked at Mia with pleading eyes, as she sighed.

"I have nothing to wear." Mia said.

"I'm sure Ethan can help you find something." Harper said.

"Wait but, what about Jenner?" Mia asked. "He hasn't been feeling well and I was going to watch him tonight and make sure he's alright."

"Nav- I mean Dad said that he can watch Jenner tonight with Anna if you decide to go." Ethan said. "And then everyone would meet up at our house before we go for dinner, so that Serena can meet with him too."

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