Medical leave (a Mirandy fanfic)

Chapter 4: new work place

It was 3:15 PM when Andy finally relaxed. Sitting on a stool at the kitchen isle, she sipped her coffee quietly and nibbled at the cheese sandwich Cara had made her. Miranda was upstairs calling Nigel and ensuring that the staff wouldn't jump out of the nearest window, comitting mass suicide like a hord of desperate gremlins. 

The front door closing got Andy out of her trance, she could hear rustling and rummaging behind the door, and promptly got up to check on the origin of the noise. Janette was struggling with Miranda's laundry, a plastic bag in her mouth, a pile of folders in her free hand and a bag across her body.

-"Woah, let me help you. We don't need another injured assistant" - the brunette said taking the plastic bag out of her mouth and leaving it on the table - "Give me those folders. Can you manage with the laundry?"

-"Yes! Thank you! How are you? Oh my god, you broke your arm?" - the blonde perused Andy's arm sling as she hanged up the laundry in the closet and set the heavy bag on the floor -

-"Ah, I've been better. Yeah, but it's not that serious and I won't need surgery. So, I'll be back before anyone decides to set Elias-Clarke on fire... I hope"

-"Oh, I heard everything from Nigel. Seems like Miranda called him, and now he and Emily are supervising the run through"

-"Ugh, the run through. I forgot about that... ah! Great timing to get a broken arm" - Andy said looking up to the ceiling in annoyance

-"Hey, it's ok. We got it" - the blonde answered, giving her a coquetish blink - "So, where do you want me to put your clothes?"

-"My clothes?" - Andy asked back, dumbfounded

-"Yes, Andrea. Your clothes" - the editor's voice floated downstairs- "Thank you, Emily. You can go back to Runway. Give this to Nigel and tell him I expect the new run through to be less terrible than the previous one  - she said stretching her arm and presenting the second assistan with a large  envelope that Janette swiftly took - That's all"

-"Of course, Miranda - the blonde responded, already scurring away - Take care, Andy - and before Andy could bid goodbye, she disappeared-

-"Miranda, why did she bring me clothes?"

-"Because I find it much simpler to have them delivered than going to your appartment to retrieve a few outfits"

-"Uh but I'll have to go back to my appartment for the night. I mean, I can't stay here..."

-" You can and you will stay here"

-"What? But..."

-"Andrea, I'am privy that cook of yours no longer lives with you. Or so you told me, am I right?"

-"Y-yes"

-"And your family happens to live just across the country, yes?"

-"Umh, yes"

-"And as much as your friends might want to help, they won't dispose of the time to properly check on you. Last time I checked, your dominant hand was the one that now is immobilised in that arm sling, isn't it?"

-"Yes" - Andy answered, deflating at the obvious lack of excuses-

-"So, it is settled. You will stay here, at least until we're sure you can perform the simplest tasks without damaging your arm further. Now, let us have coffee while I go through this hideous paperwork" - the editor said entering the kitchen - 

-"I can help!" -the brunette followed inmediately, already in working mode - 

-"You most certainly can't" - Miranda retorted sternly

-"Please, at least let me do the essencial things. Checking e-mails, phone calls, arranging the schedule, I can still do that!" - Andy pouted unwillingly -

Miranda looked at her and smiled internally. Andrea looked like a little girl, pulling her best puppy eyes and pouting. Oh, yes, this woman could convince Miranda to do anything. And Miranda would gladly give in. 

-"Mmh, very well " -Miranda pretended to consider the idea even when those chocolate eyes had already convinced her-  "But not now, tomorrow maybe. You need to rest, the day's been long enough for you. Have a seat and finish your coffee, I'll help you settle in later" - if someone had told her that would earn her a mega-watt smile, she would have put her sun glasses on. Relief washed over the older woman when her beloved assistant began to look more like herself.