Holly and the Archer

EIGHT

1 month later

Holly sat at her desk wearing her lab coat. She had returned with Clint last night, having stayed at his rather than making the trip home, so she had yet to see Annie. Fortunately she had left her lab coat in her locker and her ID had managed to fall in the bottom of her duffel, so her early start on everything she had missed was a definite possibility.

As she read through the ridiculously long email Director Fury had sent her regarding her 'family emergency' and his knowledge on its lack of 'emergency', she sipped on her tea from the cafeteria. A loud yawn echoed around the otherwise empty lab as Annie made her entrance. Her dark hair wrapped in a messy bun was swinging with every movement of her head as she shrugged on her lab coat.

Closing the email with a grin, Holly spins her chair to wait for her friend to notice her. She intertwined her fingers over her abdomen and watched Annie log on to the system and begin her day. Three more scientists entered the lab, greeted Holly and went about their business before she finally caved and approached Annie. Leaning against the desk beside her, she crosses her arms.

"Your observation skills are appalling." The shock has Annie nearly falling from her chair. Holly sips her tea, smirking down at her friend.

"Where did you come from?" Holly points to her desk.

"I was here when you first got here, Ann." She smirks as her friend blushes. "And yes, I heard you singing." Annie punches her arm playfully.

"It's good to have you back." Holly takes a deep breath and nods. She drops her now empty cup into Annie's bin with a grin.

"Yes, it is, isn't it?"

Holly returns to her desk, taking a perch on her chair. She sits with one leg tucked under her rather than crossed over the other as she usually does. Upon observing that, Annie narrows her eyes in on her friend. There was something off, something new she had yet to find out. Knowing Holly, she'd have to figure it out herself.