"Patients, Please."

Impromptu Meetings

I was in the first one in the office this morning, just as normal. I put my things down under my desk and finish writing in my own planner. I have a bunch of things I have to do for this semester, I've been enjoying staying busy. The Dean walks into the office with another woman, her eyes were puffy. He points her at the door behind me, I try and not stare but the woman walks behind me and into the office. I stand up and walk over to the Dean, "Miss. (Y/L/N), is there any way you can get ahold of Mr. Fischbach. I have tried but he's not answering."

I nod, "Of course, can I ask what's going on?" I say quietly.

He stares at me, "Mrs. Wilson had a stroke last night. She's going to be out for the semester. Mr. Fischbach was going to take over her place when she retired but I need him to take over now," putting my hand over my mouth. "Everything is changing for the semester and I have 3 days to figure it out." He runs his fingers over his eyes.

I put my hand up then realize I should probably not grab him, "If you need anything, just let me know. As for Mr. Fischbach I'll try and get ahold of him." He grabs my hand.

"I need as much information as you can give me about the schedules and the classes. And you might see if she needs help. That's Lisa's sister." He says pointing to the office. "She's coming by to get some of her things."

I shake my head, "Is she just going to take her things out of here?" I say. I look back over to the Dean, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that outburst. I mean it just happened last night, can't we wait for like a day or two at least?"

He half smiles at me, "She was determined to come and do it today." He shakes his head, "I was thinking the same thing. But I have to run and see if I can move around all my things. I will see you in a couple of hours for the impromptu meeting about everything."

I nod, "I'll have the conference room ready for everything." I say half smiling. He thanks me and walks away, I turn back to her office and I see Mrs. Wilsons sister just looking over everything. I take a step in, "Hi, I'm (Y/N), I'm Mrs. Wilson's assistant."

She turns back to have her stare at me, "You mean you were." I stare at her shocked, "What do I need to take from here?"

I stumble over my words, "Ummm... I can pack her things and have it ready if you want to come back and get it later this evening."

She rolls her eyes, "Fine." She keeps looking around the room, "What am I going to do with all this stuff?"

"Can I ask you if she's okay?" I look down at my hands, "I mean I really feel like we became friends since I've started here."

I look back up, she's staring at me like I've asked the worst question in the world, "I mean as good as she can be I guess." She shakes her head, "Just have her stuff packed by this evening so I can come get it."

She walks past me and out of the office completely, I sat down at my computer and started printing out as much information the Dean wanted. I looked up Mark's information, I deleted his number from my phone about a week after finals. I find his information and dialed his number, he answers in his very deep gravelly voice, "Hello?"

"Mark, it's (Y/N). You're needed at the school, it's an emergency." I say covering my eyes. "Mrs. Wilson had a stroke and is going to be out for the semester." I can feel tears rolling down my face, actually saying it makes it real. "The Dean is going to have a meeting this afternoon and..."

"Sno..." I hear him stop himself, "(Y/N), I will be there in 10 minutes."

__________________________

Mark comes running into the office, I've been keeping myself busy by prepping the conference hall. There were packs of papers on a table at the door. Nobody has shown up yet, Mark comes up grabbing the tops of my arms. "Are you okay?"

I shake my head not looking at him, "I just need to keep busy."

He's breathing heavy, "Do you need anything?"

I shake my head, "No, I'm fine." I finally look up, he's wearing his glasses and his hair is a mess. I chuckle, "Did you just climb out of bed and come over here?"

He smiles and looks down, "Is it obvious?" He looks back up, I reach up trying to fix his hear, but nothing I'm doing is working. I look back down at him, he has a heart-felt smile on his face.

I put my hand down quickly, "I'm sorry."

He shakes his hand, "It's okay, are you sure you don't need anything?"

I look back up, "I just need a hug." I say shaking my head, "But if I do I might start crying, it's just going to be a mess."

His hands move from my arms to my back and squeeze me tightly. I put my head against his chest, just like old times. He quickly lets go, "I need to get ahold of the Dean." I stand there for a second then turn back to my desk, I look up his number and dial. I pass the phone over to Mark, he can only go so far. I listen to him repeat the same things over and over again. He covers the phone's bottom, "He wants to ask you something, " then passes me the phone.

I grab the phone, "Hello?"

"Do you care if I ask what happened with Lisa's sister?" He asked. "She left looking pissed."

I rolled my eyes, "She want me to pack her stuff and have it ready to take this evening." I look over to see Mark staring at a mirror on a pole in the middle of the floor. I also watch as several other teacher start filling in for the day. "Teachers are starting to show up."

He sighs, "Please do me a favor and don't worry about packing the office. She can wait, but is everything ready for the meeting later?"

I watch as Mark goes and introduces himself to the teachers that are standing in the far office. I nod my head, "Yeah, everything is set up. I have one sitting at the front of the room for you as well."

"Thank you, you better be prepared as well." He says.

"Me?"

"Of course I need you to take notes for everything. You will do fine. I will be there in an hour." He says then hangs up the phone. I put the phone back down.

Mark walks back over, "The teachers around here seem nice."

I nod, "Yeah, they haven't talked to me much. Only when they need copies or things like that." I look up and smile at him. I stand up, "I have to get ready for the meeting, it's in an hour. You might want to get ready as well, Department Head." I bite my lower lip and cross my arms in front of me.

I walk back into Mrs. Wilsons office grabbing the planner from her desk. I just stare at it for a second and flip to the page she has paper clipped. I put it on my desk, there was a note sitting on my desk on an index card. It says: Don't bite your lip around me, you're testing my patients already. I look to see Mark not standing anywhere in the office. I put the note in the top drawer hiding it from anybody that could just walk by and question it.

___________________________

The Dean walks into the office and starts gathering people up for the meeting. Mark was standing in his office, I walk over standing in the door way for his office. "Are you seriously leaving notes on my desk?"

He looks up raising an eyebrow, "I told you I was going to be completely honest with you. I thought you would like that." The last part he whispers.

I roll my eyes at him then walk out of the room. I walk into the conference room to see most of the teachers sitting around the table, I grab a packet of paper and stand at the back of the room. The Dean walks into the room and stares at me. "What are you doing back here, you are sitting next to me."

I shake my head but he walks to the front of the table and he points to the seat to his right. I sigh and sit down in the seat. Mark sits across from me and the Dean starts the meeting.